SUBJECT: Proposal to increase annual membership dues

Your district Dues Study Committee has recommended that a proposed dues increase be placed before the delegate assembly at the District Convention in August. This issue was not taken lightly and is being presented to bring the district into a fiscally sound position.

Here are some facts:

• The last Districtdues increase occurred in 1997, eleven years ago, which brought district dues to the current $18 per year.
• Although we continue to receive less income due to membership losses, we are required to do the same things we did in 1997.
• Our costs have not gone down and with inflation etc. they actually went up.
• We have lost approximately 30% of our membership since the last dues increase in 1997.
• Federal mileage rate is $0.505 per mile and we reimburse our leadership $0.24 per mile.
• The $18 collected in 1997 has declined to $12.60 based on membership decline of 30%.
• Based on inflation, the $18 collected in 1997 would require $23.17 to match today's prices.
• It would take an increase of $10.57 just to stay even in 2008 and even more in 2009.
• We need to invest in the future of our Kiwanis District! We are at a crossroads with the district budget for next year. We will soon have no reserve funds left from which to borrow. If we continue at present funding and spending we will in four years, be over $250,000 in the red. We cannot continue to slash our district budget at a time when we need resources to build our district. We have leaders working hard for our members. However, we have lost too many members over the past years to continue to pay the same dues as we did 11 years ago.

I want to give you an update on the progress (lack thereof) in membership growth for the district. Ohio has the distinction of being third in all of Kiwanis International in membership growth. Actually, I should have said third in total membership loss thus far this year. That is a distinction I am not happy to hold. We have only two divisions with a positive growth for the year. Those are Division 10W at +2 and Division 24 at +9.

I challenge each and every member to help turn this decline around. If one half of the members in each club would invite someone to attend a club meeting and then invite them to become members, new member growth would be phenominal. Even if only one half of those who were invited to join did so, we would have over 2,000 new members. Just imagine the service we could then do in our communities with that many new members to help.

I am open to suggestions on how we can turn this around. I firmly believe that it is possible to reverse the trend and end the year on a positive note. Bill Pierce and his TAG Team has been working hard and we need to support their efforts. You can email your ideas and suggestions to me at leroy@leroymartin.com.


A very important side effect of this decline in membership is that of revenue loss. We made our budget for the year based on an anticipated membership figure. With the loss thus far, our revenues will drop by nearly $9,400. This erodes our reserve funds which are already reduced to a critical point. This loss in revenue means an eventual loss in service to membership.

On Saturday morning, I dropped in to observe a fantastic service project. The Copley-Fairlawn Kiwanis Club members were holding their annual food distribution. The project collected 19,000 cans of food. 8,000 of those cans were given toa local organization called Good Neighbors for further distribution to needy families. The other 11,000 cans were boxed up and given to 97 local families. The club purchased hams and $50.00 gift certificates to a local supermarket that were included in the baskets. Thanks to all who helped this day, families in need will have a brighter Christmas season. As you can see from these photos, even Rudolph joined in and gave a helping hand to the project.

I have designated January and February, 2008 as Membership Growth Months. I have asked all Lt. Governors to challenge each club to induct at least one new member during those months. If we do this we will see an increase in membership like we haven't seen in such a short time in many years. For those of you who doubt it can be done, check my blog for December 18th. JaniceMarx proves it can be done!!!

In addition to the new member challenge, I have asked for the name of one new locality in each division where we can begin the process of chartering a new club. This will be a great undertaking which will require that those who desire to see our Great Ohio District survive the membership crisis to step up and be counted.

Are you the one? Are you the one who will step up and make a difference in your club? Are you the one who will step up and make a difference in your Division? Are you the one who will step up and make a difference in our District?

I ask you to Be The One! Be the one who asks someone to attend one of your club's meetings. Then, be the one who asks that person to become a member of your club and the greatest organization that provides service to children and all those in need in your community -- Kiwanis.

