Welcome to the Lions of Michigan

1
Welcome to the Lions of Michigan
2
Introduction
Our goal of this orientation module is to provide
you with a guide that will help you understand
how our association works. The following
materials will cover many of the different levels
of Lions and how they work. All Items can be
found on this disc and when talking about them it
will tell you where to find them for more
in-depth study. The follow areas of Lions clubs
will be covered

• Club
• District

• State
• International

3
Expectations of Time Money

• Any potential member must be a citizen in good
  standing and be invited to join the association.
• The sponsoring Lion is asked to meet with the
  potential new member and explain the following
• 1. Payment of dues
• 2. Sharing of members special talents
• 3. Active participation in club activities and
  fundraisers
• 4. Attendance at meetings

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Club
5
What It Means to be a Lion
WE are dedicated to serving those in need,
whether in our own community or around the world.
Membership provides people with the opportunity
to meet and work with other individuals in a
spirit of fellowship, striving toward the common
goal of helping those in need. Through mutual
concerns, members have the opportunity to improve
both local and world communities and develop
valuable personal and professional skills. It is
anticipated that we, as members, will give freely
of our time and energy whenever possible. We are
asked to attend club meetings regularly and to be
available for community service. Lions should be
knowledgeable about the aims and objectives of
our Association and support club officers.
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What are the Benefits of Membership?

• Unparalleled satisfaction of helping those in
  need
• Making a difference in our communities
• Working hands-on in our communities
• Having an impact on worldwide needs
• Developing leadership skills
• Enhancing communication skills
• Utilizing planning and organization skills
• Meeting new people
• Networking opportunities
• Traveling opportunities

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What is Our Club History?

• Add your club history here
• This information should include When you were
  formed, what you did when you first started, what
  you have done over the years, what you are doing
  now and what your current club focus is.
• Any other information that you would like to add.
  Youre not limited to one slide.

8
Club Websites, Newsletters, Brochures

• If your club has a newsletter you should tell
  about it on this slide
• List your website
• Talk about your club brochure and give a copy to
  the new member

9
What are Our Attendance Dues Expectations?
ATTENDANCE Successful clubs have members who
attend meetings regularly and participate in club
functions. DUES Successful clubs are dependant
upon the prompt payment of dues by members.
10
How Are Club Funds Raised?

• Members
• Dues
• In-house raffles
• Personal gifts
• Tailtwisting
• Public
• Public raffles
• Fundraising project (Pancake breakfasts, etc.)
• Grants and Corporations

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How Do We Account for Clubs Funds?

• Accounting and Lionism      
• Lions clubs must account for all monies
  received or earned as well as all monies spent.
  It is required that two separate accounting books
  be maintained. These books (or accounts) are
  titled Administrative Monies and Public (or
  Activities) Monies.  While the actual monies may
  be contained in a single account, the books must
  show administrative earnings and spending
  separately from monies received from the
  public for the clubs humanitarian work. 
• Public monies may only be used for club
  humanitarian work. But administrative monies may
  be used for humanitarian projects as well as
  projects involving club members.  Examples of
  such projects would be sending members to
  District or International conventions, special
  awards, etc. 
• The two accounting ledgers or books must be
  maintained to demonstrate through audit that
  public monies were not misspent or used for
  personal gain by club members.

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Where Does the Money Go?

• 100 of the money raised from the community will
  go back to the public. At no time will funds
  raised from the community be used for Club
  administrative costs.
• Club Administrative costs are covered by club
  dues, fines and other member related fundraisers.

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Club Organizational Chart
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How Do We Order Club Supplies?

• Club supplies are ordered by the club Secretary
  or Treasurer for club matters and paid for by the
  club.
• Individuals can order Lions vests, hats,
  umbrellas, etc. by going on-line to
  www.lionsclubs.org and click on Order Club
  Supplies. This will take you to the on-line
  catalog.

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District
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How is Michigan Organized?

• Michigan is unique in that it was established as
  two separate districts. Today we have Single
  District 10 and Multiple District 11 composed of
  10 sub-districts. (See the section Why Different
  Districts. )

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District Organizational Chart
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What Are Our Distinct Projects?

• List your District projects here
• List your District website
• Talk about other District functions here

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Districts,How Do We Keep Informed?

• Newsletters/Magazines
• Formatting of the District newsletter/magazine
  is left to the discretion of the individual
  Districts.
• Direct communication between the District and
  its members is vital to our organization not only
  to survive, but to grow and prosper. A line of
  communication is absolutely essential between the
  membership at large and the District.
• The membership at large must be kept informed of
  the actions of the District and the goals of the
  District. Conversely, the District should also
  be kept aware of the local Clubs accomplishments
  and goals.

