Are you ready to become a Kiwanis leader? 

Are you ready to become a Kiwanis leader? 

Here are six tips for taking your skills to the next level. 

By Erin Chandler

Stepping up to pursue a Kiwanis leadership position is not as hard as you may think! Whether you’re thinking of a role in your club or district, or even at the international level, we’ve compiled some helpful tips — complete with advice given in Kiwanis magazine over the years by a couple of true experts: Kiwanis International Executive Director Stan Soderstrom and Executive Director-designate Paul Palazzolo. 

1. Assess your leadership strengths and goals.
“Many [Kiwanians] are taking the leadership qualities they’ve developed and already use into roles that suit them well. And many of them do it even if they haven’t held such official titles before.” — Stan Soderstrom 

There are many different ways to become a leader. In your quest to discover what kind of leader you want to be, it can be helpful to look to others as role models. That’s one reason we’re providing this publication. It is also important to look inside yourself. What are you passionate about? What motivates you? Which of your skills lend themselves to leadership? You don’t have to have held a leadership role before — everyone starts somewhere! Maybe you have learned patience from parenthood, organization from your job or perseverance from your hobbies. Think about how these skills could be useful to Kiwanis. 

2. Attend Kiwanis conventions, read the newsletters and keep up with the blog.
“[A convention] is where you will get the spirit and ideas.” — Paul Palazzolo 

At Kiwanis district and international conventions, you will have the opportunity to encounter more models of leadership, hear from experts and talk to fellow Kiwanians about their most effective projects. Between the sessions, the conversations and the energizing atmosphere, you are likely to come home with all kinds of new ideas for your club. 

You can also find inspiration through the kiwanis.org blog, the KI Update newsletter and Kiwanis social media. The blog includes stories of clubs that are making a big difference in people’s lives. Update delivers highlights from these stories directly to your email inbox every month. And the Kiwanis accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) share stories of club projects that have made the news. You never know when you might find the perfect project for your club. 

3. Get to know your community.
“We needed to cut the cord on tired initiatives and do some new things that were a little more relevant. That is a key word in the Kiwanis world: Your service needs to be relevant to your community.” — Paul Palazzolo

Being a servant leader means putting your skills to use in a way that is most beneficial to your community. Your club may have a lot of ongoing projects and ideas for new ones — but what do the people you serve actually need? Has that need changed over time? Talk to them and find out! 

Getting to know your community’s leaders will also open doors for partnerships that make your projects more impactful. A great way to become a leader is to network with those who have skills and resources that may elevate your club’s potential.   

4. Get to know your fellow club members.
“Leadership is as much about the people around you as the qualities within yourself. At Kiwanis International, that’s one of the most important aspects we emphasize for members who become leaders within our organization.” — Stan Soderstrom 

Leadership doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. Leaders surround themselves with talented teams of people who can fill their gaps in knowledge, expertise and resources. Get to know the strengths of the Kiwanians around you and get to work building your support team. 

Getting to know your club also increases the fun and fellowship you will find in Kiwanis. You might even build lasting friendships! 

5. Build up your communication skills.
“No matter if your club is a good club or a struggling club, take the plunge because your ideas can help turn that around. Kiwanis exists as an association of clubs to help leaders in the pursuit of their vision.” — Paul Palazzolo 

You have a project idea or a vision for the future of your club — but nothing will come of it unless you convey your message in a way that inspires fellow members. If you appeal to their passions and interests, you are more likely to persuade them to act. 

And remember that communication goes both ways — it’s as much about listening as it is about talking. Others’ concerns and ideas may help refine and improve your original vision. 

6. Look toward the future.
“The definition of a leader is always shifting. The challenges may be unexpected, even unprecedented, but it’s the flexible leader who will rise to meet them.” — Stan Soderstrom 

As you climb the Kiwanis leadership ladder, be prepared to adjust your goals and projects as the needs of your community, your club and your district change. And be sure to pay forward the help you have received by becoming a mentor and leadership role model to others. A key part of leadership is helping people climb the ladder after you.    

 

Meet Amy Zimmerman and Karin Church

Meet Amy Zimmerman and Karin Church

The 2023-24 Kiwanis Children’s Fund president and Kiwanis Youth Programs chair offer insight into leadership now and in the future. 

