Yesterday is not Tomorrow (Part 5) - thoughts from Dick Anderson

April, 2008

Making Impact

One CAN make a DIFFERENCE and a TEAM can make an IMPACT is more than a simple slogan.

Kiwanis International, the collective us, made a great team effort to rid the world of IDD.

The project was thought to be impossible by many. Rid the world of anything is more than many can comprehend. BUT, as a TEAM of individual Kiwanis Clubs, we did it. We, collectively, over several years, raised over $87 million. Talk about IMPACT! We rid the world of the terrible impact of iodine deficiency.

The vast majority of WI-UM District clubs participated in that project through the International Foundation. There is a research group at International that is searching for another world wide project that will make an IMPACT.

We continue to make an IMPACT with our district projects for the two camps we support with
both time and money. Most of the Governors’ Spouse Projects are designed to meet the needs
of large groups of people. Whether it was collecting shoes for those without them or the current EMS Pediatric Bags for all the ambulances in the WI-UM District; these projects are successful
only because the collective, WE, support them.

It is terrific to see the reports coming in from all over the district describing how individual clubs are having fund-raising efforts in their local service area to raise the money necessary to supply one, two, three or more bags to EMS departments. Some areas are combining the efforts of several Kiwanis and women’s clubs to enablethem to meet the needs of the larger community.

Some clubs are financially supporting the need by contributing money, through the WI-UM District Foundation; to provide money to purchase Ped Bags to areas throughout the district where there are neither Kiwanis or women’s clubs located. Some clubs have included the K Family or other youth organizations into the fundraising effort. In some divisions, the lieutenant governor is coordinating the effort.

Kiwanis can and does make an IMPACT on district-wide projects.

The continuing challenge for local clubs, is do we make a DIFFERENCE and an IMPACT that
is long lasting?

Can we, as members of local Kiwanis Clubs, honestly say that what we do makes both a difference and an impact in our local communities? Can we describe the importance of what we do to prospective members so they will want to help us meet our goals?

Lastly, does our club have meaningful, clearly-stated and yearly evaluated goals to determine if we have effectively used our time, effort and money to make a lasting difference?

OR, if the club went out of existence this week, would anyone know or care?