I have completed one half of my official visits. Marge and I continue to be amazed at the service that all clubs are doing for the betterment of their communities. We see clubs doing food distribution, playground construction, reading to elementary students, and providing so many more opportunities for their members to impact their communities that it would take me much more space than is availableto tell the whole story. I thank each and every one of you for all you do for those in need.

Our visit to Division 20 brought a big surprise for First Lady Marge. The clubs asked their members to bring a stuffed animal for presentation to Marge. These animals were presented to be used as part of the First Lady's Project, Pediatric Trauma, Prevention and Treatment. Over 140 stuffed animals were given for the project. Marge in turn presented those stuffed animals to the Copley Townsip Fire Department.

They will be used when a child is in distress and needs to be comforted. The Copley Township Fire Department kept a number of them and has distributed the remainder to other local fire departments. What a great way to impact our community. We thank Division 20 for their generosity.

I paid a second visit to Division 22. I had told Newbury President, Janice Marx that if she got 10 new members, I would come back to induct them. She took me at my word and sponsored 10 new members. This has increased their club membership from 17 to 27. Congratulations Janice for being the one who stepped up and made a difference.

First Lady Marge and I had a great time at our visit to Division 1 South. It was, to say the least a rather unusual "happening." The event was held at Bowling Green State University in one of the tents used for tailgate parties. The weather was a little cool but we didn't notice because we were having so much fun. Lt. Governor Sande Johnson went out of her way to make the meeting  fun and interesting.

It all started with the normal opening of a Kiwanis Division meeting. Marge and I were asked to speak and we did our best considering the surroundings. I was given a toy microphone (as a joke, of course) to use which didn't work so I discarded it. It did help that I cut some of my speech out so we could get to the fun part of the day. During First Lady Marge's part of the program, the Bowling Green cheerleaders arrived to lead us in some cheers for their football team. I'm afraid they didn't get a real enthusiastic response from the Kiwanians present. After they went on to the next tent, Marge was able to complete her presentation.

Following our very motivating and captivating speeches (yeah, right), we presented our Noteworthy Awards to club members as well as to Lt. Governor Sande and Past Lt. Governor Adam Sproles. These awards go to Kiwanians who have gone the extra degree of effort in service to their clubs and communities.

After the awards were given, the real fun began. Lt. Governor Sande dressed me up as an "Ideal Kiwanian." She started by giving me large plastic ears to wear. These represented the need to be able to listen and learn. I won't describe each item I was given to wear. Suffice it to say that I was unrecognizable when she was through with me. Thank goodness for that fact. Everyone there did see and learn what it takes to make an "Ideal Kiwanian." This was truly one of my "Kiwanis Moments" to be remembered.

Below are some of the pictures taken at this fun division meeting. Lt Governor Sande and Division 1 South really know how to throw a party.

 

Friday, October 19th

We had a great time hosting our International President Dave Curry and First Lady Eva. The fun started with their visit to the Youngstown Kiwanis Club's meeting on Friday. Twenty one clubs and about 85 Kiwanians and guests were in attendance. I want to congratulate the Youngstown club for the excellent way they showcased our  Great Ohio District hospitality. President Dave gave us a glimpse of his great wit and ability to captivate an audience with his presentation about the great things that are occurring in our Kiwanis World. From his description of Kiwanis projects in Panama to his information on projects in Equador, he made us aware of how Kiwanians are involved in community service not only here at home but abroad also. He told us about a project in Equador to add rooms to a school that was helped by a donation from the Medina Club.

President Dave and First Lady Eva were presented with a gift from the Ohio District. It was a wall hanging from the Don Drumm Studio in Akron. It too represents what is great about Ohio. Also, I presented President Dave and First Lady Eva with my "Noteworthy Award."

 

 

Friday evening found us in Wooster at the Wooster club's Pancake Dinner. President Dave and I both could be seen flipping pancakes. President Dave enjoyed that so much, he insisted in going back to do it again after eating. While there, the Governor of Circle K, Jason Stewart, got a chance to meet with President Dave.

