CLUB COMMITTEE AND PROJECT CHAIRS:
YOUR CLUB'S KEYS TO PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MEMBERSHIP INVOLVMENT
Have you ever witnessed a club passing around a sign-up sheet getting little or no responses for a great service project? Have you witnessed a committee chair giving a dull and dry report on an outstanding project at a club meeting? How we ask and report on projects can inspire others to participate and impress our guests because of the differences we are making.
When a Kiwanian is requesting help for a project, we need to emphasize the impacts this project will have. For example, instead of requesting cooks for a cook-out, let's tell them how we are going to feed "X" number of hungry kids who often do not get a hot meal. Or, we are going to help feed homeless families who are temporarily down on their luck. Or, we are going to clean a playground so children will have a safe place to play to prevent accidents and injuries etc, etc.
Likewise, when a chair makes a report to the club and guests, we need to give an enthusiastic accounting to relate the fun and personal satisfactions we enjoyed. We also need to tell of the impact the project made on those we served.
The same is true of our fund raisers. We beg for volunteers to sell something, to get sponsors, or to donate an item; but, we fail to tell them the impact the funds will make in the community. Let's tell them how those funds will make a difference and we will likely see more people willingly taking part. Kiwanians want to make a difference.
I believe we can educate, as well as inspire those none-active members to get involved based on how we handle our internal public relations. I believe we will also educate and inspire guests to join because our enthusiasm for serving will be contagious. Let make every project a "Club Kiwanis Moment". If our projects are relevant, we will likely increase club participation simply based on how we promote and report it.
Sylvester Neal