Starting a Lions club offers you the opportunity to create the club you want to see in your community and serve the causes you care about with the service-minded people you care about most.
Benefit your community
By introducing service projects and offering more community members the opportunity to serve, you create good by chartering a new club.
Starting a new club also benefits our Lions District. You will expand the reach of Lions International in our area and encourage membership growth. A new club creates potentials — potential leaders, potential service, and potential recruitment — for our district.
What you need to start a new Lions Club
1. Minimum 20 members, preferably more (18 years and older, good moral character)
a. If you have less than 20 members (5 or more), start a Club Branch (Club branches are a way that a club can diversify their membership by engaging a small group of at least five people who want to make a difference in their community. Club branches allow people to serve as Lions who may not be inclined to join the parent club. Members of a club branch become part of an existing parent club but may hold independent meetings and activities. The parent club appoints a branch liaison to serve as the go-between for the parent and the club branch, allowing club branches a high level of autonomy from their parent if that is desired.
Forms needed for a Club Branch:
Club Branch Application, click here
Club Branch Conversion Form, click here
Report of Membership, click, click here
Charter Application Checklist, click here to download/print
When a Club Branch reaches 20 members, click here
a. Charter Application Worksheet, click here
b. Charter Member Application, click here
c. Acquire an EIN number (required to approve Charter Application)
Note: Charter Application is submitted online
Tax info for new Lions Club, click here
d. DG will assign two Certified Guiding Lions to support the New Club.
e. DG and/or New Club will select one or two sponsoring clubs
Sponsoring Club(s) traditionally will gift the new club their Gong & Gavel and/or their club Banner.
f. Up to two Extension Award Recipients will receive their awards as per Lions International guidelines
g. Forms/Documents you may need when chartering a New Lions Club:
1. Celebrating a New Club Charter Night Planning Guide 9-2023, click here
2. Charter Application Checklist, click here
3. Charter Member Application, click here
4. Charter Member Transfer Form, click here
5. DIY New Development Workshop, click here
6. Informational Meeting Template, click here
7. Lions Club Charter Application Worksheet, click here
8. MyLCI Branch Club Process, click here
9. MyLCI Quick Reference Guide, click here
10. New Club Community Needs Assessment Guide, click here
11. New Club Development Guide, click here
12. New Club Development Workshop, click here
13. New Club Development Training Support, click here
14. Organizational Meeting Template, click here
15. Report of Charter Membership Worksheet, click here
16. Sponsor New Club Membership Flyer, click here
17. The Importance of Extension, click here
18. Club Chartering Awards, see Chart Below
4. When officially chartered by Lions International:
a. Hold a member orientation (contact 4L6 Global Action Team)
b. Hold a club officers training (contact 4L6 Global Action Team)
c. Prepare Club Charter Day/Night
1) Charter Night Planning Guide (Celebrating a New Club), click here
5. Some documents NEW club officers & Members should read and learn:
a. Club Presidents & Vice Presidents e-Book, click here
b. Club Secretary e-Book, click here
c. Club Treasurer e-Book, click here
d. Club Membership Chair e-Book, click here Chair's Guide, click here
e. 100 Ideas to Recruit New Lions, click here
f. 100 Service Ideas, click here
g. Family Membership Program FAQ, Note - LCI Fees (effective July 1, 2025) $50/year/member
h. Standard Club C&BL 2022-2023, click here
i. Standard Club Structure 4-2022, click here
j. Membership Application 7-2023, click here
k. Membership Dues - Lions International, click here effective July 1, 2025
MD4 dues (including District dues) is $31 per member/year
Local Club Dues - Decided by the new club members
l. New Member Manual - Welcome, click here
m. Student Member Program, click here
The Importance of Extension (New Lions Club), click here
Create a Lions Club and have your Recognition/Award, see below
Replaced (see below), effective July 1, 2013
And more......
Extension Awards effective July 1, 2013 - NEW, see below
If you need assistance creating/chartering a new Lions Club, email our
District Governor Elizabeth Yoe, Ph.D. - [email protected]