A presentation to provide Kiwanis Club leaders with tips and suggestions for growing their Kiwanis Clubs so they can recruit more volunteers to accomplish more service in their communities. This presentation was originally given at the Florida Kiwanis District Convention on August 3, 2013.

1. Visualize or
Fossilize:
Growing Your
Kiwanis Club
Presented by:
C. Todd Smith
2013-14 Membership Chair,
Florida District of Kiwanis
www.ctoddsmith.com
@ctoddsmith

2. Why is Growth Important?

3. What do you
love about
your club?
Whatever it is, members make it happen.
The service, the leadership, the
fellowship, the fundraising—it all requires
Kiwanians. And it all helps strengthen
your community.

4. Imagine all of the service
you have done in Kiwanis
the past year…
Now imagine all of the
service your club has done
since it was founded…

5. Think about how
many lives your
club has touched
or improved…

6. Now imagine…
NONE of that service
ever happened
because there was
no Kiwanis club.

7. That’s what’s at
stake if we
continue to lose
members and fail
to grow.

8. WHAT IS
THE SECRET
TO
MEMBERSHIP?

9. YOU!

10. 100% of the
people you
don’t ask to join
Kiwanis
will not join.

11. YOUR CLUB’S
TO DO LIST:
1. Each club must have a membership
committee chair.
2. Hold regular membership
committee meetings.
3. Conduct regular membership drive
initiatives (suggested for October,
February, May, September).

12. YOUR
DIVISION’S
TO DO LIST:
1. Each division should identify growth
team members.
2. Identify “new-club builder” and
“club counselor” in each division.
3. Develop and implement growth plan
for the division.

13. IMPEDIMENTS
TO
GROWTH

14. Poor
Member
Experience
SIGNS OF A BAD MEETING
•No meeting agenda
•Never end on time
•No greeter
•Not fun
•Lack of a interesting speakers
•Inside jokes, games, collecting money, singing or contests not
explained to guests
•NO DISCUSSION OF UPCOMING SERVICE PROJECTS

15. IMPEDIMENTS TO GROWTH
Lack of focus or disregard for
growth NOT DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM
Lack of Follow Through“NO TIME” EXCUSE or SOMEONE
ELSE WILL DO IT.
Inflexible or too rooted in traditionREFUSAL TO CHANGE EVEN IF IT
MEANS GROWING

16. VISUALIZE A NEW WAY OF
DOING THINGS

17. Is your club ready for
new members?
• When do you meet?
• What are your dues?
• What are your membership
requirements?
• How many social events do you hold?
• How often are your service projects?
• What is the nature of your projects?

18. What are your Dues?
Cut dues to the bare minimum = $102 + club dues
+
+
+
$62:
$30:
$5.00:
$5.00:
Kiwanis International Dues/Insurance/Magazine
Florida District Dues
Kiwanis International Foundation
Florida District Foundation
Ideas to Lower Dues:
Don’t include meals in your dues
Create a separate dues plan for different types
of members: Under 40, SLP Faculty Advisor,
Parent of SLP
Also remember 2 yr. dues waiver for former SLP
members

19. What do younger
members want?
•More service
•Lowers Dues
•Less Meetings
Many of these
desires are the
same for ALL
MEMBERS.
•Hands-On Activities
•Representation Within
The Club
•Social Activities
•Service Leadership
Programs
Is your club ready
to meet their needs?

20. FLEXIBILE OPTIONS
Club Satellites
Corporate Memberships
3-2-1- Club

21. Now that your club is
ready, where do you
find potential
members?

22. MEMBERSHIP IS ABOUT
MARKETING
Share your story (Elevator Pitch) –
Why My Club
What's Our Community Impact
How do we do it?
and PRACTICE telling your story
Assign a PR person for every project to
maximize exposure.
PR before and after the event and
marketing materials at the event

23. Branding Matters
See the new
Kiwanis Brand Guide at:
www.KiwanisOne.org/brandguide

24. BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Ask the charities, schools, churches that
you work with to help you recruit a
member
Visit with your local elected officials and
ask them for recommendations for
members
Join chamber and attend/sponsor
chamber event

25. Sponsor a lunch and learn or CLE for local bar
association or professional association (like
CPAs)
Meet with clergy and ask for member
recommendations
Invite your Facebook Friends to a service project
– not a meeting
People like to help if you ask for their help
Reach out to SLP members and their parents

26. Recruiting a Key Clubber?
Contact is KEY!
• Be involved and have a relationship with the
Key Club or CKI club
• Attend last meeting of the year, host an end of
year party, OR host a event to talk about
continuing their K family involvement at the
next level
• Submit your projects on the Key club/CKI
Alumni website

27. BUILD
YOUR TEAM
• Must appoint Membership Chair for
every club and have an active
membership committee that reports
every meeting
• Every division should have a
New Club Builder and Club
Counselor

28. Recruitment Event –
10 Step Checklist
A systematic process to organizing a
membership event
1. Order the materials
2. Set up your team
3. Plan your guest event
4. Develop a prospect list
5. Mail out information

29. A systematic process to
organizing a membership event
6. Invite prospects personally
7. Hold your meeting
8. Follow up
9. Welcome new members
10. Plan your next event
Worksheets and checklists are available at
www.KiwanisOne.org/lovemyclub

32. LINKS

33. Times have changed

34. Spreading the word
about Kiwanis is easy.
Just click “Like”.

35. Remember
YOUR CLUB’S
TO DO LIST:
1. Each club must have a membership
committee chair.
2. Hold regular membership
committee meetings.
3. Conduct regular membership drive
initiatives (suggested for October,
February, May, September).

36. Visualize or Fossilize:
Growing Your
Kiwanis Club
Presented by:
C. Todd Smith
2013-14 Membership District
Chair
www.ctoddsmith.com
@ctoddsmith