Page 9 - September 2019

District 23B Spirit — September 2019 Page 9

Membership
By GMT Coordinator Frank Longo
When we talk about membership, you can reach, the more potential embraces, and to accept new
we generally think this just means new members you can find. Please members as Lions with all the same
adding members to our clubs. The contact me for information about the privileges that longer-term members
role of the GMT Coordinator Ohio Plan (one club has already have.
includes helping clubs do that, but started planning their implantation)
that’s just a part of the picture. or other ideas on attracting new Finally, to grow as an organization,
members. we need to create new clubs in
There are three aspects of communities that lack a Lions
membership I plan to concentrate Once you’ve found new members, presence. I am fortunate that our
on this year. The first is to raise our the trick is to keep them. While, as a District Membership Team has two
total membership by helping clubs district, we gained 131 members other members who will be assisting
attract new members. The second is last near, we also lost 277 me in this task.
to help clubs keep the members members, a net loss in membership
they already have, and the third is to of 146. While some of that number Lion Raj Shrestha, the founding
create new clubs in the district. is due to death and relocation, a president of the Hartford County
good number reflects members who Everest Centennial Lions Club, is
“Just Ask!” has been a successful just stopped participating in the certified by LCI as a Specialty Clubs
program for many years. The club. Coordinator, and he will take on the
problem with it is that we only tend task of forming new clubs in our
to ask our friends and The reasons why this happens district around a special
acquaintances—the people we varies, but in many cases, it’s characteristic that binds its
know. There are probably many because the member wasn’t members together. For example,
people outside of our circles who realizing their expectations of being specialty clubs will target
are looking for opportunities to a Lion. How do we keep our prospective members who are
perform service in our communities, members interested and involved? connected by a similar profession,
but are outside our reach. To solve cause, ethnicity, or life events, such
this, I am asking all clubs in District First, have something for members as early retirees. His experience in
23B to hold some sort of program, to do. If a person becomes a Lion to forming the HCEC will be invaluable
open to the general public, that will perform service in the community, in his mission.
enable us to reach these people. make sure you have plenty of
service projects they can participate The other member of the
The most effective of these types of in. If their Lion experience is mostly membership team is PDG Dave
events is known as the “Ohio Plan”, attending meetings, you’re not Roberts, a member of the
after the state the district that fulfilling the reason they joined. Our Barkhamsted Lions Club. PDG
originated it is in. The premise is District GST, Lion PCC Dr. Steve Dave will be concentrating on the
simple: target the members of your Polezonis, can help your club with formation of “cyber clubs”—clubs
community who would be most new ideas on projects. connected through the magic of the
likely to join your club if asked, and Internet. This concept has been
invite them to see what Lions Clubs Some Lions want to be involved in successful in many districts for
are about. Start with a dinner, some the running of the club, either as an people who wish to become Lions,
explanation about the history of the event chairperson, or as a club but are unable to attend physical
Lions and your club, what you do in officer. We need to change our meetings. All business is done
the community, and then pass out thinking in that just because a electronically through emails, chats,
applications. When followed exactly, member is new, they don’t have the and social media. The advantages
the Ohio Plan has yet to fail. When ability to lead. And, if there are are reduced meeting costs, a more
the Ohio Plan hasn’t worked, it’s members that are unsure about flexible schedule for meetings, and
because a club has taken a shortcut their leadership abilities, there are a greater convenience for members,
or tried to “personalize” it. I will be many opportunities for members, especially those who would need to
sending a copy of the Ohio Plan to new and old, to acquire those skills. travel a distance to meet.
all club membership chairpeople GLT Jim Trompeter can provide
(and every club should have one!) resources, both LCI online courses To make this all work, the
soon. and hands-on training sessions, to cooperation of club membership
help develop those proficiencies. chairs is required. If your club
There are other ways to reach these doesn’t have one yet, please make
community members: consider And, some members just don’t feel a point to elect/appoint one as soon
every service project a recruiting like they fit in. We need to work on as possible.
drive; hold open houses at regular our club cultures to mirror the
meetings; set up at table at local acceptance of diversity that our Here’s to a year of growth in Lions
fairs and festivals. The more people International Organization District 23B!