Andy Austin | Kiwanis International

How to plan for recruiting

Apr 27, 2026 | Club building, General interest | 0 comments

Use these steps to create an efficient club process for finding potential members.

By Tony Knoderer

Every Kiwanis member plays a role in recruitment. After all, inviting people to club meetings and events is something any member can do. But the strongest Kiwanis clubs support those efforts, making recruitment a part of club culture rather than a collection of individual acts.

If your club needs to start the work of finding and meeting with people — or needs to refresh everyone’s enthusiasm for it — Kiwanis International can help. We have five steps for creating an efficient recruiting process. Share them and start a discussion in your club:

Develop “cold” and “warm” prospect lists. Your cold list will be made of people you don’t know. Your warm list will consist of people you have a connection with. Fill out index cards with prospects’ names, email addresses, home addresses, telephone numbers and any other information you feel is important.
Assign teams. Teamwork is a successful approach to recruiting because it helps reach more people in more places, more quickly than individuals can. (And you never know who a prospective member will relate to better.) Remember to assemble your teams so each one has a mix of skills, personalities and backgrounds.
Explore the “Community Survey” tool. Part of our suite of Achieving Club Excellence (ACE) tools, the community survey provides you with more ideas on what to say and do. (You can find more information about all the ACE tools in our club toobox.)
Use the roster analysis worksheet. This downloadable resource provides prompts to help you think about people you know in various careers.
Remind members why recruiting matters. Continuing inspiration is one of the most important resources for any club. From club meetings to casual conversations, help your fellow members keep in mind that the larger your club is, the more connections, ideas and skillsets it has — and the more it can do for kids in the community.

Together, the steps above are a way to plan the work of recruiting. After that, your club can start working the plan. And we have tips for that too! In fact, they’re all in a handy, one-page resource available for viewing or download through our Build. Nurture. Retain. page. You’ll even find tips and tactics for making meetings with potential members successful.

Want to find even more ways to grow your club? Check out our set of club-strengthening resources

Legacy of Play Contest winner announced

Apr 22, 2026 | General interest, News, Service projects | 0 comments

The award will help a Kiwanis club in Michigan, U.S., bring play to kids of all abilities.

By Tony Knoderer

The Kiwanis Club of Lapeer, Michigan, U.S., has won the 2026 Legacy of Play Contest, sponsored by Kiwanis International and Landscape Structures Inc. As a result, the club will receive US$25,000 in inclusive playground equipment — and local children of all abilities will soon have an all-inclusive playground.

“We’re ecstatic!” said Kara Lambourn, the club’s co-secretary and committee chair for the playground project, after learning of the award and informing her fellow Kiwanians. “We were very pleasantly surprised, but we’ve been rooting for this — along with people in our community. This will be transformational for our project.” 

The playground will be located in Rowden Park in Lapeer. (See the illustration above.) When it’s completed, it will fulfill an important need in the area: a space where everyone can play, learn and grow together.

Working toward such an important goal, the Lapeer club started the project by engaging people in the community — from potential partners and donors to the families who were intended as the beneficiaries of the playground.

“We started researching five or six years ago,” Lambourn says. “We held community focus groups and determined what the community’s needs and wants were.” 

In addition, the club has worked closely with the City of Lapeer to ensure that the playground’s design, location and long‑term vision align with the city’s goals. The result is a design for kids of all physical and developmental abilities — including those with sensory needs, autism spectrum disorders, cognitive disabilities and other developmental challenges.

With the $25,000 award, the club is much closer to its dream of creating an inclusive play space for all kids and families.

For Paul Palazzolo, executive director of Kiwanis International, the project is a perfect example of what Kiwanis clubs can do when they have a vision of what their communities need — and then work with partners in the community to make it happen.

“Making kids’ lives better is the heart of what Kiwanis clubs do,” Palazzolo says. “When members make sure that all kids in their communities are included in new opportunities, that’s a special outcome.”

The 2026 contest marked the 10th year of the Legacy of Play Contest — and for Karlye Emerson, president and CEO of Landscape Structures Inc., the Lapeer club’s winning project is what the contest is all about.

“The Kiwanis Club of Lapeer is creating a space where every child feels welcome and included,” Emerson says. “We’re proud to support their vision alongside Penchura, our local playground consultant, and help bring life-changing play to the Lapeer community.” 

If you’re looking for further inspiration for your own club, check out previous winners online in our Legacy of Play Contest Hall of Fame.

How service benefits volunteers

Apr 21, 2026 | General interest | 0 comments

Here are several ways that changing lives can change yours.

By Tony Knoderer

Serving the children of the world — it’s the core of what members do in Kiwanis clubs. But when you’re talking to people about the value of membership, there’s nothing wrong with considering what’s in it for members themselves.

In fact, the rewards of volunteering can be a powerful incentive for prospective members.

Whether you’re recruiting, talking to fellow Kiwanians or simply seeking your own inspiration, these facts are reminders that service is fulfilling and empowering for volunteers as well. Check out — and share — these social, mental and physical benefits:

Confidence and cognition. Studies show that people who volunteer have higher self-esteem and a greater sense of well-being. There’s even evidence that service can make the brain healthier. An article by Maria Godoy for National Public Radio (NPR) in the U.S. reports on observational studies of people who volunteer regularly: “Perhaps the most striking comes from the Baltimore Experience Corps trial. …. The volunteers spent at least 15 hours a week tutoring underprivileged kids. After two years, the researchers found that the volunteers had measurable changes in their brain health.” These included positive changes in areas of the brain that support cognitive processes.

New friends and stronger friendships. Volunteering is an excellent way to find like-minded people. When you volunteer to serve and mentor children and young people, for example, you meet others who care about kids. You also can positively influence peers and improve current friendships by telling them about your service — spreading the “good vibe” that comes with doing great things.

More contacts and networking. Volunteering is a social activity, so it can build up your list of contacts. For example, the people you serve with are great candidates for references and recommendation letters — or simply for passing along each other’s names for career and service opportunities. After all, these are the people who have seen you handle challenges and interact with others in group settings.

A chance to pay it forward. There’s simply a good feeling that comes with seeing someone help another person. That can inspire people to do generous things themselves. Kindness is contagious — and you could be the inspiration that spreads that spirit.

A sense of gratitude. Helping others is a wonderful way to gain perspective on your own situation. When you’re more appreciative of what you have and what you do, you’re more likely to enjoy your life as you’re living it.

Helper’s high
The benefits of service even can be physical. And, yes, there’s scientific evidence. The NPR article by Godoy included reporting on measurable differences in both the quality and length of volunteers’ lives.

“Studies show that when people donate to charity, either financially or through volunteering, they trigger the mesolimbic system — the portion of the brain responsible for feelings of reward,” Godoy writes. “The brain releases feel-good chemicals, spurring you to perform more kind acts. Psychologists call it “‘helper’s high.’”

With Kiwanis, of course, there’s an additional benefit to all of the above: getting other people to experience those benefits. Don’t forget to post about Kiwanis service — from specific club projects to how it makes you feel — on your own social media platforms. And start discussions in your Kiwanis club about sharing your love for service with more people in your community.

Kiwanis International helps with resources for clubs and members, including online access to recruiting programs and materials.

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