District 3 Kin – Make a Difference 

April, 2010

Family of Kin

April is Membership Month so I thought I would take the opportunity to share the successes and challenges of District 3’s growth, retention and recruitment thus far this year.  We know that nationally our numbers are dropping and have been since the late 1980s and this trend has been occurring in District 3 also.  In District 3, this means that we have had seven club closures over the past two years.  We have had members leave existing clubs for a variety of reasons and every member that leaves, whatever the circumstance is a loss to us all.

We know why clubs fail – they are disengaged, disorganized, dissatisfied.  They become disconnected from the District and from the Organization and quickly (generally it appears to be about a three year process) lose enthusiasm, structure and members.  Once that occurs, it is typically a matter of time before the club folds.   We are working in this district and at a national level to identify Clubs in Trouble and offer them the assistance and support to get back on track.  It can be done.  It is being done.

Here’s something I was interested to discover that we don’t always know – we cannot always readily identify why a club succeeds.  In my mind, that is the more pressing issue.  If we cannot determine why some clubs are successful, why their numbers increase, why their members could not even consider leaving Kin, then we are not able to use their strategies.  Is it that the club has found that perfect balance of service and fellowship?  Have they clicked as a group and become friends as well as members of the same club?  If we don’t know why we succeed, we will fail.

The great news is, we ARE succeeding as a district.  We have chartered three clubs in three years: the Norquay Kin Club, the University of Saskatchewan Campus Kin Club and the University of Regina Campus Kin Club.  The Norquay Club chartered at 26 members in December of 2008 and are currently at 30.  The U of S Club currently has 21 members.  The U of R Club chartered with 11 members and has already had another person join.

Other stars in growth this year are the Saskatoon Kinettes and the Melfort Kinsmen – each group is +10 as of March 31^st.  Way to go and THANK YOU so much!  (I have heard that one of our clubs is +12 this year, but the paperwork does not appear up to date…. Sure would like to salute them too…)

As of March 31^st, our District is PLUS 16.  That may not sound like much until you consider how we got to that number.  I will admit that we have lost 159 members so far this year, for the abovementioned reasons and I would personally welcome each and every one of them back in a heartbeat.  However, the upside is I have personally written 175 letters to welcome NEW members to Kin. 

Somehow, someone convinced EACH of those 175 people to consider joining a club.  Someone welcomed them at a meeting.  Someone took a minute at a Kin event to thank them for coming.  And they joined.  Was it you?  How did you do it?  Can you do it again, please?

Those 175 new members represent our stability and longevity – they are enthusiastic, energetic and fresh.  They believe that they have something to offer their community and something to gain themselves in the process and each and every one of them are right.  Kin has so much to offer all of us, whatever it is that we might be looking for.  Friendship? Check.  Personal growth and development?  Check.  The opportunity to impact your community in a positive manner?  Check.  Fellowship and Fun?  Oh yeah!  We truly have it all.

So let’s not keep Kin a secret.  Let’s extend the hand of friendship, the invitation to an event, the opportunity to be involved.  Let’s make our clubs welcoming and vibrant places so that people WANT to join us.

Let’s grow.

Thank you for being Kin.

Governor, D3

(306) 642-5784 (h) 642-7089 (c)

corieruzickaolson@sasktel.net