Newsroom

Go for 1 million, delegates say

Kiwanis will have 1 million members before its 100th birthday on January 21, 2015.

Delegates (above) cast their votes on a motion by raising yellow cards, and a club representative expresses his position on a proposed Bylaws amanedment.

The goal is written into Kiwanis International’s strategic plan, and it is the target on which North American, European, Asia-Pacific, and Latin American regional strategies focus. Now, Kiwanis clubs have expressed support of the membership goal too.

Representatives from clubs worldwide, participating in the House of Delegates at the 91st International Convention in Montréal, Québec, endorsed the one-million-member goal with the passage of a resolution title “One Million Members by 2015.”

The resolution notes that Kiwanis volunteers are changing the world one child and one community at a time and that the strength and effectiveness of this service depends on the strength and effectiveness of the organization’s membership. “To change the world by serving more children and more communities, Kiwanis membership must grow to meet tomorrow’s needs,” the resolution states.

According to Kiwanis International’s strategic plan, there are three routes to 1 million members; Build on the current Kiwanis, adding members and enhancing traditional clubs; expand into communities and nations where Kiwanis is under-represented or does not yet exist; and explore new styles of clubs and memberships.

Delegates backed up the resolution with their approval of a Bylaws amendment, which grants a one-year dues reprieve for new members for clubs that experience membership gains of 25 percent or higher.

“This is the type of thinking that will help Kiwanis achieve its one-million-member goal,” says International President Steve Siemens of the proposal submitted by the Kiwanis Club of Alpine, Rockford, Illinois.

Delegates approved two other amendments. One eliminates the “Treasurer” title from the position of International Vice-President. The other expands the definition of conduct unbecoming an International office to include district governors.

For the complete text of these amendments, as well as others that were defeated, withdrawn, and referred back to the International Board, click here.