 

 

 

On our way to Wooster, we stopped at Garfield Elementary School in Medina to pick up some flowers. While we were there, President Dave came to the rescue of a child who lost a ball on the low roof of a part of the building. He used a chair to stand on and a stick to recover the ball along with two other "lost" balls. You see a picture here of him doing the good deed.

 

 

Saturday, October 20th

On Saturday Morning we gathered a group to do the 10K walk with President Dave. We had a fun time again. With the President on the walk, to name a few, were First Lady Eva, First Lady Marge, International Trustee Alan Penn, Governor Leroy, Key Club Governor Brit Oberzut, Circle K Governor Jason Stewart as well as many other Ohio District leaders. The picture on the right shows First Lady Eva, me and President Dave returning from the walk.

I want to thank all who participated in the walk. In particular a great big thanks goes to those who sponsored the walkers. We haven't totaled it all as yet, but it appears we raised close to $2,500.

 

Hitting the road again in the afternoon, we headed for Plain City just west of Columbus. We held a Kiwanis BBQ that again was well attended. President Dave once again gave us reasons to be proud of the service we perform for our communities as he shared with us projects from around the world. During the evening, President Dave was presented with a Proclamation from both of the counties that are served by the Plain City Kiwanis Club.

 

 

For those of you who didn't attend any of these appearances, I can only say it is your loss. All of us who did, had a great time and reinforced our reasons for being Kiwanians, especially Ohio District Kiwanians.

 

 

 

 

 

Reminder:

This is the week that our International President Dave Curry visits Ohio. It is not too late to plan on doing the 10K walk with us on Saturday. Get your pledges now and join us on what will be a beautiful Fall day for a walk. If you can't do the walk, you can make pledges to support me by sending me an email at leroy@leroymartin.com. All proceeds go to support pediatric trauma and children of the world.

More information is on this website.

Governor Leroy

Circle K held their District Service Project (DSP) on Saturday at Baldwin Wallace College.  Led by Circle K Governor Jason Stewart and his District DSP Chair, students from around the Ohio District, along with one from Buffalo, NY, the Circle K International President and the Counselor from Pennsylvania joined together to do community service.

 The group I was with, went to St. Malachi Church in the innercity of Cleveland to do thier service.  We sorted books, painted shelves and setup a couple of classrooms. The students chose which project they wanted to do. We had a great time. I am continually amazed at the amount of service that Clicle K students do each year for communities around Ohio.

Ohio Kiwanians do a tremendous amount of service for their communities, but Circle K outshines us all for thier individal per person average hours of service annually.  I commend them one and all for what they do for their schools, communities and those in need.

I am proud of the service all of our Sponsord Youth Program members complete throughout the year.  I am proud to say "I am a Kiwanian!" 

ESTHER RYAN SHOE FUND PROJECT

I want to congratulate allof the Lt. Governors, clubs and members who made our Esther Ryan Shoe fund project a tremendous success. We met on the morning of Sept. 29^th with Esther Ryan who gave us the history of how her project has evolved over the last 25 years. After her talk, we presented her with checks and shoes totaling nearly $3,000.00. Esther and I were overwhelmed by the generosity shown. I guess that I really should not be surprised at this, since I have seen Kiwanians time and again step up when children are involved.

FIRST LADY’S PROJECT

First Lady Marge’s project for this year is Pediatric Trauma, Prevention and Treatment. A goal of $2,000 per Division has been established. All donations will be placed in an account with the Ohio Kiwanis Foundation. It is First Lady Marge’s hope that local groups, in conjunction with a Kiwanis club, will apply for grants to get equipment to be used by trauma units to treat pediatric trauma victims. These local groups could be EMS, a pediatric hospital or other unit that treats children.

One way for divisions and clubs to participate is to award a Past International Presidents Award to a deserving Kiwanian. The cost of the award is $500.00 with one half of the amount going to the First Lady’s project and one half to the Foundation’s Endowment Fund. In other words, a Past International Presidents Award will benefit both the Foundation and the First Lady’s project. It is a win-win situation. It would be a great honor for us to present these Past International Presidents Awards during our official visit to your division.