The Successful Zone Chairperson

2014 International ConventionToronto, Canada

Sunday, July 6, 2014

James A. CavallaroPast International Director 2010-2012

Ken BirdPast International Director 2008-2010

Gudrun Bjort YngvadottirPast International Director 2010-2012

Bud Wahl Past International Director 2003 - 2005

Presented by

The Successful Zone Chairperson

Today’s Objectives

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• Understand the Role of the Zone chairperson

• Understand the Duties of the Zone Chairperson

• Understand your role as an active member of the GMT/GLT

• Learn of the Tools Available for the Zone Chairperson

• Share Best Practices within small-group discussions

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and the district leadership

The Zone/Region Chairperson is the

LINK

between the clubs in the zone

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Role of the Zone/Region Chairperson

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• Communicator• Counselor• Motivator

The Role of the Zone Chairperson

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• Further the Purposes of the Association

• Chair the District Governor’s Advisory Committee meetings

• Include DG Team, GMT and GLT

• Report after District Governor’s Advisory meetings

The Duties of the Zone Chairperson

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• Visit a regular meeting of each club

• Ensure that every club operates under a duly adopted constitution and by-laws

• Represent each club regarding problems

• Promote full club representation at all conventions

The Duties of the Zone Chairperson

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• Play an active role in organizing new clubs

• Support leadership development in the zone

• Promote the Club Excellence Process

• Supervise progress of district, multiple district and Lions Clubs International projects

The Duties of the Zone Chairperson

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• Hold at least three zone meetings during the year.

• Suggested agendas shown in the Zone Chairperson Manual

• Schedule meetings soon after the cabinet meetings

Communicate at Zone Meetings

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• Make the meeting interesting – full of information – not too long

• Use correct meeting procedure

• Remember, you are in charge!!

Some Tips for Great Zone Meetings

• Select someone to keep the minutes for you

• Alter the venues for each meeting

• Invite a speaker on a subject you wish to promote

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Some Tips for Great Zone Meetings

Reporting to the CabinetPrepare a report for the cabinet secretary. Include:

• Membership of each club, net increase or loss

• Projects clubs are undertaking

• Concerns you have regarding the clubs

• Recommendations you wish to bring before the cabinet

• District Governor’s Advisory Committee Meeting Report is now a writable.pdf (DA-ZCM)

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• Visit officially once per year to support the club and share district information

• Prepare before your visit and be knowledgeable about the club and its projects

• Always take a membership ceremony induction with you and an invocation. You never know when you might need them!

• Be prepared to answer questions about Lionism in general, fees and dues, etc.

Be Well Prepared for Visits

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Work with the district governor to ensure the clubs in the zone:

• Meet on a regular basis

• Abide by constitutional provisions

• Demonstrate sound financial practices

• Conduct service projects in the community

• Maintain effective internal communications and a community public relations program

• Implement membership recruitment, orientation and retention program

• Encourage the development of new Lions leaders

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Counsel the Club to Strive for Excellence

• Listen to both sides

• Be sure of your facts

• If in doubt, seek a separate opinion

• Club dispute resolution procedure in the Standard Club Constitution (Article X)

• For more information see the Lions Learning Center on the LCI website

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Counselor – Advisor – When Clubs Have Conflict

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Partnering with the District GMT

• Organize a new club

• Conduct new member orientation

• Promote Club Excellence Process

• Implement a member recruitment plan

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Partnering with the District GLT

• Nurture current and future leaders

• Promote use of leadership development resources and programs

• Leadership development is as critical and new club development

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Zone and Region Chairperson Center

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Earn the Quarterly Presidential Award

Group Discussion

Discussion Topic #1

A club has a potential problem regarding the election of officers for the following year. A number of members on the board do not want the second vice president to be first vice president the following year. How can a zone chairperson assist the club in ensuring a fair and credible process and election and maintain harmony within the club?

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Discussion Topic #2

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The president of a club is very controlling. He/she does not welcome new ideas from members. Some members have transferred to another club because of the president’s actions and attitude. Members requested a meeting with the president to discuss their concerns about the recent club officer election, but he/she did not respond. The members contacted you as zone chairperson for guidance on its election and maintaining the club.

What advice and guidance can you give the club?

Discussion Topic #3

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It has been a practice in the zone for clubs to procrastinate regarding membership and activity reporting and payment of dues. These clubs are consistently showing as non-reporting or delinquent in payment of their account balance.

How can you monitor the clubs’ monthly reporting and payment of dues to ensure that they are completed in a timely manner and each club maintains its active status? What can you do as zone chairperson to ensure the clubs in your zone earn the Club Excellence Award?

Discussion Topic #4

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A two-year old Lions club has a club roster that shows 50 members, but only 15 are active dues- paying members. The others are non-active and have not paid dues. It is July and the club treasurer has just received the club’s per-capita billing. The club is now scheduled for financial suspension because it could not pay the dues for all of the members on the roster for the past year.

What advice and guidance can you give to the club officers that could help correct its financial situation?

Discussion Topic #5

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A group of younger members of a club has been working to sponsor a new club with young members, transfer themselves as charter members. The leading lion of the group is energetic and has lots of new ideas, and you personally would want to support their efforts. However, some members of the club started to oppose the formation of the new club, and one of the reasons is that the new club’s dues are significantly lower than traditional club dues in the zone.

The new club seems to be attracting many younger members, and the prospective charter members have reached over 30 people, but the hostile atmosphere within the existing club is getting intense and it turned out impossible for the club to be a sponsor club. The club president and the leader of younger lions separately asked for your help. What action will you take?

• Zone Chairperson Online Training

• Zone Chairperson Training Workshop (Contact your GLT District Coordinator for more information)

• Zone Chairperson Manual

• Club Officers Manual

• Standard Club Constitution and By-Laws (LA-2)

• Board Policy Manual Chapter V - Clubs

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Great Resources and References for You

Additional Tools to Support Your Clubs

• www.lionsclubs.org• PU-101• Club Excellence Award (DA-1)• Club Election Guidelines• Induction Ceremony• E-Clubhouse Application• Club Health Assessment Report• Membership Reports are on MyLCI Logon Page• Service Activity Reports for your clubs on MyLCI

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One Great Adventure - for Zone Chairpersons

Zone Chair Webinars start THIS WEEK!

Wednesday, 7/9/14, 12:00pm CDT

Friday, 7/11/14, 7:00pm CDT

Wednesday, 7/18/14, 7:00pm CDT

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Make it a Great Year and Celebrate Your Success!