Dues amendment proposed

The Kiwanis International Board will propose a US$15 dues increase when the House of Delegates convenes at the 97th Annual Kiwanis International Convention in New Orleans, June 28–July 1. Kiwanis dues have remained unchanged for nearly a decade. Several factors impact Kiwanis’ financial status, including:

Inflation: With today’s dollar, Kiwanis would need more than $53 to continue doing business at the same level as 2003 when delegates set dues at $42.

Kiwanis membership: The primary source of Kiwanis International revenue is members’ dues. Since 2003–04, our membership has declined from 264,464 to 226,929 at the end of the 2010–11 year, and revenue from dues and fees has fallen from $10.6 million to $8.7 million.

Stewardship: Every year, Kiwanis has cut expenses in various ways, including measures that have reduced services to our adult and youth clubs. As a result, the organization is operating efficiently and lean and has maintained an operating surplus every year since 2003—until last year. In order to return to fiscal stability, a dues increase is needed.

Kiwanis also would like to take advantage of additional opportunities, such as:

Education: New technology is available to improve the member experience through online education and club administration and support.

Program growth: For each of the past four years, Aktion Club, CKI, Key Club and Builders Club set all time membership records. K-Kids also has set membership records in all but one of these years. Kiwanis needs to maintain financial stability in order to continue its investment in these youth and adult programs.

Nations with a per-capita income between US$5,000 and $10,000 would see a $10 increase to their dues, and nations with a per-capita income below $5,000 would see a $7 increase.

For more information, visit www.KiwanisOne.org/dues.