The Lions Blog

Having a website is crucial to keeping Leo members updated and informed, especially as today’s youth depends on the convenience of the Internet every day. Lions Clubs International provides e-LeoClubhouse, a free, easy way to create and maintain a website for Leos.

Why Start a Website?

Perhaps your Leo club already has a Facebook page to keep members updated. Facebook is a great way to connect with members on a daily basis! However, as your Facebook page constantly changes with new updates, messages and photos, certain information can get buried. Your e-LeoClubhouse website keeps all the pertinent information – meeting locations, projects, events, member/officer information and more – in one spot.

Features and Benefits:

• Choose from two predesigned templates that incorporate the Leo brand.
• Use the system calendar or link to an already existing Google calendar for important dates.
• Feature photos from your projects by posting them to the website or linking to your Flickr gallery.
• Post key contact information for people who are interested in getting involved.
• Member-only features include newsletter templates, message boards, group email and texts, e-vites and social media integration.

Submit an application to get started!

Do you have a website to promote your Leo club’s youth volunteer opportunities? Share your site and any tips in the comments below.

Incorporating families into your Lions club not only helps increase membership, but it also helps families grow closer together. Children can learn the value of serving their communities at an early age by volunteering with their parents. Current members can invite sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles to help out with community projects. Grandparents can spend more time with their grandchildren. All the while, Lions are making a bigger impact.

Below are some considerations to take when planning family-friendly Lions projects and meetings.

Don’t:

• Organize activities that require a lot of physical movement if your members include senior citizens.
• Mix families with small children and community agencies with small children (supervision may become an issue).
• Hold club meetings at a bar or other location not suitable for children.
• Plan fixed, recurrent assignments that will make families lose interest.
• Organize projects over several hours long that might not work for families with young children.

Do:

• Hold club meetings at a time and place that is convenient and appropriate for families of all ages.
• Plan projects that offer fun, hands-on opportunities for kids.
• Organize service activities with single-function tasks that can be broken down for people of varying skill levels.
• Keep project schedules flexible to accommodate families.
• Plan projects that require multiple skills, talents and knowledge.
• Plan projects such as: helping senior citizens, literacy projects and environmental projects.

Do you have any tips for organizing family-friendly Lions club projects?

The above Public Service Announcement (PSA) is a fun way to raise awareness about Lions’ “hunting” strengths – that is, their ability to hunt for and identify issues in their community and address them through community service. In this video, Lions organized an environmental service project to hunt for trash and clean the earth.

Share this video at your next Lions environment event, or browse other Lions PSAs available for download.

How is your Lions club using your “hunting” strength during this month’s global service action campaign, Protecting Our Environment?

Lions Services for Children projects include collecting books, food and clothing for kids; starting a literacy program at a school or library to encourage children to read; and organizing a vision or hearing screening. In the above photo, the Manila Divisoria Lions Club provided school supplies and raincoats to a local day care center.

How does your Lions club serve children in your community?

The Trujillo San Andres Lions Club in Peru hosted a school for parents that focused on the importance of family involvement in children’s education, as well as how to support their children’s education with love and patience.

As a part of the Reading Action Program, Lions everywhere are encouraging parents to read to their children at a young age and to promote early learning.

How does your Lions club help families and children in your community?