What Is A Branch Lions Club

A goal of the North American Membership Initiative (NAMI) is to boost membership in each Lions Club. One way to increase membership is through a fairly new concept. The new concept brings together as few as five individuals to form a branch club. Let’s discuss why this is a great idea for any club.

As stated above, it takes just five individuals to form a branch to an existing club. The branch club is legally part of the parent club. The branch has the option to operate independently of the parent club with one caveat. The branch must adhere to the constitution and by-laws as well as the code of ethics of Lions Club International.

Members of a branch club still pay international dues ($43 a year or $21.50 billed every six months). They still pay district dues ($52 a year or $26 billed every six months). That’s because the branch club is part of Lions Club International.

There are many types of branch clubs. Most Lions Clubs have a home within a community, village or city. A branch club has more leeway.

There are many ways to form a branch club. Location is one way. A branch can form in a neighborhood of the city. A branch can form in a rural community near a city. But a branch has other options.

Some clubs organize a branch around a common interest. Here is one example.

Let’s face it, 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday may not be an ideal time to have a Lions Club meeting. That is unless all the members are teachers, and the school busses do not arrive before 7:55 a.m. In this example the common interest is that the members are all education professionals.

The common interest can be other than work related. Perhaps a group of hunters have a concern about the environment. They can form a branch. The environment is an international service project of Lions.

One of the fastest growing branch club ideas is the formation of a cyber club. Young people love serving but loathe attending meetings. They leverage the Internet to discuss ideas. They schedule a real meeting only when they perform actual service.

There are many ways to expand club membership. Traditional Lions Clubs must be flexible. They need to be open to the idea that serving others happens not during a business meeting. Serving others happens when Lions step outside their typical meeting place. Serving happens when Lions begin to change the lives of others.

We Serve because Kindness Matters 

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

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