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State
www.lionsofmi.com
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History of the Lions of Michigan
1919 -  District 10 (Upper Peninsula) is the
first Lions district formed in the state of
Michigan, with the organization of the Marquette
Lions Club in October.  District 11 (Lower
Peninsula) is formed when the Grand Rapids Lions
Club charters in November. 1920 - Detroit Lions
Club sponsors the Windsor, Ontario Lions Club
this sponsorship creates Lions Clubs
International. 1923 - John Noel becomes the
first Lions Clubs International President from
Michigan. 1925 - Helen Keller challenges Lions
to become "Knights of the Blind". 1932 - White
Cane is "born" in Michigan in the East Side
Detroit Lions Club. 1936 - Michigan Legislature
passes the "White Cane Law."
22
History of the Lions of Michigan(Contd)
1939 - Leader Dog School is launched in
Rochester. 1940 - Leader Dog becomes a state
project of Michigan Lions.  Karl Sorrick from
Springport becomes the second Lions International
President from Michigan. 1941 - The Lower
Peninsula is divided into two (2) sub-districts
and becomes Multiple District 11. 1946 -
Multiple District 11 is divided into four (4)
sub-districts. 1952 - Multiple District 11 is
divided into five (5) sub-districts. Welcome Home
for the Blind becomes a state project of the
Lions of Michigan. 1953 - S. A. Dodge is elected
as the third Lions International President from
Michigan.
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History of the Lions of Michigan (Contd)
1956 - Multiple District 11 is divided into seven
(7) sub-districts. 1957 - The Ann Arbor Lions
Club and Dr. John Henderson start the Michigan
Eye Bank. 1971 - Michigan Eye Bank becomes
a state Lions project. 1974 - The Upper
Peninsula is divided into two sub-districts and
becomes Multiple District 10.  The districts are
10-A (west) and District 10-B (east). 1976 -
Michigan Multiple District 11 is divided into ten
(10) sub-districts. 1978 - Ralph Lynam is
elected as the fourth International President
from Michigan. The Lions of Michigan All-State
Band is established.
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History of the Lions of Michigan (Contd)
1982 - The Michigan Past District Governors
Association is organized. 1984 - Michigan Lions
Service Foundation begins in District 11- B1.
2001 - Multiple District 10 combines District
10-A and 10-B into Single District 10. 2003 -
Bear Lake Camp becomes an official project of
Multiple District 11.
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Why Different Districts?
The Upper Peninsula (District 10) and the Lower
Peninsula (District 11) were designated as
separate districts when they were formed in 1919
because of the difficulty of travel between the
two. There was no Mackinac Bridge until the
1950s, and by that time the separate designations
were firmly entrenched. Several attempts to
merge them into one state organization failed.
Except for a few joint projects and committees,
they operate independently.
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Membership Breakdown for Lions of Michigan (as
of 8/31/05)
District Number of Number of
Members Clubs SD 10 1,980 62 11
A1 1,218 43 11 A2 1,988 54 11
B1 1,217 41 11 B2 1,353 47 11
C1 1,298 50 11 C2 1,215 45 11
D1 1,568 48 11 D2 1,517 48 11
E1 1,561 51 11 E2 1,515 43 MD 11
Totals 14,450 470 State Totals 16,430 532
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Our State Website

• By visiting our Lions of Michigan State Website
  at www.lionsofmi.com you can link to individual
  websites for each district in the state of
  Michigan.
• You will find a wealth of information on this
  website including the State Office Calendar of
  Events, State Projects, History, White Cane, and
  much, much more.

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State Projects

• There are three official state projects
• Leader Dog
• Welcome Homes
• Midwest Eye-Bank
• All of these were approved by the respective
  conventions of the Single and Multiple District.
  Bear Lake Camp is a MD 11 Project, because it was
  never presented or approved at an SD 10
  Convention.

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State Projects (contd)
All state projects are nonprofit, charitable
organizations with their own corporate identity
and Board of Directors. The Lions State Office
does not collect funds for them or pass them
through. Clubs donate directly to the projects
in amounts they determine. MD 11 and SD 10
have committees to promote their adopted projects.
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Joint Committees

• There are three state committees which include
  representatives from both SD 10 and MD 11
• Liaison
• International Convention
• All State Band
• Membership dues include a per member assessment
  for the Liaison Committee and Lions International
  Convention.

