India becomes latest Kiwanis district 

India becomes latest Kiwanis district 

Jul 1, 2025 | Club building, General interest, News | 0 comments

The governor-elect shares his thoughts on the occasion.

By Tony Knoderer

India was announced as the newest Kiwanis International district during the organization’s 2025 convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. A provisional district since 2022, India now becomes Kiwanis’ 48th district. Khushwinder Kathpalia is the district’s first governor, and Fahim Rehman is currently governor-elect.

To mark the occasion, Rehman recently shared his thoughts in an email exchange.

How have your fellow Kiwanis members in India reacted to becoming a Kiwanis district?
The excitement was at an extraordinary level. The formation of a district, along with having a governor and a district board, had long been a dream for Indian members. Additionally, there were numerous benefits that accompanied our district status. Last year, we were also awarded as a distinguished district.  

How will becoming a district affect the work Kiwanis clubs do in India?
Certainly, becoming a district will lead to the opening of more clubs because the members are excited and are actively establishing our first board and committees. This organized approach by the district board will result in significant growth in the number of clubs and greater projects.

How do you think India’s district status will affect Kiwanis worldwide?
As we traveled to (Kiwanis International’s) Asia-Pacific, European and international conventions, the bonds of friendship and fellowship became the experience of a lifetime. Since Indians can be found in every corner of this blessed earth, we have assisted many countries by introducing Indian communities there and sharing the Kiwanis mission with them — providing opportunities to help children in need. 

What makes you proudest of India’s Kiwanians?
India is a vast and diverse country — rich in culture, spirit and youth. But within this vibrant population lies a deep disparity. Through our work with Kiwanis, we have come face-to-face with stories that are both heartbreaking and inspiring — stories that have changed us. 
 
We’ve seen children climbing mountain paths to reach schools, wearing nothing but flip-flops on rough, unforgiving terrain. We’ve met students who brave the cold in worn-out clothes, determined to learn despite the odds. In remote regions, we’ve encountered schools where children with disabilities live and study, often without the resources they deserve. 
 
In some government girls’ schools, we discovered there were no proper sanitation facilities. With the support of Kiwanis clubs, we’ve been able to build clean, safe toilets — a small but life-changing step toward dignity and empowerment for young girls. 
 
One of the most meaningful initiatives is a project where health insurance is provided to baby girls at birth. This not only ensures medical support but also actively works against gender-based abortions — a quiet but powerful movement toward equality. 
 
From providing clothes and food to ensuring access to clean water and quality education, each project we take on is driven by a simple but profound mission: to make life better for children. 
 
These aren’t just projects — they’re lifelines. And they are the reason we are proud to be part of Kiwanis. Together, we are not just helping children; we are helping shape a future where no child is left behind. 

Corporate memberships grow clubs 

Corporate memberships grow clubs 

Jun 23, 2025 | Club building, General interest | 0 comments

Remember this option for expanding your roster.

By Tony Knoderer

For every Kiwanis club, new members are a lifeline to the future — both for the community and the club itself. That’s why it’s important to think creatively about who can be a member. Could your club use a little flexibility when it comes to making membership appealing? 

Don’t forget corporate memberships! At your club’s next meeting, encourage fellow members to discuss this option, which allows a company or organization to join as a member. You might even suggest that members work together to make a list of three to five candidates — and then contact them to start the recruiting process. 

Here’s how corporate membership works:  

  • The company is represented at meetings and events by an employee of the company’s choosing. 
  • The company can also choose to pay membership dues or ask the designated employee to do so. 
  • If the designated employee changes jobs, a new employee can be designated to take his or her place without being charged a new member fee. 
  • There is no limit to the number of memberships a company can have. (Each membership must have a specific person designated by the company.) 
  • A designated employee is welcome to invite other, nondesignated employees — as well as friends, family and others — to join the club or attend a meeting. 

Of course, this option is also excellent for nonprofit organizations. For any organization in your community, it’s a chance to do good for local kids — and to benefit from the connection to Kiwanis. 

Don’t forget: Kiwanis International offers an insert regarding corporate membership that fits our “Join Us” brochure — so people in your club can pass along the information above and more to any company or organizational representatives you meet with.  

The brochure and insert are free. They’re available on this Kiwanis Family Store page — along with other inserts that appeal to potential recruits’ specific interests. 

7 tips for member retention 

7 tips for member retention 

Jun 19, 2025 | Club building, General interest, Leadership | 0 comments

Here’s how clubs keep people coming back. 

By Tony Knoderer

For Kiwanis clubs, new members bring new ideas — and the kind of energy that refreshes the members you already have. But what can your club do to help people’s initial enthusiasm take root and deepen? And how do you support established members in maintaining their commitment to Kiwanis service?  

To help you answer those questions, we’re offering seven quick tips for creating a club culture that makes everyone feel inspired and appreciated: 

1. Make new members feel important. A member’s induction into your club will set the tone for how highly they value their membership. Make it feel like the significant event that it is — for them and for the club. Help new members understand the club’s traditions and the commitment it requires. 

2. Encourage a sense of connection. The more established members a new member feels comfortable with, the greater the chances they will stay involved. Introduce them — and encourage those connections early on. 

3. Give new members a mentor. Kiwanians are happiest when they get involved. Have someone mentor new members for the first year as they experience what your club has to offer.  

4. Empower all members to become leaders. Give people the opportunity to lead your club and the support they’ll need to do it. It’s a way of creating a pipeline that makes leadership a steady presence in the club through the years.  

5. Invest in member education. Invite interesting speakers. Send members to division, district and international events. Encourage them to share what they learned. 

6. Celebrate! Honor members’ achievements — both inside and outside your club — so they feel valued.  

7. Reach out to members you haven’t seen in a while. If a member isn’t attending events, there may be a valid reason. Even if life becomes hectic, we all appreciate friends who show they care. 

 There are more tips and tools where these came from! See our guide to good retention habits, which includes these and other tips. It’s part of our member retention webpage, where you’ll find resources that can help everyone in your Kiwanis club be an advocate for growth and membership.