tag newsletter dec 2008
DESCRIPTION
Kiwanis International Membership topicTRANSCRIPT
ease attending their first meeting if they
already have an acquaintance within the club.
Providing them with some basic information
about Kiwanis through word of mouth –
before their first meeting leads to an easier
dialogue. Direct, one‐on‐one contact allows a
member to convey sincerely the benefits of
service through Kiwanis.
The emotion of a member’s service
experiences speaks more loudly than printed
words on a flier or mailing. It’s only natural
that when someone can see how much a
Kiwanian cares about his Kiwanis service, he
or she might begin caring as well. Word of
mouth is much harder to ignore than other
methods of publicity.
Members can talk about Kiwanis with family,
friends, acquaintances, co‐workers, and
others. Or, they can plan to approach passers‐
by before or after meetings with a more
organized effort. While any member can
recruit through word of mouth, some people
can be particularly effective at this method.
The personal touch of word‐of‐mouth
recruitment may help potential members
differentiate Kiwanis from the many
competing service organizations. When
implementing word‐of‐mouth recruitment,
keep in mind that talk must be followed up
with visible actions to make an impression on
potential members. And it’s important that the
actual activities of the club be highly
publicized as well.
Most effective method: Word of mouth
Word of mouth is the simplest and most
effective way to recruit members. Sometimes
this occurs casually, as you discuss Kiwanis
with friends and family. However, remember
that even a concerted, formal effort to recruit
through word of mouth is valuable and
doesn’t need to be time‐consuming.
Launching a word of mouth campaign does
not have to be daunting. All members can take
part and any type of person can be reached
through this approach. Often, people will not
seek out opportunities to serve, so Kiwanians
have to be proactive in seeking out potential
members. When recruiting, be enthusiastic
and emphasize both the social and service
aspects of Kiwanis. Invite each prospective
member to a specific project or event. This
way, familiarity with Kiwanis quickly
proceeds past talk and into action. Also, an
invitation to a specific project or event shows a
person is welcome and needed in Kiwanis.
Word of mouth often provides a better
opportunity for members to discuss Kiwanis
in more depth than other recruitment
methods. The average person may be familiar
with the Kiwanis logo or name, but may not
understand what Kiwanis is about. Through
word of mouth, a member can explain
Kiwanis, and its impact on the community.
In fact, the personal element in word‐of‐
mouth recruitment is part of what makes it so
successful. Potential members will feel more at
Seven steps to achieving club excellence
Step 1: Commit to excellence!
The first step toward having a great
club is to renew the commitment of
its members:
To Kiwanis.
To the Kiwanis purpose.
To each other. To the club.
How do our club members
contribute to a great club?
What does a great club do for its
members?
Achieving club excellence isn’t
easy, but it can be fun. To start, you
need to make sure your club and its
members are truly committed to
the mission and purpose of
Kiwanis.
Is your club actively engaged in
your community? Is your main
purpose providing service? Are
you committed to the Objects of
Kiwanis? Do your club members
feel a responsibility to each other
and the club? Are they invested in
their success? A club cannot reach
its potential if the answer to any of
these questions is no.
In step one—Commit to
Excellence—your club’s members
talk about their commitment to
each other and their club. What are
everyone’s expectations? In this
exercise the foundation for your
club is re‐established and
strengthened, preparing you for an
amazing future.
Kiwanis TAG Team TOGETHER ACHIEVING GROWTH
December 2008
Serving the Children of the World® Our future is in your hands!
TAG! You’re it! Fundamentals of recruitment
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.
Though many working professionals believe community service
is important, many would prefer to serve in the community
where they live instead of where they work. Traditional Kiwanis
clubs typically meet during the workweek, though, so service
close to home can be difficult. In addition, many working
parents want to spend their non‐work time with their children.
Kiwanis family clubs are designed to accommodate these needs
by allowing parents who want to perform service in their
community the opportunity to:
Teach their children the importance of giving back to
the community.
Spend meaningful time together as a family.
Improve the community and secure its future.
Build enduring friendships.
Develop leadership skills.
Gain insight on issues impacting the community.
New club building reimbursement
The reimbursement for defraying expenses incurred by
growth team members building new clubs has been
standardized. For all club building—worldwide—20 percent
of the total monies paid to Kiwanis International as new‐club
fees and dues at the time of chartering will be reimbursed.
Districts also are encouraged to add funds to provide
support to new‐club building efforts as well.
What’s new?
Instead of the standard US$200, US$300, or US$500
reimbursement based on new members signed up at the time
or organizing, the reimbursement will be calculated based on
the number of paid members in the new club on the date of
chartering.
The appropriate payment will be issued to the district office on
a quarterly basis for distribution to the appropriate TAG Team
Member(s) indicated on the New Kiwanis Club Information
Sheet. Only one reimbursement payment per club.
The benefits in leveraging Service Leadership Programs (SLP’s)
to build new Kiwanis clubs is well documented. Keep in mind,
though, Service Leadership Programs can help existing Kiwanis
clubs grow too. This win‐win occurs when a club satellite forms
to support an SLP.
The host club partners with parent groups at the local school,
and the parents become a club satellite (or support group) to
open a K‐Kids, Builders Club, or Key Club at the school.
The parents become members of the host Kiwanis club, but meet
at a different location and time. Their sole service project:
Supporting the SLP. The host club gains members and a sense of
pride in sponsoring another SLP.
The host Kiwanis club would still accept the traditional
requirements of sponsorship, such as recruiting and training the
parent and faculty advisor(s), budgeting money annually for the
club, ensuring that annual dues/fees are paid, training the
leadership of the club, and hosting joint activities involving the
membership of both clubs.
Benefits to the host Kiwanis club:
Recruiting school parents to join the Kiwanis club.
Increasing the number of schools with which the Kiwanis
club can partner.
Providing service and leadership opportunities to many
more youth.
Multiplying the number of service projects/service hours the
Kiwanis club generates each year.
The possibility of spinning the satellite off into a separate club once it reaches charter strength.
Encourage clubs in your district to take advantage of this growth
concept.
Visit the Kiwanis Web site to find valuable resources:
Frequently asked questions about club satellites New‐club building resources for each of the SLPs:
Kiwanis Kids, Builders Club, Key Club, and Circle K
Aktion Club
Please contact Member Services to order New Club Building Kits
for Kiwanis Kids, Builders Club, Key Club, or Circle K.
Please visit the Kiwanis Web site to order a New Club Building
Kit for Kiwanis.
Club Satellites: Extending service…and membership
Kiwanis family clubs