Interviews by Julie Saetre 

Amy Zimmerman (above left) and Karin Church (above right) set their sights on leadership roles as children and began their leadership journeys through Kiwanis Service Leadership Programs. Now Church is the 2023-24 Kiwanis Youth Programs board chair, and Zimmerman is 2023-24 Kiwanis Children’s Fund board president. As they begin their terms, they share insights about becoming and remaining an effective leader — and offer advice to those following in their footsteps. 

When you were the age of our Key Club/CKI members, what were your future goals? Did you see yourself in the leadership roles you’ve held in your career?  

Amy Zimmerman: In eighth grade, I remember telling my teacher that I wanted to be president of the United States and a principal of a grade school. I was young, adventurous and ambitious, generally assuming leadership roles.  

In high school, I wanted to be president of my Key Club (I was) and an inspirational/motivational speaker. Heading to college, I wanted to be lieutenant governor for CKI (I did this) and join the track team. I did, but they didn’t have a women’s track team my freshman year, so I joined the men’s team. They had a women’s team later, and I joined that.  

Karin Church: Honestly, when I first joined Key Club in 10th grade, I joined for two reasons. First, I wasn’t an athlete or scholar, so Key Club offered a place where I could “fit.” We didn’t use the term “inclusivity” in the mid-1980s, but that’s what it was. Second, my dad was (and still is today) the Kiwanis advisor. As an underclassman, I had no certain goals, but by my senior year I knew I wanted to go to law school and work on Capitol Hill. 

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at that age? 

KC: Be open to opportunities and be yourself. My career path has taken so many twists and turns. That plan to work on Capitol Hill didn’t survive a single summer in Washington, D.C., and that law degree trained my mind and gave me analytical skills I use every day, but I never really practiced law. Most importantly, however, I would tell teenage (and young 20s) Karin to just be yourself. Adolescent life is hard, and it’s even more difficult if you are not comfortable in your own skin. 

AZ: Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right. It is OK to choose what you love. I tended to always brave the unknown path and have new adventures. You are capable of way more than you can even imagine. 

Do you remember a specific time when you realized, “I am a leader”? 

AZ: At work, I witnessed all sorts of individual leadership skills firsthand from various senior leaders and realized that what I had learned in Key Club and CKI was invaluable. I learned how to plan for and run effective meetings, how to listen to others’ ideas, respect, deal with different personalities, etc.

KC: I can tell you exactly the day I realized “I am a leader.” It was September 11, 2001. I had been a manager in my company for about a year, but during the 9/11 attacks, sitting 1,500 miles away from New York City, I realized, “I’m a leader, and I am responsible for my people.” I checked in with my shell-shocked staff to make sure they were physically and mentally all right and then went to work creating plans, buying flashlights and working to make sure my little office was prepared. 

What are the key traits today’s leaders need to be successful?  

KC: Today’s leaders need vision and empathy. Envisioning the future requires an honest critique of where your organization currently is, in terms of the assets you have (both monetary and personnel) as well as the strengths and challenges you face.

From a more personal standpoint, understanding a person, what motivates them, where their anxieties are helps address challenges and allows a leader to make the path forward easier for those she leads. If a team isn’t achieving a goal, empathy allows you to stand in their shoes and evaluate why. 

AZ: Communication, strategic thinking and planning, problem solving, active listening, trust, collaboration, courage, focus, flexibility, learning, passion, patience, building strong relationships, ethics. 

I love people, which seems very counterintuitive for what you might think of someone who has a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. In fact, I did a research paper in high school about what motivates people. Being a leader is not only about understanding yourself, but what motivates others — how they feel about working with you. 

How can our Service Leadership Programs’ members prepare themselves for leadership roles? 

AZ: SLPs are the best places to try new skills — like running for office or leading your club, a committee or even a project. Practice makes perfect, so the more ways that you practice and prepare for the future, the better. Attend leadership workshops like Key Leader, Global Leadership Certificate or offerings through your university. Offer to facilitate team-building exercises at your club meetings. Learn what works and what doesn’t — and reflect on why.  

Attend leadership courses such as Key Leader, read books, ask open-ended questions of people who you admire in leadership roles (Kiwanis, school, family, community). Go to the office with them. Pick up the phone.

