ACE tools turn ideas into action

ACE tools turn ideas into action

Nov 4, 2024 | Club building, General interest, Leadership | 0 comments

What happens when inspiration doesn’t bring progress? These three resources can get things moving.

By Tony Knoderer

Some Kiwanis clubs fall into a rut, relying on the same projects and fundraisers until the inspiration runs out. But sometimes inspiration isn’t the problem — it’s the lack of progress afterward.  

Does your club have a pile of ideas from motivated members, but no real-world results to show for it? Kiwanis International offers resources that can help. Check out some of the Achieving Club Excellence (ACE) tools that can turn inspiration into action: 

  • Club vision. Go back to basics — by defining what your club does and why it exists. That kind of clarity can result in a vision that steers club leaders and other members. The guide to this tool also provides instructions for conducting a group exercise, so everyone has a voice in the process.   
  • Club excellence. Maybe your club needs a framework for all those ideas. The best clubs set up a strategic plan every Kiwanis year, so members and leaders know what they want to accomplish when October arrives. The tool’s guide shows how to set SMART goals, along with milestones that help you measure your club’s progress. 
  • Club scorecard. Does your club sometimes make progress toward something new, only to see it fade away? Try tracking your activity as you go. With this tool, you can set up key indicators and reflect on them periodically, helping you determine where you may need to adjust your plan — and even make changes in the club if necessary.  

All these resources can be found on the ACE tools webpage, which includes other common concerns clubs face — and pairs them with the tools that help club leaders address them.   

How to develop community partnerships

How to develop community partnerships

Oct 25, 2024 | Club building, General interest, Service projects | 0 comments

Here are a few ways to strengthen service and lower costs through collaboration.

By Julie Saetre

Does your club have strong partners in the community — organizations or entities with whom you’ve developed a long-term, mutually supportive relationship? Partnerships are key to increasing your club’s impact, lowering costs and creating a more cohesive community. Here’s how to build new partnerships — and strengthen the ones you have. 

Get connected
The more connections you make, the more opportunities you’ll have for collaboration. To start your search, reach out to government and business organizations that work with a variety of groups who serve your community. Ask their representatives which groups might align with your club’s goals. Our Community Survey can also help you identify potential partners. 

Next, research those groups. How does their vision or mission mesh with that of Kiwanis? How could you support each other? Do you have a member or another partner with a connection to someone who works or volunteers at those entities? Identify contacts and members of your club who can set up a meeting. 

Build relationships
During your initial meetings, learn more about each group’s activities and approach. Who do they support and where have they provided service hours? To whom have they reached out for donations or sponsorships? To whom have they sold event tickets? Where have they purchased supplies for projects? Who has provided volunteers for projects? Who has provided guest speakers? 

After a meeting, ask the member involved for feedback. Which organizations seem to be a good fit? What representatives seemed open to working with your club? Identify a few good prospects and brainstorm with your club members on potential projects that could benefit from mutual cooperation. Also important: Determine how you can provide the organizations additional visibility and recognition. 

Level up
Once you’ve built relationships, consider situations that can strengthen those bonds to a partnership level. Encourage organization representatives to join your club. Invite them to your events. Perhaps a member of your club could serve on an organization’s board. And once a partnership forms, nurture it. These ideas for recognizing your club members also apply to partners. Our Celebrate Success tool has some great suggestions.  

To learn more about strong partner relationships, explore our sponsorship toolkit. 

How to recognize your club’s successes 

How to recognize your club’s successes 

Oct 16, 2024 | Club building, General interest, Leadership, Service projects | 0 comments

To keep your members engaged, make them feel valued as individuals and as a group. These suggestions can get you started. 

By Julie Saetre

Members of your community join your club because they want to make a difference in the lives of children. But if their efforts are taken for granted, they might participate less — or even worse, stop attending club meetings and events altogether. To keep them involved and engaged, it’s important to celebrate members’ successes, recognize their contributions and make them feel valued as individuals and as a group. Here are some suggestions to get you started. 

For individual acknowledgment 

Little gestures make a big difference: A simple thank-you note, quick social media post or verbal recognition during a meeting takes little time but lets someone know they matter. Or give a small token of appreciation, such as a small gift from the Kiwanis Family Store, a cupcake or a “thank you” balloon.  

Take it public: If someone has achieved a major accomplishment, such as a milestone membership anniversary or a long-time tenure as project chair, public recognition can shine a spotlight on that individual (and boosts your club’s visibility). Nominate them for a community award or look for media opportunities that profile volunteers. 

For group efforts 

Make it an event: Host a cocktail/mocktail/appetizer hour, treat members to a meal during a meeting, attend a local sporting event as a group or take in a performance of an area play. If you have the time and budget and want to go bigger, consider a recognition night, an annual banquet or even a formal gala. Invite the public and showcase the great work your members do in the community. You could add a fundraising element by selling admission tickets, auctioning items or letting attendees know donations are welcome. 

For more ideas and tips on celebrating success, head to the Achieving Club Excellence tools webpage. You’ll find other common challenges clubs face and the tools that help club leaders address them.