International Constitution of Association of Lions Clubs

8/6/2019 International Constitution of Association of Lions Clubs

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The

International

Association

of Lions Clubs

Constitution

andBy-Laws

As Revised July 12, 2002



THE

INTERNATIONAL

ASSOCIATION

OF

LIONS CLUBS

CONSTITUTION

AND BY - LAWS

As Revised July 12, 2002



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CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I – Name, Slogan and Motto

SEC. 1 - Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9SEC. 2 - Slogan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9SEC. 3 - Motto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

ARTICLE II – Purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

ARTICLE III – Membership

SEC. 1 - Membership Consists of Clubs . . . . . . . . . . .9SEC. 2 - Authority for Chartering Clubs . . . . . . . . . . .10SEC. 3 - Eligibility for Club Membership . . . . . . . . . . .10

ARTICLE IV – Officers and International

Board of Directors

SEC. 1 - Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10SEC. 2 - Membership Requirement/Delegate Status .10SEC. 3 - Election, Term of Office, Vacancies . . . . . . .11SEC. 4 - Composition and Election of International

Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13SEC. 5 - Voting Privileges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13SEC. 6 - Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

SEC. 7 - Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

ARTICLE V – International Board of Directors

SEC. 1 - Board Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14SEC. 2 - Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

ARTICLE VI – International ConventionsSEC. 1 - Date and Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14SEC. 2 - Delegate Entitlement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14SEC. 3 - Vote of Delegates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15SEC. 4 - Quorum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16SEC. 5 - Proxy Voting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

ARTICLE VII – District Organizations . . . . . . . . . . .16

ARTICLE VIII – Fees and Dues

SEC. 1 - Member Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16SEC. 2 - Semi-Annual Per Capita Tax . . . . . . . . . . . .16SEC. 3 - Carrying Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

ARTICLE IX – Emergency Reserve Fund

SEC. 1 - Designation of Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17SEC. 2 - Corpus of Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17SEC. 3 - Fund Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17



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ARTICLE X – Name, Emblem and Other Insignia

SEC. 1 - Colors of Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18SEC. 2 - Emblem of Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

SEC. 3 - Use of Name and Emblem . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

ARTICLE XI – Amendments

SEC. 1 - Amending Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19SEC. 2 - Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I – Membership

SEC. 1 - Club Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19SEC. 2 - Club Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20SEC. 3 - Application Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20SEC. 4 - Obligations of a Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20SEC. 5 - Status Quo/Cancellation of Charter . . . . . . .20SEC. 6 - Club Resignation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20SEC. 7 - Categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23SEC. 8 - Dual Club Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

ARTICLE II – District Organization

SEC. 1 - Jurisdiction for Forming Districts . . . . . . . . .23

SEC. 2 - Minimum District Requirements . . . . . . . . . .23SEC. 3 - Redistricting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24SEC. 4 - Council of Governors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24SEC. 5 - Multiple District Council of

Governors Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25SEC. 6 - District Cabinet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25SEC. 7 - Cabinet Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26SEC. 8 - District Convention Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

ARTICLE III – Elections

SEC. 1 - International Board Elections . . . . . . . . . . . .26SEC. 2 - Candidacy Requirements for Second Vice

President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

SEC. 3 - Candidacy Requirements for InternationalDirector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

SEC. 4 - Candidacy Requirements forDistrict Governor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

SEC. 5 - Endorsement and Certification of EndorsementRequirements for Candidates . . . . . . . . . . .28

SEC. 6 - Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29SEC. 7 - District Candidacy Requirements . . . . . . . . .30SEC. 8 - International Nominating Committee . . . . . .30SEC. 9 - District Governor/Vice District Governor

Election Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31SEC. 10 - Breaking a Tie Vote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34



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ARTICLE IV – Annual International Convention

SEC. 1 - International Board AuthorityOver Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

SEC. 2 - Official Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34SEC. 3 - Officers of Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34SEC. 4 - District Governor - Expenses of

Attending Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

ARTICLE V – Meetings

SEC. 1 - International Board of Directors Regular

Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35SEC. 2 - Special Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35SEC. 3 - Business Transacted by Mail . . . . . . . . . . . .36SEC. 4 - Quorum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36SEC. 5 - Executive Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36SEC. 6 - District (Single, Sub- and Multiple)

Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36SEC. 7 - Authority of District Conventions . . . . . . . . .37SEC. 8 - Club Delegate Formula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

ARTICLE VI – Duties of International Officers

and Others

SEC. 1 - President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

SEC. 2 - Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38SEC. 3 - Administrative Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38SEC. 4 - Multiple District Council Chairman . . . . . . . .38SEC. 5 - District Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

ARTICLE VII

Committees Of The International Board Of Directors

SEC. 1 - Standing Committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41SEC. 2 - Credentials, Rules of Procedure,

Resolutions and Elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42SEC. 3 - Special or Ad Hoc Committees . . . . . . . . . .42SEC. 4 - Chairman, Vacancies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42SEC. 5 - Appointments Limitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

ARTICLE VIII – Amendment

SEC. 1 - Amending Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43SEC. 2 - Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

ARTICLE IX – Miscellaneous Provisions

SEC. 1 - Name, Emblem and Other Logos of theAssociation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

SEC. 2 - Audit of Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44SEC. 3 - Blocked Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44SEC. 4 - Effective Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44SEC. 5 - Rules of Order and Procedure . . . . . . . . . . .44

EXHIBIT A – Membership Categories . . . . . . . . . . .46



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EXECUTIVE OFFICERSOFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

2002-2003

THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONOF LIONS CLUBS

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

KAY K. FUKUSHIMAPO Box 22607Sacramento, California 95822USA

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTJ. FRANK MOORE IIIPO Box 482Daleville, Alabama 36322-0482USA

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

DR. TAE-SUP "TS" LEERoom 507, Chokson Hyundai Bldg80, Chokson-dong, Chongro-kuSeoul 110-756Republic of Korea

SECOND VICE PRESIDENTCLEMENT F. KUSIAK6302 Homewood RoadLinthicum, Maryland 21090-2108USA



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DIRECTORS

HARRI ALA-KULJU, Sammalkallionkuja 3 A 5, Fin - 02210

Espoo, Finland

DR. S. P. AMIN, PO Box 45652, Nairobi, Kenya

JØRN ANDERSEN, Katsund 4, Haderslev DK-6100, Denmark

SADAICHI ASO, 1035-6 Matsunuma, Oyama, Tochigi 323-0007

Japan

GEN. PEDRO R. BALBANERO, Liberty Mansion,

Liberty Homes Subdivision, South Super Highway,

Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila 1702, Philippines

PETER CERNIGLIA, 2308 Valley Street,

Cross Plains, Wisconsin 53528, USA

PRAVIN CHHAJED, 20, New Cloth Market,

Ahmedabad 380 002, Gujarat, India

ROBERT W. "BOB" MILLER, 18 Pine Road, PO Box 6,

Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania 17961, USA

BUDDY OUZTS, Box 1068, Winder, Georgia 30680, USA

ANTONIO PERROT, 15, Via Salute, 80055 Portici,

Naples, Italy

PATRICIA ANN SHURLEY, 900 Brett Drive,

Edmond, Oklahoma 73013, USA

DR. HENRY L. SMITH, 10422 Black Iron Road,

Louisville, Kentucky 40291, USA

SCOTT A. STORMS, 322 Elm Street, Windsor Locks,

Connecticut 06096, USA

ROSS L. THORFINNSON, JR., PO Box 44460,

Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344, USA

MICKEY TORRES M., Alonso Ovalle, 3007 Lomas San Andres,

Concepcion, Chile

JOHN F. WALKER, 41348 Estate Drive, Sterling Heights,

Michigan 48313-3231, USA

ARTHUR WOODS, 11 Nuthatch Place, Elmira, Ontario

N3B 2Z6, Canada

LUCIE ARMSTRONG, 38 Ellerslie Avenue,

Hamilton 2001, New Zealand

DELMAR "DEL" BROWN, 515 Rundell Street,Iowa City, Iowa 52240, USA



JACQUES GARELLO, 15 Boulevard Merle,

Marseille 13012, France

K.M. GOYAL, C-567 New Friends Colony,New Delhi 110065, India

WHADY LACERDA, Rua Sacramento,

44-Jardim California, Cuiaba MT, Brazil

CHING-LI LEE, 4/F, 86 Chung Shan 1st Road,

Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic Of China

SHI-WOOK LEE, 162-303, Hyundae Sungwoo 2nd Apt,

Sanghyun-maeul, 825, Sanghyun-dong, Yongin-city,

Kyonggi-do 449-843, Republic Of Korea

MELVIN M. NAKAMURA, 2965 Kaloaluiki Street,

Honolulu, Hawaii 96822-1659, USA

SCOTT NEELY, #4 Parkview Drive, South Charleston,

West Virginia 25309, USA

JOHN E. RABIDEAU, PO Box 618, Churchville,

New York 14428-0618, USA

DAVID I. ROBERTS, PO Box 1636,

Sun City, Arizona 85372-1636, USA

RODOLPHE ROBINEL, 12 Cite Catouri, Cayenne 97300,

French Guiana

BILL ROLLINS, 2211 S.W. 1st Avenue #1404,

Portland, Oregon 97201, USA

BRUCE SCHWARTZ, 1237 S. Highland Acres Road,

Bismarck, North Dakota 58501-2486, USA

EBERHARD J. WIRFS, Am Muensterer Wald 11,

65779 Kelkheim, Germany

SHIRO YABE, 5-4-9 Seijo, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

GARY M. LA PETINA

Executive Administrator and Secretary300 W 22nd Street, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523-8842, USA

DONNA L. REBECKTreasurer

300 W 22nd Street, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523-8842, USA

INTERNATIONAL OFFICE300 W 22nd Street, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523-8842, USAPhone: (630) 571-5466 • Fax: (630) 571-8890

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INTERNATIONAL CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

Name, Slogan and Motto

Section 1. NAME. The name of this associationshall be: The International Association of LionsClubs.

