(this is the cover slide to use until the program begins) Dear presenter, This PowerPoint presentation was created for original use at the International Convention in New Orleans in June 2012, at the launch of the official celebration of the 25 years of women in Kiwanis. The purpose of this forum is to celebrate the women in Kiwanis and to talk about strategies to attract and recruit women, as well as some best retention practices to make your club more vibrant with women. Please feel free to use it for your own district conventions, division council meetings, membership events, or additional training sessions. Best regards, Patti Barsotti, Past Governor California-Nevada- Hawaii District of Kiwanis International Sincerely, Pam Fleming, Trustee Kiwanis International

Women in Kiwanis: is 26% good enough? Women in Kiwanis latest statics indicate that only 26% of our Kiwanis population are women. Why do you think that we only have 26%, of course this means that 74% are something else. It also means there are a lot of women prospects out there. We may want to find a way to get them into our service organization before others do. That’s why we are here today to discuss just that. We are celebrating 25 years this summer.

What is Kiwanis? Let’s talk about Kiwanis What is Kiwanis? Some of these answers are the very same as what Men are looking for. What do you think that Women are looking for? Opportunities for personal growth Satisfaction of Changing the world right now: MNT Remember your Kiwanis moment Financial support for past key clubbers or under 35 members? Fun, good food, organized club meeting with all of the start on time end on time promises, educational, fun, or interesting stories. Welcoming environment Open to new ideas Times they are changing Facebook, social media presence? In an inviting encouraging and welcoming manner.

Serving the children of the world Is 26% enough? Would you like to see more women in Kiwanis? What is the right percentage? Can you imagine what we could do if instead of 26%, Women were 50% Would you like to invite others to be a part of an organization that is changing the World? How are we going to change the world? Eliminate MNT Would more hands help? Would you like to see more Women in Kiwanis? So how do we focus on adding more Women to our respective Kiwanis Clubs.

Why don’t women join Kiwanis? Feel they won’t be accepted? Not invited? Few examples/mentors Perception of men’s club No women their age Too busy Cost Perception of women Not put to work right away Not listened too Not interested in current projects once they join May think they can do it on their own. Don’t realize the value of synergy of our resources, experience and connections, already established?

Why don’t women join Kiwanis? Lack of invitation? Think it is a men’s organization? Don’t know we exist? Other ideas? Feel they won’t be accepted? Not invited? Few examples/mentors Perception of men’s club No women their age Too busy Cost Perception of women Not put to work right away Not listened too Not interested in current projects once they join May think they can do it on their own. Don’t realize the value of synergy of our resources, experience and connections, already established?

What kind of women would we like to attract? What are the attributes of potential women members? Answers we might hear! Women like to bond and work with other women? Women are caretakers and add a certain flavor to our clubs. Women get things down. If we only have 26%, there must be lots of women out there. More women will attract more women. We want their connections, energy time talent and treasures? We should hear: kind, sensitive, hard working, influential etc.

Women who… Bond and work well with others. Are caretakers. Get things done. Know and can attract more women. Share their connections, energy time talent and treasures. Want to work with children Are Kind, sensitive, hard working, influential. Answers we might hear! Women like to bond and work with other women? Women are caretakers and add a certain flavor to our clubs. Women get things down. If we only have 26%, there must be lots of women out there. More women will attract more women. We want their connections, energy time talent and treasures? We should hear: kind, sensitive, hard working, influential etc.

What can we offer Women? In general do you think women are interested in gimmicks or give always as an incentive? To make a difference, to be heard, to be in a place where their time, talent and treasure will be valued and put to good use? Other Women they can relate to? Maybe interesting men with good hearts? Networking? Personal growth opportunities? Opportunities for taking care of others. An invitation

What can we offer Women? Service opportunities. Connections. Others with similar hearts. Variety of club structures. A welcoming environment for women? Personal growth opportunities. An invitation! To make a difference, to be heard, to be in a place where their time, talent and treasure will be valued and put to good use? Other Women they can relate to? Maybe interesting men with good hearts? Networking? Personal growth opportunities? Opportunities for taking care of others. An invitation

How are we going attract more women? Can we provide what they look for? How are we going to match What we are looking for and what Women are looking for in a club?

