Are the Youth Programs a Kiwanis club's best service project?

I could not agree more. The youth programs are a great source for future Kiwanis members. We, as an organization, need to better track and recruit youth program alumni.

An interesting but loaded question that deserves an honest answer.

In my opinion, over the years too many programs have been introduced to us with great fanfare but with very little follow up, let alone physical help in implementing them. A good example is the Bring Up Grades program. How did Districts help with this program? By sending in Lt. Governors who have no staff?

Not every club can do the same program in the same way and get the same results.

"Support" means to do more than talk about how good a program is. The team that "supports" the program should get out on the road and help drive the car.

Extra funds help a great deal.

I believe the Youth Programs are certainly important for the future growth of Kiwanis.  

The Best Results for handling the programs are not always through our schools but may be through other Youth Serving agencies like the Boys and Girls Clubs with the new partnership agreement.  

However, as an organization with a mission to serve the children of the world we need to be bringing the other agencies to the table because all have their good points but need the extra hands and eyes that Kiwanis can provide.

The Michigan District - Has a Youth Services Chair- that being me and I hope to be able to pull Kiwanis Members from around Michigan that may already be a part of the other Youth Serving Agencies to be part of that Committee.  

I think an honest evaluation needs to occur as to how much and how wide our reach should be to deliver the BEST PRACTICES product to our target audience.

Just saying it is so, does not make it so.

Leadership comes from the top.

How many Service Leadship clubs have those at the top built recently, including KI officers, executives and trustees.

Likewise, how many of the branded service projects have they participated in the past year?

It is easy to talk the talk, but more results occur when those at the top walk the walk. I just recently watched a speech where it would have been far easier for the speaker and her family to quietly act differently in 2 situation then to solidly line up with her well articulated public position. not discussing whether I agree with her position or not is not relevant here, ... she went immeasurably up in my opinion for walking the walk.

Do we as Kiwanians measure up to this in what we say others should do?

Evalauate, focus and look within yourself to see that we all walk the walk of our goals.

I noticed that many answers dwell on "we should support these programs because they are future Kiwanis members".  If that is the total motivation then your priorities are in the wrong place.

Make your Sponsored Youth program such a rewarding experience that they want to return what we have done for them.

How you ask?  Be there to support them, we take our Builders and Key Clubbers on some very educational trips such as tours of Dorenbecher Children’s Hospital, (CMN) 100 miles each way.  In the spring we take them to Kiwanis Camp Mount Hood to prepare it for physically challenged kids and young adults.  We make sure they are supported going to ICON and DECON along with Key Leader and we give scholarships.

Do remind them that they are entitled to two years free membership.

In the Astoria Warrenton Oregon Kiwanis Club, we have two former Key Clubbers (age 20) and two former CKI members.  We did not have to seek them out they came looking for us.

For our CKI members we are indebted to a Kiwanis Club in Washington and one in Wyoming.

Emil Nyberg

Lt. Gov. PNW Div 67

If we say our motto is 'Serving the children of the world"

and our focus is building leaders then certainly these programmes should be the best projects. Right now, they are the best intentions but I would like to see every club and every single member from KI Board  to District to club level involved.

Just imagine the impact we could make in our schools and our communities if we were really focusing on these projects.

The programmes are ready -made and only need to be implemented and thc clubs fulfill their responsibilities.

As an Administrator in Jamaica, I see the significance of these projects when they are properly undertaken and maintained.

Let us get back to the true meaning of Kiwanis.. the children.

We cannot be everything to everyone so let focus on the children

Yours in Kiwanis

I am a former Circle K member and joined my local Kiwanis club right after graduation.  For my local Kiwanis club it doesnt seem like there is too much interaction between our club and our sponsered clubs- 3 Builders clubs, and 2 Key clubs.  Emil- I did suggest some similar things that you suggested for our Key and Builders club and the advisor basically shot me down.  I am willing to help with our key club so they can more involved like going to DCON, ICON, and Holiday Embrace - the I-I district's fundraiser for our district's fundraiser, Spastic Paraylsis

Marty, when I moved back to Astoria in 2001 and went to a key Club meeting I was asked by the Faculty Advisor if there still was a Kiwanis Club in Astoria as they had not herd from a Kiwannian in years. I assured them we were still here (just a few members) but would make sure we had someone at every meeting.  We started a scholarship program and invited the Key Club Members to our meetings and asked for help on our projects.  That is one of the reasons we have grown over 25% the last three years and are at 48 members.

Our sponsored youth want us to be involved with them and them with us.

Give them a quality experience and they will become Kiwanis Members

I know this has been stated previously, but it is so important it needs to be said again. If the driving force behind having childrens programs is to recruit membership, then your priorities are in the wrong place.

We have sponsored a Key Club in our local high school for many years and the entire time our focus has been to promote leadership through service. Every event we sponsor, every program we put on, no matter what, the Key Club is asked to participate. These young men and women may not immediately join the Kiwanis ranks after graduation, but then that isn't our goal, however, many of them do continue on and promote children whether through Kiwanis or other service organizations.

Remember, the quality of your program is not reflected in your membership, but in how you have improved the quality of life of a child.

If you cannot separate club growth from program impact, then perhaps you don't understand the nature of Kiwanis.