How to retain resigning members

How to retain resigning members

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

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. 

5 community connections for any club 

5 community connections for any club 

Whether your club is large, small or in between, these ideas can revitalize service and community engagement.

By Destiny Cherry

Finding service projects can seem daunting for a new Kiwanis club — or when members of an established club run out of ideas. One way to revitalize your club’s service is to connect with organizations in the community. These five community connections can help a club of any size find projects to strengthen local engagement and uplift children and families: 

  1. Connect with a local food bank, pantry or soup kitchen. These organizations give your Kiwanis club two major opportunities: donating time and donating resources. Depending on the availability of club members, a service project can involve donating your time: sorting and storing donations, preparing and serving food to those in need or helping to ration and distribute food. It can also involve donating resources: organizing a can drive within your club and the community and donating proceeds. However your club decides to get involved, this is typically an easy, accessible way to make a large, lasting impact. 
  2. Build connections with a local recreational facility. A nearby recreational facility or community center — such as a YMCA location — might offer a variety of opportunities to get involved. This could include members of your club coaching or serving as an assistant with young sports teams, assisting in childcare centers, lifeguarding at a pool or helping to set up, tear down or supervise the facility’s sponsored events. Each service project is both an opportunity to empower kids through movement and a fun way for members of your club to get involved. 
  3. Partner with schools in your community. Connecting with a local school can result in a lasting partnership and a lasting impact. Some ways to get involved include reading books to younger children, holding a book drive, chaperoning school-sponsored events, tutoring kids in afterschool programs and mentoring.  
  4. Support a local children’s hospital. Get your club and the community involved with a toy drive, write kind notes to patients during the holidays or do activities with the patients and their siblings. Your club could also host a “dance marathon” for adults — challenging them to stay standing or “dance” for an extended period, during which people are encouraged to participate or donate money. This initiative encourages people to “stand” for children who can’t.  
  5. “Build up” the community at construction sites. With the right research, your club can assist with building homes, community and wellness centers, school extensions or playgrounds — all spaces that nurture the growth, learning and safety of children. Site managers can help ensure that all activities are safe and age-appropriate, with the necessary safety equipment provided on-site. Club members would only need to bring closed-toe shoes, comfortable clothing (preferably something they don’t mind getting dirty) and a desire to do some work. Possible tasks include hammering nails, moving smaller debris prebuild, drilling or screwing in nails, painting or minor site cleanup. Tasks can be tailored to each member’s comfort level, and site managers can offer guidance and answer questions along the way.

Connecting through fundraising
Fundraising projects and events can make connecting with your community much easier. Once a connection is made, your new partners can make finding service projects a lot easier. If you’re not sure where to start and want to see what has worked for other clubs, visit the fundraising page on our website. And check out our blog post with other tips for your fundraiser. 

 Don’t forget Kiwanis International’s new partner, Givergy, which provides a platform for fundraising events and projects, with no upfront costs. Learn more!