Kiwanis Eliminating Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus TheEliminateProject.org Wish we had more time to talk about our World Changing project, there are other seminars about this project and I encourage to find out all that you can. This is note worthy project to eliminate MNT from the world. This connection that we have as women should attract new members. From what I just heard you say about your service projects and Kiwanis moments, I know one thing and that is if we have more hands of service we can save and protect more babies and more mothers and Eliminate MNT sooner! When women hear about what we are doing for the dying babies and mothers they will know that we are THE organization and hopefully they will get involved. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

What else should we provide a new member? Are women looking for something different than Men? Ask the audience.

How does our club welcome women—New members How does your club fulfill expectations? New Member Orientation? Meaningful induction? Service project opportunities? Enough to keep new members busy? What did they expect before they joined? No surprises, exceed expectations? How many of your clubs have new member orientations? IF not, why not? How do new members/women know how to get involved, or what is expected. Word of mouth, whose? Is it still relevant, does one person speak for the club?

How does our club welcome women—New members Service project opportunities Leadership opportunities New Member Orientations Inclusiveness Social events Recognition New Member Orientation? Meaningful induction? Service project opportunities? Enough to keep new members busy? What did they expect before they joined? No surprises, exceed expectations? How many of your clubs have new member orientations? IF not, why not? How do new members/women know how to get involved, or what is expected. Word of mouth, whose? Is it still relevant does one person speak for the club?

What else should we do BEFORE we invite more women in to Kiwanis? Service project opportunities Programs of interest Plan to engage our new members Meaningful induction New Member orientation Look closely at our club

The best club in town Is your club inviting to others? Good food, fun and interesting speakers? Positive attitude? Consistent timely meetings? Leaders are organized, well informed and active? Does your club sponsor a Service Leadership Program club? Do ALL of your members get involved with SLP? Ask yourself and others Is your club inviting to others? Are your members friendly to guests? Good food, fun and interesting speakers? Positive attitude? Consistent timely meetings? Leaders that are organized, well informed and active? Does your club sponsor a Service Leadership Program club? Do ALL of your members get involved with SLP?

Your next step to make it happen How are we going to make this happen.

We get what we focus on Did you ever wake up one morning and find yourself in Hawaii or another location of your dreams? Does your vacation just happen? Or do you have to plan for it? It is always great to remember why we are in Kiwanis and the joy, pleasure and rewards we experience from it. It is important to think about this slide and what it means. Like our vacation if we want it we have to focus on making it happen. First we decide we want to take a vacation. Check on $$ Decide where do we want to go? How will we get there? Many other things & than we have to decide that we are going to take action to make it happen. Let’s see how this relates to Kiwanis?

Make a plan to get more women into your club Have a membership meeting with your board, form a committee and let your members know! Remember that some may be sensitive to a limited membership focus. Decide we need new members? Make a plan to discover prospects. Have a membership meeting with your board, form a committee and let your members know! Remember that some may be sensitive to a limited membership focus. Decide we need new members? Make a plan to discover prospects: Brainstorm professions where you might find women, clubs, other service organizations, local newspapers, schools, look for women who do the unexpected, in the police force, firefighters etc.

As Nike says— “Just do it!” Pick a date and have a special “Invite a guest” club meeting or service project. Have an internal club contest, who can bring the most guests who join? Send out letters? Invite friends! Follow up? Survey, why did women leave, make changes in your club? Use your own creative ideas! TAKE ACTION! Have you ever been surprised when a friend or family member says guess what I just joined a Kiwanis club? Or worse I just joined another service club.

Resources www.KiwanisOne.org http://nonprofit.about.com/od/volunteers/a/womenvols.htm

Questions?

Thank you for attending and sharing!

End of session.