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 250th anniversary 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.   

Tell your club’s story on social media

Tell your club’s story on social media

Feb 6, 2026 | Club building, General interest, News | 0 comments

For most platforms, you need three simple elements. 

By Tony Knoderer

Pretend you know nothing about Kiwanis or your club. Now look at the three most recent posts on your club’s social media account. Ask yourself:  

  • Is it clear that we’re a group of volunteers?  
  • Is it clear that we help kids?  
  • Is our community impact easy to see? 

You can say all these things, of course, but it’s important to show it. (Oh, and you have about three seconds — the average time someone looks at a social media post before deciding whether to interact or scroll past.) 

So, how can you convey what you do and the impact you make in a few seconds? 

Include these elements
You don’t need fancy software or a degree in design to make a good social media post. For most platforms, all you need is: 

  • A visual element. Photos and illustrations draw people in. When you talk about a service project, for example, include photos — particularly active shots of the service being performed, not just members lined up for the camera. 
  • A clear, conversational tone. Give people the feeling that a real person is “talking” to them. 
  • A call to action. What do you want people to do after seeing your post? 

These elements help people focus on the value of your club — to kids in your community and to club members — and the fact that you want others to be a part of it.  

If the topic of a post is especially important to a particular member, you might even ask them to write it! Here’s an example: 

As a mom of two kids who graduated from the Pleasant Hills School District, I know how dedicated our teachers are, sometimes even paying for extra classroom supplies out of their own pockets. 👩‍🏫 My Kiwanis club and I are ready to help them — and you’re welcome to assist! 

Join me at Southview Elementary School next Tuesday, July 8, as we fill backpacks full of school supplies for students to lessen the burden on our teachers. Let me know if you’d like to sign up! ❤️ 

Remember: People join people. Make sure that anyone who sees your post understands that Kiwanis volunteers are folks like them. 

Other resources
From social media to websites and more, Kiwanis International has tools for your club’s needs. Go to our branding and marketing webpage for resources such as:  

  • Kiwanis logos  
  • Social media images  
  • Our “Tips and Tools” booklet  
  • Free club websites  
  • Custom club logos  

And when your club is celebrating an anniversary, make it an event that gets the community’s attention. Go to our dedicated webpage for: 

  • Celebration ideas 
  • Custom anniversary logos 
  • Tips to get media coverage 
Fun facts about our Rose Parade float 

Fun facts about our Rose Parade float 

Dec 22, 2025 | General interest, News, Service Leadership Programs, Service projects | 0 comments

Find out what it takes to get ready for the big event. 

By Tony Knoderer

During the annual Tournament of Roses Parade (aka “The Rose Parade”) in Pasadena, California, U.S., Kiwanis International’s float is always one of the most fun to see. But it takes a lot of work to be that creative! 

Our 2026 float is a hippo-themed design called “Happy Together.” (The theme of the Rose Parade itself is “The Magic of Teamwork.”) Built by the Phoenix Decorating Company, the float is being decorated by hundreds of volunteers — including many from throughout the Kiwanis family — to get it ready for the January 1 event. 

Volunteers aren’t assigned to just one parade float, however. This year, each volunteer helped decorate eight floats altogether.  

Facts and figures
So, how much work goes into decorating the Kiwanis International float — and others? Kiwanians Patricia Larrigan and Caesar Milch, cochairs of the District Rose Float Project, were kind enough to provide some facts:   

  • There are 113 decorating hours scheduled throughout December.  
  • Each shift normally includes 300 volunteers — in roles ranging from onsite decorators to feeding teams, registration check-in and more. 
  • An estimated 40,000 volunteer hours will be completed by the end of the month. 
  • About half of the volunteers are Key Club members. Members of Circle K International and Aktion Club also help. 
  • Volunteers serve an average of eight hours. Some occasionally serve as many as 12 hours. In years past, some people have worked for 15 hours to help complete floats in the final days before the parade.  
  • A couple of members from the Kiwanis Rose Float Club of Pasadena have volunteered to work on the float for 25 consecutive years. Another current volunteer started 36 years ago.  
  • Kiwanis members have gone to Pasadena from as far as Denver, Colorado, U.S., to help decorate.  

In addition to the hours required, here are some details about the Kiwanis float itself: 

  • The two front hippos have been named Harriett and Henrietta — with eyelashes and bows added by volunteers. Their big brother hippo is Henry. 
  • The large “mama hippo” has been named Hildie, and the blue bird on top of her is Sweet Tweets, as named by Eileen Geraci, first lady of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District. 
  • The float is being decorated with strawflower in various shades of pink, along with a large amount of sod with accents to make the ground appear like a marsh. Cochairs Larrigan and Milch also report “a crazy amount of lettuce seed this year — easily a 5- to 10-gallon bucket.” 

Past and present
Volunteers’ work on Kiwanis International’s Rose Parade floats has a history of being honored. In both 2023 and 2024, Kiwanis received the Tournament Volunteer Award for outstanding floral presentation of the parade’s theme among floats 35 feet or fewer in length. And in 2010, Isabella Coleman was honored for the most outstanding presentation of color and color harmony through floral design. 

We thank this year’s volunteers for keeping up a great tradition of volunteer spirit and creativity. And we encourage everyone to see their work — the float will be 77th in the parade lineup.  

The big event will be televised worldwide on multiple networks and streaming services beginning at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT on January 1.