Who Was Your Kiwanis Sponsor?

by Paul Palazzolo, Kiwanis International President

Can you name the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize last year?  Who was the most valuable player in Super Bowl XLII?  Who asked you to join your Kiwanis Club? 

The reason the last question is easier to answer is simply because that person made a difference in your life.  If I could meet your Kiwanis sponsor, I'd proudly shake their hand in gratitude.  As a Kiwanian, when you help a child, it's almost as if your sponsor were involved.  It's a legacy of service. 

Strengthening your club's membership builds that legacy of Kiwanis service.  During 2009-10, I'm asking you to help your club achieve its potential for service by achieving its potential for membership strength.  Your club can achieve its potential by coordinating four membership efforts during the year:

• October:  Walk the Talk - All Kiwanis Leaders sponsor at least one new member.  It's not too late to generate the momentum for this effort right now!
• January: Stay Flexible by taking advantage of the new flexible membership initiatives like satellite clubs and corporate membership.
• May: Kiwanis Membership Month - Work with your club to plan now for a full-scale effort.
• September:  Keep it in the Kiwanis Family by asking family and faculty of your sponsored clubs to join your club.

As a leader in Kiwanis, October is the time to set the pace for an entire year of membership growth.  Please check out the details for each of these club membership initiatives on the Kiwanis website at: www.kiwanisone.org/reveal and plan now to grow for service.

The greatest gift of gratitude to your Kiwanis sponsor is to return the favor and sponsor another new Kiwanian into your club.  Let's use the concepts in the "Reveal" initiative to build that legacy of Kiwanis service.  Thanks for making time to make a difference.