If your club struggles to fill leadership positions, these ACE tools can help.
By Tony Knoderer
Strong Kiwanis clubs have effective leaders. The strongest clubs have a history of effective leadership — the result of a structure that makes leadership positions appealing to capable people over time.
How does a club consistently find good leaders? Three of our Achieving Club Excellence (ACE) tools can help create a culture that engages members — and potential members — who fill roles that keep the club moving forward:
- Member survey. Start by getting to know your members and their expectations. By conducting our member survey annually, current leaders can stay aware of what people want from the club and what can be improved over time. After all, members who find value in the club experience are more likely to get more deeply involved — and eventually take leadership positions.
- Community survey. The same is true of people who aren’t yet members. This step-by-step tool helps gather data about community needs from people in the know. Conducted annually, it keeps your club in step with the community — including people who are more likely to join and eventually become club leaders because they see the value in your service.
- Host potential members. Potential recruits — and the potential club leaders among them — are more likely to join if they learn from current members what your club is all about. Are you ready to show them? This guide gives you the steps for evaluating your club’s readiness for guests and new members. As with the other ACE tools, annual usage can keep your club sharp for any opportunity to make a good impression.
Don’t forget: These resources can be found on the ACE tools webpage, which includes other common concerns clubs face — and pairs them with tools that help address those issues.