Make "Kiwanis One Day" A Recruitment Day
by Sylvester Neal, Vice-President, Kiwanis International
On April 4, 2009, Kiwanian
family members will participate in one day of global
community service. Once a year, Kiwanians will give
more than a million volunteer hours in a single day
to improve their communities and the lives of children
in countless nations. It is a time for the entire K-Family,
families of Kiwanis members, and community volunteers
to unite in one day of hands-on service.
This is an ideal time to invite community leaders, prospective members, and guests to your project. They will have an opportunity to see Kiwanis in action and participate in making a difference in their community. These projects can be service or fund raising opportunities, but also membership recruitment opportunities.
"When you touch the heart, the hands will follow". I am not sure whose quote this is, but I have found it works. Some people will be motivated to join Kiwanis when a service project first touches their hearts. Sometimes we need to provide them with their own Kiwanis story before they understand the rewards of service to others.
To be successful, these One Day Projects require planning and organization. Now is the time to begin. Kiwanis International has a wealth of information on planning and organizing this great event. Visit www.kiwanisone.org or simply write in "Kiwanis One Day" in your search engine. There is a step-by-step guide and many service project ideas. There are also ways to help make this a community media event and make it a signature project for your club. Please include your club membership and public relation teams on your planning committee.
If this project is fun and touches the lives of children, you'll have a great opportunity to gain new members for your club and more hands for service.
(Sylvester Neal, of Auburn, Washington, will become President of Kiwanis International in 2010. As current Co-Chair of the Americas Growth Committee, he oversees all Kiwanis growth activities in the western half of the United States and his monthly column on growth topics is published in several District newsletters. eBuilder is pleased to offer the comments of this Kiwanis leader to readers in the Capital District - Editor)
