New Club Development Guide
1
Why Organize a New Lions Club
• To serve
• To make a difference
• To assist those in need
• To introduce new projects to local
communities
2
District Benefits
Fulfill unmet needs in
communities that are not
currently served by Lions
Attract families, women and
younger members
Rejuvenate and grow
membership
3
Choosing a Club Format
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Traditional Lions clubs
Campus Lions clubs
Lioness Lions clubs
Leo Lions clubs
Club branches
Special interest clubs
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Steps to New Club Development
Once you find a need,
it's easy to charter a new club!
To organize a new Lions club, you will need:
 20 or more charter members
 A sponsoring club, region, zone, district cabinet or district committee
 Completed charter application and report of charter members
 Your district governor’s approval
 Appropriate charter fees and certification forms
Increase sustainability by 70% by
chartering with 25 or more members!
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To organize a club branch, you will need:
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A minimum of five branch members
Elected branch president, secretary and treasurer
A sponsoring club and branch liaison
Your district governor to be informed
Completed notification form
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Step One
Determine Areas of Opportunity
 Size of the population
 Current service clubs and community
organizations
 Local project possibilities and benefits for
the area
 Groups of people who are not currently
being recruited by another Lions club
 Young adults, women, ethnic communities
and other underrepresented groups
 Location of nearest possible sponsoring
Lions clubs
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Step Two
Develop Your Team
Team members should be:
 Hardworking
 Committed to the development
of the new club
 Passionate about being a Lion
8
Sponsoring Clubs
• Support the guiding Lion(s)
• Ensure chartered club has proper orientation
into Lions
• Co-host Charter Night
• Encourage district participation
• Encourage interclub functions
• Support the club’s activities
• Provide guidance without interfering
9
SUB-TEAMS
Once your team is established, consider dividing the members into the following
four sub-teams:
Responsibilities
Qualities
Lead Team
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•
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Contact Lions’ network via phone and email
Research key leaders
Set up appointments with leaders
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Organized
Tech-savvy
Comfortable on telephone
Strong writing skills
Field Team
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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
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Social
Professional demeanor
Quick thinker
Strong interpersonal skills
•
Ground Team
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Develop plan for outreach to community members
Set up promotion stations in the community
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Social
Professional demeanor
Strong interpersonal skills
Response Team
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Conduct follow-up with prospective members
Keep new members informed about meeting times and updates
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•
•
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Organized
Tech-savvy
Comfortable on telephone
Strong writing skills
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Lead Team Responsibilities
• Build a Lions’ network
• Research key community
leaders
• Conduct Lions’ network
outreach
• Conduct key leaders
outreach
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Field Team Responsibilities
• Develop a plan for outreach
• Visit business leaders
• Post informational flyers in high-visibility areas
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Ground Team Responsibilities
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•
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Build a Lions’ network
Develop an outreach plan
Contact businesses
Get promotional materials
Conduct outreach
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Response Team Responsibilities
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Build a Lions’ network
Create a database
Conduct follow-up
Keep everyone informed
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Step Three
Conduct Site Development Research
Contact Community Leaders to discuss their needs
• Community leaders
• Chamber of Commerce executive director
• Mayor and other community leaders
• School administrators
• Officials from law enforcement agencies, fire departments,
human service agencies and business groups
Community Needs Assessment
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Step Four
Promote the New Club to the Community
• Promote the new club to the
community.
• Identify your potential
members.
• Develop a campaign which
highlights targeted message.
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Step Five
Recruit Charter Members
The number one reason why people don’t join
is simply because they were never asked.
Who will we recruit?
• Community leaders
• Residents
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RECRUITING WHEEL
PEOPLE YOU DO
BUSINESS WITH
COMMUNITY
LEADERS*
COLLEAGUES
RELATIVES
PEOPLE YOU DO
BUSINESS WITH
LOCAL
PROFESSIONALS**
FRIENDS
NEIGHBORS
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How Will We Recruit?
1. Canvassing
2. Limited recruiting
3. Group
conversion
4. Ground recruiting
5. Branch
development
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Recruiting Tips
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Dress appropriately.
Turn your phone off.
Start at the top.
Overcome obstacles at the front desk.
Don’t wait more than 10 minutes.
Don’t carry too much literature.
Get clues from their office.
Anticipate responses.
Always be positive and leave them
smiling.
10. Always ask for referrals.
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Recruiting Script
Compliment the individual and thank
them for their time.
Introduce yourself and explain that you
are recruiting new members for your
Lions club in their community. Ask if
they are familiar with Lions clubs.
If they are familiar
Ask what they know about
Lions. Explain that your
Lions club is a service group
of men and women
interested in improving their
community.
If they are not familiar
Explain that there will be an informal
meeting for the club in their community.
Invite person to come and learn more.
Give the date, time and location of the
meeting.
Explain that your Lions club
is a service group of men
and women interested in
improving their community.
Explain the time commitment and cost of
joining the club.
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Recruiting Script
Askiftheywouldbe
interestedinjoining.
YES
M
AYBE
N
O
Handthemtheapplication
andaskthemtocom
pleteit.
