Alan's Alley

A blog just about Kiwanis by Alan Arbuckle. The views in this blog are mine, alone, and do not represent the views of any other entity. blah. blah. blah.

[just-kiwanis]

Is Club Culture More Important Than Strategy?

“It can be tempting... to over-emphasise the focus on strategy whilst inadvertently underplaying the power of culture. I would argue that culture is in fact more important than strategy. Culture is all about the psychology, actions and beliefs of a group of people.” *

Club Culture is the “HOW” your Kiwanis club operates: The leadership, the goal setting, the integrity,  how members treat each other, how the work of serving the children is shared, the participation in fundraising, how conflicts are resolved, the trust between members, the quality of communications, how recognition is given.

Clubs need to get their culture right or they risk struggling at every junction to get their goals accomplished. Whether you call it “serving the children of the world” or just “Kids Need Kiwanis”, the WHY of Kiwanis is too important NOT to get the HOW correct.

*https://www.ogilvy.com/uncategorized/why-culture-is-more-important-than-strategy/

[just-kiwanis]

Women in Kiwanis

Did you know 31% of Kiwanis’ members are women? This compares to 25% of Lion’s members and 20% of Rotary’s members who are women. Since 51% of the world’s population are women it would  seem as if there is a lot of service-minded people out there who just happen to be women that could become Kiwanians.

Kiwanis is the only service club of the three that has had a woman as International President. In fact, Kiwanis has had 2 woman International Presidents. A woman was recently appointed to lead the Kiwanis International Youth Leadership Programs. http://tiny.cc/3spkqy

Kiwanis’ focus is #KidsNeedKiwanis. Kids need to learn how to serve their community and the world. Kids need to learn how to lead, treating others with respect and dignity. Women and men working together can have a balanced approach.

Do we need more women leaders in Kiwanis? Absolutely!  Women as Kiwanis leaders can represent and relate to more of the community. Can districts form “Women in Kiwanis Ad Hoc Committees” or “Women in Kiwanis Workshops” to develop strategies and methods to increase and retain more women members? What would that look like?

I am certainly open to this idea.

[just-kiwanis]

Make Sure Kiwanis Is A Terrific Place to Volunteer

If you have been following my posts across social media, you know I am a fan of Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why”. People don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it. Or said a different way. People don’t embrace (volunteer, or become members) because of what you do. People join Kiwanis because WHY you do it. Taking a look at Kiwanis from an administrative point of view rather than a service viewpoint...

Our organization’s WHY is powerful. Kids Need Kiwanis

Administratively, one might say the HOW is through the goal setting, ongoing communication,  developing trust, having accountability and giving recognition to the team we call our club.  Or you might simply say “We have a great club with great projects and fundraising”.

If Kiwanis is to continue to Serve the Children of the World in the manner it has for over 103 years, it needs to grow. To retain and attract new members the WHAT that Kiwanians may need to focus on (organizationally), Make Sure Kiwanis Is A Terrific Place to Volunteer.

[just-kiwanis]

Impressions of an ICON (International Convention)

Okay, another Kiwanis International Convention in the books. A grand time was had by all, except perhaps those people who were running for an office and were NOT successful. I saw a whole bunch of terrific folks that I only knew online. I reconnected with a lot of others. And unfortunately I missed a few. 

A first woman International President of Kiwanis. Isn’t it time? Isn’t it time that membership of the organization is about 50% women. What about that FORMULA program they keep talking about? Well, I’ve seen it work. And we all know Kiwanis needs more members to keep up our projects, to build more Service Leadership Programs, to make our local communities better. 

Hey, Places that aren’t opening new clubs; “Don’t you get it???” Trainers and club openers will take you by the hand hand explain and train YOU and all you have to do is, JUST DO IT!  Aren’t you committed enough to try? 

Talking social media with a bunch of folks from all over North America. In general, districts are not supporting CLUB activities on social media. We have work to do to educate our district leaders. Social media is here to stay. Young people are on it. Kiwanis at every level needs to support the K-brand especially at and for the individual local club level. 

