Reasons to join Kiwanis

Reasons to join Kiwanis

May 7, 2025 | Club building, General interest, Leadership | 0 comments

Here’s why people become members, from personal impact to benefits and support.

By Tony Knoderer

Kiwanis membership is a way to serve kids and improve communities — which makes every Kiwanis club a chance to change children’s lives. But it’s also a place to change your own.  

Whether you’re looking for reasons to join or you’re a current member who wants to share Kiwanis with someone else, here are some factors that make being a Kiwanian a rewarding experience:   

  • Meaningful impact. Kiwanis empowers you to make a tangible difference in your community.   
  • Personal growth. Membership is a way to enhance your skills and self-confidence — with opportunities for leadership development, public speaking and project management.  
  • Global connection. The Kiwanis family is a worldwide network of like-minded individuals. Membership fosters friendships, collaborations and cross-cultural experiences.  
  • A sense of belonging. Through shared service, Kiwanis clubs offer a sense of camaraderie to their members. In fact, the Kiwanis experience often leads to lifelong friendships. 

In addition to the rewards of volunteer service, Kiwanis membership also results in specific benefits and opportunities:  

  • Partnerships and discounts. Thanks to Kiwanis International’s partnerships with various companies and organizations, members get benefits. For example, our member-discount portal makes great deals available on everything from travel to electronics — and more. 
  • Kiwanis Amplify. This optional online course helps you amplify your skills in ways that resonate even beyond your club. With specific topics and expert speakers both inside and outside the organization, participants work through the material at their own pace and interact with each other in online discussions. 
  • Blog posts and podcasts. Kiwanis International’s blog page is a handy place to find the latest news, success stories and more — including video podcasts featuring Kiwanis members and staff. Our podcast episodes are also available in audio. 
  • Support and training. Kiwanis International provides resources, learning opportunities and more. For example, Kiwanis Engage is a member-exclusive online platform that makes it easier for Kiwanians to connect and collaborate. We also offer clubs a free, easy-to-use service to set up a website. And our teams in Member Services and Information Technology are available to answer questions, provide training and other helpful services. 

Of course, there’s also the information and support we provide all around this website. Whether you’re a member or thinking about becoming one, kiwanis.org is an excellent guide to Kiwanis International — who we are, what we do and more. 

Kiwanis service as a family legacy

Kiwanis service as a family legacy

Apr 15, 2025 | Club building, General interest, Service projects | 0 comments

Here are a few examples of club membership among multiple family members. 

By Tony Knoderer

There are Kiwanis clubs all over the world — and clubs in Kiwanis Service Leadership Programs, with members ranging from elementary/primary schools to university students and adults with disabilities.  

Put them all together, and we call it “the Kiwanis family.” 

Through the years, however, there have also been literal Kiwanis families. In fact, it’s not uncommon for multiple members of the same family to be in the same Kiwanis club. As a salute to those folks, we’ve assembled some past posts that show how a commitment to service can become an enduring legacy:  

  • Generations of service: In Louisiana, U.S., one family has been represented in Kiwanis for more than eight decades.  
  • Fostering family and service: A Florida couple had back-to-back terms as district governor while supporting foster care at home and in the community. 

 Our thanks to these Kiwanians — and to all members who have made their families a part of the Kiwanis family. 

3 tools for finding the right partners

3 tools for finding the right partners

Apr 11, 2025 | Club building, General interest, Service projects | 0 comments

If your club needs help deciding who to work with in your area, try these ACE tools.

By Tony Knoderer

Partnerships and collaboration are an important way for Kiwanis clubs to reach more kids — and to make our organization better known in the community. But which organizations should you partner with? 

If your club is having a hard time making those decisions, don’t wait for somebody else to offer a solution. Start the conversation with club leaders and fellow members. And remind them that help is available from Kiwanis International.  

In fact, three of our Achieving Club Excellence (ACE) tools can be particularly useful: 

  • Community survey. To determine which organizations address the most urgent needs in your community, you have to know what those needs are. Use this tool to find out. Get step-by-step guidance on identifying people to talk to, what to ask them and much more.  
  • Club vision. How does your club see itself and its influence in the community? This step-by-step tool allows your club to create a vision that guides and inspires — and that helps identify the groups and organizations whose missions align with yours.  
  • Evaluate your impact. Before you assess potential partners and recipients of support, you might need an objective review of your club’s impact in the community. With an honest and thorough assessment, you and your fellow members can determine the most effective use of the club’s resources.  

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.