3 ways to refresh your signature project
If your club’s service showcase is losing members’ interest, try these three ACE tools.
By Tony Knoderer
From playgrounds and parks to festivals and fundraisers, signature projects are what Kiwanis clubs are known for in their communities. In fact, Kiwanis International recognizes the best of them each year with the Signature Project Contest.
But even the best signature projects can lose their impact. Maybe it’s just a matter of routine — a need to refresh what’s become too familiar for members. Or maybe it’s something more difficult to identify.
Your club’s signature project is its showcase to the community — so it’s important to make sure members care enough to make it impactful. If the project needs to regain member interest, some of Kiwanis International’s Achieving Club Excellence (ACE) tools can help:
- Evaluate your impact. Start with an accurate sense of the difference you’re making. With this tool, your club can make an honest and thorough assessment.
- Member survey. Sometimes you need to address a core issue: What makes the club experience valuable for members? Specific questions that explore their perceptions of the club’s impact — and what they’d like to start doing — provide insights that can be applied to your club’s most important project.
- Club vision. You can also take a look at the big picture: What does your club do, and why does it exist? This tool helps your club create a vision that guides leaders and members alike. And it includes instructions on conducting a group exercise, so everyone has a part in the process.
Don’t forget: All these resources can be found on the ACE tools webpage, which includes other common concerns clubs face — and pairs them with the tools that help address those issues.
Five steps for taking powerful photos
Take your images from ho-hum to high impact.
By Julie Saetre
Whether you want to boost the power of your club’s social media posts or spotlight its achievements through a showcase exhibit, well-composed photos make all the difference. Vibrant images show what Kiwanis club members do and who they serve. To take your photos from ho-hum to high impact, incorporate these five tips into your next snapshot session.
Plan ahead. What story do you want your photo to tell? How do you want viewers to react?
Be polite. Don’t just start snapping photos of someone. Talk to your subject in a conversational tone and ask if you can take the photo.
Think active, not passive. Show your club or project in action. If your club is hosting an event to shop with kids or distribute school supplies, photograph a child trying on new shoes or exploring the contents of a backpack. A static photo of your club members lined up before the event won’t be meaningful to your audience.
Experiment with angles. Take a wide view of the room or event space, then try a few closeups of faces. Get down to kids’ eye levels by kneeling. Move closer to your subject and avoid shooting down at them — you’re more likely to get a genuine expression. Play with perspectives and see which images you like best.
Keep it simple. If you’re shooting a portrait, choose an uncluttered background. Avoid trees or items that appear to “grow” from behind a subject’s head. Don’t use the flash function if possible. Seek natural light and avoid shadows. Ask your subject to move forward from a backdrop, banner or poster. Don’t have a person stand straight against a wall. You want a memorable image, not a mug shot. And don’t forget to update your Kiwanis logos!
We encourage Kiwanis clubs to use their own photos of members, events and service projects when possible. (Remember, if you take photos of minors, be sure to get written permission from their parents or guardians.)
If you’re stuck for inspiration and need a little help, we have photos available for you to download and use.