visualize or fossilize: growing your kiwanis club

Presented by:

C. Todd Smith2013-14 Membership Chair, Florida District of Kiwanis

www.ctoddsmith.com@ctoddsmith

Visualize or Fossilize: Growing Your Kiwanis Club

Why is Growth Important?

What do you love about your club?

Whatever it is, members make it happen. The service, the leadership, the fellowship, the fundraising—it all requires Kiwanians. And it all helps strengthen your community.

Imagine all of the service you have done in Kiwanis the past year…

Now imagine all of the service your club has done since it was founded…

Think about how many lives your club has touched or improved…

Now imagine… NONE of that service ever happened because there was no Kiwanis club.

That’s what’s at stake if we continue to lose members and fail to grow.

WHAT IS THE SECRET

TO MEMBERSHIP?

YOU!

100% of the people you don’t ask to join Kiwanis will not join.

YOUR CLUB’S TO DO LIST:

1. Each club must have a membership committee chair.

2. Hold regular membership committee meetings.

3. Conduct regular membership drive initiatives (suggested for October, February, May, September).

YOUR DIVISION’S TO DO LIST:

1. Each division should identify growth team members.

2. Identify “new-club builder” and “club counselor” in each division.

3. Develop and implement growth plan for the division.

IMPEDIMENTS TO

GROWTH

Poor Member Experience SIGNS OF A BAD MEETING

•No meeting agenda

•Never end on time

•No greeter

•Not fun

•Lack of a interesting speakers

•Inside jokes, games, collecting money, singing or contests not

explained to guests

•NO DISCUSSION OF UPCOMING SERVICE PROJECTS

Lack of focus or disregard for growth - NOT DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM

Lack of Follow Through- “NO TIME” EXCUSE or SOMEONE ELSE WILL DO IT.

Inflexible or too rooted in tradition- REFUSAL TO CHANGE EVEN IF IT MEANS GROWING

IMPEDIMENTS TO GROWTH

VISUALIZE A NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS

Is your club ready for new members?• When do you meet?When do you meet?• What are your dues?What are your dues?• What are your membership What are your membership

requirements?requirements?• How many social events do you hold?How many social events do you hold?• How often are your service projects?How often are your service projects?• What is the nature of your projects?What is the nature of your projects?

What are your Dues?

Cut dues to the bare minimum = $102 + club dues

$62: Kiwanis International Dues/Insurance/Magazine+ $30: Florida District Dues+ $5.00: Kiwanis International Foundation + $5.00: Florida District Foundation

Ideas to Lower Dues:

Don’t include meals in your dues

Create a separate dues plan for different types of members: Under 40, SLP Faculty Advisor, Parent of SLP Also remember 2 yr. dues waiver for former SLP members

Many of these desires are the same for ALL MEMBERS.

Is your club ready to meet their needs?

What do younger members want?

•More serviceMore service

•Lowers DuesLowers Dues

•Less MeetingsLess Meetings

•Hands-On ActivitiesHands-On Activities

•Representation Within Representation Within The ClubThe Club

•Social ActivitiesSocial Activities

•Service Leadership Service Leadership ProgramsPrograms

FLEXIBILE OPTIONS

Club Satellites

Corporate Memberships

3-2-1- Club

Now that your club is ready, where do you

find potential members?

Share your story (Elevator Pitch) – Why My ClubWhat's Our Community Impact How do we do it?

and PRACTICE telling your story

Assign a PR person for every project to maximize exposure. PR before and after the event and marketing materials at the event

MEMBERSHIP IS ABOUT MARKETING

See the new Kiwanis Brand Guide at:www.KiwanisOne.org/brandguide

Branding Matters

Ask the charities, schools, churches that you work with to help you recruit a member Visit with your local elected officials and ask them for recommendations for members

Join chamber and attend/sponsor chamber event

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Sponsor a lunch and learn or CLE for local bar association or professional association (like CPAs)

Meet with clergy and ask for member recommendations

Invite your Facebook Friends to a service project – not a meeting

People like to help if you ask for their help

Reach out to SLP members and their parents

• Be involved and have a relationship with the Key Club or CKI club

• Attend last meeting of the year, host an end of year party, OR host a event to talk about continuing their K family involvement at the next level

• Submit your projects on the Key club/CKI Alumni website

Recruiting a Key Clubber?Contact is KEY!

BUILD BUILD YOUR TEAM YOUR TEAM

• Must appoint Membership Chair for every club and have an active membership committee that reports every meeting

• Every division should have a New Club Builder and Club Counselor

Recruitment Event – 10 Step Checklist

A systematic process to organizing a membership event

1. Order the materials

2. Set up your team

3. Plan your guest event

4. Develop a prospect list

5. Mail out information

A systematic process to organizing a membership event

6. Invite prospects personally

7. Hold your meeting

8. Follow up

9. Welcome new members

10. Plan your next eventWorksheets and checklists are available at

www.KiwanisOne.org/lovemyclub

LINKS

Times have changed

Spreading the word about Kiwanis is easy.

Just click “Like”“Like”..

RememberYOUR CLUB’S TO DO LIST:

1. Each club must have a membership committee chair.

2. Hold regular membership committee meetings.

3. Conduct regular membership drive initiatives (suggested for October, February, May, September).

Visualize or Fossilize: Growing Your Kiwanis Club

Presented by: C. Todd Smith2013-14 Membership District Chair

www.ctoddsmith.com@ctoddsmith