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Club Support Through The TAG LINK Program |
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- BACKGROUND:
One of the advantages of TAG being a multi-year project is the
luxury of seeing the bigger picture instead of one a one-year
snapshot. What we have learned is that one of the major factors
contributing to loss of membership is the continuous folding
of new and struggling clubs. I-I data shows that only 4 out of
10, or 40%, of the new clubs build in the past 10 years are still
in existence. This is unacceptable. Our New Club Builders and
sponsoring clubs work too hard and invest too much of their time,
and talents, to let this pattern continue. I don't have stats.
on failing clubs but the fact that they are in trouble shows
a need for an organized support system.
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- THE FIRST PLAN
Originally the sponsoring club was suppose to "guide"
the newbie club during its first year (or two). This is a great
idea but very hard for most sponsoring clubs because their members
have just invested a lot of time building the new club and need
to get back to supporting their own club's other activities and
committees. So, the first solution TAG considered was to ask
a PLG to be a club's mentor for 2 years. That seemed like a viable
solution. But in reality, 2 years is just too much time to ask
any ONE individual to devote to a club that is not his or her
own.
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- However, the use of
PLGs is a great idea. They know their area and they know their
local clubs. So, TAG would like to share with you a plan for
next year that incorporates PLGs and local clubs.
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- MENTORS AND LINK
During the PLGA Convention, there will be training on how to
mentor a club. This is a process that needs to be learned. It
involves guiding the new club as it begins to operate as part
of the Kiwanis Family. This is directly opposite to someone teaching
a new club "their way." Once trained, the PLG will
identify 1 or 2 clubs in his division that, for want of a better
phrase, "Get It!" These could, but not necessarily,
be clubs with a history of earning "Distinguished Status."
TAG will approach these clubs and invite them to be available
to LINK to a new, or struggling club, in the same way the KI
LINK program works.-
- Then, when a new club
is build in a division, the CURRENT Lt. Gov. will coordinate
with TAG for a CLE for the club officers. Their PLG Mentor will
also attend training and be their "guardian angel"
for the next 4 months. During those 4 months the Mentor will
work with TAG to find the new club a "LINK" club. The
same process can be followed for a club having difficulty. One
important point to make is that neither the mentor nor LINK club
will do the work for the newbie or struggling club. The support
is there to show these clubs "how to fish for themselves."
These club need to want to succeed.
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- If distance is a factor,
the 2 clubs can communicate via phone or e-mail. The LINK club
officers will "buddy" with the new club officers for
the next 2 years, similar to the way a club that sponsor an AKTION
Club operates. The LINK Club will advise the new Kiwanians about
club operations, assist them with membership issues, share Kiwanis
friendship, service, and fund-raising ideas, and encourage them
to attend additional Kiwanis training in their area. Basically
they are the newbie's LINK to success. At the end of the 2nd
year, the LINK Club and the Newbie Club will receive District
recognition and a TAG LINK Success Patch.
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- BENEFITS
Providing support and a safety net for a new club has several
benefits. First the newbie club "sees" that I-I is
comprised of caring individuals. Second, it promotes the growth
of Leadership skills. We spend a lot of time building leadership
skills with kids. TAG's LINK Program opens this opportunity for
adult Kiwanians. You learn your skills better when you have to
explain it to someone else. And finally, the number of clubs
that fail will be decreased. This is important because a "failed"
club makes it extremely difficult to rebuild in their area. According
to KI Trustee Canaday, the area is not viable for 10 years.
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- Our membership will
move forward with positive growth. We will build, we will grow,
we will be able to serve with continuity and therefore achieve
our mission of " … improving the lives of children
and family worldwide."
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