Ways to deepen club connection

Ways to deepen club connection

Aug 8, 2024 | Club building, General interest, Leadership, Service projects | 0 comments

Increase club value for members by enriching the connection with them and their families. These tips can help.

By Tony Knoderer

If anything can deepen the satisfaction that comes from serving kids, it’s the fellowship you feel with the people who volunteer alongside you. Don’t be shy about that part of club value — recommend a few ways for your club to boost the feeling of belonging.

Want some ideas? Here a few small but popular things that other Kiwanis clubs do to deepen individuals’ sense of connection:

  • Have a member or two (perhaps retirees) volunteer to call fellow members on their respective birthdays. 
  • Set aside a day or two each year to contact former members — or those who haven’t been to a meeting or service project for a while. Let them know that they’re not forgotten — and you’d love to see them again. When appropriate or relevant, tell them they shouldn’t feel guilty about life challenges that have prevented them from being active. 
  • Design an e-card to send Kiwanis anniversary greetings to members to celebrate the day they joined the organization. 
  • Consider recording the names of your members’ children. Where age-appropriate, send them a thank-you card in appreciation of “loaning” their parents to participate in Kiwanis activities. 
  • Design a meeting agenda that appeals to members’ children — and invite them to attend a club meeting, where you can thank them for “sharing” their parents’ time and show them how all members help other kids in the community. 
  • Show your appreciation for nonmember spouses and partners as well. Establish a special meeting — or use a regularly scheduled one — and invite them to learn more about Kiwanis. Members can share testimonials about what the club means to them and to the kids and community they serve. 

Don’t forget: Kiwanis International offers resources to help keep club members engaged. Check out our Achieving Club Excellence tools —including the member survey, which you can download to evaluate how well the club is meeting member expectations. 

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. 
The impact SLP clubs make in members’ lives 

The impact SLP clubs make in members’ lives 

Jul 17, 2024 | General interest, Leadership, Service Leadership Programs | 0 comments

If your club is considering SLP sponsorship, the positive effects of service and fellowship may prove persuasive. 

By Tony Knoderer

There’s no shortage of great reasons for your Kiwanis club to sponsor a club in one of our Service Leadership Programs (SLPs) — whether for the first time or as a way of expanding your mentorship to new clubs and SLPs. 

Need a little help convincing your fellow members? Let them know that multiple studies, as well as Kiwanians’ own experiences, have shown that students who volunteer: 

  • Tend to get higher grades. 
  • Improve their social and emotional health. 
  • Strengthen their ties to other youth and adults. 
  • Feel connected to the larger community — and feel motivated to contribute to it. 
  • Develop leadership abilities that lead to better employment opportunities. 
  • Have better awareness and understanding of public issues. 
  • Get more first-hand experience of diverse cultures and communities. 

As members of SLP clubs, students make an impact in the lives of others — and develop skills and self-discipline alongside like-minded peers. Kiwanis SLPs include K-Kids for students ages 6-12, Builders Club for middle-years students, ages 11-14, and Key Club for high school students.  

All the while, they’re guided by adults who share those qualities. In fact, Kiwanians who serve as advisors to SLP clubs are models for the benefits of service and fellowship throughout a person’s life. They also help fulfill a Kiwanis cause: youth leadership development.  

Service matters. So do mentors. We encourage Kiwanians to explore SLPs — which also include Circle K International for young adults in universities, as well as Aktion Club for adults with disabilities. Learn more here.