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 Clubs 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 Charter Entrance Fees Waived, ending June 30, 2022
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 Branch or 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 LCI guidelines
4. When officially chartered by Lions Clubs International:
a. Hold a member orientation (contact 4-L6 Global Action Team)
b. Hold a club officers training (contact 4-L6 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 - LCI, click here
MD4 dues (including District) is $31 per member/year, 12-31-22
Local Club Dues - Decided by your club members
l. New Member Manual - Welcome, click here
m. Student Member Program, click here
