Recently, the announcement of a Monday Morning Message from Jack White spawned discussion via a large email distribution list about the issue of declining membership within the Capital District.
Rather than continue discussion in that media, I've established this blog where people can be free to comment by choice. This way, those that do not want to receive those messages or participate will not be bothered.
Please feel free to comment here with all of the good ideas that we need to bring members back into this organization so that we can fulfill our mission of Serving the Children of the World.
In Kiwanis service,
Jeffrey M. Wolff
Division 20 Lt. Governor and Class President
CKI District Administrator
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THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT STARTED IT ALL. WANT TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION? I THOUGHT THIS FORMER ARLINGTON KIWANIAN AND PRESIDENT-ELECT OF HIS CLUB MADE SOME VALID POINTS. JACK WHITE
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As a former Kiwanian who somehow is still on this mailing list, I am going to toss a couple logs on this fire.
Too many meetings. Do you really think people have time to meet every week for lunch in today's society? If that is the case, are you trying to dictate that only retirees apply and do you not see what that does to membership, fundraising, sponsorship, development of future members and leaders, etc?
Too many committees. People coming up now want to do, not meet and talk about it.
Too many traditions that folks are too attached to that have little or
nothing to do with mission.
Too much "no" dictated from the top rather than the top listening to what is working on the ground. There is a serious lesson to be learned from the viral spread of facebook, social networking, youtube etc. More power to you for doing something on youtube here, but do you think this is the type of link that would grab a third party's attention to say, "Wow! I need to be part of Kiwanis, they are doing something special!"
Service clubs are a wonderful concept and they are doing great things, but there needs to be some very serious revamping rapidly or they are going to die out with their members.
I am really glad a blog has been started in order for us to express our ideas and frustrations. DAK recently started a blog for the club to enhance our club communication and it's been very successful so far. I hope the district enacts a plan to begin multiple blog postings about various topics and do the proper PR to get members to this page to start commenting.
ReplyDeleteI too get frustrated with the number of meetings, business items, and additional money I must give to be a part of this organization. Unfortnately I think the new younger members we want to tap into are strapped for cash and can't donate alot above and beyond dues, don't have the time to attend multiple meetings a month, and want to get down and dirty and do hands on service. Work is a place for business and service is their outlet to do something good and have fun with their peers.
Although I don't have any concrete ideas for solutions right now I do feel that part of the answer lies in Kiwanis International and our District rapidly making changes to be open to a new set of rules and regulations for the organization as a whole, allowing for more flexibility in these changing times.
Beryl Young
http://dullesareakiwanis.blogspot.com