Engage your “missing” members

Engage your “missing” members

Aug 6, 2024 | Club building, General interest | 0 comments

Instead of accepting losses, consider these steps to bringing people back — and learning what makes them happy. 

By Tony Knoderer

Kiwanis clubs often lose people who don’t feel engaged in club activities. But the strongest clubs try to find out why — and to re-engage them. Here are a few steps your club can take: 

  1. Review the club roster to identify members who have become inactive.  
  2. Assign club members to contact “missing” members.  
  3. Contact missing members by phone or with a personal visit to tell them what’s happening and invite them to the next meeting.  
  4. Conduct a meeting that’s designed to showcase and celebrate the club’s members and their accomplishments.   

Even among members who continue to attend meetings and service projects, it’s good to keep track of engagement and enthusiasm. Kiwanis International can help club leaders take the initiative. Our Achieving Club Excellence tools include a member survey, which comes with a guide on how to use it and evaluate the results. It’s a handy way to give members a voice — and to give club leaders the information they need to make meaningful change. 

Recognizing Distinguished and Pinnacle districts

Recognizing Distinguished and Pinnacle districts

Aug 2, 2024 | Club building, General interest, Leadership, News | 0 comments

See our list of honorees and get insights from a few leaders on how they achieved their success. 

By Debra Des Vignes

Kiwanis International is proud to spotlight districts that have been recognized with Distinguished and Pinnacle status for 2022-23. Under criteria set by Kiwanis International Immediate Past President Bert West, these districts met specific milestones for membership growth, new clubs, service and education. 

Common themes among the honorees were the importance of teamwork, strategic planning and the positive examples of district officers.  

Ortiz de Testa, 2022-23 chair of the Panama Provisional District, attributed the district’s success to a well-prepared team and a thorough analysis of district needs — factors that informed their strategic action plan.  

Salvatore Chianello, immediate past governor of Italy-San Marino, highlights the opening of 17 new Key Clubs and the enthusiastic involvement of young members as key factors in his district’s success.   

Other leaders note the significance of impactful projects and effective growth strategies.   

“Our district opened three new clubs and focused on increasing corporate sponsorships,” says Dawn Ignatius, immediate past governor of the Rocky Mountain District. “These two efforts helped us grow and made us financially sound. We also put forth our effort on the development of a new level of membership, ‘friends of Kiwanis,’ and division realignment.”

Dwight Watt, past governor of the Kentucky-Tennessee District, emphasizes the consistency that led to success.

“The district worked hard all year on increasing service hours to our communities and district, and also creating the first new clubs since the pandemic,” Watt says. 
 
Kiwanis International thanks all the district leaders and their fellow Kiwanians whose collaboration, innovation and commitment enhanced the lives of children and communities. The efforts of members in Distinguished and Pinnacle districts continue to drive forward the organization’s mission.  

2022-23 Pinnacle and Distinguished districts

Congratulations to these district leaders (in alphabetical order by district):   

  • Mary Hoerlein, Alabama District, Pinnacle and Distinguished.  
  • Franz Domino, Austria District, Pinnacle and Distinguished.  
  • Miguel Stevens, Belgium-Luxembourg District, Pinnacle and Distinguished. 
  • Jennifer Wolff, Capital District, Distinguished.  
  • Anthony Haile, Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District, Distinguished.  
  • Darryl Gumz, Georgia District, Distinguished.  
  • Salvatore Chianello, Italy-San Marino District, Pinnacle and Distinguished.  
  • Dwight Watt, Kentucky-Tennessee District, Distinguished.  
  • R. Bruce Hammatt, Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee District, Pinnacle and Distinguished.  
  • John Falconer, New England & Bermuda District, Distinguished.  
  • Kirk Popiolek, New Jersey District, Distinguished.   
  • Joel Harris, New York, Distinguished 
  • Dawn Ignatius, Rocky Mountain District, Distinguished.  
  • Juan Domino, Philippine Luzon, Distinguished. 
  • Carmen Ortiz de Testa, Panama Provisional District, Pinnacle and Distinguished.  
  • Evangeline Chan Chu, Southern Philippine District, Distinguished.  
  • Roland Franzi, Switzerland-Liechtenstein District, Distinguished.  
  • Cheng-Yi Hsiao, Taiwan District, Pinnacle and Distinguished. 
5 ways your club can find new members

5 ways your club can find new members

Jul 18, 2024 | Club building, General interest, News | 0 comments

When you reach out together, you help make growth a part of your culture.

By Tony Knoderer

The strongest Kiwanis clubs don’t grow by luck or magic — they make membership growth a continuing part of club culture. Of course, it’s great to have members who invite individuals they know or meet, but consistent growth requires actively seeking people as a club. (For example: Does your club have a growth committee?) 

Here are five ideas for clubs that want to reach out to the community: 

  • Roster analysis. Regularly examine your current club roster. Identify professions and skillsets that aren’t represented in your club and develop a prospect list. Our roster analysis worksheet can help.  
  • Social media. Advertising on social media can attract attention to Kiwanis clubs. But remember: A person who expresses interest in Kiwanis needs to be guided into membership. They’re fact-finding — so they’ll likely send comments and questions to your Facebook page. Respond immediately with the information they’re seeking. Don’t just refer them to another source: Help them make sense of your club, its projects and its contributions to the community.  
  • Guest contests. A good competition can inspire great action. Some clubs have created teams and “competed” against each other. Others have made it a contest for individual recognition. Either way, the best results come from something that can be tracked and easily displayed.   
  • Special guest days. Identify an upcoming meeting or service project that reflects what’s important to your club — and highlights the best of what you do. Invite potential members to experience what Kiwanis is about.  
  • Leads. The “Find a club” feature on Kiwanis International’s website gets thousands of queries every year. If you receive one by email, follow up right away. Someone is looking to be part of a group like your club.  

If you’re looking for other ways to strengthen your club, check out our club toolbox. You’ll find resources for club strengthening, digital marketing and more.