Communication with Key Clubbers is difficult. There is no one way that consistently works. They are moving away from Facebook and embracing Twitter and Snapchat. They don’t look at the emails often enough and are using Facebook Messenger more than text messaging. Confused? 

One message that wasn’t confusing, A lot of people like to perform service. They don’t necessarily like meetings. Local Kiwanis organizations need to be more flexible to engage more people who like to do more service.  Younger members can’t make morning and noon meetings. So why are we insisting to meet at those times? We “open” new clubs, we “invite” new members. New words that fit better.

One thought I have is: maybe we should stop calling them clubs, too. Kiwanis is too diverse to call itself a club. We could become local chapters or the local organization. Same camaraderie, different name.

[just-kiwanis]

The Kiwanis Formula For Opening New Clubs WORKS

Last week, "Kiwanis Club Openers" from all over North America descended on the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District to open clubs in suburban Chicago. Nine new clubs are very much on their way to formation. Four clubs are essentially completed (have 15 or more members). A few have officers in place.

Hitting the ground in a community with 10 enthusiastic Kiwanians determined to open a Kiwanis club creates a buzz. Having 100 Kiwanians working 10 suburban towns with a common purpose; sharing stories and victories gives club openers a sense of solidarity and purpose. Working off lists of referrals and inviting non-referred businesses to serve the children in their community, Kiwanis really sells itself. Kiwanis and Key Club have positive name recognition. Teamwork and working a referral system is an efficient way to open new clubs.

This isn't the old style of club-building where a handful of people walk around for weeks looking for prospective members. This isn't inviting some people to a restaurant/bar on a Friday night to talk about maybe someday having a club in their part of town. This is a process to open new clubs.

The District Club-Openers (that came from as far away as Western Canada and even Barbados) left with the inspiration that they can do this kind of event in their own districts. And now that the clubs are on-track to being opened, each has not one but two club advisors who will be active members in the new club. We have to stop the attrition of new clubs and closing after a few years. So.... could your division or district hold a Club Opening Extravaganza?

[just-kiwanis]

How Do We Build Prestige In Kiwanis Membership?

People are extremely busy, today. It's difficult enough to balance family and work. Giving back to the community is just one more thing on an extremely long to-do list.

When people volunteer their time: They want to feel that their work is important and has real impact. It's a bonus if the work is recognized.

Kiwanis Clubs do incredible things. I am constantly amazed by the impact even a very small club has on its community. So many clubs extend their impact with their Service Leadership Programs. Your Key Clubs (Builders, CKI, K-Kids & Aktion) are very much part of your impact on the community. Kiwanis Club interaction with their SLPs should be ongoing and widespread.

Getting recognition for a Kiwanis Club project is a challenge. And recognition is key to building prestige. Who doesn't want to hear, "Oh you're in Kiwanis, I was really impressed by the project they did...." Recognition is inextricably intertwined with prestige. Too often the conversation is "Kiwanis? What do they do?"

We don't (as a group) take enough pictures, write enough press releases, post enough about our club activities. By being proud enough to promote, talk about, and being excited about your own club's activities we can raise the prominence of the club within your community. Love it. SHARE IT. Live it. Kiwanians are good at loving it and living it. Not so good at sharing it.

[just-kiwanis]

[just-kiwanis]

A Family of Servant Leaders.

The 100th Anniversary of Kiwanis International.... A family of servant leaders: Kiwanis clubs focus on improving the world by serving children, one child and one community at a time. To do this, many clubs also sponsor a Kiwanis family club—K-Kids for primary school children; Builders Clubs for adolescents; Key Clubs for teens; CKI clubs for university students and Aktion Clubs for adults living with disabilities—to reach more people and have a greater service impact on their communities.

-Kiwanis website

[just-kiwanis]

JANUARY 21, 2015 MARKS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF KIWANIS!!!