Section 2. SLOGAN. I ts Slogan shall be:

Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety.

Section 3. MOTTO. Its Motto shall be: WeServe.

ARTICLE II

Purposes

The purposes of this association shall be:(a) To organize, charter and supervise service

clubs to be known as Lions clubs.(b) To coordinate the activities and standardize

the administration of Lions clubs.

(c) To create and foster a spirit of understand-ing among the peoples of the world.

(d) To promote the principles of good govern-ment and good citizenship.

(e) To take an active interest in the civic, cultur-al, social and moral welfare of the

community.(f) To unite the clubs in the bonds of friendship,good fellowship and mutual understanding.

(g) To provide a forum for the open discussionof all matters of public interest; provided,however, that partisan politics and sectarianreligion shall not be debated by club mem-

bers.(h) To encourage service-minded people to

serve their community without personalfinancial reward, and to encourage efficien-cy and promote high ethical standards incommerce, industry, professions, publicworks and private endeavors.

ARTICLE IIIMembership

Section 1. MEMBERSHIP CONSISTS OFCLUBS. The membership of this association shall

consist of Lions clubs, duly organized and char-tered under the provisions hereof.

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Section 2. AUTHORITY FOR CHARTERINGCLUBS. Except as otherwise provided herein, theInternational Board of Directors shall have full

power and authority to organize and charter allclubs, under such rules and regulations as it mayprescribe.

Subject to the provisions of this constitution andby-laws and policies established by theInternational Board of Directors, from time to time,all clubs shall be autonomous.

A Lions club shall be considered chartered whenits charter has been officially issued pursuant tothe procedures established, from time to time, bythe International Board of Directors. The accep-tance of charter by a Lions club shall be a ratifica-tion of, and agreement on its part to be bound by,

the constitution and by-laws of this association anda submission by said Lions club to have its rela-tionship with this association interpreted and gov-erned by this constitution and by-laws according tothe laws in effect, from time to time, in the state ofincorporation of the association.

Section 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR CLUB MEMBER-SHIP. Only persons of legal majority and of goodmoral character and good reputation in his/hercommunity may be granted membership in anyduly authorized Lions club. Membership shall beby invitation only.

ARTICLE IVOfficers and International Board of Directors

Section 1. OFFICERS. The officers of this asso-ciation shall be the president, immediate past pres-ident, first vice president, second vice president

(who constitute the executive officers), internation-al directors, district governors, executive adminis-trator, treasurer, secretary (the executive adminis-trator, treasurer and secretary shall constitute theadministrative officers) and such other officers asmay be designated by the International Board ofDirectors.

Section 2. MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENT/DELEGATE STATUS. Each officer of this associa-tion, except administrative officers, shall be anActive Member in good standing of a charteredLions club. Each such officer, by virtue of his/her

office shall be an accredited delegate to each inter-national convention of this association and to



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his/her district (single or sub- and multiple) con-vention, but shall not be included in the delegatequota of his/her club for any such convention.

Section 3. ELECTION, TERM OF OFFICE,VACANCIES.

(a) Executive officers and international directorsshall be elected at an annual convention ofthe association.

(b) Administrative officers shall be appointed by

and serve at the pleasure of theInternational Board of Directors.

(c) District governors shall be elected as provid-ed in the by-laws.

(d) Executive officers shall serve a term of oneyear which term shall begin upon the decla-

ration of his/her election and end on thedeclaration of the election of his/her succes-sor at the next convention of the associa-tion.

(e) District governors shall serve a term of oneyear which term shall begin with the close ofthe association’s convention held in the year

of their election and end at the close of thenext convention of the association.

(f) International directors shall serve a term oftwo years and until their successors areelected and qualif ied according to therequirements of this constitution and by-lawshereinafter.

(g) No incumbent executive officer, elected orappointed, may stand for election to suc-ceed himself or herself except with theapproval of the International Board ofDirectors.

(h) No international director or district governor

may succeed themselves in office.(i) Except as provided hereinafter, in the event

of a vacancy in any office, the InternationalBoard of Directors may fill such vacancy forthe remainder of the term.

(j) In the event of a vacancy in the office ofpresident arising by death, resignation, dis-ability rendering the president unable to per-form the duties of the office, or by any otherreason whatsoever, the ranking vice presi-dent, shall act as president and shall per-form the duties of, and have the sameauthority as, the president until such time as

said vacancy is filled by the International



Board of Directors for the remainder of theterm.

(k) In the event of a vacancy in the office of any

vice president arising by death, resignation,disability rendering the vice president unableto perform the duties of the office, or by anyother reason whatsoever, the office shallremain vacant until such time as the vacan-cy is filled by the International Board ofDirectors for the remainder of the term.

Provided, however, that any appointed vicepresident shall be required to be elected, inthe manner set out in this constitution andby-laws, to all successive offices. Any clubmember who is currently serving or who hasserved in the office of international director

shall also be an eligible candidate at thetime said appointed vice president stands forelection to the next office.

(l) In the event of a vacancy in the office ofimmediate past international president, thesame shall remain vacant until filled by thesuccessor immediate past international pres-

ident of this association.(m) In the event of a disaster or accident in

which a majority or more of the members ofthe International Board of Directors shall befatally injured and/or rendered incapable ofperforming the duties of their offices, theremaining members of said board, whetheror not a quorum exists, shall be empoweredto transact the affairs of the InternationalBoard of Directors until the next annual elec-tion of the association.

(n) In the event of a disaster or accident inwhich all members of the International Board

of Directors shall be fatally injured and/orrendered incapable of performing the dutiesof their offices, then, and in that event only,the past international president then livingwho most recently served as president shallwithin ten (10) days thereafter call a meetingof all past international presidents and pastinternational directors for the purpose of fill-ing all vacant offices for the remainder of theterms. Such meeting shall be held at theinternational office of this association notless than fifteen (15) nor more than twenty(20) days after the date of the call thereof.

Reasonable expenses, in accordance withthe association’s Rules of Audit, of those

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attending such meeting shall be paid by thisassociation.

(o) In the event of a contingency arising which

has not been provided for above, theInternational Board of Directors may fill suchvacancy for the remainder of the term.

Section 4. COMPOSITION AND ELECTION OFINTERNATIONAL BOARD. The InternationalBoard of Directors shall be composed of the presi-

dent, immediate past president, the first and sec-ond vice presidents and directors, which shall beelected as follows:

In each even-numbered year, sixteen (16) direc-tors shall be elected, consisting of one (1) fromclubs in India, South Asia, Africa and the Middle

East; one (1) from clubs in Australia, New Zealand,Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Islands of theSouth Pacific; two (2) from clubs in Europe; three(3) from clubs in the Orient and Southeast Asia;two (2) from clubs in South America, CentralAmerica, Mexico and Islands of the CaribbeanSea; and seven (7) from clubs in the United States

of America, i ts aff i l iates, Bermuda and theBahamas.

In each odd-numbered year, seventeen (17)directors shall be elected, consisting of two (2)from clubs in India, South Asia, Africa and theMiddle East; one (1) from clubs in Canada; three

(3) from clubs in Europe; two (2) from clubs in theOrient and Southeast Asia; one (1) from clubs inSouth America, Central America, Mexico andIslands of the Caribbean Sea; and eight (8) fromclubs in the United States of America, its affiliates,Bermuda and the Bahamas.

Section 5. VOTING PRIVILEGES. Each mem-ber of the International Board of Directors shallhave one (1) vote on each question requiringaction of the board.

Section 6. COMPENSATION. All officers, except

the executive administrator, treasurer, secretaryand those designated by the International Board ofDirectors, shall serve without compensation; how-ever, they may be reimbursed for expenses rea-sonably related to and incurred in the discharge ofthe duties of their offices, in accordance with theRules of Audit established by the International

Board of Directors.

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Section 7. REMOVAL. Any elected officer of thisassociation may be removed from office for causeby the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the

entire number of members of the InternationalBoard of Directors.

ARTICLE VInternational Board of Directors

Section 1. BOARD POWERS.

(a) The corporate powers of this association,expressed and implied, shall be vested inthe International Board of Directors, whichshall constitute the executive body of thisassociation.

