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Leadership Matters » Easy as 1-2-3

Easy as 1-2-3

Last month I promised to offer some of our thinking about a new club meeting format that would reduce the amount of time spent in club meetings without sacrificing the importance of fellowship and service.  The idea would be to organize the club around the following monthly time commitments:

       1 hour…meeting
       2 hours…social event/activity
       3 hours…service

This approach would dramatically reduce the hours spent in meetings, but not abandon the importance of a regular gathering of our members. Following are some of the advantages of this approach:

  •  
    • Club leaders could focus on creating 12 great meetings each year rather than 50 average ones. (Imagine how strong your speakers could be if you only scheduled the dozen best.)
    • Focusing the largest amount of time each month on service meets the consistent request we get for us to "meet less and do more."
    • With three touches a month, members would still be able to build strong relationships.
    • Well-planned social activities could be something that people really look forward to and could include family members when appropriate.
    • Standing committees could be replaced with "impact teams" or "task forces" that organize important functions like program planning, fundraising, service, social activities, etc.
    • Additional meetings for board members and other leaders would provide leadership and organization as with a traditional club format.

We recognize this format change would not have much impact on clubs that do not meet weekly or are already using creative meeting approaches, i.e., Young Professionals, Internet, European clubs.

While change can create positive results, it can also have unintended consequences.  Our Global Membership Committee will be reviewing this concept in January, and we would be very interested in hearing what you like about this idea, and what concerns you might have as well.  You can offer your input directly to me, or by sharing your thoughts here with an audience of Kiwanis leaders.  Thanks in advance for your input. 

Posted Dec 10 2008, 11:26 PM by Rob Parker

Comments

Not living in the past wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 12-13-2008 12:26 PM

I downloaded your membership application and noticed on the second page under "Recomended by Membership Committee" your application uses the term " Chairman" are you people sexist or don't want women members?

Rob Parker wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 12-13-2008 12:48 PM

Thanks for pointing this out.  It is certainly not our intent to exclude women, especially from positions of leadership.  

For centuries the term "man" has been used to describe not only the male of the species, but also all of "mankind" or "humankind".  

This is a great place to find out what people think about this issue.  Do your local Kiwanis clubs still use the term "chairman" or are you using something differnent like "Chair" or "Chairperson"?  What are your thoughts on this?

Billy Joe Armstrong wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 12-16-2008 9:20 PM

I believe Madam Chairman has a better ring to it than Chairperson. When you are with friends they answer when you speak with curtsey.

Elizabeth Tezza wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 12-22-2008 10:32 PM

Our club uses the term chairman, and as I woman, I prefer that term as well.  The word chairperson is rather cumbersome, and chair sounds like a piece of furniture.  I agree with Billy Joe Armstrong when he states that either term, if used with courtesy, is appropriate.

Sylvester Neal wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 12-23-2008 1:40 PM

I have shared the 1-2-3 concept with many Kiwanians over the last few weeks.  A few thought it was a great mistake, but most felt it was a wave of the future.  I think this concept will be beneficial to many clubs looking for alternative ways to meet the needs of their members.

Sylvester Neal; VP

J Morrow wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 12-28-2008 5:27 PM

It is a great disappointment to me that we shall have very few, if any, Distinguished Members in the 2008-09 year. The reason, someone or some group has made one of the qualifications to become a Distinguished Member to "Financially support the Kiwanis International Foundation".

Who thought up this deal? We support the International, Canadian & PNW Foundations with Annual Gifts from the Club. And unless an individual  is willing to, in additional to the Club donations, add his or her personal donation to the International Foundation, they will not fulfill the qualification requirements to become a Distinguished Member.

I  think this is a disservice to those members who fulfill the requirements for Distinguished Member, but feel that an additional donation to the International Foundation is unwarranted. Who makes up the rules and regulations?

Rob Parker wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 12-28-2008 6:26 PM

Peter,

The Distringuished Criteria is established each year by the International President.  International President Don Canaday and President-Elect Paul Palazzolo have agreed on the criteria for this year and next year and it does include the provision you have noted.  

One of the goals of this provision is to help facilitate a more personal connection between the member and the International Foundation.  The annual club gift is a decision that is often made at the board level and the member is often not even aware.  (not in all clubs, but certainly in many).

Please note that there is no minimum gift expectation, which means that a donation to the International Foundation should be within the means of any Kiwanis member.  

I will be sure to share your concern with Don and Paul.  Let me know if you would like either of them to contact you.

Rob

robparker@kiwanis.org

J Morrow wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 01-01-2009 4:59 PM

Rob

It was just that this requirement appeared to come out of the blue. Where did the idea come from? You are correct that the Annual Gift is a Board decision, however our Club is informed of any donation, so they are aware of the gift. I don't think the current provision would bring the most members any closer to the Foundation. By making this a requirement to be a Distinguished Member I think would have the opposite affect. This question has been raised within our Division and yes I would like to hear from the Don and Paul - that we may better understand why this provision was instituted.

I do not believe that change, for the sake of change is always good. What needs to be done is to get the masses on your side, before a change is made. And then advertise the change - by drawing attention to it. This wasn't done - at least I don't believe I ever saw anything with regards to the change until the requirements were published indicating this was cast in stone.

I am glade and hope your comment that is requirement will be dropped next year. Until then I guess we'll have to live without any Distinguished Members this year.

Peter

oliverkiwanis@persona.ca

Harry Hull wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 01-02-2009 10:27 PM

Rob,

Over the holidays I finished John Maxwell's Leadership Gold.  I guess I'd call it a present to myself!

I really enjyed it.  I am an immediate Past Lt. Gov.  Currently I'm the President of my city's Chamber of Commerce and the President of our local Community College's Foundation.  So, although my Kiwanis duties are over, I'm finding that I'm looking forward to carrying some of Maxwell's ideas into areas other than Kiwanis.

I'm an example of how participating in Kiwanis is helping children in my community...but it's also helping me grow!!!!

Thanks for providing me with Leadership training!!!  It's reaching into areas that you probably hadn't imagined!!

Harry Hull

Rob Parker wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 01-02-2009 10:55 PM

Harry,

Your words are some of the most inspiring I could possibly hear.  It is awesome to have confirmation that our focus on building leaders is paying off.  While I am thrilled with the impact for Kiwanis, it is even more inspiring that you are using these skills to serve your community.  You just jumpstarted my new year.

Rob

William Ailes wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 01-11-2009 10:44 PM

Your proposal makes a lot of sense to me. Please do not overlook the fact that the required club by-laws must be overhauled to make this legally possible. I am Secretary of a small club and if we had to have all the required committees, it would be impossible, so please lighten up the required club by-laws

Janet Burch wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 02-02-2009 6:42 PM

I find the 1-2-3 idea quite intriguing.  Our board has been wrestling with the possibility of a "project only" arrangement as a way to attract service-minded individuals who aren't interested in another luncheon meeting.  The pushback comes from board members who think this will detract from weekly meeting attendance and EVERYONE will want to be "project only".

Carole Satterfield wrote re: Easy as 1-2-3
on 04-26-2009 10:03 PM

Chair?  Chairman?  Chairperson?  Chairwoman is just fine with me.  As editor of The KIWANIAN (KC of Cedar Hills, Beaverton, Oregon) I frequently use the term chairwoman; after all, it entails using just two additional letters to feminize the word which, in my opinion, is the polite way to go.

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