International

How the Association is Organized

The individual Lions club is the most important unit of your association. As an individual, you belong to the club. It is the club that belongs to the association. This means that when it comes time to elect international officers and directors, or to amend or change the International Constitution and by-laws it is the club that cast the necessary votes through its authorized delegates.

Every Lions club in good standing is entitled to send at least one delegate and alternate to vote at the international convention, regardless of the number of members it has. Most clubs are entitled to more than one vote, since the rule provides for one delegate or alternate for each 25 members or major fraction thereof. Delegates can be appointed by club’s board of directors, or elected by the membership.

At the international convention, the delegates elect the international officers and directors who will act for them during the coming fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Officers elected include the international president and first and second vice president. Constitutionally, a contest exists only for the office of second vice president with the other officers advancing one step each year until elected international president. The immediate past international president is also an officer of the association and serves as chairperson of the LCIF Board of Trustees. Since the close of the 1997 International Convention the officers of the International Association of Lions Clubs include the president, immediate past-president, first vice president, second vice president and 33 directors representing various areas of the world. International directors serve two-year terms, with approximately one-half being elected each year.

International Headquarters

The International Headquarters, with a staff of under 300 full-time employees, is located in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA. Although branch offices exist, the International Headquarters serves as the association’s central administrative and information source.

Many services are provided to Lions through the Oak Brook office, including issuing charters to new clubs, providing brochures, activity guides and newsletters to members and maintaining all association records.

The staff is led by an executive administrator, who oversees all headquarters operation and works to carry out the policy decisions made by the International Board of Directors. Assisting the executive administrator is the association’s secretary and the treasurer.

Eleven operating divisions divide the administrative responsibilities of International Headquarters. They are Club Supplies and Distribution, Convention, Information Technology, District and Club Administration, Executive Services, Extension and Membership, Finance, International Activities and Program Planning, Leadership, Legal and Public Relations and Production. The Lions Clubs International Foundation is also housed in the International Headquarters building.

International Convention

The annual International Convention is held in late June or early July. It constitutes the annual meeting of the members of the association. Some of the activities held during the convention include voting on constitutional amendments, electing new members to the board of directors, seminars of interest to all Lions, district governors-elect seminar, general business sessions and the parade of nations. In addition, district governors-elect take office during the final business session of the convention.

Attending an international convention provides members with a wonderful opportunity to rekindle their dedication to those in need, meet Lions from all over the world, learn new tips and techniques for being the best Lion he/she can be and obtain valuable resource materials.

Official Directory of Lions Clubs: The directory of Lions clubs contains a list of all the clubs in the world. The listing includes the name, address and phone number of the club president and the meeting time and place for each club. It also provides information on the executive officers, and international directors, as well as the names and addresses of all district governors, cabinet secretary-treasurers, council chairmen and extension representatives. The directory is available through the Club Supplies and Distribution Division at International Headquarters. A listing of clubs is also available on the Lions Clubs International Web site at www.lionsclubs.org.

THE LION Magazine

The official magazine of Lions Clubs International, THE LION Magazine, was established in November 1918. It is sent regularly to every member of the association. The annual subscription price is included in the international dues.

THE LION is published in English, Chinese, -Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Flemish-French, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Thai and Turkish.

THE LION Magazine has four major functions:

• To inform members of official notices

• To serve as a central reference point for service and fundraising ideas and the best methods for ensuring their success

• To supply information about countries and areas in which Lions are active, enabling all members to better understand and support international program objectives and to promote worldwide peace and understanding

• To present the story of Lions Clubs International in the best possible manner so that not only Lions, but casual readers as well, will receive a favorable impression of the association.

Lions Clubs International Web Site

The official Lions Clubs International Web site, located at www.lionsclubs.org, contains a wealth of information about the association and its programs. There are also downloadable materials, online Club Supply sales, a club directory and online report filing. Additionally, the site has various newsletters, an online version of THE LION Magazine, message boards and online training courses. The site is updated monthly. Lions are encouraged to visit often to learn the latest news and updates.

Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF): Lions Clubs International Foundation is the charitable arm of Lions Clubs International. For more information, including how District 4C-1 is working with LCIF to make a difference, click here.

Leo Club Program: A Leo club is an activity sponsored by a Lions club. For more information, including a list of Leo Clubs in District 4C-1, click here.

Lions Youth Outreach Program: The mission of the Lions Youth Outreach Program, “Changing Tomorrow Today,” is to help and challenge youth to learn, to achieve and to serve. Emphasis is placed on the many opportunities available for young people to volunteer in their communities in order to help them gain responsible citizenship skills. A video program is available to help Lions clubs implement a youth outreach program in their community.

The Lions Youth Outreach program also emphasizes drug awareness prevention through education. Alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse threaten the lives and future of young people everywhere. To counter these negative influences, Lions sponsor educational programs in thousands of schools. The Lions-Quest Skills for Growing (Grades K-5), Skills for Adolescence (Grades 6-8) and Skills for Action (high school) teach youth how to make healthy decisions and to say “no” to drug abuse and other negative behavior. All three Lions-Quest programs also include community service and violence prevention/conflict resolution components.

Additional Service Activities

There are probably as many different humanitarian services performed by Lions clubs worldwide as there are clubs. Each club is in tune with the needs of its local community and responds appropriately with projects that will improve the lives of those less fortunate. However, there are several programs that are commonly supported by a great many clubs around the globe.

They are organized into seven categories:

1. Community Services (such as building homes for the visually impaired with Habitat for Humanity)

2. Diabetes Awareness (such as community education, screenings and Lions Eye Health Program)

3. Environmental Services (such as tree plantings and recycling)

4. Hearing and Speech Action and Work with the Deaf (such as hearing aid recycling, aid to deaf and hearing impaired and screenings)

5. International Relations (such as club twinning, interclub assistance programs and Lions Day with the United Nations)

6. Lions Opportunities for Youth (such as Leo clubs, Lions Youth Outreach, Lions International Peace Poster Contest and Lions-Quest)

7. Sight Conservation and Work with the Blind (such as screenings, assistance to the blind and visually impaired, SightFirst, Recycle for Sight, Eye Banks and World Sight Day)

More information about these and other programs is available on the Lions Clubs International Web site, in THE LION Magazine, Adopted Service Programs of Lions Clubs International (IAD 223) and from the International Activities and Program Planning Division at International Headquarters.