Club

All About Your Club

Membership Categories: There are several categories of membership, which are fully explained in the Lions Clubs Standard Form Constitution and By-laws. They are Active, Member-at-Large, Honorary, Privileged, Life Member, Associate and Affiliate. Members cannot simultaneously hold membership – other than Honorary or Associate – in more than one Lions club.

Club Budgets: Clubs maintain two separate budgets: activities and administrative. The activities funds of a Lions club, consisting of funds raised from the public through club projects, may only be expended to satisfy a community or public need. The administrative budget is what finances club operations. Its income comes mostly from club dues.

Officers and Board of Directors: Officers are elected annually for a term coinciding with the association’s fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Directors are elected for two-year terms. Meetings of the board are usually held once each month.

President: The president serves as the club’s chief executive officer and presides at all meetings of the club and the board of directors. The president issues the call for regular and special meetings in accordance with the club’s by-laws or procedures, plans the agenda and ensures that the status of each committee activity is reported. It is also the responsibility of the president to see that regular elections are duly called, noticed and held. The president cooperates with, and is an active member of, the district governor’s advisory committee of the zone in which the club is located.

Immediate Past President: The immediate past president, along with other past presidents, serves as an official greeter of members and their guests at club meetings and represents the club in welcoming new people into the community served by the club.

Vice Presidents: In the event that the president should be unable to perform the duties of office for any reason, the vice president next in rank occupies the position and performs the duties with the same authority as the president. Each vice president, under the direction of the president, oversees the functioning of various committees of the club.

Secretary: Under the supervision and direction of the president and board of directors, the secretary acts as a liaison officer between the club and both the district and International Headquarters. Responsibilities of the secretary include submitting reports (including the monthly Monthly Membership Report), maintaining club records and issuing financial statements to club members.

Treasurer: The treasurer is responsible for all club financial matters. Duties include receiving all monies and paying club obligations, maintaining financial records, preparing financial statements and submitting financial reports.

Lion Tamer: The Lion Tamer serves as custodian of club property. Duties include being responsible for club property (such as flags, banners, gavels, etc.), serving as a sergeant at arms during meetings and distributing materials at meetings.

Tail Twister: The Tail Twister serves to promote harmony, good fellowship and enthusiasm at club meetings through the judicious imposition of fines on members. The Tail Twister may not be fined except by the unanimous vote of all members present. Any funds -collected by the Tail Twister are immediately turned over to the treasurer.

Membership Director: The membership director serves as the chairperson of the membership committee. Responsibilities of the membership director include development of membership growth programs, implementation of recruitment and retention programs and preparation of orientation sessions.

Branch Coordinator: The branch coordinator is the chief officer of the club branch’s executive committee.

Elections: All officers of the club are elected annually. Directors, however, are elected every other year. The process begins with the nomination of club officers and directors in March. The president appoints a nominating committee. This committee proposes the names of candidates for each club office to the members at a nominating meeting. At this meeting, nominations for all offices can be made from the floor. Elections are held in April of each year. Terms of office begin on July 1st.

To ensure continuity in the club’s membership efforts, the election of membership committee members is handled a little differently than other committees. Each club elects a three-person membership committee. The committee includes a member, a vice chairperson and a chairperson who automatically becomes a director on the board. After the first year, only the membership committee chairperson/director moves off the committee. The vice chairperson moves up to become the membership chairperson/director. The remaining committee member becomes the vice chairperson and a new Lion is elected to fill the vacancy.

Committees: Club projects and activities are originated and led by club committees under the direction of a committee chairperson. The president generally appoints the chairperson and committee members. There are two general classifications of club committees: administrative and activities-based.

Examples of administrative committees include: attendance, constitution and by-laws, convention, finance, information technology, leadership development, Lions information, membership, program, public relations-bulletin editor and greeter. Activities committees are set up to address specific community needs as well as to provide support for international services. Activities committees include youth outreach, diabetes awareness, sight conservation and work with the blind, hearing and speech action and work with the deaf, environmental services, Leo Club Program, youth exchange program and international relations program. Clubs may also appoint committees for various other activities, such as citizenship, educational or health services and international youth camps.

Awards: There are several awards available to members at the club level for service activity and membership initiatives. They include:

• Extension Award: Given for outstanding efforts in expanding the reach of Lions.
• Membership Keys: Awarded for recruiting quality members.
• 100% Attendance: Recognizes perfect attendance.
• Chevrons: Awarded for length of membership.
• Year-Round Growth: Awarded for bringing new members into the club.

Many clubs also have their own awards programs to recognize the outstanding achievements of their members, as do districts and multiple districts.

Additionally, club leaders are eligible for a variety of awards to acknowledge superior efforts, such as the Club President Excellence Award and the Certified Guiding Lion Award.