Service that celebrates Earth Day

Service that celebrates Earth Day

Apr 2, 2026 | General interest, Service projects | 0 comments

Let these projects inspire your club to do something nice for Mother Nature. 

By Julie Saetre

April 22 is Earth Day, and that means it’s a great time for your Kiwanis club to do something that’s environmentally friendly. Whether it’s something small but meaningful — a local park cleanup, service at a community garden — or a larger-scale project, let Earth Day be your catalyst. Need some inspiration? Start with these four initiatives. 

Planting for the future
For the 2025-26 service year, Kiwanis International-Europe launched Green Steps for a Brighter Future. The main objective is to unify all Kiwanis clubs in Europe under a simple but impactful mission: sustainability. In Italy, the Kiwanis Club of Catania Est helped students of the Rodari Nosengo School plant an olive tree provided by Nino Papotto, president of the Kiwanis Club Catania Est. Other notable Kiwanians attended the planting to show their support, including Kiwanis International-Europe President Elio Garozzo (who is also a member of the Catania Est club), Italy-San Marino District Lieutenant Governor Angelo Corsaro and the district’s environmental chair, Francesca Santonocito.

Free pollinators
Another project in the Green Steps for a Brighter Future initiative is Free Pollinators, a project from the Kiwanis Club of Craiova, Romania. The project helps local students actively protect pollinators and biodiversity in their area while raising awareness in the community about the essential role of bees and other pollinators in ecosystems.

Planting for future generations
In October 2024, members of eight Kiwanis clubs from Division 2B in the Philippine Luzon District gathered at a protected area by a local riverbank. Their mission: plant seedlings to prevent land erosion caused by quarrying. 

The Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc., a nonprofit group that promotes water security and watershed conservation, donated 250 seedlings. The Kiwanians planted some of the seedlings near the riverbank with help from students at Del Carmen National High School. Then they donated the remainder to the school, where students and teachers have committed to nurture them. 

Their efforts were part of an initiative started by Philippine Luzon District Governor Felix “Jango” Grepo — with a goal of planting 20,000 seedlings district-wide to ensure a healthier environment for future generations. 

Inspiring young leaders
In May 2024, the Kiwanis Club of Klang, Malaysia, joined in the Asia-Pacific Region’s “Green Generation” by hosting a youth camp for aspiring environmental leaders. Focused on youth leadership development and environmental stewardship, the camp enabled participants to learn sustainable practices and gain hands-on experience through team-building exercises, art therapy, planting 200 trees and other activities. 

The camp was so successful that it will return, this time at a national level. In May, the Kiwanis Malaysia District will sponsor the Kiwanis Green Generation Adventure 2025, focusing on Key Club members in the district as they celebrate their organization’s 100th anniversary.

A July 4 idea for U.S. clubs

A July 4 idea for U.S. clubs

Mar 26, 2026 | General interest, News, Service projects | 0 comments

Celebrate America’s 250th with a reading of the Declaration of Independence.

By Tony Knoderer

In the United States, July 4 will be a national milestone: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. For that reason, this year’s celebration of Independence Day will be especially meaningful.  

That makes it an excellent opportunity for U.S. Kiwanis clubs to conduct a service or education project. And we have an idea: a public reading of the Declaration of Independence for the 250thhnniversary on July 4.  

It’s the kind of event that can bring people together, both as spectators and participants — from club members to community leaders and many others. And your Kiwanis club can be the guiding force of the event. Here are some steps for making it successful: 

  • Appoint a committee. See who is excited about getting involved. You’ll want members who bring the right blend of experience, capability and interest. When the club has agreed upon the committee chair, download and use this guide for selecting members. 
  • Secure an event location. What kind of venue do you envision for the reading? How many people do you expect to attend? What kind of audio/visual equipment will you need? Consider these kinds of questions when locating a venue. 
  • Find participants. Who do you want to take part in the reading? Reach out to local lawmakers, business leaders, teachers, members of the police and fire departments, and others. Don’t forget to include club members from the Kiwanis Service Leadership Programs you sponsor! 
  • Publicize the event and contact local media. Make sure people know about the event. Club flyers and personal interactions matter — but think big. Attempt to interest local media for community-wide coverage. In our “PR Tips and Tools,” you’ll find guidance for working with the media, developing key messages, “pitching” the story (including a template for a news release that you can adapt) and handling a television interview. And make sure there’s plenty of Kiwanis signage at the event. 
  • Share on social media and your club website. Include information about the event on your website and post about it frequently on social media. It will seem more exciting to the community if your club seems excited! 
  • Follow up. Don’t let the excitement end when the event ends. Post photos, videos and more on the club’s website and social media accounts so that even people who weren’t there can get a glimpse of the experience. They might think about going to your next event — or even about becoming a member.  

For Kiwanis clubs inside and outside the U.S., any major national anniversary or milestone is an opportunity to lead a local celebration of civic pride. On July 4, we hope U.S. clubs will seize that opportunity in their country — and then reflect together on both the event and the larger meaning of the day.   

Get ready for Membership Month 

Get ready for Membership Month 

Mar 23, 2026 | Club building, General interest, Service projects | 0 comments

Here are resources to make May a time for recruiting, orientation and more.

By Tony Knoderer

For many Kiwanis clubs, May is a great time for a club-strengthening campaign, whether it’s designed to emphasize recruiting people from the community or to strengthen the club’s value for current members. Or both! 

That’s why May is Membership Month at Kiwanis International. 

For your new members, we have resources that help build confidence and a sense of connection — and help them feel ready to lead from day one. In fact, whether members are just getting started or looking to deepen their understanding, these three learning opportunities provide a strong foundation for success: 

  • Updated member orientation resources. Get new members set for success with our updated orientation materials. Use the refreshed PowerPoint slide deck to host a structured group orientation and reference the talking points for a more informal, one-on-one conversation. These tools make it easy to introduce Kiwanis values, expectations and opportunities in a welcoming way. Click here to get the newly updated orientation slides. 
  • Kiwanis 101. Our newly recorded “Kiwanis 101” video is a quick, engaging way to help new (and seasoned!) members better understand Kiwanis’ history, organizational structure and global impact. We also have an excellent complement to the video: a helpful glossary of commonly used Kiwanis terms and acronyms, perfect for building confidence and clarity. Find links to the video and the glossary here. 
  • Kiwanis Amplify. Take new member engagement to the next level by sponsoring participation in Kiwanis Amplify. This dynamic program helps new Kiwanians build leadership skills, expand their network and connect with members from around the world. Registration is just US$50. It closes April 30, so don’t wait! Register for Kiwanis Amplify here. 

 Of course, Kiwanis International has other tools, tips and resources to help your club find and attract potential members throughout your community: 

  • Encourage clubs to plan a May open house and determine a guest list of invitees.  
  • Use the Roster Analysis Worksheet as a reminder of individuals who likely would enjoy being part of Kiwanis — and whose skills, relationships and experiences could enrich a club’s impact.  
  • Our resource on hosting potential members can help.  

Getting started
If May doesn’t work as Membership Month for your club, choose a month that does — and then take time in May to plan your event. Either way, get started now! Look at your May calendar of meetings, service projects, fundraisers and social events and invite guests to attend.