(b) The International Board of Directors shall:

(1) Have jurisdiction, control and supervisionover all officers and committees of saidboard and this association;

(2) Have general management and controlof the business, property and funds ofthis association; and

(3) Have prepared and approve a budget

showing anticipated receipts and expen-ditures for the ensuing fiscal year. Noexpenditure may be approved or madewhich shall require use of any reserves,or reflect an unbalanced budget in anyfiscal year, or reflect an expenditure

against the income or reserves of anysubsequent fiscal year except upon theaffirmative roll call vote of two-thirds (2/3)of the entire number of members of theInternational Board of Directors.

Section 2. MEETINGS. Regular and special

meetings of the International Board of Directorsshall be called and conducted pursuant to theby-laws.

ARTICLE VIInternational Conventions

Section 1. DATE AND PLACE. A convention ofthis association shall be held each year at a timeand place to be determined by the InternationalBoard of Directors.

Section 2. DELEGATE ENTITLEMENT. Each

chartered club in good standing shall be entitled, inany convention of this association, to one (1) dele-

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gate and one (1) alternate for every twenty-five(25), or major fraction thereof, of its members asshown by the records of the international office on

the first day of the month last preceding that monthduring which the convention is held, PROVIDED,however, that each such club shall be entitled to atleast one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate. Themajor fraction referred to in this Section shall bethirteen (13) or more members. The selection ofeach such delegate and alternate shall be evi-

denced by a certificate signed by the president orsecretary or any other duly authorized officer ofsuch club, or, in the event no such club officer is inattendance at the convention, by the district gover-nor or district governor-elect of the district (singleor sub-) of which the club is a member. Delinquent

dues may be paid and good standing acquired atany time prior to the close of credential certifica-tion, as such closing time shall be established bythe rules of the respective convention.

Each past president of this association shall beentitled to full delegate privileges at each interna-tional convention and each convention of his/her

district (single, sub- and mult iple). TheInternational Board of Directors shall authorizepayment, in accordance with the prevailing Rulesof Audit, of the reasonable expenses of any pastinternational president in attendance at annualinternational conventions and his/her district (sin-gle or sub- and multiple) conventions.

Each past international director of this associa-tion shall be entitled to full delegate privileges ateach international convention and each conventionof his/her district (single or sub- and multiple).

No such past international president or pastinternational director shall be included in the dele-

gate quota of his/her club for any such convention.Each past district governor and past council

chairman serving as an appointee to a standingcommittee of the International Board of Directorsand a Lion(s) serving on the LCIF ExecutiveCommittee shall be entitled to full delegate privi-leges at the international convention convenedduring their appointment term. No such past dis-trict governor or past council chairman shall beincluded in the delegate quota of his/her club forsuch international convention.

Section 3. VOTE OF DELEGATES. Each certi-

fied delegate present in person shall be entitled tocast one (1) vote of his/her choice for each office



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to be filled by, and one (1) vote of his/her choice oneach question submitted to, the convention.

Section 4. QUORUM. The certified delegates pre-sent in person at any session shall constitute a quo-rum.

Section 5. PROXY VOTING. Proxy voting is strict-ly prohibited in club, district (single, sub- and multi-ple) and association affairs.

ARTICLE VIIDistrict Organizations

The territory of chartered Lions clubs shall bedivided into districts and administrative units as pro-

vided in the by-laws.

ARTICLE VIIIFees and Dues

Section 1. MEMBER REPORTS. In the mannerand within the time prescribed by the International

Board of Directors each club shall report to theinternational office of this association, the names ofall new members elected, and shall remit therewithsuch entrance fee for each new member as shall bedetermined by the International Board of Directors.

Section 2. SEMI-ANNUAL PER CAPITA TAX.(a) A semi-annual per capita tax of nine dollarsthirty-seven and one-half cents (US$9.375) orits equivalent in the respective national cur-rency shall be levied on each club memberand shall be paid in advance by each club onJuly 21 and January 21 of each year.

(b) The semi-annual per capita tax shall bebased upon the membership of each club asshown by its membership report of June andDecember, respectively, and shall be paid tothe international office not later than July 21and January 21, respectively of each year.

(c) A special semi-annual convention fund tax oftwenty-five cents (US$.25) or its equivalent inthe respective national currency shall belevied upon each club member, and shall bepaid in advance by each club on July 21 andJanuary 21 of each year. The fund so raisedshall be used exclusively to defray the

expenses in connection with the internationalconventions of this association.



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(d) An official magazine shall be published andthe annual subscription price thereof shallbe four dollars and seventy-five cents

(US$4.75) or its equivalent in the respectivenational currency and shall be levied andcollected on a semi-annual basis with dues.

(e) An annual levy of such amount, equal orgraduated, as the International Board ofDirectors shall deem proper shall be paid byeach Lions club for each Leo club and for

each Lioness club sponsored by it, at suchtime as said board shall determine.

Section 3. CARRYING CHARGE. The Inter-national Board of Directors shall be empowered tolevy a carrying charge, as it may set from time to

time, at a rate not to exceed the maximum amountpermitted by law, on past due club account bal-ances as determined by the board.

ARTICLE IXEmergency Reserve Fund

Section 1. DESIGNATION OF FUND. The asso-ciation shall designate a special fund to be knownas the Emergency Reserve Fund. The FUND shallbe held and administered separate and apart fromall other association funds.

Section 2. CORPUS OF FUND. No annual percapita dues collected from each member shall beallocated to and become a part of the FUND.Provided, however, that the income generated bythe asset value of the FUND shall be added to theFUND’s principal annually.

Section 3. FUND ADMINISTRATION. TheFUND shall be administered as follows:

(a) The assets of such FUND shall be investedand reinvested in conformance with aninvestment policy developed by the Financeand Headquarters Operation Committee andapproved by the International Board ofDirectors. The investment policy shall pro-vide for investment in equity securities, notto exceed 40% of the overall EmergencyReserve Fund, corporate and governmentsecurities and cash equivalents. The objec-tive of the investment policy shall be to max-

imize investment returns of the EmergencyReserve Fund within reasonably prudent



18

and acceptable risk levels for the associa-tion.

(b) Expenditures from the FUND in any one (1)

fiscal year shall not exceed an amount equalto one half (1/2) of the total asset value(principal and undistributed income) of theFUND as of the first day of the current fiscalyear.

(c) Expenditures may be made from the FUND(principal and/or income) only when autho-

rized under specific allocation by two-thirds(2/3) of the entire number of members of theInternational Board of Directors and only topay current expenses necessary to meet theminimal operating requirements of the asso-ciation which can not be met out of the cur-

rent association income and which do notrelate to any of the sixteen (16) named, orany other, major projects or activities of theassociation, the publication of THE LIONMagazine, or to the holding of internationalboard of director meetings or internationalconventions.

(d) In the event expenditures are authorizedfrom the FUND (principal and/or income),and as a result the FUND balance is belowsixty (60%) percent of the association’s prioryear’s total expense, the International Boardof Directors shall take the action necessary

to restore, within three (3) years time fromthe date of the authorized expenditure, theFUND balance at no less than sixty (60%)percent of the association’s prior year’s totalexpense. The fund shall be limited to seven-ty (70%) percent of the association’s prioryear’s total expense, with the excess funds

transferred to the general fund.

ARTICLE XName, Emblem and Other Insignia

Section 1. COLORS OF ASSOCIATION. Thecolors of this association and of each charteredclub shall be purple and gold.

Section 2. EMBLEM OF ASSOCIATION. Theemblem of this association and each charteredclub shall be of a design as follows:



19

Section 3. USE OF NAME AND EMBLEM. Useof the name, goodwill, emblem and other logos ofthe association shall be according to the guide-l ines established from time to t ime in theby-laws.

ARTICLE XIAmendments

Section 1. AMENDING PROCEDURE. Thisconstitution may be amended only at an interna-

tional convention by amendment reported by thecommittee on constitution and by-laws at suchannual meeting and adopted by the affirmativevote of two-thirds (2/3) of the certified delegatesvoting at such meeting. No amendment shall bereported to a convention for vote unless it shallfirst secure approval in one of the following two

methods:(a) have been approved by the International

Board of Directors;or,

(b) have been approved by resolutions of con-ventions of single and/or multiple districtsrepresenting no less than fifty-one (51%) ofthe total number of members of clubs in theassociation as of July 1 of the fiscal year inwhich the amendment is submitted to theInternational Board of Directors for ballotplacement.

Section 2. NOTICE. Any proposed amendmentmust be published in THE LION Magazine, orother official publication of the association, at leastthirty (30) days prior to the convention at which itis to be voted upon.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE IMembership

Section 1. CLUB ORGANIZATION. Lions clubs

may be organized and chartered in any definedgeographic area, including those in which an estab-



20

lished club, or clubs, may exist, with the consent ofthe district governor and/or the approval of theInternational Board of Directors. The area within

which a club or clubs are to be chartered shall bedefined and subject to change as above provided.

Section 2. CLUB NAME. Each club shall beknown by the name of the defined geographic areain which it is located. In any such geographic areahaving more than one club, each club shall add a

distinguishing designation to such name.

Section 3. APPLICATION PROCEDURE .Application for a Lions club charter may be madeto this association by any group, club or assemblyin a manner designated by the International Board

of Directors in its Board Policy.

