reMember
If you have been around Kiwanis for a while, you may recall a membership program called "reMember."
A member of my former club several years ago who was going through some difficult business issues. Rick was a director of a funeral home. His national company affiliate was being sold and his future was uncertain. Rick had been the President of the club about two years earlier and did an outstanding job. He came to meetings regularly. He was a quiet, but active member. Without much notice, he began to come less and less.
Then we looked up one day and he was gone. When Rick did not respond to his dues statement, no one asked why and he was dropped. Much later we found out that Rick had bought the business and became much more involved in its daily operations and did not make time for Kiwanis. He got out of the Kiwanis habit of attending meetings and participating. Every meeting missed, Rick would tell me later, made it easier to miss the next one.
Ricks ownership of the business became a great success story, but he never returned to Kiwanis and our club. Members are our greatest asset. We spend much time and energy trying to recruit new members. Maybe it's time to bring the concept of this program back to our clubs. This program of "reMember" focused on the needs of our members. It taught us to pay more attention to signs of personal, family or health stresses.
Our club learned our lesson. We established "reMember" as a component of the membership committee. A spouse volunteered to buy and send birthday cards to every member. She did not want any credit and for many years, no one ever knew where the cards were coming from. We started a spouse/partner day twice a year and slowly became a more family orientated club. We adopted other measures just to let our members know we cared - we reMembered them. I believe this organization, so rich in tradition and accomplishments, has the talent to accomplish greater things. The question for each member, "Do you have the commitment and will to move your club and this organization from good to great?" I think you do.