Did you know that your Lions club is equipped with a resource it needs to unify your approach to service, membership and leadership development? This powerful resource is called the Global Action Team (GAT). A few of your club officers, including the president and vice president, are tasked with leading your club’s Global Action Team.
The Global Action Team in our club has given us an official structure to communicate between different club focuses.
During Lions Clubs International’s next 100 years of service, each club’s Global Action Team will be at the forefront in providing Lions with the resources necessary to unite leadership, membership and service, and take their service to the next level.
Over the past few decades, North American Lions have faced a sea change in the ways in which people are volunteering. With this transformation, Lions are finding new and innovative approaches to service.
Chicago—our kind of town
The Chicago, Illinois Windy City Lions’ Global Action Team is one example of how unifying a club’s approach to service, membership and leadership can make a positive impact on membership growth.
Windy City Lions’ Club President Mae Flores’ duty as the club’s Global Action Team chairperson to facilitate communication among her team members, First Vice President Elvis Garcia, Club Membership Chair Richard Castillo and Club Service Chair Corina Castillo. These three Lions have been collaborating with leadership, membership and service to meet the challenges and achieve the goals of their club and district.
Two months after his appointment last July, Lion Richard and his fellow district club membership chairs received special training from Past District Governor Harold Burkett, District 1A’s Global Membership Team coordinator, on best practices and key resources that will be helpful in achieving the district’s goal. The district training included highlighting how key materials available in the Lions’ Resource Center, such as the Club Membership Chairperson Guide and Membership Development Grants Information Sheet, can be used in the field.
Empowering the GAT
Lion Richard credits this district-wide training as critical to his success in recruiting new members. He adapted his outreach to prospective members by trying to understand what their expectations of and interests in being a Lion are. His training with PDG Burkett gave him the skills and confidence to connect both new and current Lions with resources that can enhance their member experience.
“Involving prospective members in service projects is an important part of the Windy City Club culture,” explained Lion Richard, “and including the club service chair in our strategy is important to growing our membership. The Global Action Team in our club has given us an official structure to communicate between different club focuses.”
Lion Corina equipped the Windy City Lions with project planners and service toolkits which have sparked new service activities and broadened the club’s impact within the communities they serve. At the end of the day, it’s all about organizing, empowering and giving Lions the best tools with which to serve.
The GAT difference
“The GAT took on the challenge of declining membership head on,” said Lion Flores. “As the chairperson of GAT, I drew on the support and tools from the Global Action Team within our club, but I also encouraged communication to GAT’s broader network in the district to gain new perspectives and learn about innovative approaches to increasing our membership.”
Over the next six months, the Windy City Global Action Team will continue to work to unify leadership, membership and service to increase the number of new members they induct. And in the past month, they were joined by International President Gudrun Yngvadottir as they inducted eight new members into the club.
Take the time this month to learn more about what your club’s Global Action Team is doing to attract new members, deepen service activities and grow leaders within the club. Challenge your club’s Global Action Team to invite the district Global Action Team to your next club meeting.
And don’t forget to take a look at all the incredible resources in the Lions’ Resource Center!