Section 4. OBLIGATIONS OF A CLUB. Eachclub, to remain in good standing, shall:

(a) Collect from each member, except as other-wise provided herein, minimum annual duesto cover international and district (single,

sub- and multiple) dues and such otherexpenses as are necessary for club admin-istration.

(b) Submit such regular reports to the associa-tion’s office as may be called for by theInternational Board of Directors.

(c) Abide by the constitution, by-laws, and thepolicy of the International Board of Directors.(d) Attempt to resolve all disputes arising at the

club level according to the Club DisputeResolution Procedure set out, from time totime, in the policy of the International Boardof Directors.

Section 5. STATUS QUO/CANCELLATION OFCHARTER. Any chartered club which shall fail tomeet any obligation to this association may, in thediscretion of the International Board of Directorsand in consultation with the district governors, beplaced in status quo, or have its charter cancelled.Any club placed in status quo shall forfeit all rightsand privileges pending final determination of itsstatus by said board.

Section 6. CLUB RESIGNATION. Any charteredclub may resign from this association and said res-

ignation shall become effective upon acceptancethereof by the International Board of Directors. The



21

C A T E G O R Y

A C T I V E

A F F I L I A T E

A S S O C I A T E

H O N O R A R Y

L I F E

M E M B E R

A T L A R G

E

P R I V I L E G E D

R E G U L A R

A T T E N D A N C E

Y E S

N O

Y E S ,

P R I M A R Y

N O ,

S E C O

N D A R Y

N O

N O

N O

N O

P R O M P T P A Y M E N T

O F

D U E S ( C L U B ,

D I S T R I

C T

A N D

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

)

Y E S

Y E S

Y E S ,

C L U B O N L Y

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C L U B P A Y A P P L I C A B L E

I N T ’ L A N D D I S T R I C T D U E S

Y E S ,

D I S T R I C T & C L U B

O N L Y -

N O I N T ’ L D U E S

O B L I G A T I O N S

Y E S

Y E S

P A R T I C I P A T

I O N I N C L U B

A C T I V I T I E S

Y E S

Y E S ,

W H E N

A B L E

Y E S ,

W H E N

A B L E

N O

Y E S ,

W H E N

A B L E

Y E S ,

W H E N

A B L E

Y E S ,

W H E N

A B L E

C O

N D U C T R E F L E C T I N G

F A V

O R A B L E I M A G E

Y E S

Y E S

Y E S

Y E S

Y E S

Y E S

Y E S

O B L I G A T I O N

S



22

C A T E G O R Y

A C T I V E

A F F I L I A T E

A S S O C I A T E

H O N O R A R Y

L I F E

M E M B E R A T L A R G

E

P R I V I L E G E D

E L

E G I B I L I T Y T O S E E K

C L U B ,

D I S T R I C T O R

I N T ’ L O F F I C E

Y E

S

N O N O N O Y E

S ,

I F F U L F I L L S O B L I G A T I O N S

O F

A C T I V E M E M B E R

N O N O

V O T I N G P R I V I L E G E S

Y E S

C L U B M A T T E R S O N L Y

D I S T R I C T C O N V E N T I O N

( P R I M A R Y )

C L U B M A T T E R S O N L Y

( B O T H )

N O

Y E S , I F

F U L F I L L S O B L I G A T

I O N S

O F A C T

I V E M E M B E R

Y E S , C

L U B M A T T E R S O N L Y

Y E S

D E L E G A T E

A T D I S T R I C T O R I N T ’ L

C O N V E N T I O N

Y E S

N O

N O

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Y E S ,

I F F U L F I L L S O B L I G A T I O N S

O F A C T I V E

M E M B E R

N O

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R I G H T S A N D

P R I V I

L E G E S



23

International Board of Directors may withholdacceptance, however, until all indebtedness hasbeen paid, all club funds and property have been

properly disposed of, the club charter has beenreturned, and all right to the use of the name‘‘LIONS,’’ the emblem and other insignia of thisassociation has been surrendered.

Section 7. CATEGORIES. Each individual mem-ber of a Lions club, on approval of the club’s board

of directors, shall be classified in one of the follow-ing categories: Active, Aff i l iate, Associate,Honorary, Life, Member-at-large, or Privileged.Such categories shall have the rights, privilegesand obligations set forth below: (see pages 21 and22)

All categories of members shall be required topay such dues (except honorary, where the clubpays the dues) as are determined by the Lionsclub, and engage in conduct reflecting a favorableimage of the Lions club in their community. In thecase of a Life Member, a one-time fee of US$300shall be paid to the association, in lieu of future

international dues, and such status shall beapproved in accordance with the policy of theInternational Board of Directors. All past interna-tional presidents are accorded the status of LifeMember upon the completion of their term in officewithout any fee or approval required.

Section 8. DUAL CLUB MEMBERSHIP. No per-son shall simultaneously hold membership, otherthan Honorary or Associate, in more than oneLions club; and no person shall simultaneouslyhold membership, other than Honorary or Affiliate,in a Lions club and any other service club of like

character.

ARTICLE IIDistrict Organization

Section 1. JURISDICTION FOR FORMING DIS-TRICTS. Geographic regions shall be divided intodistricts and administrative units as provided for bythe International Board of Directors.

Section 2. MINIMUM DISTRICT REQUIRE-MENTS. On formation, a district shall consist ofthirty-five (35) clubs in good standing and a total

membership of at least one thousand two hundredand fifty (1,250) Lions clubs members in good



24

standing unless otherwise approved by a 2/3 voteof the International Board of Directors.

Section 3. REDISTRICTING. Any single districtwhich desires to become a multiple district and anymultiple district which desires to add one or moresub-districts thereto or to otherwise change orredistrict any one or more existing sub-districts inany way shall submit to the International Board ofDirectors a redistricting proposal approved by a

convention of the respective single or multiple dis-trict, and in the case of a multiple district redistrict-ing proposal, approved by two-thirds (2/3) of theconventions of the sub-districts comprising themultiple district, together with a map showingboundary lines for all proposed sub-districts and a

list showing the Lions clubs which shall compriseeach proposed sub-district.No such redistricting proposal shall be consid-

ered by the International Board of Directors unlesseach proposed sub-district shall contain at leastthirty-five (35) Lions clubs with a total membershipof no less than one thousand two hundred fifty

(1,250) members in good standing. In consideringapproval of any redistrict ing proposal, theInternational Board of Directors may give weight toany factors it deems proper and may require suchadditional number of clubs and/or members persub-district as it deems proper.

In the event the International Board of Directorsapproves such redistricting proposal, it shallbecome effective at the close of the annual inter-national convention which next follows the date ofsuch board approval; PROVIDED, however, thatdelegates from clubs which will comprise therespective new sub-districts shall elect a district

governor and may adopt a constitution and by-laws at a meeting held in conjunction with the con-vention, held after said board approval and prior tosaid international convention, of the district (single,sub- and multiple) being redistricted. If an existingsub-district is substantially realigned, the delegatesof the clubs which comprise said sub-district mayelect a district governor at a meeting of the regis-tered delegates of the sub-district in attendance atthe annual convention of the multiple district.

Section 4. COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS. Thegovernors of districts, except as herein provided,

shall in each multiple district, constitute a councilof governors. At the option of the multiple district



25

constitution the council of governors may includeone or more immediate past district governors pro-vided that the total number of immediate past dis-

trict governors shall not exceed one-half (1/2) thenumber of district governors. Each member of thecouncil of governors shall have one (1) vote oneach question requiring action of the council ofgovernors. A council of governors may also includepast and present international presidents, interna-tional vice-presidents, and past and present inter-

national directors of the association as advisory,but non-voting members. PROVIDED, that anyLion who will be a past district governor whenhe/she takes office may be selected or elected aschairman (who shall be a voting member of thecouncil of governors) to serve one (1) one-year

term only and cannot serve in that capacity again.In such event the total number of immediate pastdistrict governors who may be members of saidcouncil of governors shall be reduced by one (1).

Section 5. MULTIPLE DISTRICT COUNCIL OFGOVERNORS POWERS. Subject to the provi-

sions of the Constitution and the By-Laws, and theBoard Policy of the International Board ofDirectors, each council of governors shall super-vise the administration of all multiple district affairs,and may choose such officers, hold such meet-ings, administer such funds, authorize such expen-ditures and exercise such other administrativepowers as are provided in its respective multipledistrict constitution.

Section 6. DISTRICT CABINET. Each singleand sub-district shall have a district governor’scabinet composed of the district governor, as

chairman, the immediate past district governor, thevice district governor, and the following who shallbe elected or appointed under procedures provid-ed in the respective single, provisional or multipledistrict constitution: the region chairman, the zonechairman, secretary and treasurer or secretary-treasurer and such other club members as may beprovided for in the respective district (single, sub-and multiple) constitution and by-laws. PROVID-ED, however, each respective district governorshall have the authority to determine whether theposition of region chairman will be utilized duringhis/her term. If not so utilized, the position of

region chairman shall remain vacant during saiddistrict governor’s term. The respective district



(single, sub and multiple) shall provide in its districtconstitution and by-laws for the elected office ofvice district governor, duties of said office to be

established by the International Board of Directors.A club member shall be elected or appointed as aregion chairman or zone chairman only over theregion or zone in which his/her club is located.

