Starting a Leo club
By sponsoring a Leo club, you have the opportunity to empower young leaders and guide the next generation of service.
Leo club types and tracks
Within the Leo Club Program, there are different options for the type of club and ages of Leos you can sponsor. Explore the options to see which track and club type works best for the young people in your community.
Club types
As a club sponsor, you can choose to start one of two types of clubs — a community-based club designed for any eligible young person, or a school-based Leo club that takes place in a school setting with additional leadership from school staff.
Tracks
There are two tracks in the Leo Club Program based on age. Alpha Leos are for ages 12–18, and Omega Leos are for ages 18-30. The type of service — as well as overall leadership style — will vary based on the ages of your Leos, so keep that in mind as you plan your sponsorship.
Steps to starting a club
Once you’ve identified your Leo club advisor and determined the type of Leo club you’re starting, follow the steps outlined below to help ensure your new club has a successful start — and is ready to make an impact in your community. You can find more in-depth information on how to choose the right Leo club advisor, as well as the steps below, in the Leo Club Starter Guide.
As you begin the steps to start your new Leo club, make sure to review the related fees, including a one-time organization fee starting at US$100 and an annual Leo club sponsor levy thereafter of US$100 both of which may increase depending on the size of your club. Explore the Leo Club Program Fees resource to learn more.
Step 1: Identify members and advertise the club
Take note of potential Leos from friends, relatives, educational institutions, houses of worship or other youth-centered organizations and market your new club to those audiences. Be sure to use tools and resources from the Marketing Matters webpage to make your club marketing stand out!
Step 2: Invite prospects to an informational meeting
Once you’ve identified prospective members, invite them to a meeting where you’ll explain what your Leo club is all about, answer any questions and get them excited about joining. Be sure to have an Alpha Application for Leo Club Membership or an Omega Application for Leo Club Membership to give to your prospective members.
Step 3: Host a formation meeting
Once you have your Leo members in place, host a formation meeting where Leos will accept the Leo Club Constitution and Bylaws, elect Leo club officers and determine club meeting times and location.
Step 4: Complete required logistics
Fill out the Leo Club Organization Report and collect the proper signatures needed, then submit the form to [email protected]. The new Leo club application can also be submitted in the Lion Portal at lionportal.org. Once received, the certification process can take four to six weeks to finalize.
Step 5: Plan an installment ceremony
After your Leo Club Organization Report is approved, plan a ceremony to present the Certificate of Organization and formally install your Leo club officers using the Leo Club Officer Installation and New Member Initiation Guide.
Grow your club
Once your Leo club is established, it’s important to keep recruiting so your club can build a strong foundation that will keep the club up and running for years to come. Use the Leo Recruitment Brochure and the Leo Recruitment Poster to give to prospective members so they can learn more about the Leo Club Program and your club.
Support your club
Learn more about the ways you can further support your Leo club, from roles for your Lions to encouraging Leo club officer training and inspiring Leos to become Lions members as they near the end of the Leo Club Program.
