Aktion Club is all about serving our communities. While we can't fully answer the call to serve right now, remember that your Aktion Club members are also practicing social distancing, which may be hard for them. Many Aktion Club members have great problems with change in routine.
While we may not be able to meet directly, Kiwanians who work with Aktion Clubs can still be a small source of stability for their members.
Just like in Kiwanis, consider setting up a virtual meeting if possible. Many of our members' residences and facilities have technology. Reach out to see if yours do. If a virtual meeting can't work, perhaps several smaller ones can. Even a phone call to some members can spark joy that they might not have at this time. Remember that most of our Aktion Club members LOVE what they do in Aktion Club.
Additionally, you can put together an encouragement pack to send to your members. Start with a note of appreciation for all the good works your Aktion Club does. Follow with encouraging words that while we're not meeting now, that this is temporary, and we will meet again soon. Consider enclosing photos of some of your Aktion Club's "Greatest Moments" to remember, and perhaps some adult coloring sheets or puzzles. You can even give them tasks wherever they may be. As an example, you can send them blank bookmarks and stickers or markers to put together for your children's library in the interim, or perhaps make them "ambassadors of hand washing" for their residences (resources are on the Aktion Club facebook page).
The goal for our Aktion Club members is to continue to involve them, remember the positives of our club, and provide them with hope and encouragement that this will eventually end, and we will eventually get back to normal. Send us your ideas of how you keep your Aktion Club involved (with photos if possible), and we'll share them on our web page: www.aktionclub-ny.org
Column Posted on Web Site April 7, 2020
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated