7 tips for member retention 

7 tips for member retention 

Jun 19, 2025 | Club building, General interest, Leadership | 0 comments

Here’s how clubs keep people coming back. 

By Tony Knoderer

For Kiwanis clubs, new members bring new ideas — and the kind of energy that refreshes the members you already have. But what can your club do to help people’s initial enthusiasm take root and deepen? And how do you support established members in maintaining their commitment to Kiwanis service?  

To help you answer those questions, we’re offering seven quick tips for creating a club culture that makes everyone feel inspired and appreciated: 

1. Make new members feel important. A member’s induction into your club will set the tone for how highly they value their membership. Make it feel like the significant event that it is — for them and for the club. Help new members understand the club’s traditions and the commitment it requires. 

2. Encourage a sense of connection. The more established members a new member feels comfortable with, the greater the chances they will stay involved. Introduce them — and encourage those connections early on. 

3. Give new members a mentor. Kiwanians are happiest when they get involved. Have someone mentor new members for the first year as they experience what your club has to offer.  

4. Empower all members to become leaders. Give people the opportunity to lead your club and the support they’ll need to do it. It’s a way of creating a pipeline that makes leadership a steady presence in the club through the years.  

5. Invest in member education. Invite interesting speakers. Send members to division, district and international events. Encourage them to share what they learned. 

6. Celebrate! Honor members’ achievements — both inside and outside your club — so they feel valued.  

7. Reach out to members you haven’t seen in a while. If a member isn’t attending events, there may be a valid reason. Even if life becomes hectic, we all appreciate friends who show they care. 

 There are more tips and tools where these came from! See our guide to good retention habits, which includes these and other tips. It’s part of our member retention webpage, where you’ll find resources that can help everyone in your Kiwanis club be an advocate for growth and membership. 

10 reasons to attend the 2025 Kiwanis International convention

10 reasons to attend the 2025 Kiwanis International convention

Jun 9, 2025 | General interest, Leadership | 0 comments

From education and fellowship to inspiration and celebration, it’s the year’s biggest Kiwanis event.

By Julie Saetre

Get ready: The 2025 Kiwanis International Convention is on the horizon! We’ll gather in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 25-28. Register now to join your fellow Kiwanians for the biggest event of the year — and to help forge the future. 

Here’s why you’ll want to be there: 

  1. Dynamic educational workshops and classes. Explore the ways Kiwanians are building new clubs and gain insight into expanding and nurturing your club’s membership. Learn how to make your club attractive, meaningful and enjoyable for all generations. Dive into master classes that go deeper into leadership training and community service, with subject-matter experts as your guides. Our workshops will get you ready to tackle a to-do list designed to take your club — and Kiwanis — to the next level. 
  2. The Convention Kickoff. Start your experience with a celebration of Kiwanis. The opening session features the actor Martin Sheen. With more than 100 roles since the 1960s, Sheen is known not only for his remarkable career but also for his passion, purpose and advocacy. 
  3. Membership Fair and Welcome Reception. Looking for recruiting inspiration? Pick up tips from clubs that have been recognized for their growth efforts after using Two For Two, club boosts, open houses, guest days or their own membership drives. During the Welcome Reception, visit vendors, meet candidates and enjoy entertainment and refreshments. New this year: a DJ and door prizes! 
  4. Fellowship with Kiwanians from around the world. Take time to relax with longtime Kiwanis friends and new connections. Join fellow Kiwanians for the Sunset Social, a special party on the rooftop of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center with finger food, a cash bar and entertainment. On Saturday night, mingle at the Gatsby-inspired bar or hit the dance floor during our Roaring 20s Gala. 
  5. CKI members. Circle K International — the Kiwanis service program for university students — is holding its convention alongside ours at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center! Stop by the CKI booth in the Kiwanis Marketplace to meet some of its members — and learn about the amazing work they do on their campuses, in their communities and around the world! 
  6. Kiwanis Launchpads. There will be two Kiwanis Launchpads this year. Designed to be short and high impact, these presentations will send you home with ideas and inspiration. The first Launchpad will celebrate Key Club’s 100th anniversary by featuring alumni who credit much of their success to the values and skills they learned in Key Club. At the second Launchpad, you’ll hear from the director of the Fred Rogers Institute, as well as an engaging speaker who will teach you how to find joy in conflict through curiosity.  
  7. Kiwanis Marketplace. This is your go-to hub at the heart of the convention. Shop, snap photos, snag swag and more. Here, you’ll find exhibitors and Kiwanis partners who can inspire fresh ideas on impactful service projects and effective fundraisers. You can also browse Kiwanis-branded merchandise, including special-issue 2025 convention items. Meet the candidates running for international officers and trustees. Learn about your host city. Get details about our ongoing Build. Nurture. Retain. membership initiative. Explore the new Kiwanis Engage membership platform. And more! 
  8. 2025 Kiwanis Annual Meeting. Get informed about the business of Kiwanis International and add your voice to our future. Delegates from clubs around the world will elect the organization’s next leaders and vote on amendments. 
  9. Celebrations. From the Welcome Reception and the Convention Kickoff to the Kiwanis Roaring 20s Gala, you’ll celebrate Kiwanis and the amazing work our clubs and members accomplish every day. Have breakfast with our Signature Project Contest finalists (and see who wins the big prizes). Enjoy lunch on Thursday while learning about The Possibility Project’s Generosity Challenge and on Friday while marking Key Club’s milestone centennial birthday. And get ready for a night of glitz and glamor at Saturday night’s Roaring ’20s Gala. 
  10. Our host city. Pittsburgh is a versatile destination brimming with discoveries. From the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, you’ll have easy access to the Cultural District, the historic Strip District and the Allegheny River. You’ll also be located near shops, restaurants, galleries and theaters. From sightseeing to the sports scene, breweries to bistros, and amusement rides to museums, Pittsburgh has something for everyone! 
Kiwanis club funds STEAM projects

