1 of 44

New Club Development Training

1

2 of 44

To help understand the importance of new club development in the community.

To acquire understanding of recruitment methods and tools needed for new club recruitment.

To gain knowledge on conducting the informational and organizational meeting for a new club.

To understand the new club chartering process.

�

2

Objectives

2

3 of 44

New Club Formation

Understanding club formation

and club formats

3

4 of 44

Benefit the community
Provide new service opportunities
Fulfill unmet needs
Make a difference
Rejuvenate membership
Develop new leaders

Why Organize New Clubs?

4

5 of 44

Our world is ever changing, and we want the new club to fit the lives of the members.

College students make a positive impact on college campus
Students build valuable leadership skills
Students are eligible for student discounts when they join Lions Clubs

Provide an ease of transition from Leo members to Lions
Leo years of service can be credited to Lions Club membership
Special dues discounts available for Leo to Lion entrance fee

Most common Lions Club type
Ideal for a group of service minded individuals in a single community
Offer flexibility and serve a variety of communities

New Club Types/Formats

Traditional Club

Campus Club

Leo-Lion Clubs

6 of 44

Clubs built on commonalities (culture, skills, interest)
Same Club chartering policy and procedures apply as traditional clubs
Serving opportunities are based on shared interests

Category of club that uses software or multi-functional platforms for meetings
Same Club chartering policy and procedures apply as traditional clubs
Offers a flexible options for individuals who may have limitations (ex. Limited times for meetings, geographic location, limited physical mobility)

New Club Types/Formats (continued)

Specialty Club

Virtual Club

Club Branch is part of an existing parent club
Club Branch plans its own projects and activities
Allows a small group of people to start a club (Minimum of 5)

Club Branch

6

7 of 44

New Club Development

7

Policy and Process

8 of 44

New Lions Club

20 charter members
District Governor approval
Charter fees and certification
Club sponsor
Completed Charter Application
Employee Identification Number (US only)

Club Branch

Five Branch members
Elected Branch president, secretary and treasurer
Parent Club approval
Completed application�

New Club Checklist

8

Speaker Script:

Before starting the process of creating a new club, there are a few items that should be in place prior to the submission of a new club application or club branch application.

To organize a new Lions Club you will need (Speaker Notes: You can begin to read directly from the slide, the notes below are to expand the conversation)

20 or more: You only need a min of 20 to start the new club application, but we always encourage you to recruit more than 20 to account for potential member lost within the first 6 months.
DG Approval-DGs have to authorize the club
Charter fees & Certifications- Charter fees are a one-time fee paid at the time of joining. These fees are only waived for students. There are international dues reduction plans that we will be discussed later in the presentation
New Club Sponsor- All new clubs must have a club sponsor
Application- All applications are submitted online. discussed later in the presentation.

Club branches are highly recommended if a club is not able to get 20 members within 8 weeks of the start of the charter process. Club branches can always be converted into regular clubs once they get 20 or more members.

9 of 44

9

New Club Development Process

Successful new club development includes the following 4 steps:

Step 1: Develop Your Team

Step 2: Areas of Opportunity & Site Research

Step 3: Promoting the Club & Recruiting Members

Step 4: Informational & Organizational Sessions

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE READY TO CHARTER A NEW CLUB:

Charter Information

9

10 of 44

Step One:

10

Develop Your Team

10

11 of 44

11

Step One: Develop Your Team

New club development takes a team effort. Team members should demonstrate a passion about being a Lion and a commitment to the entire club formation process.

The following Lions are instrumental in the new club formation process:

Members of the district Global Membership Approach Working Group
District Governor
GET District Coordinator
Guiding Lion for the club
1^st Vice District Governor
Members of the sponsoring Lions Club

Recruitment Team Expectations:

Attend in-person training
Participate in a minimum of 1 recruitment day
Attend informational & organizational meeting
Support new club in all formation efforts

11

12 of 44

Step One: Develop Team- Creating Sub-Teams

	Responsibilities	Qualities
Lead Team	Contact Lions’ network via phone and email Research key leaders Set up appointments with leaders	Organized Tech-savvy Comfortable on telephone Strong writing skills
Field Team	Develop plan for outreach to key community business leaders Visit business leaders and ask them to join Lions or attend informational meeting Post informational flyers in high-visibility areas and at businesses	Social Professional demeanor Quick thinker Strong interpersonal skills
Ground Team	Develop plan for outreach to community members Set up promotion stations in the community Invite Community leaders to participate in club service projects.	Social Professional demeanor Strong interpersonal skills
Response Team	Conduct follow-up with prospective members Keep new members informed about meeting times and updates	Organized Tech-savvy Comfortable on telephone Strong writing skills

Sub-teams serve as the team that supports the recruiting in the field. The members should be divided into the following sub-teams:

12

13 of 44

Step Two:

13

Areas of Opportunity & Site Research

13

14 of 44

14

Step Two: Determine Areas of Opportunity

Determining an area for a club is a key component to starting a new club. A New Club Development Community Needs Assessment can help with determining the best location with the most immediate needs.

