Tell your club’s story on social media

Tell your club’s story on social media

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 

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. 

Trainers build meaningful connections

Trainers build meaningful connections

This workbook/slide deck combination transforms leadership education into an engaging, interactive experience.

By Britney Warner 

The impact of any educational presentation — from a formal training session to a brief workshop —relies on how effectively information is conveyed. The “Building Meaningful Connections” workbook, paired with its instructional slide deck, is designed to transform leadership education into an engaging, interactive experience. Created for district Leadership Development Coordinators and Certified Instructors, this resource offers practical tools and structured activities that foster collaboration, creativity and deeper learning during training sessions.  

The workbook serves as an all-in-one guide, featuring: 

  • Icebreakers and connection activities: Kick off sessions with exercises like “Sweet Introductions” and “Anchor Your Purpose” to build rapport and set clear goals. 
  • Teamwork challenges: Activities such as “The Spaghetti Marshmallow Challenge” and “Build a Model Club” strengthen problem-solving and communication skills. 
  • Deep discussions: Guided prompts like “Wow, Now, How” and “Ripple Effect” encourage strategic thinking and reflection on leadership impact. 
  • Service projects: Hands-on activities, including “Welcome Cards for New Students” and “Trauma Dolls,” connect leadership principles to real-world service. 
  • Wrap-up tools: Reflection exercises like “Letter to Future Self” and “Leadership Commitment Wall” help participants synthesize learning and commit to action. 

The accompanying slide deck provides visual support for instructions, discussion prompts and timing tips, ensuring smooth facilitation and consistent delivery across sessions. 

Key benefits for facilitators: 

  • Promotes active learning: Interactive exercises encourage participation and real-world application. 
  • Supports instructor confidence: Clear steps, adaptable resources and visual aids make facilitation seamless. 
  • Builds leadership culture: Activities emphasize collaboration, creativity and service.

Click here to view and download the slide deck.