KC: I believe the best thing these young people can do to prepare themselves for leadership roles is to abide by their commitments. Before undertaking a position or task, be honest with yourself and evaluate what is involved. It is OK to push yourself, but if you are not 100% committed to making something a priority, give someone else the opportunity. Remember, being committed to a project is different from succeeding with a project. Sometimes leaders get in over their heads, and that’s OK. Situations where you find you need to learn a new skill or ask for help make us grow. People who work with young leaders expect they will need training and help. What we don’t expect is for those young leaders to quit when things get stressful or your duties clash with social functions. You are neither leading nor growing when you quit on a commitment.  

What do you want to accomplish in your position during 2023-24? 

KC: The main goal for my service year is to provide good governance to Kiwanis Youth Programs staff as we navigate the challenges of continuing services and programs on an increasingly tight budget. Difficult decisions need to be made, and I hope the board can be a resource and sounding board.  

AZ: I’d like to bring the threads of the Kiwanis family together like a braid so we can make an even bigger impact. We can do this by advancing the mission of Kiwanis and the Children’s Fund. Together we can help clubs achieve more than they can independently. I want to help set a solid foundation for the next several years of raising awareness and money to support our Kiwanis family.

Katrina Baranko elected 2023-24 president of Kiwanis International  

Katrina Baranko elected 2023-24 president of Kiwanis International  

Elections also brought new trustees and the selection of Lee Kuan Yong as president-elect. 

By Debra Des Vignes 

Katrina J. Baranko of Albany, Georgia, U.S., was elected president of the board of trustees at the 2023 Kiwanis International Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Lee Kuan Yong of Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, was chosen to be president-elect. They begin their new terms on October 1, 2023.  

Michael Mulhaul of Interlaken, New Jersey, U.S., was elected vice president of the organization.  

These three Kiwanians were elected trustees for the United States and Pacific Canada Region: 

  • Dennis Baugh, Palmyra, Virginia, U.S. 
  • Matthew Cantrall, Lakeland, Florida, U.S. 
  • Cathleen Ann “Cathy” Tutty, Butte, Montana, U.S. 

Chang-Ching Hsu of Tainan City, Taiwan, was elected during the Asia-Pacific convention in March to represent the Asia-Pacific Region as a Kiwanis International trustee. 

Mohan Lamsal, Kathmandu, Nepal, was elected as an at-large trustee. 

The House of Delegates voted on one proposed amendment to the Kiwanis International Bylaws. The delegates voted against a proposal put forth by the Kiwanis International Board of Trustees to increase members’ annual dues to help address a growing deficit.  

The delegates also voted to approve a modernization of the Kiwanis International Bylaws.  

From time to time, every organization should conduct a comprehensive review of its governing documents and make appropriate adjustments. The last such review of the Kiwanis International Bylaws took place 30 years ago. A special global committee spent two years conducting a new review. Their recommended changes were presented as a special type of amendment called a revision.  
 
Most changes simply moved text, improved clarity or updated language to reflect current processes, with no change to the way Kiwanis does business. Substantive changes were removed and addressed individually at the 2022 Kiwanis International Convention. 
 
2023-24 Kiwanis International President Katrina Baranko of Albany, Georgia, U.S., has been a member of Kiwanis for 29 years and served the Kiwanis Club of Albany as distinguished president and secretary. She also served as membership chair and as a member of the board of directors. At the district level, Baranko was a distinguished governor, lieutenant governor and member of the finance committee, and she has been parliamentarian. She is also a certified club leadership trainer and has presented at three Kiwanis International conventions. She has received the district Leadership Medallion and has served as chair of the Past District Governor’s Association, as well as chair of the 2007 Georgia District Convention, the Training and Education Committee and the Youth Services Committee. She and her husband, David, have a son, a daughter-in-law and one grandson. 
 
Lee Kuan Yong joined Kiwanis in 1993, served as a Kiwanis International trustee in 2011-14 and was the Asia-Pacific chair in 2016-17. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Kuala Lumpur in the Malaysia District and Eye of the Tiger eKiwanis Club in the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District. He has also served as president of the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation, Malaysia. He and his wife, Kon Cze Yan, have two sons and one grandson. He will serve as president of Kiwanis International in 2024-25. 

The 2024 Kiwanis International Convention will be held in Denver, Colorado, July 3-6.