Perspective

Growth in Kiwanis diversity means growth in Kiwanis accomplishments

A few weeks ago, I received a call from my friend Joe. After several years of ill health, Joe needed a new liver. His attitude was very much alive and rich with the hope of a more healthful future, thanks to the growing progress surrounding liver transplants.

This made me pause and realize how far we have come in the field of medicine. Medical research has, for example, resulted in the development of a drug called azathioprine, which aids the body in accepting transplanted organs. Coincidentally, a woman by the name of Gertrude Elion was the developer of this drug that may ultimately save my friend’s life. For just a brief moment, I wondered what his chances of recovery may have been if Gertrude Elion had never been allowed to pursue her gift of medical research. As our world matures, there is a need to utilize all the talent our world offers. This is true for Kiwanis International as well.

Let’s consider whether we are limiting our talent by restricting our recruiting efforts toward individuals in our own image. Could we have our own versions of Gertrude Elion hidden within our midst, but have yet to reach out to her? Have we extended our membership to everyone within our community and beyond? Are we inclusive of everyone when exploring opportunities to grow membership?

I am proud to be part of Kiwanis International—a diverse global organization with memberships represented in more than 90 nations and geographic locations across our planet. Kiwanis members make a difference to thousands of people all over the world on a daily basis. The color of our skin may vary, but the measure of our deep desire to help others is constant. Male or female, we lend the strength of our hands to build a strong foundation for those in need of help. Whether capable of mobility or limited by it, we find a way to serve others. No matter what age, opportunities to serve are available to all.

So, if Kiwanis International already is a proclaimed and established diverse global organization, why the continuous focus on Kiwanis diversity? Because, as we journey toward our goal of 1 million members by 2015, we will need all the help and talent we can find. This goal can only be accomplished with the shared vision of many members. We will need members who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do Kiwanis work. We will need members who take their Kiwanis commitment seriously. Every neighborhood, every community, and each and every individual will need to know what it means to be a Kiwanian.

Take a look around you. Does your club truly reflect your community, your town, your state and region? Are you truly reaping the benefits of all the talent available around you? Have you reached out to everyone within your area?

As I travel to Kiwanis clubs, I see many changes. Positive ones, I am happy to report. I observe members from all walks of life who have made a decision to contribute to the positive change of our world. These are Kiwanians who are eager to share their talents and serve the children of the world. The faces I see are of all colors, capabilities, gender, and ages. And their talents are vast. Kiwanis International cannot stand still in our growth and accomplishments simply because we were reluctant to reach out to talented people in nontraditional ways. We must continue to search for and find all people who share our desire to make a difference. We must be bold in our search for Kiwanis members. We cannot afford to pass over our Gertrude Elion. Kiwanis must seek out others and grow taller, broader, and stronger with our diverse membership.

George Harrison joined Kiwanis in 1991 and belongs to the Kiwanis Club of La Habra, California.

Gertrude Elion was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1988 in physiology or medicine. She developed, among others, drugs for leukemia, lupus, gout, hepatitis, herpes, and immune suppressants to overcome rejection of transplanted organs. Her name appears on 45 medical patents. In a memoir written by Mary Ellen Avery, Elion is quoted: “Nobody…took me seriously. They wondered why in the world I wanted to be a chemist when no women were doing that. The world was not waiting for me.”