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Joint Council Meetings
Any council meeting where SD 10 Governor and MD
11 Governors are present is considered a joint
council meeting.
32
What are the State Publications?
Both SD 10 and MD 11 produce their own magazine.
The MD 11 magazine is called Lion Pride, and
it is financed through a mandatory subscription
fee, paid as part of the dues assessment. It is
published nine times annually. Circulation is
approximately 15,000 copies. The Single
District 10 Magazine is published five times a
year and it is financed through a mandatory
subscription fee, paid as part of the dues
assessment. Circulation is approximately 2,250
copies.
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What are the Duties of the Lions of Michigan
State Office Administrative Staff?
The Lions of Michigan State office is located at
5730 Executive Drive, Lansing, Michigan
48911 office hours are 800 a.m. - 430 p.m.
The Lions of Michigan State Office has two
employeesa full-time State Secretary and a
full-time Administrative Assistant/Magazine
Editor. The Lions of Michigan also have a
volunteer State Treasurer. The role of the state
office is to support the Lion of Michigan.
34
Lions of Michigan Service Foundation

• The Lions of Michigan Service Foundation is a
  501 (c) (3) public charity that was created in
  the early 1980s to address the needs of the
  disadvantaged. The creators envisioned a vehicle
  that would enable Lions Clubs throughout Michigan
  to combine resources and work together to address
  serious human needs beyond the capability of an
  individual Lions Club.
• For more information on the Lions of Michigan
  Service Foundation you can visit their website
  at www.lmsf.net

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International
www.lionsclubs.org
36
How Lions Began
Lions Clubs International began as the dream of a
Chicago business man Melvin Jones. He believed
that local business clubs should expand their
horizons from purely professional concerns of the
betterment of their communities and the world at
large. Just three years after its formation, the
organization became international when the first
club in Windsor, Ontario, Canada was establisher
in 1920. Perhaps the single event having the
greatest impact on the associations service
commitment occurred in 1925 when Helen Keller
addressed the Lions at the international
convention in Cedar Point, Ohio. It was there
that she challenged Lions to become knights of
the blind in the crusade against darkness.
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How Lions Began (contd)
Broadening its role in international
understanding, the association helped the United
Nations form the Non-Governmental Organizations
section in 1945, and continues to hold
consultative status today. Each year, during the
Lions Day with the United Nations ceremonies, an
award is presented to the grand prize winner of
the Lions International Peace Poster Contest,
itself a significant program which draws over
350,000 entries annually. Another significant
event in the associations history occurred in
1987, when Lions Clubs International became the
first major service club organization to admit
women as members. Since those first years, the
association has grown to include nearly 1.4
million men and women in more than 44, 000 clubs
located in 196 countries and geographical areas.
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At a Glance

• Founded 1917 in Chicago, Illinois
• Founder Melvin Jones
• Motto We Serve
• Official Colors Purple and Gold
• Slogan Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nations
  Safety
• Primary Activity Blindness Preventions and
  Sight Conservation
• Membership Nearly 1.35 million men and women
  in approximately 196 countries areas
  worldwide

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Lions Mission Statement
TO CREATE AND FOSTER a spirit of understanding
among all people for humanitarian needs by
providing voluntary services through community
involvement and international cooperation.
40
Lions Objects
TO CREATE and foster a spirit of understanding
among the peoples of the world. TO PROMOTE the
principles of good government and good
citizenship. TO TAKE an active interest in the
civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of the
community. TO UNITE the clubs in the bonds of
friendship, good fellowship and mutual
understanding.
41
Lions Code of Ethics
TO SHOW my faith in the worthiness of my vocation
by industrious application to the end that I may
merit a reputation for quality of service. TO
SEEK success and to demand all fair remuneration
or profit as my just due, but to accept no profit
or success at the price of my own self-respect
lost because of unfair advantage taken or because
of questionable acts on my part. TO REMEMBER
that in building up my business it is not
necessary to tear down anothers to be loyal to
my clients or customers and true to myself.
WHENEVER a doubt arises as to the right or
ethics of my position or action towards others,
to resolve such doubt against myself.
42
Lions Code of Ethics (contd)
TO HOLD friendship as an end not a means. To hold
that true friendship exists not on account of the
service performed by one to another, but that
true friendship demands nothing but accepts
service in the spirit in which it is given.
ALWAYS to bear in mind my obligations as a
citizen to my nation, my state and my community,
and to give them unswerving loyalty in word, act
and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor,
and means. TO AID others by giving my sympathy
to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my
substance to the needy. TO BE CAREFUL with my
criticism and liberal with my praise to build up
and not to destroy.
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Membership Categories
There are several classifications used to
identify Lions. Active member is entitled to
all the rights and privileges and subject to all
obligations which membership in a Lion Club
implies. At Large Member has moved out of the
community and is unable to regularly attend
meetings and functions and desires to retain
member sip in the club. Can not hold office or
vote at conventions and must pay dues. Life-Long
Members The club honors this Lion of 20 or more
years (or 15 years and over the age of 70). Life
members pay a one-time payment to the association
in lieu of future dues. They have all the rights
of membership.
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Membership Categories (contd)
Privileged A member who as been a Lion for 15
years or more and because of illness,
infirmities, or advanced age or other legitimate
reasons, must relinquish his or her active
status. May vote but may not hold
office. Associate A member who holds primary
membership in another club, but maintains
residence or is employed in the community of the
club in which he/she attends. Can vote on club
matters, but may not serve as a delegate nor hold
office. Affiliate An individual who is
currently unable to fully participate in the club
but wishes to support the club. May not hold
office, nor be a delegate. May vote on club
matters.
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InternationalOrganizational Chart
46
Lions Learning Center
To develop your Lion Leadership skills visit the
Lions Learning Center on-line at
www.lionsclubs.org and click on Resources and
then click on Visit the Lions Learning Center.
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What are Forums?

