The Lions Blog

The key to keeping your Lions club healthy and thriving is membership satisfaction. Members who are happy will continue serving their community with Lions clubs. Strengthen your club’s membership by identifying and addressing common problems that often lead to dissatisfaction.

Below, find examples of reasons why members might be dissatisfied with their Lions club, as well as ideas for improvement.

Problem: Members are not satisfied with club meetings.

Meetings that are unproductive, not enjoyable, or too hierarchal/formal are common reasons why members may not feel that the meetings are a good use of time.

Ideas for Improvement:

• Consider using cyber meetings, email or other online tools to communicate with members quickly without the formality of a meeting.
• Set a realistic time schedule for the meeting, and stick to it.
• Change the location of your meetings. A different space could bring a new perspective.
• Find out if your members enjoy the Lions customs and traditions, or if there are some they might prefer to eliminate during meetings.

Problem: Members are not satisfied with club dues/costs.

Money is an issue for many people, and members may feel that the club’s dues are too expensive.

Ideas for Improvement:

• Eliminate a full meal at every meeting to cut costs.
• Consider a different meeting location that may be more affordable.
• Inform members of appropriate LCI programs that help decrease costs, such as Student or Family Membership programs.

Problem: Members are not satisfied with club service.

Perhaps members are not interested in the types of community projects your club provides, or they feel that the service focuses too little or too much on certain things (for example, not enough focus on serving the community and too much focus on fundraising).

Ideas for Improvement:

• Regularly check with your club to determine what services members want to provide. Tailor projects to the interests and abilities of your members.
• Identify your community’s needs and organize projects that address them.
• Does your club do the same projects every year? Consider changing up your projects, or making minor changes to existing projects.
• Start new projects with other groups who share the same objectives.

Visit the Membership Satisfaction page for more information. Do you have any ideas, suggestions or tips for keeping members satisfied?

Lions services for children address children’s health and education needs across the globe. Help children in your community by implementing one or more of the following project ideas:

1. Organize a monthly food drive to help feed hungry children.

2. Assist with a school lunch program.

3. Work with healthcare professionals to provide free immunizations.

4. Provide baby supply kits for newborns in need.

5. Supply Braille and large-print books for blind or visually-impaired children.

6. Establish a tutoring program at your local school or library.

7. Start a reading program for preschool and grade school children.

8. Organize a toy drive for a children’s after-school center.

9. Sponsor a sports day for children with physical challenges and other disabilities.

10. Refurbish used bicycles and distribute to children.

11. Volunteer at a camp for children with diabetes.

12. Collect clothing and shoes for a battered women and children shelter.

What are the needs of children in your community, and how does your Lions club help?

Now you can stay connected with Lions clubs wherever you go through your smart phone or mobile device! We’ve gathered our websites, blog and social media channels all in one place, so with just a tap of the finger, you can see and share how Lions everywhere are making an impact through local volunteer opportunities. Simply visit lionsclubs.org/web on your device, and follow the instructions below.

For Apple devices, such as an iPhone or iPad:

1. Tap the link above on your device, which will open the page in Safari.

2. In Safari, tap the Save To button (the middle icon at the bottom of the screen).

3. Choose “Add to Home Screen.”

4. Enter a title (ex: Lions Clubs), tap Add, and a Lions Clubs icon will appear as a bookmark on your Home Screen.

For Android devices:

1. Bookmark http://www.lionsclubs.org/web/ in your default browser (typically Chrome).

2. Open the Apps drawer and go to the widget section.

3. Find the bookmark widget and place it on your device desktop.

4. Select the bookmarked web address from Step 1, when asked by the widget creation process.

5. Now you can tap on the widget and the web address opens in your browser.

For other smart phones: Tap the link above and bookmark the page.

Lions of District C1 in Sri Lanka recently spent a day with disabled soldiers in their community. The Lions organized games, music and dancing performances to help lift the soldiers’ spirits. They also distributed gifts to the soldiers.

Spending time with members of the community is just one way Lions reach out to connect with others and make an impact. What events and activities does your Lions club have planned for groups in your community?

Fellow Lions and all,

In response to the terrible events of Monday, April 15, 2013, at the Finish Line of the Boston Marathon, the Lions of Massachusetts are welcoming donations to our Disaster Fund in preparation for the coming days when we will be working to provide assistance to those injured and impacted by the events of that tragic day.

We anticipate that the need will extend from those directly injured by the explosions, to those families who lost loved ones, to the first responders who worked tirelessly attending to the injured, witnessing the kinds of injuries normally seen on a battlefield, not on the streets of Boston.

The unfortunate and tragic events of recent years, from 9/11 in New York, to Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey, to the terror in Newtown, Connecticut, have show us the many kinds of assistance that Lions have to date, and will once again, be called upon to provide. And the Lions of Massachusetts stand ready to do our part to help those in need on their road to recovery.

Donation checks can be made payable to the Massachusetts Lions Disaster Relief Fund, and can be sent to:

Council Secretary Richard Braks
PO Box 546
Templeton, MA 01468

On behalf of all the Lions of Massachusetts, we thank you.

Yours in Lionism,

The Massachusetts Council of Governors