Dave Curry
Concept Ten - A Couple of Questions
As Kiwanians we are best served when officers seek positions
to be VIP’s (Very Involved Persons). A quick example
of a very involved person was Florida’s Will Blechman, who
guided us as an organization to the Young Children : Priority
One effort and then expanded it to the Priority One Advisory
Council, made up of 40 national child advocacy organizations,
which still meets in Washington, DC. This is just one example,
but he proved again that an individual can and does make a
difference. I have provided concepts over the last nine months
that indicate where I’ve been and where we can be as an organization,
so I end this series with a few questions (questions are the
foundation of the idea generation process):
What if an International Committee was assigned to a Class Of Governors?
We spend considerable time & money building camaraderie
and relationships between these individuals, only to have
their contribution as a group end after their year of service.
Let’s assign two of our International Committees to separate
classes of governors, with the class secretary as the coordinator,
to determine the potential of their ongoing contribution as
a class. We keep alive their spirit of contribution, and we
already have a liaison/representative in every district! Lets
see if it works!
What if the International President, while touring each district assigned,
did a 10 mile or 10 kilometer power-walk fundraiser for a
local district or club cause in every district where they
had an official visit. This would generate additional press
coverage to promote a worthwhile project, raise much needed
funding, and would also demonstrate the vitality and determination
of the Kiwanis Organization and its involvement and dedication
to local causes (yes, I plan to do this).
What if we changed our approach on diversity to center on education,
concentrating our education on how to sponsor good souls?
The soul has no color, creed, race, gender, or age - and good
souls make great Kiwanians. Identifying these individuals
and introducing them to Kiwanis is key to future success as
a vibrant service organization. In addition, when we
do expand based on diversity, consider sponsoring groups instead
of individuals. For example, to introduce age diversity to
a club, sponsor six young members in a short time period,
ensuring their comfort while meeting our goal.
What if a core group of 10 dynamic & successful individuals served
as a presidential advisory group that met monthly via phone
conference to help ensure that we head in a consistent and
positive direction? I have traveled to some districts where
you can feel electricity in the air because the outgoing Governor
had a lot of success (examples were when I attended the Capital
and New York conventions – tremendous excitement!). Add to
those individuals a dynamic District Secretary & KI Foundation
member, and you have quite an advisory body, focused on success.
What if 4 individuals (this includes all four leaders in each district
that have been receiving these letters – yes, you!) in every
district had prior knowledge of, and the opportunity to support,
not only these concepts, but an encouragement to the 2005-2006
Governor-Elects to try new concepts within your District.
You are situated, knowing the training and encouragement that
those Governor-Elects will be receiving, in a unique position
to support, encourage and implement new ideas within your
district. Think of the dynamic opportunities if prior district
leadership is on the same page as the incoming Governor (who
will also be encouraged to use you as an ally) to make that
year vibrant and successful. You now have the knowledge to
support at least 10 ideas for your district in 06/07 and will
be informed of the program as it develops.
What if we found a way to build a cohesive international team,
made up of individuals from every district, that form a nucleus
to take the new strategic plan/direction being offered by
Kiwanis International and drive that vision down to clubs
in every district? We have spent considerable resources, time
and money, discussing and developing the International Strategic
Plan and it is time to drive that plan down to the depths
of our organization - So, how do we form such a team?
This last concept will be available at the International
Convention in St. Louis for your consideration.
Let me leave you with one last thought, based on the following
premise. If we plan on our organization being a viable force
for the next two hundred years, two times longer than our
current existence, the odds are that we have only experienced
about one third of the new ideas and great concepts that will
move our organization forward. It is intriguing to think that
the individuals who will propose these new directions have
not even been born yet, let alone involved with Kiwanis now.
Our future, if it is to be dynamic, is based on our allowance
and acceptance of new visions, new directions.
These are only a few ideas, a few thoughts, on how to enhance
our organization. I hope our journey together this past year
has been worthwhile in generating new concepts and encouraging
out of the box thinking. I know that we can’t make all these
changes overnight, and not all would necessarily work, but
we make no progress by being complacent. I look forward to
the opportunity for us to share more in St. Louis, thank you
for your dedication and commitment to that which we love.
Ideas are the cornerstone of new directions and opportunities. As Oliver Wendell
Holmes once professed, “Man’s mind, once stretched by a new
idea, never regains its original dimensions”
For more information contact:
Name: Dave Curry
Address: 1204 W Woolman
 Butte,
MT 59701
Phone: (406) 723-8067
email: Dave Curry
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