The following should be considered:

Size of the population
Local project possibilities
Current service clubs & community organizations
Groups of people not being recruited by a Lions Club
Locations of nearest possible Lions Club
Communities with young adults, women, diverse communities and other underrepresented groups

The New Club Development Community Needs Assessment is located on the “Start a New Club” webpage.

14

15 of 44

15

Step Two - Conduct Site Development Research

The purpose of site development research is to evaluate the needs of the community, gauge the feasibility of chartering a club and gather other pertinent information about the community.

The following community leaders and activities should be part of the research:

Mayor and other community leaders
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director
School Administrators (Superintendents and School Principals)
Officials from Law Enforcement Agencies, Fire Departments, Human Service Agencies, and Business groups

Visit Possible Recruitment Locations / Opportunities:

Veterans Meeting Locations
Churches
Community Centers
Social/Civic Groups
Colleges
Local Businesses

15

16 of 44

Step Three:

16

Promoting the Club & Recruiting Members

16

17 of 44

Getting the word out about the new club is important to the successful formation of a new club.

The following should be a part of the recruitment plan:

Step Three: Promoting the New Club

17

WHO

Potential members

WHERE

Email
Social media ads
District website
Radio ads
Community bulletin boards
WhatsApp
Digital community groups

WHAT

Elevator speech
Current club service projects

WHEN

Informational meeting
Canvassing

17

Speakers Script:

It is important for the district to create a solid promotion plan. Getting the word out about the new club is important to the successful formation of a new club.

The following should be part of the recruitment plan

Who – Create a list of potential members

Where – When thinking about where to promote the new club keep in mind who your potential members are and what would be the best way to reach those potential numbers. There are lots of ways to promote and using a wide variety is the best way to reach as many people as possible.

What – Having an elevator speech is a Key part of the recruiting process.

When – As you are canvassing have information with you including contact information in case potential members have more questions. Also, carry with you Invitations to the informational meeting so potential members can plan to attend.

18 of 44

18

Step Three: Promoting the New Club

Write the Perfect Elevator Speech in Five Easy Steps

Step 1

Determine Your Goal

Step 2

Explain Your Solution

Step 3

Explain What Makes You Different

Step 4

Close the Deal

Step 5

Polish and Practice

18

19 of 44

Step Three: Promoting a New Club

19

Having a great elevator speech is imperative. The speech should last 20-30 seconds, be interesting, memorable and succinct.

Below is an example of an elevator speech.

Lions are men and women who make a difference – every day, everywhere. With more than 1.4 million members in over 200 countries or geographic areas, Lions aid the blind and visually impaired, assist youth, feed the hungry, address global epidemics like diabetes, answer the call when disaster strikes, and make a strong commitment to filling other community needs throughout the world.

19

20 of 44

�

A valuable part of being a Lion is the benefits offered to members.

20

What are the Benefits of being a Lion?

Make a difference
Serve with pride
Build your network
Gain Lion credibility
Develop new friendships
Show your leadership
Receive global support
Free personal development classes on LLC

Become part of a legacy of an organization with more than 100 years of service

Step Three:

Recruiting Charter Members

20

21 of 44

Step Three:

Recruiting Charter Members

21

Recruiting members is the most vital part of developing a new club. The Recruiting Wheel is an effective method of compiling lists of people who could be invited to join the club.

*Everyone is a potential future Lion and has something to contribute to a Lions Club.

*

Relatives

Friends

Neighbors

Religious affiliates

*

People you do business with and colleagues

TIP: The JUST ASK GUIDE is a great resource and is available on the “Start a New Club” webpage.

Community Leaders

Local Professionals

21

22 of 44

22

Step Three: Recruiting Charter Members

How will we recruit?

Canvassing: Recruiting community & business leaders by making informal visits
Limited Recruiting: People recommended by other Lions or key community leaders
Group Conversion: Meet with an already established group
Group Recruiting: Info tables in targeted community
Social Media Recruiting: Post information about the new club being formed on multiple social media sites.
Branch Development: A small group that joins an existing parent club, but with a focus on a specific project.