Section 7. CABINET MEETINGS. Meetings ofthe district cabinets shall be held under such rules

as the respective constitution shall provide. In allsuch meetings, the voting privilege shall extend tothe district governor, the immediate past districtgovernor, the vice district governor, the regionchairmen, if the position is utilized during the dis-trict governor’s term, the zone chairmen, the cabi-

net secretary and cabinet treasurer (or secretary-treasurer) and may be extended to such of theother members of the respective district cabinet asthe respective district (single, sub- and multiple)constitution and by-laws shall designate.

Section 8. DISTRICT CONVENTION RE-

PORTS. Within sixty (60) days after the close ofeach single, sub- and multiple district convention,the secretary thereof shall transmit one copy of theminutes thereof to the international office, and onecopy to each district governor. Upon writtenrequest from any club in the respective district acopy shall be furnished to said club. Within sixty(60) days after the close of a fiscal year, therespective district cabinet secretary-treasurer orcouncil of governors secretary, as the case maybe, then in office, shall provide one copy of a cate-gorized statement of the receipts and disburse-ments of the district (single, sub- and multiple) for

said fiscal year to each of the international office,district governor(s) and the club secretaries in therespective district (single, sub- and multiple).

ARTICLE IIIElections

Section 1. INTERNATIONAL BOARD ELEC-TIONS. The president, first vice president, secondvice president and all directors of the associationshall be elected at the annual international conven-tion by secret ballot. No member of a club in thedistrict (single, sub- and multiple) in which such

convention is held may be elected to any office atsuch convention except that of president and firstvice president.

26



27

Section 2. CANDIDACY REQUIREMENTS FORSECOND VICE PRESIDENT.

(a) A candidate for the office of international

second vice president shall:(1) Be an Active Member in good standing ofa Lions club in good standing;

(2) Have completed or be completing his/herterm, by election or appointment, asinternational director;

(3) Secure the endorsement of a convention

of his/her district (single, sub- and multi-ple);

(4) Secure certification of endorsement byhis/ her district (single, sub- and multiple)as provided in these by-laws or constitu-tion. Such action shall be tantamount to

certification of endorsement for all higheroffices in the association if said candi-date is elected second vice president.

(b) Except in the case of a vacancy in an officewhich shall be filled under the provisions ofthese by-laws or constitution, only a clubmember who has served in the office of sec-

ond vice president may be elected to theoffice of first vice president and only a clubmember who has served in the offices ofsecond and first vice president may beelected to the office of president of the asso-ciation. In the event of a vacancy in theoffice of president or any vice presidentwhich shall be filled under the provisions ofthese by-laws or constitution, a club mem-ber who is currently serving or who hasserved in the office of international directormay be appointed to fill such vacancy.

Section 3. CANDIDACY REQUIREMENTS FORINTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR. A candidate for theoffice of international director shall:

(a) Be an Active Member in good standing of aLions club in good standing.

(b) (1) Have completed or be completing a fullterm or major portion thereof as districtgovernor of a full district of this associa-tion; or

(2) Have completed a full term or majoritythereof as district governor or provision-al district governor of a provisional dis-trict which (1) attained in said term or

later twenty (20) clubs in good standingor full district status or (2) has been a



28

provisional district for no less than ten(10) years.

(c) Secure the endorsement of a convention of

his/her district (single, sub- and multiple).(d) Secure the certification of endorsement byhis/her district (single, sub- and multiple) inaccordance with these by-laws or constitu-tion.

Section 4. CANDIDACY REQUIREMENTS FOR

DISTRICT GOVERNOR. A candidate for the officeof district governor shall:

(a) Be an active member in good standing of achartered Lions club in good standing inhis/her single or sub-district.

(b) Secure the endorsement of his/her club or a

majority of the clubs in his/her single or sub-district.(c) Currently be serving as the vice district gov-

ernor within the district from which he/she isto be elected.

(d) Only in the event the current vice districtgovernor does not stand for election as dis-

trict governor, or if a vacancy in the positionof vice district governor exists at the time ofthe district convention, any club memberwho fulfills the qualifications for the office ofvice district governor as set forth in theseby-laws or constitution and who is currentlyserving or who has served one (1) additionalyear as a member of the district cabinet,shall fulfill the requirements of subsection (c)of this section.

Section 5. ENDORSEMENT AND CERTIFICA-TION OF ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENTS

FOR CANDIDATES.(a) Except with respect to candidacy for offices

to be filled under the provisions of these by-laws or constitution where vacancies exist,as to which neither any endorsement norcert i f ication of endorsement shall berequired, certification of endorsement ofcandidacy for all international offices otherthan the office of district governor shall bemade by the chairman and secretary of therespective single district cabinet, or sub-dis-trict cabinet and council of governors, as thecase may be, on forms provided by the

international office. The certification ofendorsement document shall arrive at the



29

international office no less than thirty (30)days, in the case of international directorcandidates, and no less than ninety (90)

days, in the case of second vice presidentcandidates, before the convening date of theinternational convention at which theendorsed candidate is to be voted upon.Certification of endorsement may be madeby fax or e-mail, provided the same is con-firmed by the required cert i f ication of

endorsement document mailed within three(3) days after the fax or e-mail is sent. Noendorsement shall be valid until certificationof such endorsement is made and receivedat the international office.

Any endorsement shall be valid only for

the two (2) succeeding international conven-tions following said endorsement where themember is otherwise eligible under theseby-laws or constitution to be elected. Duringthe term of validity of endorsement, (i) norescission shall occur, (ii) no other endorse-ment is valid, and (iii) in the event of death,

ineligibility, withdrawal of the candidate, theoriginal resolution of endorsement is nulland void. No further certification of endorse-ment shall be required during the valid termof the endorsement.

All endorsements, whether original or

otherwise, must be made according to theprocedures, if any, set forth in respectivesingle or multiple district constitution and by-laws concerning the time and manner ofannouncing intention to run for an interna-tional office.

(b) Certification of endorsement must specify

the single office sought and no candidatemay seek election for any office other thanthe office covered by his/her certification ofendorsement. No single or multiple districtshall have more than one (1) endorsementpending for more than one (1) office of the

International Board of Directors.Section 6. REPRESENTATION.(a) A director may be elected from a district

(single, sub- and multiple) which has clubsin the United States of America and Canada,in which event the director so elected shall

be considered one of the fifteen (15) direc-tors elected from clubs in the United States



30

or the one director elected from clubs inCanada, depending upon the choice madeby him/her, which choice shall be declared

in writing to the international office not laterthan the time he/she submits his/her certifi-cation of endorsement documents in accor-dance with the requirements of these by-laws or constitution which requires certifica-tion of endorsement documents to arrive atthe international office no less than thirty

(30) days prior to the convening of the inter-national convention at which the endorsedcandidate is to be voted upon and shall beprinted on the convention ballot besidehis/her name.

(b) No two (2) or more members of clubs in the

same single or multiple district may serve,simultaneously, as members of theInternational Board of Directors. In case anydirector shall move into any such districtother than the one from which he/she waselected, his/her term of office shall terminateat the close of the next annual convention,

and his/her successor shall be elected atsuch convention.

(c) A president, or vice president, and a directormay be elected and serve, simultaneously,from the same area, as established in theconstitution, but not from the same single ormultiple district.

Section 7. DISTRICT CANDIDACY REQUIRE-MENTS. Except for procedures which concern thetime and manner of announcing intention to run forany international offices and the vote required forcandidacy endorsement, which may be determined

by the respective single or multiple district constitu-tion and by-laws, no qualifications in addition tothose set forth in the constitution may be requiredof any candidate for any international office. Suchprocedures may not contain requirements whichcannot be fully met in each association year.

Section 8. INTERNATIONAL NOMINATINGCOMMITTEE. At each annual convention or withinone hundred eighty (180) days prior thereto, thepresident shall appoint a Nominating Committee ofnine (9) delegates, none of whom shall be officersof this association, and no two (2) of whom shall

be members of clubs in the same single or multipledistrict; and shall fix the hours on the last day of



the convention during which the election shall takeplace.

Said Nominating Committee shall:

(a) Receive, in writing, the names of all candi-dates whose proper certification of endorse-ment has been submitted to and approvedas to form by the general counsel of thisassociation and pass upon any objectionsthereto;

(b) Determine the order and printing of names

on the ballot; and(c) Place in nomination at a convention session

the names of all qualified candidates foroffices to be filled.

The election shall be by secret printed ballot orsuch other method of secret balloting as may be

determined by the International Board of Directors,and a plurality vote shall be necessary to elect. Incase of a tie vote for any office, the incumbentInternational Board of Directors shall elect the oneto serve from the tying candidates.

At international conventions, delegates andalternate delegates may be certified, and all per-

sons whether delegates, alternate delegates orothers may be permitted to attend or participate inany session or proceeding, only after registeringand paying such registration fee as may be fixedby the International Board of Directors.

