President's Message

Kiwanis at heart

By Don Canaday, President, Kiwanis International

I truly am honored that you have given me the opportunity to serve our great organization. This past July, my first lady, Kiwanis’ First Lady, Linda, passed away. With this loss, my task as Kiwanis International President became much more difficult. She was the love of my life, my best friend, and my partner. My heart is broken, but she made me promise that if things went wrong with her surgery, I would do everything possible to move Kiwanis forward. I will keep my promise to her.

Kiwanis members are known for having a “Kiwanis heart,” willing to give
of their time, talents, and treasures for the good of others. On behalf of the millions of lives you have touched and continue to touch, I thank you for your dedication and service.

As I think about the Kiwanis heart in each of us, I realize there are millions of men and women around the world who also have Kiwanis hearts but, sadly, are not Kiwanis members. Yet they will never experience the joy and rewards of Kiwanis
membership unless we share the Kiwanis story and give them the opportunity to join our clubs. The story line “I never joined Kiwanis because no one asked me” is a true one. I have heard it said countless times by people who, when finally asked, have become powerful Kiwanians—or have found other ways to use their Kiwanis hearts.

Past International President Bo Shafer always says, “100 percent of the people we don’t ask to join Kiwanis don’t!” They deserve the chance—through Kiwanis—to make a difference and put smiles on the faces of the children we serve.

As you go about your lives, look around you at work, your place of worship, your neighborhood. Take a look at your family, friends, and business associates. Give them a chance to use their Kiwanis hearts through Kiwanis!

We can greatly increase the impact of our service worldwide merely by increasing Kiwanis membership.