Their success depends a lot on club preparation.

By Julie Saetre

An interesting guest speaker is a valuable addition to any Kiwanis club meeting. For members, a guest’s presentation can be a way to learn about potential service projects, partnerships and more. And guest speakers can learn the same things from visiting your club. In some cases, presenting at a meeting can even be an effective introduction to Kiwanis.  

But the success of a presentation isn’t just the guest’s responsibility. To ensure that the experience is productive and positive for both parties, it’s important to prepare. These tips can help: 

• Offer key information. Establishing guidelines and expectations can make the presentation go smoothly and give the speaker confidence. For example: 
  • Confirm the meeting date, place and time. 
  • Make sure you and the speaker agree on the presentation’s content. 
  • Let the speaker know the meeting’s agenda, the time allocated for the speech (and for the Q&A session, if you offer one) and the approximate time the meeting will end. 
  • Provide the number of members expected to attend. 
  • Detail any available equipment the speaker can use (e.g., screen, lectern, audiovisual equipment, computer, etc.). 
  • Explain the club dress code, if any. 
• Make your guest feel welcome. Speakers do better when they feel relaxed — and when the club seems prepared for them. Some tips: 
  • Arrange for a club member to greet the speaker upon arrival and introduce them personally to other members.  
  • Provide a guest or speaker’s badge and seat them at the head table (if applicable).  
  • Have water available within the speaker’s reach during the presentation.  
  • Designate an officer or member to introduce the speaker and provide their credentials. (Request the spelling and pronunciation of the speaker’s name ahead of time, along with a résumé or other details. 
• Promote Kiwanis. If the speaker agrees, invite local media to attend the meeting and presentation. Kiwanis International has tips and tools to help. And don’t forget to add a properly branded Kiwanis logo to your podium or lectern for photo opportunities. 
• End on a positive note. When the presentation concludes, thank the speaker and offer a show of appreciation. Consider a small donation on the speaker’s behalf to a cause that reflects your club’s focus on service and community.  
• Follow up. A day or two after the presentation, send the speaker a note of appreciation on behalf of the club. And don’t forget to invite them to join! 

To add branding to club materials and communications, get what you need on our website.

By Tony Knoderer

Kiwanis International’s logo is the face of the organization. That’s why we make it available for download — so your club can benefit from Kiwanis branding and share the Kiwanis name with your community. 

Of course, logos can be used in different places and in different ways. That’s why we offer a couple different resources on the Kiwanis International website: 

• The Kiwanis logos page. This is where you can find downloadable files for the Kiwanis seal and the Kiwanis logo (with examples of each on the page, so you can see which is which). You’ll also find tips on usage and details on which formats to download, depending on how and where you’re using them. 

• Kiwanis custom logos. We also can create a custom logo for your club at no cost. Go to our custom-logo webpage for details and a link to the customization order form. 

The logo is a key part of Kiwanis branding. But it’s just one part. Our branding and marketing webpage has links to all of our resources — such as social media assets (including new assets for the Kiwanis Voices pilot program), tools to promote club anniversaries, our free service for club websites and much more.