"Great Club Meetings: 13 Rules"
Workshop by Ron Jackson
Presented at:
Georgia Kiwanis Fall Training
October 17, 2009 -- Macon, Georgia
Georgia Kiwanis District Convention
August 18, 2007 -- Albany, Georgia
Georgia Kiwanis Mid-Winter Training Conference
10 March 2007 -- Perry, Georgia
Introduction
A. Kiwanis is about Service
1. Issue settled by Kiwanis International in 19182. Kiwanis International and your club exist to serve the children of the world and your community
B. But meetings are important too!
1. Positive benefitsA. FellowshipB. Build excitementC. Encourage and motivate members2. Negative results -- things that can happen when it is done wrong!A. DiscouragementB. Embarrassment -- can actually run off members or potential new members
C. Reinforce negative beliefs about your clubC. General rules for club programs and meeting themes
1. Be topical and seasonalA. Read the newspaper and stay on top of what's happeningB. Don't get lazy - don't just get the easiest speaker2. Be part of the communityA. Honor Teachers of the Year, Public Safety Officer of the Year, etc.3 Have variety in your meetings -- change up your meeting from week to week4. Highlight your service projects by having a report/program from an agency you support, etc.
5. Aim highA. Invite prominent local citizens, your local congressman, state legislatorB. Invite the Kiwanis Governor or other Kiwanis officer on your club's birthday, etc. Remember --
You are competing with everything else in your city or town that is happening at the same time.
You must make your meeting the...
Best Show In Town!
13 Rules for Great Club Meetings...How to have the best show in town
Rule 1Remember that your meeting starts well before the gong is rung!
Remember that your meeting starts well before the gong is rung!1. Promote your meetingA. Create excitement before the meeting begins2. Extend a warm welcome to your guest (and members, too!)A. Have greeting committee to meet people at the doorB. Don't just leave guests at the door -- have a plan to host themRule 2Remember how you would want to be treated
Remember how you would want to be treated1. Use the guest's name2. Have a club member introduce the guest during the meeting3. Thank guest at the end of the meeting -- by name!Rule 3Plan your meeting well in advance
Plan your meeting well in advance1. Start and end on timeA. Ring the gong loudly -- it will quiet the room more than you thinkB. Gets everyone's attention2. Meeting should move briskly and with energy -- no dead timeA. President and other speakers should be excited and glad to be thereB. It's obvious when a president would rather be somewhere else!3. President should have written agenda -- not just recycled from last week's meeting4. President should coordinate with participants to let them know when they will be speaking5. Participants should plan what they will say, and how -- make it memorable6. End the meeting on time, even if people are "into" the meeting -- leave them wanting moreRule 4Environment counts
Environment counts 1. When given the choice, a smaller room is better than a larger room"Better to fill a small room than half-fill a larger facility"2. Make sure the room is prepared -- make it look appealingA. Banners, gong, U. S flagB. Make sure your club banner is behind the speaker so it shows up in picturesC. Have the room set-up well before guests arrive3. If you can, have a printed bulletin at each place setting4. Have seasonal touchesA. Small, table-top flags near holidaysB. Seasonal items, eg, St. Patrick's Day items, Thanksgiving items, etc.Rule 5Don't be negative -- Not the time to airing dirty laundry
Don't be negative -- Not the time to airing dirty laundry1. Don't chide or lecture your members during meetingsA. "Well, we have been losing members and unless we get to work, we are going to drop way down"B. "Our administrative account is really low and we need to do something."C. "Some of our members just aren't participating and supporting this project. If this doesn't change, I"m not going to head up this project!
2. You can be honest with your members about the club's condition; just be careful at meetings -- it's not the time!
Rule 6Let the meeting move at a good pace -- nobody wants to attend a boring meeting
Let the meeting move at a good pace -- nobody wants to attend a boring meeting1. Transitions between agenda items should be smooth and without delay2. If you are going to have a part in the program, don't have a mouth full of food when called on3. The next presenter should be ready before being called on -- be ready!4. Remember -- the president eats after the meeting!Rule 7Have different people present each week -- not just the same one or two people each week
Have different people present each week -- not just the same one or two people each week1. President should involve a number of peopleRule 8Make sure people can hear you -- get a good sound system if you need one
Make sure people can hear you -- get a good sound system if you need oneRule 9Be proud of your club's accomplishments, heritage and awards
Be proud of your club's accomplishments, heritage and awards1. Display your club banners, banner patches and awards2. Periodically, honor your past leaders3. Celebrate club milestones -- birthday of KI, your club, etc.Rule 11Make your meetings fun -- nobody wants to attend a dull meeting!
Make your meetings fun -- nobody wants to attend a dull meeting!1. Happy Bucks2. Mystery Kiwanian -- give a clue and have members guess who is being described3. President (or someone else) tells a joke, etc.4. Have a club "sheriff" who assesses "fines" for "offenses" -- A. Having your picture in the paper without your Kiwanis pin onB. Attending a meeting without your Kiwanis pin onRule 12Interclub often -- "You will learn a lot about Kiwanis and get good ideas!"
Interclub often -- "You will learn a lot about Kiwanis and get good ideas!"Rule 13Care about making your club meetings attractive and the
Care about making your club meetings attractive and the Best Show In Town!
