“If you aren’t having fun, then you’re doing it wrong,” says Lion Melissa Murphy of the Sandwell Lions in England.
We do things like dances, movie nights, craft nights and game nights. It’s been a game-changer!
Service will always be the main focus of Lions, but since our inception in 1917, being a Lion has always involved having a good time too. What better way to keep people coming back to serve than to make sure serving is fun?
Here are five ways to inject some good humor and good times into your club activities.
- Get to know your members. When you know your members well, you know what makes them laugh. Delmont Lions in Pennsylvania include a little get-to-know-you during their meetings. The club president picks a member at random and puts them in the interview seat, asking them about their interests, hobbies and experiences. “It’s actually a lot of fun hearing members talk about themselves, especially the older folks,” says Delmont Lion Lisa Gismondi.
- Be willing to change things up. It’s good to make some changes when something isn’t working for your club. Maryah Tucker of the Bay Area Special Olympics Lions Club says, “We got tired of having a board meeting and then the following week a general meeting with the same 14 people. So now we only have one meeting, and instead of what would have been our general meeting, we have an activity or event with the special needs community. We do things like dances, movie nights, craft nights and game nights. It’s been a game-changer!”
- Make new traditions. Sure—pancake breakfasts are great, but doing something new and unique with your club can be a great way to mix it up. On Halloween, Sandwell Lions have a tradition of going out for curry after dressing up and volunteering at the local spooky trail. And there’s definitely something fun about a bunch of witches and warlocks gathering for a post-scare meal. Murphy says that they were even asked to pose for photos with other restaurant-goers this year.
- Challenge one another. Push yourselves with spirited contests and set goals with fun rewards. Charles Carter of the Dawsonville Lions Club in Georgia walked away with a pint of strawberries after he told a great joke at one meeting. His club has been running a joke contest to get the laughs going. “We draw three names out of a hat and ask them to tell a joke. The best joke wins a prize, donated by a member and placed in a paper bag. One meeting a Lion won two tickets and VIP parking for an NFL game.”
- Encourage silliness. Whether it’s goofy costumes at a fundraiser or theme nights for club meetings, look for ways to show that Lions take their work seriously, but they never take themselves too seriously. Lions Mike Eisenberg and James Knight dressed up as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum at the 2022 28-U District Convention in Utah and wandered the crowd, calling fellow Lions’ cell phones to see whose would ring—then taking the opportunity to fine them for having their phone on. “They also had bags full of funny prizes and many very bad jokes,” says Lion Richard Stevenson. But their antics worked, and the crowd was engaged and having a blast. One feisty crowd member even swiped Tweedle Dee’s own cell phone and auctioned it off, forcing him to pay US$40 to get it back.
However you decide to add a little spark to your Lion events, remember that you can do a whole lot of good while having a whole lot of good times.
Read more about the meaningful—and fun—things folks are doing as Lions at lionmagazine.org.
Erin Kasdin is the senior editor of LION Magazine.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted communities around the world in different ways. To ensure we’re serving safely wherever we live, Lions should follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization or local health authorities. Visit our Serving Safely page for resources that can help you safely serve your community.
