Membership

As we begin the New Year we are well on our way with membership growth showing 303 new members as of this writing. This leaves 697 more new members to go to reach Governor Joe's goal of 1,000 new members. If you do the math, that would be approximately 26 new members per division. If just 10 percent of our more than 7,000 current members would bring in one new member each we would reach well beyond our goal.

I would like to present you with the challenge to raise the bar for membership a little higher to reach the 1,000 mark by August instead of September. So let's refuel the membership train and start the New Year with renewed enthusiasm to overreach (or surpass) the top of the hill of membership growth.

With that in mind let's find new ways to bring in members using our Governor's incentive for Membership Round Ups.

Prize and Recognition: for the best themed, most fun, interesting and/or bizarre Membership Round Up, to be awarded at the 2014 District Convention in Albany. Each club should hold four Round Ups from October 2013 to August 2014 and submit event photographs for the New York District Convention.

There are many ways to conduct a Membership Round Up. Here are a few suggestions:

1. An "Everyday Heroes" Event. Nominate and invite as many worthy local community members as you can along with their families. The nominee does not have to be a well-known person. It could be a dedicated crossing guard, outstanding school teacher, etc., and the more the merrier. This is great exposure for the club since it lends an opportunity to tell the Kiwanis story to the community at large. Have brochures, applications, and a picture board of the club's activities at the event for all to see. You may pique their interest (or curiosity).

2. Street Fairs. Many community organizations may even donate a table to your club. Have banners and a photo story board set up for all to see. Sponsor a free raffle of a nice prize. Have printed on the raffle ticket a space for the participant's name and phone number and a box for the participant to check if interested in learning more about the Kiwanis club. Have at least five club members at this event wearing their club shirts, with two members stationed at the table and the others circulating the event armed with club brochures, prepared to meet and greet.

3. Business Card Exchanges. These can be co-hosted by the local Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club. Have many members of the club attend the event wearing their club shirts and bringing their club's business cards to hand out. Your lieutenant governors have a limited supply of sample Kiwanis club business cards which can be used for the event. Businesses are a great source for membership and assistance to every club.

4. The Power of Our Members. Look for open doors of opportunity. We encounter many potential members in our daily lives through our work and leisure activities. When you meet those potential persons, ask them what their interests are. You may start out by telling them you are a member of a Kiwanis club. Ask if they belong to any groups or have any special interests (like saving babies) and if they do, that would be an open door of opportunity. Engage them further and tell them that by joining Kiwanis they will be on the front lines to start their own fundraiser with the club's help and/or be more involved in the efforts of their community. But you will never know, unless you begin the conversation.

5. Member Selection. Finally, we want to be careful whom we select to sponsor. Remember, we do not just want quantity, but quality members who truly care about our communities and children of the world.

Remember: One drop of water may nourish a single person, a lake many. Keep up your endeavors in our membership drive so that we can help many more families in your community and in the world.

Column Posted on Web Site January 8, 2014