[just-kiwanis]

A Social Media Splash on the 100th Anniversary of Kiwanis

On January 21, 2015:

What if every Kiwanis Club with a Facebook Page posted about a recent or upcoming project? Better yet what if it was a promoted post for just $5? In my experience a promoted post will reach 500-1,100 individuals. What if every Kiwanian posted on Facebook a simple personal statement about Kiwanis? For example: *I love Kiwanis because it helps children. *I give back to my community through Kiwanis. *I am proud that Kiwanis will bring an end to maternal/neonatal tetanus through the Eliminate Project.

What if every Kiwanian committed to Liking and Sharing just one post about Kiwanis? What if every Kiwanian with a Twitter account congratulated Kiwanis on 100 years of service? What if every Kiwanian posted one Kiwanis-related picture on Instagram or Pinterest? What if, for just one day, Kiwanians lite up social media with K-pride?

Would we increase Kiwanis awareness like never before?

[just-kiwanis]

[just-kiwanis]

KIWANIS IS LIKE A GOOD BOOK

Sometimes, I think about Kiwanis as being like a good book in the back of a large bookstore. Most people who have read the book, like the book. Some even think that the book has changed their outlook on life. But because the book has been around for a long while, nobody has reviewed the book in many years. The media rarely talks about the book, anymore. People don't often find this book in the back of bookstore without help. And as we all know, there aren't as many bookstores, today.

So to make the book popular or more relevant, again, there has to be an e-book (Kindle) version. Fans of the book could recommend the book and write heart-felt reviews. A lot of people will prefer the paper version and many will prefer the 21st century version. But the most important thing is to introduce a new generation to the ideas and wisdom contained in the experience of reading the book.

Branding and marketing have changed so much in the last few years. Organizations have had to adapt, sometimes making huge changes. So too, volunteering and membership in organizations has changed. Kiwanis International and individual Kiwanis Clubs have to adapt. But how clubs adapt means different things in different places. Kiwanis has made huge strides in making membership more flexible. Satellite Clubs. Corporate Membership. Associate Membership (for SLP Alumni). And new reference and education materials are being developed all the time for the Kiwanis Formula. 

[just-kiwanis]

Does Your Kiwanis Club Have Service Partners?

Yeah, a Service Partner with a capital "S". Not a service partner that your club just gives money to every year. Not a company that just supports your club, financially. But an authentic, worthwhile nonprofit that you support with hands-on service and money.  Shouldn't your Service Partners be represented by having a member in your club? Wouldn't it be wonderful to have other organizations supporting your club's fundraisers and events with support on social media as you support theirs? Wouldn't it be grand to have your members and Key Club volunteer at your Service Partners at least once a year?

What if your club had more than one Service Partner? Would that improve the visibility of your club? Would your community see your Kiwanis club as an integral, important part of the community? Would your club become "THE" organization to join for active contributors and volunteers in the community?

If your Kiwanis club gives money to the same organizations, year-after-year, and never really become active with them, it may be the time to rethink the arrangement. If your club gives a really large one-time contribution to a non-profit without engaging with them throughout the year, you may be missing a tremendous opportunity to serve.

Obviously, you can't develop Service Partners, overnight. But over time, having true partners in service will improve the club with increased service hours and increased member satisfaction. And aren't those goals that growth minded club need to have?

[just-kiwanis]

Don't Be Ashamed To Ask...

Kiwanians- Don't be ashamed to ask for help working at the homeless shelter. Don't be ashamed to ask for help volunteering for Habitat For Humanity or at Ronald McDonald House or at a local food bank. WHY WOULD YOU? You are doing good things. Why would you even hesitate? 

Hey, I work with an organization of volunteers that does a lot of good, trying to improve the world, do you want to help?

Asking isn't a bad thing. In fact, it is a good thing when you are improving the community, the world, or just the life of one child. If someone isn't ready to make the world a better place. That's on them. Don't take their no (or not right now) personally. You really have no idea why they aren't ready or aren't already working to improve their community. You offered them an amazing (I don't use that word lightly) opportunity to serve. You gave them a gift to feel more positive about the world and themselves through service. 