Canvassing Recruiting Tips:

Dress appropriately- no Lions vest
Start at the top- talk to manager or supervisor
Don’t wait longer than 10 minutes
Don’t carry too much literature
Obtain clues from their office for talking points
Ask for referrals

Tip: Contact information for club organizers should be given to new members.

This could be a business card, label on back of brochure, or flyer.

22

Speaker Script:

In general, there are 5 ways a Lions Club can be developed. The 5 strategies include: (Read, “How will we recruit” from Slide. Feel free to give personal examples during this portion)

Canvassing is the method that is most widely used. This is usually done over several days and takes place in the local downtown/main street area or in locations throughout the community where there are local businesses. Business owners are a focus because they have a vested interest in the community. Canvassing is not done in residential areas. For personal relationships (ie. Neighbors), the recruitment team should invite them to the informational meeting. Some pre-canvassing can take place by asking local businesses to put flyers up to promote the informational meeting.

Here are a few tips for successful recruiting and canvassing tips. ( Read off slide)

23 of 44

Step Three: Recruiting Charter Members

Recruiting materials can be ordered from the Membership Division. To place an order, visit the Start a New Club webpage or by using this QR Code.

23

24 of 44

Step Three: Recruiting Charter Members

Each day collect new member information and leads gathered from each team, and put them in five categories:

	Category	Action Taken	Action Needed
Group 1	Early Adopter	Completed an application and paid the charter fee.	Send a letter of congratulations with the date, time and location of the first club meeting.
Group 2	High-Interest Prospects	May come to a club meeting but did not complete an application.	Send a letter inviting them to the meeting.
Group 3	Other Prospects	May be interested but could not attend a club meeting.	Keep on the mailing list and contact them following the first meeting with an update on the club’s progress. Continue to invite them to get involved.
Group 4	Possible Prospects	Listed names of people who may be interested.	Determine a time to contact them in person.
Group 5	Not Interested	Expressed no interest in joining at the current time.	Keep on the mailing list for future projects and events of the new club.

Tip: Send a follow up email to everyone with date, time, and location of meeting within 24 hours.

24

25 of 44

Step Four:

25

Informational & Organizational Sessions

25

26 of 44

Step Four: Informational Meeting�

Prepare for Meeting

Conduct the meeting

Post- Meeting Follow-Up

All of the above = a strong chartered club!!!

Set up the room
Dress professionally – no vest
Provide name tags for attendees
Welcoming committee

Welcome the group and do introductions
Introduce the Lions present
Present overview of Lions
Inform new members of cost
Ask group to think of projects
Give next meeting information
Collect Club Charter Fees
Ask new members to invite their friends and family to the next meeting

Send thank email to all attendees
Send follow up email to prospective members who didn’t attend
Post flyers about next meeting
Send meeting reminders about next meeting

Potential new members should be invited to the informational meeting to learn more about Lions Clubs International and the impact a Lions Club can have on their community.

26

27 of 44

Step Four: Organizational Meeting�

Prepare for Meeting

Conduct the meeting

Post- Meeting Follow-Up

All of the above = a strong chartered club!!!

Set up the room
Dress professionally – no vest
Provide name tags for attendees
Welcoming committee

Welcome the group and do introductions
Review project ideas and choose 3 projects
Explain the club chartering process. Complete the new club application online at MyLCI with club sponsor
Set next meeting date

Set up new club officers online training
Encourage new club members to continue promoting club to build membership
Follow up with individuals who showed interest, but didn’t attend meetings

New members as well as new potential members should be invited to the organizational meeting. During this meeting Members will choose a club name and complete the New Club Application Process.

27

28 of 44

Step Four: Informational & Organizational Meetings

PowerPoints for the Informational and Organizational Meetings can be found on the Start a New Club Webpage.

28

29 of 44

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE READY TO CHARTER A NEW CLUB!

29

Charter Information

29

30 of 44

30

Submit Charter Application

Club Names

The following must be considered before naming your new club.

Naming of the club- Club names must be known by the actual name of a municipality. This is a town, city, village or similar officially governmental unit.

Distinguishing Designation- This is used to provide clear identifiers for clubs in the same municipality.

Living Individuals- Lions Clubs cannot be named after a living person.

Naming Restrictions- No Lions Club can add “International” in its name.

30

31 of 44

31

Submit Charter Application (continued)

Now that the club has began meeting, it is now time to submit the application for approval. The following are necessary to submit a new application:

Application Submission- The following people can submit an application online at Lions International: District Governor, GMT Coordinator, Coordinating Lion, Sponsoring Club President, Sponsor Club Secretary. All applications should be submitted online at Lions International on the www.Lionsclubs.org site.