Askthemtocom
pletetheapplication
toobtaintheircontactinform
ation
sosom
eonecanfollowup.
Askiftheyknowofanyone
whowouldbeinterestedinjoining
Askforacheckfor$25
tocovertheirone-tim
eentrancefee.
Givethemdetailsontheinform
ational
m
eetingandencouragethemtoattendto
receivem
oreinform
ation
Leavethemwithinform
ationonthe
inform
ational m
eetingincasetheychange
theirm
indorknowsom
eonewhoisinterested.
Askiftheyknowanyoneelsewhowouldbe
intererstedinjoining. Askfortheirphonenum
ber
andem
ail addresssothatyoucanfollow-up
withthem
.
Encouragethemtobringtheir
spouse,fam
ilyorfriends.
Thankthemfortheirtim
e.
Givetheminform
ationonthenextm
eeting
andencourage themtobring
theirspouse, fam
ilyorfriends.
Thankthemfortheirtim
eand
encouragethemto
call iftheyhaveanyquestions
beforethem
eeting
Thankthemfortheirtim
eandjoining.
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Recruiting Materials
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Better Communities. Changed Lives (EX-511)
Charter Member Application (TK-188)
Recruiting Flyer (EX-109A)
Lions Make a Difference (ME-40)
Family Membership Brochure (MPFM-8)
I Am a Lion (ME-37)
Be Part of Something that Matters Brochure (EX-801)
Lions Pocket Card (ME-33)
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New Club Development Materials
The following kits are available:
• Traditional Kit (KITEXT)
 Special Interest Lions Club Flyer (EX-544)
 Champions Lions Club Guide (EX-547)
 Champions Lions Club Brochure (EX-546)
• Campus Lions Club Kit (KITCC)
• Lioness Lions Club Kit (KITEXT + Lioness Brochure MKLP-1)
• Leo Lions Club Kit (KITEXT + Leo to Lion Program Brochure LL-1)
• Club Branch Kit (KITBR)
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Leads
Put leads into five categories:
Category
Action Taken
Action Needed
Charter Members
Completed an application and paid the
charter fee.
Send a letter of congratulations with the date, time
and location of the first club meeting.
High-Interest Prospects
May come to a club meeting but did not
complete an application.
Send a letter inviting them to the meeting.
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.
Possible Prospects
Listed names of people who may be
interested.
Determine a time to contact them in person.
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.
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
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Step Six
The Informational Meeting
• First meeting for prospective members to find out more
about Lions and the new club
• Begin to build the new club’s membership
• Prepare for a successful organizational meeting
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Meeting Preparation
• Set up for fewer people than
expected and have some light
refreshments.
• Lions should dress professionally
(not Lions vests).
• Have name tags with attendees’
names prepared in advance.
• A Lion should be at the entrance
to welcome attendees.
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Conducting the Meeting
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Welcome
Introductions
Present overview
Discuss community
Inquire about projects
Verify upcoming meeting
Collect club membership applications
1. Start on time, and end on time. The meeting should last 60 minutes or less.
2. Emphasize that 100% of the money collected from the public goes directly to
helping those in need.
3. The club should meet every week until the club is formed.
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Post-Meeting Follow-up
• The next day, send a thank you letter
to all attendees and send meeting
information to those that did not attend.
• Contact recommended individuals and
others in the community to invite them
to the next meeting.
• Update any flyers or promotional
materials for the next meeting.
• Before the next meeting, make phone
calls to members and prospective
members to confirm their attendance.
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Step Seven
The Organizational Meeting
• Elect officers
• Plan the first service
project
The set-up for this meeting
is the same as the
informational meeting.
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Conducting the Meeting
• Welcome new and past
attendees with a recap of last
meeting.
• Explain a charter club application
or branch application.
• If all agree, conduct elections and
complete charter application.
• Set-up a date, time and place to
hold the next meeting.
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Post-Meeting Follow-up
• Meet with club officers to begin new
training.
• Motivate members to promote club
and extend invitations for upcoming
meetings/service projects.
• Maintain contacts and follow-up with
interested individuals who could not
attend meeting.
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Step Eight
New Club Application
• Naming the new club
• Other naming restrictions
• Dues
• Completing the Club Branch
Application, if appropriate
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Available Charter and Dues Discounts
• Family membership
• Student members
• Leo Lions and young adults
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Step Nine
Charter Approval
• Once approved, materials will be sent to
the new club’s guiding Lions.
• The Charter will be presented during the
Charter Night celebration.
• Districts who charter ten or more new
clubs in a fiscal year must provide
verification that the new clubs will be
supported for long-term growth.
June 20th deadline
for chartering new clubs in same fiscal year.
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Step Ten
Continued Club Development
• Sponsoring club assistance
• Guiding Lion support
• Transition of power
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New Club Development Awards
• Extension Awards
• District Governor Extension Award
• Family Membership Banner Patch
• New Club Sponsor Banner Patch
• Campus Banner Patch
• Campus Award Pin
• Club Branch Banner Patch
• Club Branch Award
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Questions?
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Membership & New Club Development Department
Phone: 630-203-3845
Email: membershipdev@lionsclubs.org