Did you ever think how a service leadership program could help the schools in your town (community)? Or what effect would it have on the students? Would it give them a better future?

In my area we are still losing clubs faster than we are building clubs. We are still losing members faster than we are gaining them. We just are not asking enough people or enough communities if a service organization would improve the place where they are raising a family.

I bet this town (community) has at least 50 people who would be willing to organize and work to make this a better place to live. They might choose to start a Key Club in the high school to give teens a positive activity to express themselves.

Anecdotally, I work with 4 Key Clubs and just giving them the possibilities of what organizations want their volunteer help has really accelerated their service. I ask the nonprofits that give programs to my Kiwanis club, "Can your organization use high school volunteers? Who should they contact?" I let the 4 clubs know what the other clubs are doing and surprisingly they are collaborating on projects.

I am asking you to "ASK MORE".

[just-kiwanis]

Key Club and Facebook

Facebook is dead and Facebook is growing.

That's contradictory or so it seems. Facebook is dead to most Key Clubs. I see about a 10% viewing rate (percent seeing post) if I post to  the 4 Key Club's Groups that I am on. Now I don't really know if this is a trend everywhere or just a localized trend. But I would bet it is a general trend at North American high schools even though I acknowledge that there are still areas where this is not a fact.

But Facebook is still growing at the rate of 5 new profiles per second. So Facebook is too big to ignore. Have you noticed, Kiwanians tend not to engage with a post even if they read it and agree with the post. Okay what's going on? Are Kiwanians too busy taking pictures of the grandkids, the food on their plate, and group pictures (that don't tell a story)? I do know that Kiwanians read the Kiwanis-related posts that make it to their wall. They enjoy reading about Kiwanis but they refuse to click the like button. The only way to get a large engagement is to "Promote" a Facebook post and not many Kiwanis Facebook Pages are willing to spend $5 to promote a post. So there is the rock and hard place, Kiwanis and social media are in.

Turning back to Key Club... what is the best way to engage Key Club? I email the club presidents and advisors the beginning of almost every week. One email to four clubs. Project ideas. Volunteer opportunities. What the Key Clubs are doing. What the Sponsoring Kiwanis Club is doing.

The presidents and advisors actually are reading this email. The clubs are making contact with non-profit organizations that are looking for volunteers. AND most importantly, the clubs are working together on projects. I never expected that to happen. Key Clubs want to connect and volunteer with other Key Clubs. Obviously, this strategy will be less effective if your Kiwanis Club only sponsors 1 club or the Key Clubs are a distance from each other. But if Key Club LTGs (Lieutenant Governors) connect the clubs it may be a strategy that works.

[just-kiwanis]

The Humbleness of Being a Kiwanian

I recently saw an email chain titled "The Greatness of Being A Kiwanian". That seems, to me, the opposite of servant leadership. Kiwanis is a great organization because of the service it provides especially to the children. But are the members great just because they are members?

I've known many great Kiwanians over the years, but I can't think of one of them that would have called themselves "great". Most of them would defer to Kiwanis being great and they were just doing their little part. I'm not saying that I haven't met a few Kiwanians whose egos got away from them, but fortunately that isn't an epidemic. 

People want to join a great organization that does great things. I question whether most people want to join an organization of great people no matter what they contribute in service. I don't know if people seeking greatness through membership would actually be servant leaders or have "service in their blood". Please, let's always emphasis our service to the community and to the children of the world.

[just-kiwanis]

Time To Rethink Your Internet Strategy

Roughly half of your organization's Internet traffic is via a smartphone.

If your website, Facebook links, and even your emails are unreadable on a 4 inch screen, you are pretty much wasting your time. You are in effect hoping that someone will come back later and read your content on a bigger screen.

Have you ever considered a website optimised for mobile? Even if one can read the content, navigating the site may be impossible.

Consider a larger font on emails. What about the format of your emails... Three column correspondence might have worked for print, it really doesn't work for phones, tablets, or even some laptops. 

As technology changes, organizations must adapt.