What makes a great story?

Kiwanis International is looking for great Kiwanis stories to share with the world. Stories that tug at your heart. Make you want to run out right now and change the world.

Stories are what we remember when talking to friends. We share our stories. We tell them over and over again. Stories are the fabric of our lives, woven together to make us who we are. And it’s a great Kiwanis story that will motivate people to do more, to make a difference—or to join Kiwanis.

But there’s a problem. Kiwanis International only knows those great stories if you share them.

Examples of great stories:

• A Kiwanis club involved not only in funding a school in Ecuador, but whose members actually travel to Ecuador to lay the bricks.
• A club that sponsors ill children and plays an active role in their recuperation with visits, fun trips and parties, etc.
• A club that provides housing for teachers in Africa—so that the teachers can live closer to the school where they teach and don’t have to walk miles every day for work.
• A club that sponsors at-risk children at a summer camp—at no cost—so they can experience the joy and pleasure of just being kids.
• A club that not only sponsors a library—but helps build one—then has its members show up each week to read to the children who visit.

Here’s how you can help:

• Send us your ideas for stories. We don’t need written articles—just an idea to start with.
• Think hard about your idea. Is it a story you’d tell over and over again? Does it make you want to do more? Do you think it would make someone else want to join Kiwanis?
• Try to come up with stories that impacted children or a child in a big way. Fundraisers are great, but hands-on service that was life-changing to a child is even better.

Other ways to share your stories:

• Tell your club’s best stories in your club bulletin.
• Share your club’s best stories with your district bulletin editor.
  Send news releases to local media about your club’s best projects—these are what turn into the best stories.
• E-mail us your story ideas for possible use in Kiwanis magazine and on Center Stage!