How to retain resigning members

How to retain resigning members

Jul 30, 2025 | Club building, General interest | 0 comments

A conversation with the right person could convince someone to stay.

By Tony Knoderer

 What happens when a Kiwanian decides not to renew their membership? Well, there’s the procedural answer: They tell the club secretary, who is responsible for updating the roster before the club is invoiced for member dues. 

But wait! There’s another question to ask first: How can your club keep that member? Remember, some people leave Kiwanis clubs when life circumstances get in the way or they feel a bit disconnected from the other members — not because they’ve lost touch with the club’s mission. 

Who In your club could have a conversation with the resigning member to discuss the value they bring to Kiwanis and the community? Here are a few possibilities to consider: 

  • Membership chair or committee member. This is a logical answer, since recruitment and retention are the official responsibilities of the membership chair or committee. But is this the person who knows the most about the member? If your membership chair is, in fact, influential in retaining members, ask that person to talk with the member. Questions they could ask: Is there a better option for their membership — for instance, can the member become a satellite member, which allows them to remain in your club and “Kiwanis differently” from their counterparts? 
  • Chair of the member’s favorite project. This is often the best answer. What is the member’s favorite project? Ask the chair of that project to connect with the resigning member. What’s the value they bring to the project — and what will the project miss because the member is no longer involved? What ideas does the member have for improving the project? 
  • Board members. Many clubs take a list of members they fear may be leaving the club and divide the names between the club’s board members — who then contact the assigned member to have a conversation. Make sure the board members know as much as possible about each member they will contact, including their membership history, how and why they joined, and why they’re planning to leave.  
  • Sponsor. Who brought the member to the club? Why did they feel that person was right for Kiwanis? Ask the sponsor to reach out and remind the member why they were invited to join. Dig deep — is something missing from their club experience? Are your service projects no longer relevant for them? What is the member’s passion? Can the club find a way to connect that passion to a current project — or even start a new service project or fundraiser?  
  • Best Kiwanis friend. Every member has that one fellow club member they rely on or feel closest to. Who do they sit next to during meetings? Who do they “buddy up” with on projects? Why would this person miss the resigning member? 

No matter which club member is the best person to speak with a resigning member, the key is to have the conversation — rather than just accepting that a person is leaving. Sometimes just knowing that someone in the club cares enough to notice is a powerful incentive to stay. And the more a fellow member or set of members know about the resigning member personally, the more likely they are to convince them to stay — by being responsive to what they seek from Kiwanis membership. 

Remember, you can even show people who have already left the club that you still value them enough to miss them. We call it reMembering — and we welcome you to check out some tips you can use and pass along to fellow club members!

5 steps to a Kiwanis Voices club

5 steps to a Kiwanis Voices club

Jul 29, 2025 | Club building, General interest, Leadership | 0 comments

Here’s a guide to organizing a club through our new pilot program.

By Tony Knoderer

Formally announced during the 2025 Kiwanis International Convention, the Kiwanis Voices pilot program is an exciting opportunity to create Kiwanis clubs specifically for people ages 18-26. To help you and/or your club organize a Kiwanis Voices club, we’re providing the following five-step guide:   

  1. Find out if your Kiwanis club or one nearby will sponsor a Kiwanis Voices club. During discussion with the Kiwanis club, make sure its leaders know that the club must remit a US$100 sponsorship fee, understand the obligations of sponsorship for a new Kiwanis club and appoint one member as the club coach.   
  2. Find at least 15 new members between the ages of 18-26. Each person must complete a membership application and submit the required annual dues. (Note: A sustainable Kiwanis Voices club has members of each age represented and exceeds the minimum number of members to open a club. There is no maximum number of members.)  
  3. Host an organizational meeting. This is the official start of the Kiwanis Voices club. The sponsoring club will assist with the election of charter officers and completion of bylaws, and it will allow the new members to discuss and determine their mission, their first service project and the timing of the next meeting. (To request a fillable pdf of the Kiwanis Voices bylaws, contact kiwanisvoices@kiwanis.org.)  
  4. Complete and submit the official charter paperwork. Send the new club information sheet, official roster, completed member applications and US$40 for each member to Rene Booker, club processing representative, Kiwanis International, 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46268. You may also email newclubs@kiwanis.org. (Note: Sponsoring clubs may choose to open Kiwanis Voices with the Club Opening Tool.) 
  5. The sponsoring club should assist in acquiring an Employee Identification Number (EIN). Information on applying for an EIN is available here. For Kiwanis Voices clubs in the U.S., sponsoring clubs should also submit Form 8976 (see more information here) or any other government documentation and requirements.  