Section 9. DISTRICT GOVERNOR/VICE DIS-TRICT GOVERNOR ELECTION PROCEDURES.(a) DISTRICT GOVERNOR. An election for the

office of district governor shall be conductedin accordance with the provisions of therespective district (single, sub- and multiple)constitution and by-laws. The district gover-

nor election shall be conducted by a secretwritten ballot, with the district governor can-didate required to secure a majority of thevotes cast by the delegates present and vot-ing in order to be declared elected for pur-pose of such election, a majority is definedas a number more than one-half of the totalvalid votes cast excluding blanks andabstentions. The results of each district gov-ernor election shall be reported to the inter-national office by the respective current dis-trict governor and/or the international staffrepresentative. The results so reported shall

be presented to the International Board ofDirectors. All district governor election

31



results shall be adopted by the InternationalBoard of Directors and thereby becomeeffective, except in the case of an election

protest filed in accordance with the proce-dure of the International Board of Directorsas set out in the Board Policy Manual orlegal action resulting therefrom, in whichevent the appointment or election of suchdistrict governor shall be subject to action bythe International Board of Directors.

If any such district shall fail to so elect aqualified district governor or if the districtgovernor-elect of any such district shall dieor refuse or be found by the InternationalBoard of Directors to be unable by reason ofillness or other disability to take such office

prior to the day his/her term would otherwisebegin, or if a vacancy will exist as a result ofa district governor election protest or legalaction, then in any such event such districtmay have a district governor appointed bythe International Board of Directors in thetime and manner and for the term set forth

in these by-laws or constitution.(b) VICE DISTRICT GOVERNOR. An election

for the office of vice district governor shallbe conducted in accordance with the provi-sions of the respective district (single, sub-and multiple) constitution and by-laws. Theresult of each vice district governor electionshall be reported to the international officeby the respective current district governorand/or international staff representative.

A candidate for the off ice of vice districtgovernor shall:

(1) Be an Active Member in good standing

of a chartered Lions club in good stand-ing in his/her single or sub-district.

(2) Secure the endorsement of his/her clubor a majority of the clubs in his/her sin-gle or sub-district.

(3) Have served or will have served at thetime he/she takes office as vice districtgovernor:(a) As president of a Lions club for a

full term or major portion thereof,and a member of the board ofdirectors of a Lions club for no lessthan two (2) additional years; and

(b) As zone chairman or region chair-man or cabinet secretary and/or

32



33

treasurer for a full term or majorportion thereof.

(c) With none of the above being

accomplished concurrently.(c) DISTRICT GOVERNOR/VICE DISTRICTGOVERNOR VACANCY. In the event avacancy occurs in the office of district gover-nor under these by-laws or the constitution,the vice district governor shall act as districtgovernor and shall perform the duties of,

and have the same authority as, the districtgovernor until such time as said vacancy isfilled by the International Board of Directorsfor the remainder of the term as provided forin subsection (d) of this section. In the eventa vacancy occurs in the office of vice district

governor, said vacancy shall be filled inaccordance with the district (single, sub- andmultiple) constitution and by-laws.

(d) DISTRICT GOVERNOR VACANCY FILL-ING PROCEDURE. The International Boardof Directors may make such appointmentprior to the time when the term of an elected

district governor commences under the con-stitution and if so made, such appointeesshall be treated as if elected to said office,subject to regular expense audit rules. Inmaking such appointments–and in filling anyvacancy in the office of district governorunder these by-laws or constitution –theInternational Board of Directors shall not bebound by but shall consider any recommen-dation resolved at a meeting to which thedistrict governor, immediate past districtgovernor, vice district governor, the regionchairmen, zone chairmen and the secretary

and treasurer or secretary-treasurer and allpast international presidents, past interna-tional directors and past district governorswho are members in good standing of achartered Lions club in good standing in thedistrict have received invitations to attend.Said meeting is to be held within fifteen (15)days of notification by the InternationalBoard of Directors. It shall be the duty of theimmediate past district governor or, if he/sheis not available, the most recent past districtgovernor who is available, to send out invita-tions to attend said meeting; it shall also be

his/her responsibility to preside as chairmanof said meeting. It is the duty of the chair-



34

man to convey the results to theInternational Board of Directors within seven(7) days, together with evidence of invita-

tions sent and attendance at said meeting.Each Lion who is entitled to receive an invi-tation to attend and is present at said meet-ing shall be entitled to cast one vote for theLion of his/her choice as the nominee for theappointment to the office of district governor.

(e) DISTRICT GOVERNOR ELECTION – NEW

DISTRICT. On initial formation of a district, itshall be entitled to elect a district governorat its first convention after attaining therequired minimum number of clubs and clubmembers in good standing, but candidacyqualifications for district governor set forth in

these by-laws shall not apply until such dis-trict has been established for a period ofthree (3) years or more, and service as amember of the cabinet of such district priorto becoming a district may constitute a partof such qualifications.

Section 10. BREAKING A TIE VOTE. In anyelection held for the office of district governor orvice district governor, a tie vote, if not otherwiseprovided for in the respective district constitutionand by-laws, shall be resolved in the manner con-tained in the Standard Form District Constitutionand By-Laws.

ARTICLE IVAnnual International Convention

Section 1. INTERNATIONAL BOARD AU-THORITY OVER CONVENTION. All phases of the

international convention shall be under the jurisdic-tion, control and supervision of the InternationalBoard of Directors except as otherwise providedherein.

Section 2. OFFICIAL CALL. The president orhis/her designee shall issue an official printed callfor the international convention not less than five(5) nor more than forty (40) days prior to the datefixed for holding the same, stating the place, dayand hour thereof, and said date shall also be pub-lished in the official magazines of this association.

Section 3. OFFICERS OF CONVENTION. Thepresident, first and second vice presidents, secre-



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tary and treasurer of this association shall be theofficers of the international convention. The presi-dent may appoint, with the approval of the

International Board of Directors, such other officersof the international convention as may be neces-sary.

Section 4. DISTRICT GOVERNOR - EXPENS-ES OF ATTENDING CONFERENCE. In accor-dance with the Rules of Audit, the International

Board of Directors may authorize the payment ofreasonable expenses of such of the district gover-nors (elected or appointed), as it deems proper, forthe purpose of attending their school of instruction.

ARTICLE V

Meetings

Section 1. INTERNATIONAL BOARD OFDIRECTORS REGULAR MEETINGS. A regularmeeting of the International Board of Directorsshall be held immediately after the adjournment ofthe annual international convention at the site

thereof. Additionally, a regular meeting shall beheld in the month of October or November and themonth of March or April. One of the regularOctober/November or March/April meetings shallbe held at the international headquarters, and theother regular meeting shall be held at a time andplace as called by the president. A final regularmeeting shall be held at the site of the internationalconvention, but shall adjourn prior to the conven-ing of said convention.

Section 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meet-ings of the International Board of Directors may be

called by the president at such time and place ashe/she shall determine; and shall be called by thepresident upon the written (including letters, elec-tronic mail, facsimile transmission, or cable)request of five (5) directors at such time and placeas he/she shall determine, provided that suchmeeting shall be called within ten (10) days, andshall be held within twenty (20) days, after the dayof receipt of the last of such requests. Writtennotice of special meetings, setting forth the time,place and purpose thereof, shall be given to eachmember of said board by the international office,except when called at an international convention.



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Section 3. BUSINESS TRANSACTED BYMAIL. The International Board of Directors maytransact business by mail (including letters, elec-

tronic mail, facsimile transmission, or cable), pro-vided that no such action shall be effective untilapproved in writing by three-fourths (3/4) of theentire number of the members of said board. Suchaction may be initiated by the president or any five(5) members of said board, but votes thereon, tobe valid, must be received by the international

office within thirty (30) days after the original mail-ing thereof, which mailing shall be by an expedi-tious method.

Section 4. QUORUM. Except as otherwise pro-vided in these by-laws or constitution, a majority of

the International Board of Directors shall constitutea quorum at any meeting thereof.

Section 5. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The inter-national president, immediate past internationalpresident, the international vice-presidents andone (1) other member of the International Board of

Directors, who shall be appointed by the president,by and with the approval of said board, shall be theExecutive Committee of said board, which commit-tee may act for and on behalf of said board onlywhen the members of the board are not together inone location or assembled in session. No boardaction shall be altered, amended or rescinded bythe Executive Committee.

The presence of four (4) members of said com-mittee shall constitute a quorum at any meetingthereof. The act of a majority of such membersshall be the act of the committee. Said committeemay transact business by telephone conference

call, provided four (4) members participate thereinand the vote of a majority of the members partici-pating shall be considered the act of the commit-tee. PROVIDED, however, in filling vacancies inthe office of district governor, the committee maytransact business by mail, as defined above fortransaction of business by the international boardof directors, provided four (4) members participatetherein and the vote of a majority of the membersparticipating shall be considered the act of thecommittee.

