Time to "dust" off the Tools!

As the new calendar year starts, we as Kiwanians need to realize that we already have the necessary tools for membership growth . . . we just need to dust them off and USE them! We have sat in seminars at conventions . . we have brought home the membership materials . . we have ordered brochures from KI. We have the tools . . but they are left locked up in our toolbox. It's time to take them out and use them.

Many of the Growth Tools are listed on this blog in the Resource section below - with links to the KI website for all of us to use. Check out http://www.kiwanisone.org/ for many, many membership downloads.

So . . . make a New Year's resolution to help your club grow . . and to introduce Service through Kiwanis to someone you know.

Reach in your Kiwanis toolbox . . clean off the tools . . . and begin to use them in your clubs and divisions. Focus on Membership in 2008. It will take some work . . but the results will allow your club to serve the needs of children in your area.

Celebrate Service . . . share the Kiwanis experience with someone today!

Is your club ready to CHANGE?

Our clubs need to change in order to grow - - adapting to new needs in the community and to attract new members. We have added a new link to the presentation given by Past-President Steve Siemens at a recent Int'l Convention.

This is excellent material to challenge your club and affect change that is needed.

Click on the link below and download the document from the old Kiwanis website.

Eight keys to a healthy Kiwanis club

UC Berkeley's 2007 study on volunteerism in America cited these eight characteristics of a healthy, active, volunteer membership organization:

1. A mission and purpose(s) that are clearly defined and supported by the Board and membership.
2. Members who understand the benefits and responsibilities of membership in the organization.
3. The work of the organization is effectively shared through an active Board or committee.
4. Strong, rotating leadership.
5. Timely and clear communication at all levels of the organization.
6. Planned, effective outreach and integration (orientation) of new members.
7. Programs and activities that meet the needs of the membership and are well planned and attended.
8. Effective utilization and appreciation of the rich mix of resources that individual members bring to the group.

--UC Berkeley

Who’s volunteering in America

Two recent studies from U.C. Berkeley and from the University of Chicago reveal volunteer trends that can help you recruit new Kiwanis members.

“Volunteering in America: State Trends and Rankings” is the first study to give a detailed breakdown of America’s volunteering habits and patterns by state and region.

Here’s a glance:
--Nationwide, volunteerism is on the rise, as 65.4 million (or 28.8 percent) of American adults volunteered in 2005, an increase of 6 million volunteers since 2002.
--Volunteers spend a median of 50 hours a year volunteering.
--Women volunteer at significantly higher rates than males nationwide.
--Working women (36.1 percent) volunteer more than non-working women (27.2 percent).
--Women with young children volunteer at a higher rate (39.9%) than do women without young children (29%).
--61.2 million Americans volunteered in 2006 to help others by mentoring students, restoring homes after disasters, assisting children.
--The major volunteer groups in 2006 were late teens, Baby Boomers and those older than 65.
--A significant number of teens are turning into volunteers because of school-based service programs (like Key Club).

For Kiwanis clubs, this means pay more attention to your teen members (Key Club, etc.), grow your teens into Kiwanians, and look to working women (and more so, working moms), Baby Boomers and retirees as your target groups for new membership.

The full survey, including profiles of volunteering in each region and state, is available at http://www.nationalservice.org/

Two clubs thinking "outside the box"

Two clubs within Division 37, taking the cue from Past International President Steve Siemans to "get out of your comfort zone," are embarking on "out-of-the-box" strategies to recruit new members.
The Rancho Bernardo club is conducting a month-long membership drive where new members will receive a 50-percent discount in initial dues and 50 percent off on breakfast meeting meals during the first year.
Meanwhile, the Poway club will be offering "service-only" memberships during the next year for new members who want to participate in service and fundraising projects, but for whom regular meeting attendance is an obstacle. Service-only members will be pay district and international dues and will be required to perform 36 hours of service each year. The program is modeled after one being successfully used by the San Jose noon club.
Are there other new membership ideas out there?

NEW CLUB BUILDING TRAINING OFFERED AT RENO CONVENTION

A complete two-hour New Club Builder Certification training session is being offered at the District Convention next month in Reno. Presenters include Jim Courtright from KIWANIS Int'l and Roy Talley, CNH New Club Building Chair.

It is important that each division in CNH have a New Club Builder - a member of the division TAG Team and Membership Growth Team. This seminar provides the tools necessary to effectively open a new club in your division.

Plan on attending this seminar now . . . . For more info, please contact Roy Talley at retalley@pacbell.net .

And . . . please leave a comment on this post if you are planning to attend.

KIWANIS ROLLS OUT GREAT NEW WEBSITE!!!!

CHECK OUT THE NEW KIWANIS WEBSITE TODAY!

Kiwanis has just rolled out the new website which includes a new look and feel as well as much more info for the members regarding growth.

Click on "Member Resources" and then go to the Member Community where you can register and participate in Blogs and Forums. This info is actually on a new website link - http://www.kiwanisone.org/

CHECK IT OUT TODAY!! . . . AND ROPE IN SOME NEW MEMBERS YOU'ALL!

NOTE - If you know where things are in the old website . . . you can link to it from the new one.

Membership blog a great idea!

Checking out the blog for the first time. I think you guys are on to a good thing. I'm involved in the opening of a new club in Division 37 (4S Ranch) where most of the prospective members are busy young parents. Getting them together in a room twice a month is a challenge; maybe communicating through a blog like this will be the way to go.

Need a Club Brochure . . . .?????

Today . . . . I have a DEAL for you!

Kiwanis has developed a club brochure template and will even print 50 copies for you!!!

Go to this link . . . .

http://classic.kiwanis.org/theone/cbrochure.html

OR

Click on the link below . . . .

New Tool for Clubs - Are You the One Campaign

CNH Tag Teams -

A new program designed to assist clubs with promoting memebership has been added to the Kiwanis International website - - "ARE YOU THE ONE?'

Select the link below and check out the new materials . . . .

Keep growing . .

Dave Schmitt

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH MATERIALS AVAILABLE IN SAN ANTONIO!

See you all in San Antonio!

Be sure to stop by the Membership Booth in the Exhibit Hall and see all of the new membership materials available for membership growth!