Next steps
Upon receipt and processing of the Kiwanis Voices paperwork, the sponsoring club coach and Kiwanis Voices officers will receive an email with the next steps. The new Kiwanis Voices club will also receive support with 30-, 60- and 90-day tasks to complete prior to its official charter celebration.  

Remember: Kiwanis Voices clubs may continue to add charter members up to the charter celebration — approximately 90 days after the organizational meeting. Member applications received in that time frame should be sent to Rene Booker (kiwanisvoices@kiwanis.org). After the charter ceremony, the Kiwanis Voices secretary will be able to add new members through Kiwanis Engage, the member management portal for all Kiwanis members and affiliates.  

As the Kiwanis Voices program continues, look for more information and resources — such as upcoming social media assets to market the club in schools and throughout the community. 

Kiwanis family clubs become harvest heroes

Kiwanis family clubs become harvest heroes

Jul 28, 2025 | General interest, Service Leadership Programs, Service projects | 0 comments

In Minnesota, U.S., members of Key Club and Builders Club joined Kiwanians to feed hungry kids.

By Zak Mohamed, Fridley High School Key Club 

On a crisp Friday morning, the Fridley Community Center in Minnesota, U.S., buzzed with energy, laughter and a rhythmic gong of celebration. Why, you ask? Because 80 volunteers from all corners of the Fridley community gathered for one powerful mission: to fight hunger, one oatmeal packet at a time. 

This is Harvest Pack, a high-energy, heart-filled event where our service shines bright. The outcome was nothing short of incredible. Together, students, community members and service leaders packed a staggering 32,488 oatmeal meals, all of which are now helping to feed local elementary school students over weekends. 

Community in action
The event was a shining example of what happens when generations come together for a cause. Sixty enthusiastic Key Club members took the lead in running stations, pouring oats, sealing bags, boxing meals and keeping the energy high. 

But they weren’t alone. Ten members from the Builders Club rolled up to help and worked with focus and pride. From the adult side of the Kiwanis family, 10 Kiwanians joined in — seven from the Kiwanis Club of Columbia Heights-Fridley and three from the Kiwanis Club of Northeast Minneapolis. Each volunteer brought something special to the table, whether it was experience, speed, encouragement or just a knack for scooping oats without spilling. 

These weren’t just any oatmeal packets. Every meal will be placed into the backpacks of elementary students across communities, ensuring that they won’t go hungry when they head home for the weekend. It’s a simple idea with a powerful impact: One meal can make a difference in a child’s weekend. 

Knowing this, each volunteer moved with purpose. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t have a little fun along the way.  

Our gong show
One of the most memorable parts of the event was the gong. Each time a box was filled and sealed shut, a volunteer would strike a shining gong, its loud clang echoing throughout the room, triggering cheers and applause from all corners. The gong became a symbol of teamwork and progress — a fun way to celebrate every step toward our meal goal. 

While the packing stations worked tirelessly to fill thousands of bags, another team kept the operation running smoothly. Volunteers helped refill ingredients, supplied stations with everything from oats to cinnamon, and loaded heavy boxes onto trucks. These harvest heroes were the heartbeat of the event, making sure no station ever slowed down. 

In fact, events like Harvest Pack do more than feed kids. They inspire a culture of compassion and community action. During the day, our team packed enough meals to make a real dent in local food insecurity. Everyone who volunteered left knowing they took part in something meaningful 

As the last box was sealed, there was a shared sense of pride — along with a little oatmeal dust on our clothes. After all, we didn’t just pack food. We packed hope.