Section 6. DISTRICT (SINGLE, SUB-, AND

MULTIPLE) CONVENTIONS. A convention shallbe held, annually by each single and sub-district



which shall conclude no less than 30 days prior tothe convening date of the annual international con-vention. Each multiple district shall hold an annual

convention which shall conclude no less than 15days prior to the convening date of the internation-al convention. Each single and sub-district shallelect a district governor as provided in these by-laws or constitution. A meeting of the delegation ofa sub-district at a multiple district convention maybe considered as a convention of such sub-district,

if it meets the other requirements of this section.The time and place of all such conventions shallbe determined by the provisions of the respectivesingle, sub- and multiple district constitutions asapplicable.

Section 7. AUTHORITY OF DISTRICT CON-VENTIONS. District conventions (single, sub- andmultiple) may take appropriate actions on all mat-ters, consistent with the constitution and by-laws ofthis association, and single and multiple districtconventions may adopt resolutions recommendingaction by the association.

Section 8. CLUB DELEGATE FORMULA. Eachchartered club in good standing in the associationand its district (single, sub- and multiple) shall beentitled in each annual convention of its district(single, sub- and multiple) to one (1) delegate andone (1) alternate for each ten (10) members whohave been enrolled for at least one year and a dayin the club, or major fraction thereof, of said clubas shown by the records of the international officeof the first day of the month last preceding thatmonth during which the convention is held, PRO-VIDED, however, that each such club shall be enti-

tled to at least one (1) delegate and one (1) alter-nate; and FURTHER PROVIDED, that each district(single, sub- and multiple) may, by express provi-sion in its respective constitution and by-laws,grant full delegate status to each past district gov-ernor who is a member of a club in such districtindependent of the club delegate quotas herein-above specified. Each certified delegate present inperson shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote ofhis/her choice for each office to be filled by, andone (1) vote of his/her choice on each questionsubmitted to, the respective convention. The majorfraction referred to in this Section shall be five (5)

or more members. Any club which is newly char-tered, and any other chartered club which takes in

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new members prior to the convening of any suchconvention, shall have its delegate quota deter-mined on the basis of members who have been

enrolled in the club for at least one year and a dayas shown on such record date in the records of theinternational office. Delinquent dues may be paidand good standing acquired at any time prior to theclose of credential certification, as such closingtime shall be established by the rules of therespective convention.

ARTICLE VIDuties of International Officers and Others

Section 1. PRESIDENT. The president shall pre-

side at all conventions of this association and at allmeetings of the International Board of Directors.He/she shall supervise the work and activities ofthe association, and perform such other duties asusually pertain to that office.

Section 2. VICE PRESIDENT. If for any reason

the president is unable to perform his/her duties,the ranking vice president shall perform the dutiesof, and have the same authority as, the president.

Section 3. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS. Theduties of the executive administrator, treasurer andsecretary, and such other officers as may be desig-nated by the International Board of Directors, shallbe those assigned to the respective officers byproper resolution of said International Board ofDirectors.

Section 4. MULTIPLE DISTRICT COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN. Under the general supervision of theInternational Board of Directors, the multiple dis-trict council chairman shall be the coordinator ofthe multiple district and shall act on behalf of andupon delegation from the council of governors.His/her specific responsibilities shall be to:

(a) Further the Purposes of this association;(b) Provide leadership, direction, and initiative

for international and multiple district pro-grams, goals, and long range planning;

(c) Create and foster harmony and unity amongdistrict governors, and assist them solveissues;

(d) Chair the multiple district convention and allcouncil meetings;



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(e) Submit reports and perform such duties asmay be required by the multiple district con-stitution and by-laws;

(f) Perform such other administrative duties asmay be assigned by the multiple districtcouncil of governors; and

(g) Facilitate, at the close of his/her term ofoffice, the timely presentation of all multipledistrict accounts, funds, and records tohis/her successor in office.

Section 5. DISTRICT OFFICERS. Each of thefollowing shall be officers in the district:

(a) District Governor. As an international offi-cer of this association, and under the gener-al supervision of the International Board of

Directors, he/she shall represent the associ-ation in his/her district. In addition, he/sheshall be the chief administrative officer inhis/her district and shall have direct supervi-sion over the region chairmen, the zonechairmen, the cabinet secretary and cabinettreasurer (or secretary-treasurer) and such

other cabinet members as may be providedfor in the respective single, or multiple dis-trict constitution and by-laws. His/her specif-ic responsibilities shall be to:(1) Further the Purposes of this associa-

tion.(2) Supervise the organization of new Lions

clubs(3) Promote the Lions Clubs International

Foundation and all service activities ofthe association.

(4) Preside, when present, over cabinet,convention and other district meetings.

(5) Perform such other functions and actsas shall be required of him/her by theInternational Board of Directors throughthe District Governor’s Manual andother directives.

(b) Vice District Governor. The vice districtgovernor, subject to the supervision anddirection of the district governor, shall bechief administrative assistant to the districtgovernor. His/her specific responsibilitiesshall be to:(1) Further the Purposes of this associa-

tion;

(2) Become familiar with the duties of thedistrict governor so in the event of a



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vacancy in the office of district governorhe/she wil l be better prepared toassume the duties and responsibilities

of said office;(3) Perform such administrative duties asmay be assigned by the district gover-nor;

(4) Perform such other functions and actsas may be required of him/her by theInternational Board of Directors through

a vice district governor’s manual andother directives;

(5) Actively participate in all cabinet andcouncil of governors meetings and con-duct all meetings in the absence of thedistrict governor;

(6) Participate in the preparation of the dis-trict budget;(7) Engage actively in all matters to be con-

tinued during the next year;(8) Part ic ipate in the review of the

strengths and weaknesses of the clubsof the district; and

(9) At the request of the district governorsupervise appropriate district commit-tees.

(c) Region Chairman. The region chairman, ifthe position is utilized during the district gov-ernor’s term, is subject to the supervisionand direction of the district governor andshall be the chief administrative officer inhis/her region. His/her specific responsibili-ties shall be to:(1) Further the Purposes of this associa-

tion.(2) Supervise the activities of the zone

chairmen in his/her region and such dis-trict committee chairman as may beassigned by the district governor.

(3) Play an active role in organizing newclubs and in strengthening weak clubs.

(4) Perform such other functions and actsas may be required by the InternationalBoard of Directors through a regionchairman’s manual and other directives.

(d) Zone Chairman. The zone chairman, subject to the supervision and direction of thedistrict governor and/or region chairman,shall be the chief administrative officer in

his/her zone. His/her specific responsibilitiesshall be to:



(1) Further the Purposes of this associa-tion.

(2) Serve as chairman of the district gover-

nor’s advisory committee in his/herzone and as such chairman to call regu-lar meetings of said committee.

(3) Play an active role in organizing newclubs and keep informed on the activi-ties and well-being of all clubs in his/herzone.

(4) Perform such other functions and actsas may be required by the InternationalBoard of Directors through a zonechairman’s manual and other directives.

(e) Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Treasurer(or Secretary-Treasurer). The cabinet secre-

tary, cabinet treasurer, or cabinet secretary-treasurer shall act under the supervision ofthe district governor. The specific responsi-bilities of each shall be to:(1) Further the Purposes of this associa-

tion.(2) Perform such other functions and acts

as may be required by the InternationalBoard of Directors through a cabinetsecretary-treasurer’s manual and otherdirectives.

(f) Other District Cabinet Members. Subjectto the supervision of the district governor,

they shall perform such functions and actsas may be required by the InternationalBoard of Directors or by provisions of therespective single, sub- and multiple districtconstitution or by-laws which are consistentwith the constitution and by-laws and poli-cies of the International Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIICommittees of the

International Board of Directors

Section 1. STANDING COMMITTEES. Thepresident shall appoint, with the approval of theInternational Board of Directors, the followingstanding committees of no fewer than three mem-bers and in the case of the Long Range PlanningCommittee not more than seven members each ofwhich shall report to said board at its regular meet-ings;

(a) Constitution and By-Laws(b) Convention

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(c) District and Club Service(d) Membership Development(e) Finance and Headquarters Operation

(f) Leadership(g) Long Range Planning(h) Public Relations(i) Service Activities(j) Such other committees as may be neces-

sary for the transaction of the business ofthe association.

Section 2. CREDENTIALS, RULES OF PRO-CEDURE, RESOLUTIONS AND ELECTIONS. Ateach annual convention or within one hundredeighty (180) days prior thereto, the president shallappoint committees of five (5) or more members

on Credentials, Resolutions and Elections to serveat said convention. The president shall appoint, noless than sixty (60) days prior to said convention, acommittee of five (5) or more members on Rules ofProcedure to serve at said convention.

Section 3. SPECIAL OR AD HOC COMMIT-

TEES. From time to time, the president mayappoint, with the approval of the InternationalBoard of Directors or the Executive Committee,such special committees as may be necessary inhis/her judgment or in the judgment of theInternational Board of Directors. However, noexpense of said special committees shall be paidunless authorized by the International Board ofDirectors or the Executive Committee.

Section 4. CHAIRMAN, VACANCIES. The pres-ident shall designate the chairman of each commit-tee appointed by him/her, and shall have power to

fill all vacancies in any committee appointed byhim/her, subject to approval of the InternationalBoard of Directors or the Executive Committee.

