Governor's Message

by Gov. Don Dudey

By the time you are reading this article, the holidays will have passed and I hope they were wonderful holidays for each of you. We have so much to be thankful for, and this time of year is a great time to celebrate no matter what your religion or faith.

It is also a time to begin working on those resolutions you set for 2010. Losing weight, stop smoking, buying a home, taking a vacation, or whatever. Resolutions are a way for each of us to set goals for ourselves in order to accomplish specific tasks during 2010.

Now, have you set any resolutions for Kiwanis for 2010?  Well, I have a few suggestions that you might want to consider:

• Strive to live the Objects of Kiwanis
• Tell your family, friends, co-workers and all you meet about Kiwanis
• Proudly wear your Kiwanis pin and branded apparel
• Place Kiwanis emblems on your vehicle
• Work closely with our Service Leadership Programs
• Invite SLP's to your club meetings and projects
• Share your "K" by sponsoring at least 2 new members

Set a goal and achieve it. Be S.M.A.R.T. in setting goals:

• Specific:   How many new members would your club like to add and what factors helped you choose this number? Let every member know of the goal and their part in attaining   it.
• Measurable:   How will you track your progress? Update your members at each meeting about where you are in reaching your goal.
• Attainable:   What steps will you take to reach your goal? You've probably heard "a goal without a plan is a dream." If you want everyone to take part in the campaign, make sure they have the tools they'll need to promote the Kiwanis mission.
• Realistic:   Are you willing and able to reach this goal? Club leaders should know what growth your club is capable of and use that knowledge to set a specific and realistic goal.
• Time bound:   How long should we work toward this goal? The contest should have a set deadline to keep motivation strong.

All of these are easy to do, and perhaps you can even do more than one at a time. January thru March is one of the greatest times for Kiwanis membership to grow, now that the holidays are over, schools are running smoothly, and you have a little extra time to concentrate on recruiting new members.

I will be traveling around this great District within the next three months be it an Official Governor's visits, club anniversaries or the regional training conferences, I would love to present you with a pin from the "1-2-3 You Hold the Key" program.  If you sponsor 1 new member you receive a bronze key pin with the Kiwanis emblem, 2 new members silver key and 3 new members a gold key. If you become a gold key member by the Las Vegas Convention and attend the convention, you will receive special recognition for your accomplishment at the convention.  So, sponsor your new member(s) and wear the keys proudly.

For Kiwanis Clubs there is the REVEAL program that helps you analyze your club - if you invited guests to your club meeting, what would they notice? A well-planned, well-attended meeting with lots of participation and fellowship? Would they feel welcome? Would they be drawn to the numerous options for service projects? Putting some thought into your club's health and the impression your club makes on potential members is the first step in preparing to grow. It's like planning the garden before tilling and planting. Start your planning by assessing what aspects of your club need some attention with the " Club Excellence Tool". Once you've weeded, pruned and fertilized your club, use the following tools to focus your growth efforts.

• Walk the talk-show your club division & district how to lead & grow.
• Stay flexible-the more flexible you are, the more attractive your club will be to new members.
• Reach out-every member can make an impact by inviting just one person to join.
• Keep it in the family-tap into the potential of people who already know about Kiwanis.

You can find more details about this program on the KI Website under REVEAL.

So, set your Kiwanis 2010 resolutions now, making sure they are S.M.A.R.T. - specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable and time bound.  

I look forward in visiting with you over the next several months to see how you are progressing with your 2010 resolutions.

Have a very happy and productive 2010,

Don L. Dudey, Governor