Whenever I hear the words, Mmm, Mmm good, Mmm, Mmm good, I’m reminded of the jingle that Campbell’s soup is Mmm, Mmm, good!  I get a warm feeling thinking about the commercial of children with smiling faces, licking their lips after eating.  Soup for many is a comfort food.
   

I have decided to paraphrase the jingle, and say that Kiwanis Membership is Mmm, mmm, good! For me, my Kiwanis membership is a comfort and it is good. Stop reading this article and reflect for a few minutes on your membership in Kiwanis.  Is it a comfort?  Does it make you feel good?  What would your life be like if you weren’t a Kiwanian?
   

This month we begin our Marvelous March to May.  Kiwanis International has designated “May is Membership Month”.  During the month of May, every Kiwanis club around the globe should complete projects that increase their membership. Start planning now for your club’s MMM.  Our Florida District Website has a wealth of suggestions and resources to assist in this effort. The Special Guest Day Program has a proven success record in the Florida district.  Contact our Membership Committee members for assistance:  Growth Coordinator Diana Christen, Retention Chair Bob Randolph, Special Guest Day Chair Jonathan Earle, and SLP Recruitment Chair John Sullivan.  Click here for their contact information.
        

In addition, the Kiwanis International Website offers a variety of programs.  “Reveal Your Growth Potential” is designed to be completed in May.  Check it out.

Begin today your Marvelous March to May!

Kiwanis Membership is Mmm, mmm, good!

  
Every member can make an impact by inviting just one person to join
When to do it: May – Kiwanis Membership Month

·     Make service projects, socials and meetings fun. Who says meetings can’t serve a dual purpose? Combine a regular meeting with a service project to show potential members what your club is doing to make a difference in your community. This doesn’t have to be a large scale service project, it can be as simple as making care packages for a local children’s hospital or collecting school supplies for underprivileged children. 

A “paper meeting” is another option for incorporating your meeting and a service project. Your club members and guests will meet at the regular meeting place and time, but instead of conducting a formal meeting, all the important communications are typed out and distributed. The members and guests would then have the time and opportunity to perform service in place of having a meeting.

·     Capture recruits’ passion to make their experience meaningful. Use the complete volunteer interest form to let your members tell you where their passion and talents lie. Then use that information to cater your meeting programs and service projects to members’ interests. Playing to the strengths and talents of your members will go a long way in the success of a project and the overall happiness of members. If people are doing what interests them, they are more likely to complete the tasks and stay involved. 

·     Create a contest. Get members’ competitive juices flowing while working toward a common goal—bringing new members to your club. Divide into teams or compete as individuals, but get everyone involved and make it a contest worth winning. Here are some creative contest ideas.

·     Engage all members. Especially when prospective members attend your meetings, invite everyone in your club to participate, especially new and prospective members. Here are ways to create a welcoming meeting environment, one that encourages both members and guests to take part.

Plan, plan, plan. Failing to plan is planning to fail. To successfully launch a membership campaign, devote a month to planning activities and preparing a list of prospective members. Use site survey/community analysis information to give you ideas of about who to invite. And give your campaign a deadline—30 days from start to finish.

REVEAL YOUR GROWTH POTENTIAL ROAD MAP
   
Click the tool titles below to get more details on each topic:

 

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.