How to recognize your club’s successes 

How to recognize your club’s successes 

To keep your members engaged, make them feel valued as individuals and as a group. These suggestions can get you started. 

By Julie Saetre

Members of your community join your club because they want to make a difference in the lives of children. But if their efforts are taken for granted, they might participate less — or even worse, stop attending club meetings and events altogether. To keep them involved and engaged, it’s important to celebrate members’ successes, recognize their contributions and make them feel valued as individuals and as a group. Here are some suggestions to get you started. 

For individual acknowledgment 

Little gestures make a big difference: A simple thank-you note, quick social media post or verbal recognition during a meeting takes little time but lets someone know they matter. Or give a small token of appreciation, such as a small gift from the Kiwanis Family Store, a cupcake or a “thank you” balloon.  

Take it public: If someone has achieved a major accomplishment, such as a milestone membership anniversary or a long-time tenure as project chair, public recognition can shine a spotlight on that individual (and boosts your club’s visibility). Nominate them for a community award or look for media opportunities that profile volunteers. 

For group efforts 

Make it an event: Host a cocktail/mocktail/appetizer hour, treat members to a meal during a meeting, attend a local sporting event as a group or take in a performance of an area play. If you have the time and budget and want to go bigger, consider a recognition night, an annual banquet or even a formal gala. Invite the public and showcase the great work your members do in the community. You could add a fundraising element by selling admission tickets, auctioning items or letting attendees know donations are welcome. 

For more ideas and tips on celebrating success, head to the Achieving Club Excellence tools webpage. You’ll find other common challenges clubs face and the tools that help club leaders address them. 

Boost member engagement with ACE tools 

Boost member engagement with ACE tools 

If your club members seem less engaged lately, these three resources can help rebuild enthusiasm. 

By Tony Knoderer

Dwindling enthusiasm: It’s a problem that can strike even the most successful Kiwanis club. Sometimes it’s a natural result of habit or routine — the same meetings, the same projects, the same old routine. Sometimes it’s a more serious matter. 

Whatever the reason, Kiwanis International has the tools to help your club address it. In fact, a few of our Achieving Club Excellence (ACE) tools are designed to help your club’s leaders understand what members want and where they want the club to go: 

  • Member survey. The first step toward ensuring a positive club experience, this survey helps gather information that can improve the club experience for current members — and even make it more appealing for people you’re recruiting. You’ll also find a guide for survey options, results evaluations and potential solutions. 
  • Club vision. Here’s where you define what your club does and why it exists — and then create a clear vision that guides club leaders and members. The tool’s guide also provides instructions for conducting a group exercise, so everyone has a voice in the vision-making process. 
  • Celebrate success. Don’t forget the fun — or the importance — of feeling valued. People stay involved when their efforts are recognized. And club service stays special when success is celebrated. Use this tool to determine how you celebrate, who and what you recognize, and which questions your club should ask itself.

All these resources can be found on the ACE tools webpage, which includes other common concerns clubs face — and pairs them with the tools that help club leaders address them.  

7 ways to make people feel welcome

7 ways to make people feel welcome

For current and potential members alike, a few simple acts can let people know they belong. 

By Julie Saetre

Everyone Kiwanis member wants to feel welcome — regardless of how long they’ve been with their clubs. Potential members need to know they’re joining a group eager to work with newcomers. And existing members want to feel valued. These seven simple actions can go a long way toward making everyone feel respected: 

  • Consider your meeting location. Is your location convenient for all your members? Is it easy for newcomers to find? If not, seek out alternatives. You might also consider rotating meeting spots or adding a virtual option. 
  • Ask members about their meeting time preferences. Some schedules don’t allow for daytime gatherings; others make evening meetings difficult. Member availability also depends on whether weekends or weekdays work best. Again, flexibility is key. Perhaps varying meeting times or days will allow for more member participation. 
  • Respect people’s time. During your meetings, set an agenda and stick to it. If you say you will meet for an hour, don’t go past that. Also, make the most of the time you have. Don’t get bogged down in the minutiae that can be covered in a meeting with officers.  
  • Ask for input. When people feel heard, they feel welcome. Some people are outgoing and offer ideas and suggestions freely. Others might hesitate to speak up. Ask your less-vocal attendees to share their thoughts. Also let all members and guests know how to provide feedback outside of meetings; some might prefer one-on-one conversations or email/text.  
  • Make meeting minutes easily available. Every member will need to miss a meeting now and then, and you don’t want them to feel left out at the next one. Be sure they can catch up by ensuring minutes are written and distributed in a timely manner. It’s also a good idea to have minutes posted on your club’s website and/or linked in its social media accounts for the convenience of current members — and for those considering membership. 
  • Invite potential members to service events. What better way to be welcoming than to invite nonmembers to join you as you serve your community? When that invitation is accepted, make sure your guests feel valued and included. Ask members to introduce themselves and work alongside your guests during the project.  
  • Say thank you. Members and guests have a lot of options about how to spend their limited spare time. Let them know how much you appreciate them for their attendance, ideas, service and support.