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 ORIENTATION TO LIONISM The Local Lions Club There are 44,787 local Lions Clubs worldwide. Of those, 14,106 are clubs located in the U.S. The local Lions Club is the most important unit of the Lions Clubs International association. TOP OF PAGE ORIENTATION HOME PAGE The Meaning of Membership Membership in a Lions club means members have the opportunity to meet and work with other individuals in a spirit of fellowship, striving toward a common ideal or goal. The Primary aim of Lions is service: first to the club’s own community, second, to those in need wherever they may be. 
Members of the Dubois Lions splitting firewood for folks in their community who need assistance. TOP OF PAGE ORIENTATION HOME PAGE Visions for Our Communities The needs of the communities we serve do not remain static. The Lions clubs that have remained viable since our founding have understood that change is inevitable and have thrived by responding to the challenges of the present and even the future. Every year, Lions clubs must sit down and evaluate the relevance of their activities and programs. What does the community need now? What can we do to give it a better future? Is what we’re doing a challenge to our capabilities, or merely a comfortable status quo? As Lions leaders, are we embracing the future, or counseling caution? Every community needs an organization that is not wedded to a single issue, but can address new community needs as they arise and organize partnerships to address them. TOP OF PAGE ORIENTATION HOME PAGE Membership Membership in a Lions club is by invitation only. Who can be invited to be a Lions member? ANY PERSON . . . Of legal majority With good moral character Having a good reputation in the community TOP OF PAGE ORIENTATION HOME PAGE Club Organization The club is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of President (as chief executive officer), Immediate Past President, 3 Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Lion Tamer Tail Twister (optional position), Membership Chairman, and 4 Directors (elected for a two year term). TOP OF PAGE ORIENTATION HOME PAGE Club Officers No person shall be eligible to hold office in the club unless he/she is an Active member in good standing. No officer shall receive any compensation for any service rendered to the club in his/her official capacity with the exception of the secretary, whose compensation, if any, shall be fixed by the board of directors. How are Club Officers selected? The President appoints a nominating committee in early March. This committee proposes the names of candidates for each club office at a nominating meeting. All club members must have 10 days written notice of the place and time of this meeting. This meeting is held about mid-March. At the nominating meeting, nominations for all offices can be made from the floor. Elections are held in early April. Club members must have 14 days written notice of this meeting. A report of the results of this election must be made to Lions Clubs International and to the district governor by April 15th. This report is known as the “PU-101”. All officers, except the immediate past president, are elected annually. All club officers take office on July 1st. Officers hold office for one year or until their successors are elected and qualified. Directors are elected every other year, their terms also begin on July 1st. Each club should elect a 3-person membership committee. The committee should include a member, a vice-chairman and a chairman. After the first year, only one Lion is elected as the “committee member” when others on the committee rotate up. Each Lion on this committee would serve for 3 years, maintaining continuity in the membership efforts. TOP OF PAGE ORIENTATION HOME PAGE Club Expectations of Members Club members are expected to: Give freely of their time and energy whenever possible Attend club meetings unless ill or out-of-town Be available for committee assignments Be knowledgeable about the aims and objectives of Lions To support all club officers at all times To sponsor new members into the club Attendance awards for Annual 100% attendance pins can be purchased by the club and given to members who maintain perfect attendance. Lions members who have maintained continuous membership for ten or more years will receive the Monarch Chevron Award. TOP OF PAGE ORIENTATION HOME PAGE Meetings Meetings of the board of directors shall be held monthly at the time and place the board shall determine. Special meetings of the board of directors shall be held when called by the president, or when 5 or more board members request such. Regular meetings of the club shall be held no less than twice in each month, at regular set times. Special meetings of the club may be called by the president at his/her discretion, or by the president when requested by the board of directors. Notice of special meetings setting forth purpose, time and place shall be mailed at least 10 days prior to the special meeting. A charter night anniversary meeting of the club may be held each year, at which time special attention shall be devoted to the objects and ethics of Lionism, and the history of the club. An annual meeting of the club shall be held in June of each year, at which meeting the final reports of the retiring officers shall be read and newly elected officers shall be installed. The presence in person of a majority of the members in good standing shall be necessary for a quorum at any meeting. The act of a majority of the members present shall be the act and decision of the entire club. TOP OF PAGE ORIENTATION HOME PAGE Inter-Club Visits In the spirit of fellowship, all clubs are encouraged to visit each other whenever possible. These visits give the visitor the opportunity to see how other clubs conduct their meetings and to see what projects are being planned. TOP OF PAGE ORIENTATION HOME PAGE |