• Forums have the purposes of
• Promoting the principles and objectives of Lions
  Clubs International
• Training, educating and motivating district and
  club officers
• Providing for exchange of information and
  discussion of service activities, including
  opportunities for cooperative service projects
• Advancing the interests of the Lions Clubs
  International Foundation
• All Lions in the constitutional area in which the
  forum is held are invited to participate.

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Forums

• Area Forums
• USA/Canada Forum
• OSEAL Forum
• Europa Forum
• India, South Asia, Africa Middle East
  Forum
• Latin American Caribbean Forum

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International Convention
Lions from across the globe have gathered
together annually since 1917 to celebrate the
International Convention.  For many Lions and
their families, attending the convention has
become a yearly tradition.  The convention offers
an ideal setting for reuniting acquaintances and
making new friends.  Lions also learn about other
club and district projects, participate in the
parade and elections, attend seminars and make
personal connections with international leaders
and representatives from headquarters. Why
attend? Only at the International Convention can
Lions from nearly 100 countries and geographical
areas with different languages and backgrounds
march side-by-side down the streets of the host
city.  And only at the International Convention
can 18,000 members come together to celebrate the
true meaning of Lionism.
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Supplies
Lions Clubs International has a complete on-line
catalog of supplies. For apparel to trading pins
they have it all! Visit their website
at http//www2.lionsclubs.org/LionsClubsSuppliesS
tore
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Magazine

• THE LION Magazine is the official publication of
  Lions Clubs International, and is published in 21
  languages.
• THE LION Magazine Online features select
  articles from the printed version of the
  headquarters edition.

52
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF)
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is
the grant-making arm of Lions Clubs
International. LCIF is Lions helping Lions serve
others. It's the only Lions' foundation that
serves the entire world and the nearly 1.35
million Lions. Working with Lions, LCIF prevents
blindness. It provides food and clothing to
victims of natural disasters. It also gives youth
the tools to succeed through Lions-Quest,
empowers the disabled through vocational
training, and promotes health by equipping
clinics and hospitals.
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LCIF (contd)
LCIF is an efficient and effective charity.
Administrative costs were 10.8 percent in
2003-2004, a low ratio for a non-profit. Every
dollar donated to LCIF goes to a grant. LCIF
receives no club dues. LCIF has awarded US
356.9 million in grants since it began in
1968. For more information about LCIF visit
their website at http//www.lionsclubs.org/EN/con
tent/lions_lcif.shtml
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LCIFWhat is the SightFirst Program?

• As Knights of the Blind, Lions from around the
  world united to create a program that would fight
  the major causes of preventable and treatable
  blindness. As a result of this effort the
  SightFirst Program had its beginning in 1991.
  During the next fifteen years, the program has
  helped save or restore the sight of 24 million
  people. Through the SightFirst Program, more
  than 4.6 million cataract surgeries were
  conducted and 65 million treatments for river
  blindness have been distributed. This success
  far exceeded all expectations.
• In 2005, planning began to insure that the
  fight against preventable and treatable blindness
  continued. Campaign SightFirst II was designated
  to raise a minimum of US 150 million to continue
  the work which had its beginnings with the
  SightFirst Program. Campaign SightFirst II is a
  three year commitment providing all Lions and
  Lions Clubs through the world to continue to work
  to fight blindness.
• For more information, contact your sponsor,
  your Club President, or your District Governor.

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See You at the Next Meeting!!
56
Special Thanks to

• The following Lions who developed this program
• PCC Sara Doubledee, Single District 10
• PDG Jack Holzworth, Single District 10
• PCC Esther LaMothe, District 11-B1
• PDG Nancy Lampman (Chairperson), District 11-C2
• This program would not have been possible if not
  for the hard work of all of the Lions that
  attended the Leadership Retreat at Lions Bear
  Lake Camp, October 2004.