Kiwanis club funds STEAM projects

Jun 4, 2025 | General interest, Service projects | 0 comments

Members in California, U.S., help local teachers engage students’ interest in the curriculum. 

By Pat Rasmussen, club member 

In Glendora, California, U.S., the Kiwanis Club of Glendora Kiwaniannes is doing its part to help local teachers bring STEAM — that’s science, technology, engineering, art and math — into K-12 classrooms. By awarding 12 grants of US$800 each to teachers throughout the Glendora Unified School District, the club has been funding STEAM-related projects created by teachers for students. 

“We’ve sponsored these grants for the past 10 years, and we are always amazed at what teachers can do with just a little money to purchase supplies and equipment,” says club member Tricia Gomer, who has chaired the program since its inception. “It brings a wonderful 21st-century dynamic into the classroom.” 

The bond between the club and the students was further strengthened when grant recipients were invited to a club meeting to talk about their projects.  

One teacher used her grant to purchase a 3D printer to assist her in teaching STEAM-related topics. Two others collaborated to create a STEAM event for students in sixth through eighth grades, using the grant to purchase STEAM activity kits and bringing in guest speakers to talk about careers in STEAM fields. 

Middle school students visited a nearby elementary school to help create a garden, using math skills to plot out the area and researching native plants to include in the garden. With funds from the Kiwanianne grant, they purchased plants and vegetables and built the garden alongside the elementary students. Three trees were also planted with financial help from the Kiwaniannes. The garden was officially introduced to the school on Earth Day, Aprill 22.  

Teachers said the elementary students felt less afraid about moving to middle school because they had met and worked alongside those students to plant the garden. 

A fourth- and fifth-grade teacher used her grant to buy film and editing equipment for her school’s student council, which wrote, filmed and edited a short video featuring their fellow students. The focus was on positive, socially conscious messages to consider the feelings of others.  

A high school instructor used his grant to purchase plywood so that his students could use professional software and laser engravers to create business cards, Christmas ornaments and telephone stands. They added their creations to their portfolios to prepare for the local community college’s architecture exam. If they passed, they could earn 3 units of college credit. 

“This is absolutely one of the best programs we fund each year,” says Rose Wentz, club president. “It sparks such creativity, learning and collaboration. We look forward to seeing what teachers will come up with for next year’s round of grants.”