The following is based on a series of excellent tips on
working with a Kiwanis Club; this advice can be applied to establishing relationships with
any local service organization:
- Contact members you know, state leaders, or the group’s national office and
identify the presidents of local clubs.
- Get introduced to - or otherwise contact - the local club president and other club
leaders.
- Explain what your program does, who you serve, and what needs you have. Suggest several
ways the club can help, and ask the club to choose one.
- Plan to speak at a club meeting, taking 15 minutes or so to explain the basics of your
program and its needs.
- Don’t leave the meeting until you ascertain who your contact with the club should
be; in an all-volunteer program, this could be the club president, the committee chairman,
or simply a member given responsibility for children’s issues.
- Pursue your contact until you get an official decision.
- Show your appreciation to the entire club so that they will want to help again next
year; a letter or a certificate would be nice.
- Push for publicity that gives credit to the local service club as well as your own
organization. Send the club copies of any press clippings you get.
- Establish future contacts, since turnover at volunteer groups is inevitable.
- Look for other clubs in the area; chances are that there is more than one chapter of
each group you contact, and more than one type of service group.
- Don’t get discouraged; if you don’t succeed with a local club, consider
contacting district or state club officials for help and advice. And remember, service
clubs typically elect a new board each year.
- When all else fails, join the club; most would be delighted to have you on board, and
your new friends can lead to more support for your program.
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