​Commitment and Dedication to Service

​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 potential — 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   Report of
​              Membership, click here
2.  Hold an informational meeting (Invite DG & GAT Team)
3.  Complete the following forms:
            a. Charter Application, click here
          b. Charter Member Application, click here    
          c. Acquire an EIN number (required to approve Charter Application)
                    Note: Charter Application is submitted online
          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 LI                             guidelines
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, 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
          e.  100 Ideas to Recruit New Lions, click here
          f.  100 Service Ideas, click here
          g.  Family Membership Program FAQ, click here
          h.  Standard Club C&BL, click here
          i.  Standard Club Structure, click here
          j.  Membership Application, click here
          k.  Membership Dues - LI, click here
                    MD4 dues (including District) is $31 per member/year, 12-31-22
                    Local Club Dues - Decided by the new club members
​          l.  New Member Manual - Welcome, click here
            m.  Student Member Program, click here

If you need assistance creating/chartering a new Lions Club, call our
​District Governor/Jay Ruiz, Jr. @ (619) 300-5247