Benefits Of A Branch Lions Club

The previous blog entry introduced the concept of forming a branch Lions Club. Let’s delve into that concept a bit deeper. There are some interesting reasons to consider why a branch club can revitalize an existing club.

Organizing and chartering a Lions Club requires a minimum of 20 people. A branch club needs a minimum of five people willing to join an existing Lions Club. That’s one main reason to form a branch.

There is no such thing as membership in a branch Lions Club. The members of that branch belong to the parent club. It’s the parent’s club membership that grows.

The branch has the option to serve independently of the parent club, providing they abide by the Lions Club constitution and by-laws. This is a real advantage to the smaller group. They need someone to act as the branch club president. The branch retains the ability to have other officers but that is optional and discretionary.

The secretary for the parent club provides the administrative support for the branch. That includes providing dues statements, reporting service to Lions Club International and one other important aspect.

A branch club does not need to have a treasurer. That office is optional in a branch. The parent club treasurer remains the responsible custodian of parent and branch club funds.

The branch club president belongs to the parent club’s board of directors. That way the parent club knows about the branch service and fund-raising projects.

A branch club does not need to charter into their own Lions Club when they reach 20 members. They can remain a branch. There are some branch clubs that have two or three times more members than the parent club. That is the decision of the branch and parent club.

Every Lions Club has the benefit of a $1 million liability insurance policy for service projects and fund-raising activities. That includes branch clubs. Think about how difficult it would be for a group of ten or fewer people to get that type of insurance coverage. With Lions, that is a standard part of the membership benefit.

There are many reasons to join a Lions Club. Who do you know that shares a common interest with non-Lions? They may be meeting already. They need to understand the benefits of joining Lions.

We Serve because Kindness Matters 

Lion Andy Kalinowski (Andy K)
District Governor
662.549.3421
http://www.mississippilions.org/ 

https://www.facebook.com/Lions30M

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