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. 

Scott Sims receives Marc H. Litwack Legacy of Leadership Award

Scott Sims receives Marc H. Litwack Legacy of Leadership Award

Aug 5, 2024 | General interest, News, Service Leadership Programs | 0 comments

The Alabama Kiwanian was honored as a former Key Club member who has extraordinary leadership qualities.

By Julie Saetre

Scott Sims recently received the Marc H. Litwack Legacy of Leadership Award for 2024. A member of the Kiwanis Club of Homewood-Mountain Brook in Alabama, U.S., Sims received the honor in July during the 2024 Key Club International Convention, after being elected to a three-year term as a Kiwanis International trustee earlier that month. 

The Marc H. Litwack Legacy of Leadership Award recognizes a former Key Club member who exemplifies extraordinary leadership qualities and has made significant contributions to their profession and community.

Sims joined Key Club in 1980 as a high school freshman. He was appointed to his first district leadership position, K-Relations chair, as a sophomore — and would go on to serve as his Key Club’s vice president (1981-82) and president (1982-84). Sims also was elected as a Key Club lieutenant governor (1982-83) and governor (1983-84).

In 1983, Sims received both the Yetta G. Samford Outstanding Lt. Governor Award from the Alabama District and the Robert F. Lucas Outstanding Lt. Governor Award from Kiwanis International. Sims also received the George Price Service to Youth Award from the Key Club Alabama District (2018-19) and the Governor’s Award from the Key Club Alabama District governor (2016-17).

A Kiwanian since 2002, Sims has continued his involvement with Key Club as a Kiwanian, including service as an advisor for the Homewood Key Club. He has mentored and encouraged many Key Club members at all levels. 

Rip Livingston, a former Key Club International trustee (2014-15) and president (2015-16), was one of two individuals to nominate Sims for the Marc H. Litwack Legacy of Leadership Award.

“I’ve had the great pleasure of knowing many adults committed to the betterment of youth,” Livingston wrote in his nomination. “Of these, few have shown such a steadfast commitment as Scott Sims. His unwavering enthusiastic and heartfelt dedication to Kiwanis Service Leadership Programs and their youth members has positively impacted dozens — myself included.”

Sims met his wife, Andi, through Key Club and proposed to her at the 1990 Key Club District Convention. They have been married for 32 years. The couple have four children, one of whom served as Key Club district secretary and another who served as Key Club International president.

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.