Want members? Mike has two simple tips

For some, being a member of Kiwanis is about getting together with members of the community to lend a helping hand. For Mike Beaudry of the Marquette, Michigan, Kiwanis club, it’s much more.

“Kiwanis saved my life,” says Mike, who has struggled with diabetes and heart problems since the 1960s.

Because of his disability, every day was full of aches and pains—at least until he discovered Kiwanis.

“It helped me get involved and take my mind off the disease,” he says.

Mike claims that shortly after joining Kiwanis, much of his pain disappeared, and he was able to do things around the house again.

During his 38 years of service, Mike has never missed a meeting and has served in many leadership positions, including district governor. However, Mike takes most pride in his involvement with the Marquette Bothwell Middle School Builders Club and the Key Club at Marquette Senior High School.

“I enjoy the level of enthusiasm with young ones,” he says. “I grew up a farm boy and didn’t have an opportunity to serve the community; so, this is really neat for me.”

Mike attends all of the Builders Club meetings and accompanies the Key Clubbers each year to the International convention.

The Marquette Kiwanis club experienced a lot growth under Mike’s leadership, ranking it among the largest clubs within the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District. That’s quite an accomplishment considering Marquette only has a population of 20,000, and the district includes much larger cities.

Mike suggests two keys for membership-development success:

• Call upon members to bring guests to meetings. Mike says half of all guests who come to his meetings eventually turn into members.
• Require club leaders to attend the International convention. Club representatives, he says, always come back enthused and full of ideas.