As someone who has successfully recruited several Next Gen Kiwanians (50 and younger), I'd like to propose that they participate, join and stay in Kiwanis if the programs we offer are active, involved with kids and seniors, and have minimal meetings for success. We find that one face to face meeting and a few emails is often with a fun, interesting or effective service program as the target goal is the best "feel good" for our younger members. Doing things instead of talking or eating, unless it's peripheral to the service undertaken, is avoided -- and making a difference for kids and seniors keeps them involved and challenged and willing to take on leadership roles for our club. And it's good for us as seniors too, keeping us younger mentally and physically more fit trying to keep up with the younger generation and all they want to do. Find a busy parent, involve their kids in the service they do, and you'll have a recipe for success. I'd also like to suggest that we consider linking the local sites that are doing these types of activities with kiwanis.org so others can share across our community.
Ellen Jacobson, Kiwanis, Sparks NV www.kiwanisbikes.org
I'd like to applaud some of the, what I see as improvements, in the selection process for choosing "Distinguished Members". Sponsor two new members,attend conferences or conventions and participate in six projects. All good choices and easily obtainable for most Kiwanians, with a little effort.
Now, whoever decided to add "Financially support the Kiwania International Foundation": should give his or her head a shake. Is the International Foundation in that bad of shape to require individual support?
My concern is this, as a Club we support the Foundation on behalf of the members, we also support the Canadian Foundation and the PNW Foundation. Now we are asked to individually support the International Foundation to become a Distinguished Member. Sorry, but as a Club Secretary I do not feel I can do that, so we will have no applications for Distinguished Members this year.
There are a couple of alternatives as I see it:
1. When we submit our Annual Donation, we could include a Club Roster (too late for that this year); or
2. We may not submit an Annual Donation and just tell the members to let us know if they have made a donation to the International Foundation. That would satisfy the requirement to individually donate, but deny International of the Club Donation.
This appears to be a case if someone wants a Dintinguished Member bad enough, here is an avenue that they may buy in.
Why note just remove the requirement to financial;ly support the International Foundation?