Section 5. APPOINTMENTS LIMITATION. Inexercising any power of appointment granted inthese by-laws or constitution with respect to mem-bership on any committee, the president mayinclude past international officers of the associationamong such appointees, but in no event shall thetotal of such past international officer committeemember appointments exceed seven (7) in num-ber in any one fiscal year. However, this appoint-

ment limitation shall not apply to the immediatepast international president nor to appointments

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made under these by-laws or constitution. All suchappointments of past international officers shall befor terms of one (1) year only, but successor presi-

dents may reappoint any past international officer,subject to such total number limitation, to serve onany committee. At least two (2) of such appointeesshall be from clubs in constitutional areas differentfrom that constitutional area in which the club ofthe international president is a member is located.

ARTICLE VIIIAmendment

Section 1. AMENDING PROCEDURE. The by-laws may be amended only at an international con-vention by amendment reported by the Committee

on Constitution and By-Laws at such annual meet-ing and adopted by the affirmative vote of themajority of the certified delegates voting at suchmeeting. No amendment shall be reported to aconvention for vote unless it shall first secureapproval in one of the following two methods:

(a) Have been approved by the International

Board of Directors;or,

(b) Have been approved by resolutions of con-ventions of single and/or multiple districtsrepresenting no less than fifty-one (51%)percent of the total number of members ofclubs in the association as of July 1 of thefiscal year in which the amendment is sub-mitted to the International Board of Directorsfor ballot placement.

Section 2. NOTICE. Notice of any proposedamendment must be published in THE LION

Magazine, or other official publication of the asso-ciation, at least thirty (30) days prior to the conven-tion at which it is to be voted upon.

ARTICLE IXMiscellaneous Provisions

Section 1. NAME, EMBLEM AND OTHERLOGOS OF THE ASSOCIATION. The name,goodwill, emblem and other insignia of this associ-ation and Lions clubs chartered thereunder maynot be used, published or distributed by any Lionsclub, Lions club member or any Lions district or by

any entity (legal or natural, in corporate or anyother form) organized and/or controlled by any





(a) Unless otherwise provided by the constitu-tion and by-laws, or by the respectivedistrict (single, sub- and multiple) or club

constitution and by-laws, or by the rulesadopted for a meeting, or by local statute orcommon law, all questions of order or proce-dure with respect to any meeting or action ofthis association, its International Board ofDirectors, any committee appointed hereun-der, any district (single, sub- and multiple) or

organization, or committee operating there-under, and any Lions club or organization orcommittee operating thereunder shall bedetermined in accordance with ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER NEWLY REVISED , asrevised from time to time.

(b) The International Board of Directors shall beempowered to establish, from time to time,rules of procedure for hearing complaints,disputes or claims arising from the provi-sions of the Constitution and By-Laws,International Board Policy or matters arisingat the district (single, sub- and multiple) or

international level.(c) The members of the association shall pur-

sue all complaints, disputes or claims inaccordance with the terms and conditions ofsaid rules of procedure and agree to bebound by the decision thereof.

(d) Each district shall adopt a constitution andby-laws which shall be consistent with theconstitution and by-laws, as amended fromtime to t ime, and the policies of theInternational Board of Directors. All such dis-trict constitution and by-laws shall be subjectto interpretation according to the laws in

effect, from time to time, in the state ofincorporation of The InternationalAssociation of Lions Clubs.

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EXHIBIT A - MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES

Membership in a Lions club shall be as follows:

a. ACTIVE: A member entitled to all rights and priv-ileges and subject to all obligations which mem-bership in a Lions club confers or implies.Without limiting such rights and obligations, suchrights shall include eligibility to seek, if otherwisequalified, any office in this club, district or asso-

ciation and the right to vote on all matters requir-ing a vote of the membership; and such obliga-tion shall include regular attendance, promptpayment of dues, participation in club activitiesand conduct reflecting a favorable image of thisLions club in the community.

b. MEMBER-AT-LARGE: A member of this clubwho has moved from the community, or becauseof health or other legitimate reason, is unableregularly to attend club meetings and desires toretain membership in this club, and upon whomthe board of directors of this club desires to con-

fer this status. The status shall be reviewedeach six months by the board of directors of thisclub. A Member-at-Large shall not be eligible tohold office or to vote in district or internationalmeetings or conventions, but shall pay suchdues as the local club may charge, which duesshall include district and international dues.

c. HONORARY: An individual, not a member ofthis Lions club, having performed outstandingservice for the community of this Lions club,upon whom this club desires to confer specialdistinction. This club shall pay entrance fees and

international and district dues on such a mem-ber, who may attend meetings, but shall not beentitled to any privileges of active membership.

d. PRIVILEGED: A member of this club who hasbeen a Lion fifteen or more years, who, becauseof illness, infirmities, advanced age or other

legitimate reason, as determined by the board ofdirectors of this club, must relinquish his/heractive status. A Privileged Member shall paysuch dues as the local club may charge, whichdues shall include district and international dues.He/she shall have the right to vote and be enti-

tled to all other privileges of membership exceptthe right to hold club, district or internationaloffice.



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e. LIFE MEMBER: Any member of this club whohas maintained Active membership as a Lionfor 20 or more years and has rendered out-

standing service to this club, his/her communi-ty, or this association; or any member who iscritically ill; or any member of this club whohas maintained such active membership for15 or more years and is at least 70 years ofage; may be granted Life Membership in thisclub upon:

(1) recommendation of this club to the associ-ation,

(2) payment to the association of $300.00, orits equivalent in the respective nationalcurrency, by this club in lieu of all future

dues to the association, and(3) approval by the International Board ofDirectors. Nothing herein shall preventthis club from charging a Life Membersuch dues as it shall deem proper.

A Life Member shall have all privileges of

active membership so long as he/she fulfills allobligations thereof.

A Life Member who desires to relocate andreceives an invitation to join another Lionsclub shall automatically become a Life

Member of said club.

f. ASSOCIATE MEMBER: A member who holdshis/her primary membership in another Lionsclub but maintains a residence or is employedin the community served by this club. This sta-tus may be conferred by the invitation of the

board of directors and shall be reviewed annu-ally. The club shall not report an AssociateMember on its Membership Report.

An Associate Member may be eligible tovote on club matters, at meetings wherehe/she is present in person, but may not rep-resent the club as a delegate at district (single,sub-, provisional and/or multiple) or interna-tional conventions. He/she shall not be eligibleto hold club, district or international office nordistrict, multiple district or international com-mittee assignments through this club.International and district (single, sub-, provi-

sional, and/or multiple) dues shall not be



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assessed on an Associate; PROVIDED, howev-er, nothing shall prevent this club from assessingan Associate such dues as it shall deem proper.

g. AFFILIATE MEMBER: A quality individual of thecommunity who currently is not able to fully par-ticipate as an Active member of the club butdesires to support the club and its communityservice initiatives and be affiliated with the club.This status may be conferred by the invitation of

the club’s board of directors.An Affiliate Member may be eligible to vote on

club matters at meetings where he/she is pre-sent in person, but may not represent the club asa delegate at district (single, sub, transitional,provisional, and/or multiple) or international con-

ventions.He/she shall not be eligible to hold club, districtor international office, nor district, multiple districtor international committee assignment. AnAffiliate Member shall be required to pay district,international and such dues as the local clubmay charge.



Lions Clubs

InternationalOBJECTS

TO CREATE and foster a spirit of understanding

among the peoples of the world.

TO PROMOTE the principles of good government

and good citizenship.

TO TAKE an active interest in the civic, cultural,

social and moral welfare of the community.

TO UNITE the clubs in the bonds of friendship, good

fellowship and mutual understanding.

TO PROVIDE a forum for the open discussion of

all matters of public interest; provided, however,

that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall

not be debated by club members.

TO ENCOURAGE service-minded people to

serve their community without personal financial

reward, and to encourage efficiency and promote

high ethical standards in commerce, industry,

professions, public works and private endeavors.

MissionStatement

TO CREATE AND FOSTER a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian

needs by providing voluntary services through

community involvement and international

cooperation.



LIONSCode of Ethics

TO SHOW my faith in the worthiness of my

vocation by industrious application to the end that

I may merit a reputation for quality of service.

TO SEEK success and to demand all fair

remuneration or profit as my just due, but to

accept no profit or success at the price of my own

self-respect lost because of unfair advantage taken

or because of questionable acts on my part.

TO REMEMBER that in building up my business

it is not necessary to tear down another’s; to be

loyal to my clients or customers and true to myself.

WHENEVER a doubt arises as to the right or

ethics of my position or action towards others, to

resolve such doubt against myself.

TO HOLD friendship as an end and not a means.

To hold that true friendship exists not on accountof the service performed by one to another, but that

true friendship demands nothing but accepts

service in the spirit in which it is given.

ALWAYS to bear in mind my obligations as a

citizen to my nation, my state and my community,and to give them my unswerving loyalty in word,

act and deed. To give them freely of my time,

labor, and means.

TO AID others by giving my sympathy to those in

distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance tothe needy.

TO BE CAREFUL with my criticism and liberal

with my praise; to build up and not destroy.



T H E

I N T E RN AT I O NA L A S S O C IAT I O N

O F L I O N S C L U BS

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International Constitution of Association of Lions Clubs

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