World-Wide Service Project (WSP)

This is an excellent question for discussion and I can see both sides having merit. I was in Kiwanis at the beginning of IDD, and it was certainly a "tough sell" initially, particularly in North America where there was little familiarity with the problem. After the first couple of years and some awkward marketing efforts, the project finally started to gain some momentum - and the rest is history.

I believe another WSP project will bring great value to our fine organization - a common cause on which we can all work on together and perhaps even a joint effort with Rotary and Lions. It should be international in scope and should resonate with Americans, who still make up the largest group of Kiwanians.

I believe this project can be "sold" at the local Club level, along the lines of 90% of a Kiwanis Club's time,  fundraising and effort going into local service projects and 10% to a new WSP.

Will a new WSP be challenging, difficult and sometimes frustrating? Of course, just as IDD was - but just look at the results that we can all be proud of - an estimated 90 million children each year are born free of mental retardation.

To paraphrase well known quotations, " to whom much is given, much is expected", and "if we don't do it, who will?" certainly applies to any discussions about a new WSP.

I found the IDD project to be very motivating. It was one of the projects that attracted me to the club when I first joined. It felt like I was making a real difference in the world. Currently I am having a hard time finding inspiration in our club. We seem to be just going through the motions.

This may be a silly question but:  Are we really an International Organization or are we a group of local clubs?  If you are going to attract and keep younger members, the focus is ultimately going to need to be about global issues.  Take a look at the college degrees that are being worked on right now.  There is a rapidly growing number of degrees dealing with and being part of the global world.  Also due to communication and technology explosions there is no such thing as "local".  What definition are you going to use to establish what "local" means?  How would this effect an internet club that could span the globe with a common mission?  And "If we don't do it, who will?" should be our motto.

Partnering is good. I have been an advocate of Kiwanis partnering with Wal-Mart on a dictionary program. We have just completed one in Florida, where the participation was fantastic ... 100-150,000 dictionaries given out to 3rd graders at a cost of up to $200,000, only $1.50 a book. Way over the top and it is carrying on by itself again this year.

Partly as a result of this we opened 33 K-Kids schools and are underway for a bunch more this year.

There is a need for learning words meaning world wide and it is not being met. As the world's premier youth organization, I think we should fit in this arena. This will lead to more members and more hands to help others.

Being in leadership in the local church has taught me that individual grievances and differances of opinion are watered down and eventually "dribble away" when faced with something greater than an individual organization is able to do on it's own.  Something like the IDD program and those mentioned here are a great way to keep asking ourselves "why are we here?" and "are we making a difference?"  Most people I know are looking for a group to join that truly makes a difference in the world - and reading this BLOG has shown me the kind of difference that Kiwanis can make not only in the local community, but world-wide!  I had no idea!  Bravo!  Striving for world-wide thinking and global leadership gives us the opportunity to "rise to the occassion" rather than lament our differences!  Thank you for your extraordinary efforts.  You are being watched with great interest as your local/national/international organization "grows into" the challenging future.

Having a World Service Project brings identity to the organization.  For the first couple years that I was a member of the Kiwanis family, I remember IDD as the "big picture project".  For the last few years however, we have not had something to really bring all members and clubs together.

In Michigan, we have latched on to a global issue and partnered with Kids Against Hunger.  As Kiwanians, we are dedicated to "serving the children of the world".  Hunger is not a black and white issue, nor is it something only seen in third world countries.  We have over 1 million children in the U.S. who go to bed hungry.  There are 40,000 children dying every day from malnutrition and hunger related diseases around the world.

As an organization, Kiwanis has helped to virtually eliminate IDD.  Wouldn't it be amazing if we could now work towards eliminating world hunger?  Without proper nutrition, children are unable to develop properly or focus in school.

Should Kiwanis adopt a new WSP?  I'd have to say yes!  Every Kiwanis club is unique in the projects they do but having a common goal amongst all members will bring an identifiable purpose to Kiwanis International.

It is hard to dispute the success of the Kiwanis efforts with IDD.  What is painfully evident though is that those efforts were and still are virtually unknown outside of Kiwanis.

Do we need another World Wide Project, we sure do.  It should have a focus that is worldwide; it should be structured so that the entire Kiwanis family can work together;  it should show immediate and measurable benefit;  it should be simple enough that it could be embraced by all Kiwanis Regions.  I dream of the day that those who have not yet found Kiwanis will at least associate our name and efforts to something significant in the World.  The next WW Service Project should be permanent.

The IDD project was a fine project and a worthwhile cause.  However, moving forward, it is important for Kiwanis to find a cause that not only affects children in other parts of the world but right here at home too.  One such cause is in the battle to defeat Autism.

We have experienced an explosion in autism among young children since the year 2000.  The statistics are absolutely staggering.  Ten years ago, 1 in 15,000 children were diagnosed with autism.  That number is now 1 in 150.

These children suffer from a range of symptoms including but not limited to sensory processing, nutritional/diet intolerances, social/relationship awkwardness, hyper activity, muscle tone and self awareness, and more.

The good news is that with early intervention and treatment autistic children can greatly improve and in some cases recover.  Autism was once thought to be untreatable and now that thought process is changing.  Many positive outcomes have been discovered with the correct intervention.  The treatment may involve one or several hours each week in areas such as Occupational Therapy, Developmental Therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), Bio-medical Treatment, Speech Therapy, Sensory Integration, special diets, and so on.  Depending on the child and his/her needs, the amount and type(s) of therapy will vary.

