Who are the Lions?

1. Who are the Lions? Almost Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About Lions but Were Afraid to Ask Mouse Click on screen or page down to advance Right click to choose full screen

2. Lions History • Melvin Jones started with the Business Circle of Chicago. • Melvin believed that the club should expand from personal concerns to the betterment of communities. • The Association of Lions Clubs was formed at a convention of business groups in 1917.

3. Lions History • The constitution, by-laws and code of ethics were approved at that convention • A key feature of the code of ethics was that “no club shall hold out the financial betterment of it’s members as its object.” • The greatest impact on the association was when Helen Keller spoke at the convention, charging Lions to “...become Knights of the Blind.” • Another significant event occurred in 1987, when Lions Clubs International became the first major service club to admit female members. (See pages 13 - 15 of the Orientation Guide)

4. ?? Members Local Lions club 1950+ Members in 49 Clubs in SE Minnesota District 5M-1 Multiple District MD5M ~24,000 Members in 12 Districts in USA and Canada ~1,300,000 + Members in 202 countries Lions Clubs International Lions Clubs International Organization at a Glance

5. Let’s Look at the Base-Lions Clubs International • Official Name: The International Association of Lions Clubs • Motto: “We Serve”, adopted in 1954 • Slogan: “Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety” • Emblem: Looking forward, Looking back (See page 25 of the Orientation Guide)

6. LCI Organization • Board of Directors (32 members), one-half elected each year at the international convention • Executive Committee • President, Immediate Past President, two vice presidents, and one other member of the board • Executive Administrator works with the headquarters staff of which there about 290 workers in 11 operating divisions (See page 26-27 of the Orientation Guide)

7. International Projects and Programs • Lions Club International Foundation • Charitable arm of LCI • Disaster relief • Grants for high-impact service projects • Prevention of blindness • LEO Club program • Lions Youth Outreach • Youth Exchange • Quest • Lions Magazine • International Convention • Other Programs no less important ( See page 28 – 31 of the Orientation guide)

8. Multiple District MD5M 683 Clubs ~23,000 Members 12 Districts

9. MD5M • Twelve Districts, each with their own DG • Districts 1-9 are entirely in Minnesota. • Districts 10 and 11 are international, extending into Canada. • District 13 is entirely in Canada. • Council Chair (Bob Jechorek), elected by the VDGs from the DGs • Executive Secretary (Bob Harms)

10. MD5M The twelve district governors meet four times each year (July, October, March and at the MD5M convention) to carry on the business of the multiple district. Those meetings are presided over by the Council Chair, are open to all Lions, and attended regularly by the various MD5M program chairs.

11. MD5M Projects and Programs • Minnesota Lions Eye Bank • Children’s Eye Clinic • Macular Degeneration Center (MAC) • MD5M Hearing Foundation • Youth Exchange/Youth Camp • Leader Dogs for the Blind • Minnesota Hearing and Service Dogs, Inc. • Other programs, no less significant

12. District 5M1 Wabasha Winona Fillmore Goodhue Dodge Houston Mower

13. Winona Noon -1935 Rochester Host – 1938 Rushford – 1942 Austin Noon – 1944 Mabel - 1944 Preston – 1944 Kenyon 1945 Red Wing – 1946 Harmony – 1947 St. Charles - 1947 In the Beginning The clubs above were actually chartered in a different district – probably 5M6. MD5M was redistricted in 1978, creating what are now 5M1, 5M2, and 5M3.

14. District 5M1 Organization • District Governor (Clair Mrotek) • Vice District Governor (Ron Norton) • Cabinet Secretary – (Rosie Wadewitz) • Cabinet Treasure – (Mark Marreel) • Three Regions – (Barb Ernster, Jolene Schuldt, John Augustine) • Six Zones (David Laechel, Larry Jerviss, Dave Hoot, Ross Heusinkveld, Ron Norton, Mike Shultz) • Forty-nine Lions clubs, two LEO clubs, four Lioness clubs

15. District Secretary and treasurer District Governor Vice District Governor Three Region Chairs Zone Chair Zone Chair Club Club Club Club

16. Region I Zone 1 Wabasha Winona Fillmore Altura Kellogg Plainview St. Charles Winona Winona Sun-up Branch Winona Rivertown Winona Sunset (3) Region I Zone 2 (4) Brownsville Caledonia Eitzen Hokah Houston La Crescent Lanesboro Mabel Rushford Spring Grove (2)

17. Goodhue Region II, Zone 3 Chatfield Grand Meadow Racine Rochester ’76 Rochester Host Rochester Morning Pride Stewartville Stewartville Morning Stewartville Lioness Olmsted Dodge (3) (2) Region II, Zone 4 Mower (2) Adams Austin Noon Austin Morning Austin Evening Branch Harmony Lyle Ostrander Preston Wykoff Lyle Lioness Fillmore

18. Region III, Zone 6 Cannon Falls Goodhue Lake City Mazeppa Red Wing Zumbro Falls Goodhue Zumbro Falls Goodhue Lioness Lioness Goodhue Region III, Zone 5 Byron Dodge Center Hayfield Kasson- Mantorville Kenyon Pine Island Wanamingo Zumbrota Dodge (3) (2)

19. 5M-1 District 5M1, Continued In total, fifty-four cabinet positions (including co-chairs), covering all of the major district programs and Campaign SightFirst II

20. Camp Winnebago Diabetes Education Emergency Relief fund Habitat for Humanity Hearing and Service Dogs LCIF Leader Dogs for the Blind LEO Clubs MD5M Lions Hearing Foundation Minnesota Lions Eye Bank Special Olympics Youth Exchange Lions Quest Peace Poster Long Range Planning 5M1 Convention Newsletter Public Relations USA / Canada Forum Women’s Membership Campaign SightFirst II MERLO Team Environment Internet Liberty Day District 5M1 Projects and Programs

21. Parks Schools and Youth Senior Citizens Leadership Fundraising Service Projects Your Lions Club The primary reason for a Lions Club to exist is to help the community.

22. Your Lions Club • Meets at least two times monthly • Board of Directors • Total Club • Meetings are: • Prompt and organized • Fun • Informative – good programs

23. Your Club • Has a • Constitution • By-Laws • Is incorporated!! • Has two separate bank accounts • Administrative (dues, meals, postage, etc.) • Project (Fundraisers, Service projects, all donations) • Has committees

24. Diabetes Awareness Drug Awareness Environment Hearing Conservation International Relations Sight Conservation Youth Outreach Attendance Constitution and By-Laws Convention Finance Greeting Lions information Membership Programs Public Relations Some possible club committees

25. Your Club Officers • President • One to three vice presidents • Secretary • Treasurer • 2-4 Directors • Tail Twister • Lion Tamer • Membership Chair • Newsletter Editor • Other (e.g. Peace Poster, etc.)

26. Membership Categories Category Dues Hold Office Vote Represent Active Yes Yes Yes Yes Member at Large Yes No Yes No Honorary Club pays No No No Privileged Yes No Yes Yes Life $500+Club Yes Yes Yes Associate Yes No Yes No Affiliate Yes no Yes No (Source: LCI Constitution and By-Laws)

27. Dues International Dues (includes Lions Magazine) $39.00 MD5M dues $8.30 ($3.00 of this drops off by 2009) District 5M1 Dues $9.00 Total, not including LOCAL dues $56.30 (1/2 billed semi-annually in July and January)

28. You --- • Have joined a Lions club that serves its community • The club is a part of a district that has served its communities • The district is a part of a multiple district that serves Minnesota and Canada • The multiple district is a part of Lions International that serves the world. • You have joined the biggest and best service organization in the world!!