Club Sponsor- All clubs must have a sponsoring club or district.

Membership Size- The club should have a minimum of 20 members; if under 20 club can start as a club branch.

Guiding Lion- Club should identify a minimum of 1 Guiding Lion.

10 plus clubs- Districts that charter 10 or more new clubs in a fiscal year must submit documentation on club support to LCI.

Employee Identification Number (US Clubs only)

31

32 of 44

32

Submit Charter Application (continued)

Fees, Dues and Discounts

It is important that new charter club members understand that there are some fees and dues associated with Lions membership.

International Dues- International dues are billed to club semi-annually (pro-rated)
Club Dues- The club will decide the dues amount to cover international, club, and district dues
Entrance fees- is a one-time fee paid by all new members (unless noted below)
Discounts- The following membership discounts may apply:

Family members- 1^st family member pays full international dues; each additional family member pays 50% of international dues
Students- pays 50% of international dues and no entrance fees up through age 30
Transfer members- pay discounted entrance fee if they were in a club over the past 12 months
Leo-Lions- pays 50% of international dues and no entrance fees up through age 35

32

33 of 44

Submit Charter Application (continued)

Refer to the Charter Application Checklist (TK40) for current entrance fee and international dues rates.

33

34 of 44

34

Charter Approval

Once the club has been approved, the following charter activities will take place.

Charter Materials- Charter materials will be sent to the District Governor to present during the charter night celebration
Charter Night Celebration- The club should plan the date of the charter night with the sponsoring club. The sponsoring club usually helps with the planning and funding of the charter night celebration.
Charter Members- All members joining within 90 days of the charter date will be considered charter members

Tip: Charter date and charter night date are 2 separate items. The 90 days for charter member

status is based off of the charter date. If the charter night occurs after the 90 days, all members joining during the night are considered regular members.

34

35 of 44

Continued Club Development

35

Once the club has been developed, it is important to continue to develop the club to ensure the club is strong and viable. The following help with club development.

Sponsoring Club Assistance- available to provide assistance as needed to the new club. Visit club meetings and provide counsel to new club.

Guiding Lion Support- Support the club for 2 years. Attend club meetings and provide counsel to new club.

Transition of Power- New club officers will begin to take control of meetings, activities, and delegate responsibilities to other new club members.

Continued Member Recruiting- Creating social media pages (Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.) to help continue to promote the club and allow members to share ideas.

35

36 of 44

�

Charter Night is a special event celebrating the beginning of a new Lions club. During the event, the club is presented with its charter and Lions from the surrounding area have the opportunity to show their support. Generally, the sponsoring club assists the new club in organizing the event.

36

Charter Night

The Charter Night Planning Guide is a great resource to use when planning for a charter night event. This resource can be found on the Start a New Club Webpage.

36

37 of 44

New Club Development

37

Awards

37

38 of 44

�

38

New Club Development Awards

Extension Awards- Presented to 2 Lions who assisted with the development of the club.

District Governor Extension Awards- Awarded to District Governors who charter one or more club in their district.

Family Membership Banner Patch- Given to clubs who added 10 or more family members at the time of charter.

New Club Sponsor Banner Patch- Given to the sponsoring club for chartering a club.

Campus Banner Patch- Given to the sponsoring club for chartering a new club.

Club Branch Award- Club branch liaison receives pin for supporting the club.

Mission Specific Awards – MISSION 1.5

38

39 of 44

New Club Development

39

Resources

40 of 44

New Club Recruiting Materials

40

The list below provides some resource options available online. They can also be ordered from the Membership Division. To place an order, visit the Start a New Club webpage or by using this QR Code.

New Club Extension Kit (KITEXT)
Charter Member Application (TK-188)
Hello Brochure (EX-511)
Recruiting Poster (EX-109)
Lions Make a Difference Brochure (ME-40)
Your Family Can Make a Difference Brochure (MPFM-8)
Lions Live with Purpose (ME-33)
Just Ask! Member Recruiting Guide (ME-300)

40

41 of 44

�

41

Key Points to Remember

Understanding the needs of the community is the first step to successful club formation

Building a strong new club support team will help to retain new members and create a healthy club.

Relationships with community officials and business owners supports club and aids in club promotion.

A well-planned informational meeting and organizational meeting leaves a lasting impression on new members.

LCI program staff are available to provide support during the entire process.

Show your passion for service and have fun building new clubs.

41

42 of 44

42

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.

”

“

- Muhammad Ali

43 of 44

Questions?

43

For more information you can contact the Membership Development at membership@lionclubs.org

44 of 44

Thank you

44

Updated 5/2023 EN

44