The bad news is that the treatment for these children is a tremendous financial burden on young families.  Many times insurance companies will deny coverage for therapy and families become overwhelmed.  I think that Kiwanis International has a wonderful opportunity to step in and help.  Whether it be as an advocate to help educate our communities and schools to meet this challenge, to establish a foundation to make funds available to families in need, or to simply acknowledge this issue at the community level and encourage local clubs to help, Kiwanis can fill this need.  

The Kiwanis Club of Hannibal, through our Young Children Priority One Committee, is assisting the community in addressing the autism epidemic.  Our goal is to increase public awareness and support individuals with autism and their families through education, resource allocation and public forums.  Please consider Autism as the next World Wide Project.  

Rob, Our Members jumped on IDD. It was an easy sell when the fact that 5 cents worth of iodine was all any of us needed in a Lifetime.On so many occasions we have said " We started this and We are committed to eradicate The World of this horrible Disease. Are we ready to say that because 70% of homes have iodized salt we have eradicated the World of IDD? Just a thought.

   YES we are an International Organization and YES we should seek out opportunities to use our vast influence to make a difference.

    On a District Level, Lamstenn has embarked on a long-range project to put AED'S ( Automatic External Defibillators ) in every School.We are very excited about this effort.  Dennis Oliver

Hi Rob,

I am VERY PASSIONATE about Kiwanis!  So when I use capital letters in this comment part of the blog I am NOT screaming at you or anyone else.  

I am just committed to Kiwanis for Life!  If you ever need volunteers for projects, in Indianapolis, I am ready, willing, and able to be of help and service no matter what is needed!  It is the least I can do for all the blessings given to me in my life!  

Kiwanis has been a blessing for me in so many ways as we help the children and give them the best chances to become the best they can be!  

The IDD WSP was one of the best projects Kiwanis International could be a part of as it helped EVERYONE in the world!  It was especially urgent because there were not a large number of other organizations who saw the need to eradicate this terrible affliction.

Kiwanis showed the world that it was not afraid to step up and help those most in need all around the world.  So, why can't we find another immediate need that will help children all over the world once again by leading the way?

There many issues of immense importance worldwide:  Clean Water, Aids, Food for those nations dealing with severe famine such as Dufar, envionmental issues, green issues, plus, getting books to the many children who have NEVER had a chance to receive a book; much less been read to or have read a book back to an adult.  If children can't read, they can't learn, then the chances are high they will become criminals and wind up in prison.  We need to make sure they can READ and then LEARN!  

Then these same children will have the opportunity to join K-Kids.  From K-Kids the children can move to Builders Club, then the youth can move to Key Club, then the youth can move to Circle K, then the adults can join a Kiwanis Club.  

From the foundation stone of K-Kids to moving over the bridge to the foundation stone of Builders Club, to moving over the bridge to the foundation stone of Key Club, to moving over the bridge to the foundation stone of Circle K, to moving over the bridge to the foundation stone of a Kiwanis Club, we can then help add new Kiwanis members to reach our goal of one million Kiwanis Members by 2015!

The Service Leadership Programs need to be brought forward and given MUCH MORE IMPORTANCE AT ALL LEVELS!  

Instead of an Administrator for K-Kids, Builders Club, Key Club, or Circle K, being given 10 minutes to give a report at the District, Region and maybe even Kiwanis International(?) levels, they need to be the focus INSTEAD of all the other general business meeting agenda items!  There are some general business items that are importan (raising money to help kids, budgets, sales, marketing, etc.; however, what is more important than the natural progression of our Service Leadership Programs?

There is much work that needs to be done to help ALL children have the ability to read so they can go to school, learn and grow so they are NOT be left behind by kindergarten or first grade because they can't read.  When that happens, the State of Indiana knows how many prison beds they will need by the time children enter second grade.  The same is true for third graders in California.  They also know how many prison beds will be needed in the future for those children who DO NOT have GOOD READING SKILLS by then.  

Making "Read Around the World" (RAW) a Kiwanis International project ALL YEAR AROUND would go a long way to helping children keep up and have the ability to learn all the things they need to know to help them go to College and be productive citizens in the world.    

If Kiwanians DO NOT help the children of the world, WHO WILL?  

Kiwanians are the leaders of the world for helping the children!  We SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID to take a leadership role for the children!  

We, in Kiwanis, are their future!  

Kiwanians are the ones who can continue to help the children because of our world wide network of Kiwanians!  If not us, who?  Again, If not now, when?  Time is running out and we can't PUT OFF helping as many children of our world as we can in all the ways we can!

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on your blog.  In Kiwanis Spirit, Service, and Friendship; With Enthusiasm,  Dawn Fairbrother, Your Kiwanis Servant.  

There is a worlwide problem that is destroying thousands of children and their minds every day.  The reason this problem has not been cured is there is too much money involved.  We and all service clubs need to force our elected officials to demand stiff penalties world wide.  When some big drug pusher is arrested he posts bond and is released befor the arresting officer has his paperwork compleated.

I would suggest this be our next wrldwide project.

Emil Nyberg

Kiwanis Club of Astoria-Warrenton, Oregon