This document discusses strategies for increasing membership in Lions Clubs. It outlines reasons people join, benefits of membership, and types of clubs. It then analyzes declining membership in recent decades and lists over 40 reasons for dropout. Strategies are proposed to recruit new members properly through invitation, introduction, induction, indoctrination, and involvement. The overall goal is to resolve to face membership challenges and take effective measures to add, retain, and involve members.

5. WHY JOIN LIONS CLUB
• The desire to give back to community.
• The desire to have social recognition.
• The desire to use leisure time for self
satisfaction.
• The desire to have affiliation.
• The desire to be leader.

6. Need & Advantages
of Increasing Membership
• For the Club
• For the Member
• For the Community
• For the Association

7. WE NEED TO GROW
NEW MEMBERS
Call them to service project & meeting
Send them Lions brochures
Talk to them informally
Check out if they are ready to volunteer
Inform them of the vast expanse of service provided by the
organisation

8. Who should be invited
• Ex – Leos
• Ex Jaycees
• Lionesses
• Spouses
• Students & Faculties from University Campus
• Friends
• Business Associates

9. Clubs / Membership Position : 1996 to 2007

10. Club / Membership Position:1996 to 2007

11. EXTENSION
• Identify proposed area
• Contact prospective members.
• Organise a meeting with prospective members and explain –
objects of Lions Clubs International.
- Need of the society & our social responsibility.
- Achievements of Lions movement.
- Financial obligation, their Time involvement & other responsibility.
• Organise second meeting with interested members & finalise list of
members
• & Office – bearers and plan inaugural function.
• Send list of members & charter fee to International office.
• Hold impressive (not expensive) Inauguration of club.
• Hold impressive Charter presentation Ceremony.

12. TYPES OF CLUBS
• Traditional Lions Clubs.
• Club Branch.
• New Century Lions Clubs.
• Campus Clubs.

16. RETENTION
• The foremost aims & objectives of Lions Clubs International is to
serve the poor & needy. Service needs hands. More hands mean
more service.The phenomenal growth of Lionism had its bearings
on the quality & quantity of service around the world. But today the
GROWTH of Lionism is at stake. For any organisation whether it is
commercial, political, government or non government organisation
like ours, GROWTH is the hallmark of success. Decline in sales /
profit shall ring the danger bells of the commercial organisation,
similarly decline in membership strenght is a warning bell for
voluntary service organisation like Lions.

19. SITUATION IS ALARMING
DO YOU KNOW
• More than 1 crore ( 10 millions ) Lions have left our organisation
since 1917.
• In 90 yrs of Lionism in first 67 yrs we had only 3 yrs with negative
growth.
• In next 23 yrs , we had 14 yrs with negative growth.
• Out of 14 yrs negative growth- 10 yrs negative growth is in last 11
yrs (Exception positive growth- year 2003-04).
• From one time high membership of 14,22,300 in 1996-97 we have
come down to 12,90,003 in 2006-07.
WHY THIS SITUATION ?

20. The Reasons of dropouts
1) Improper selection procedure of new lions.
2) No indoctrination before joining. Prospective
members are not informed about lions club (some take it as
an entertainment club ), their financial and social obligation.
3) Purposely giving wrong information to allure them
to join lions club.
4) Forceful or unwilling entry to lions club.
5) Sponsorers fail in their obligation to be a friend,
philosopher and guide of new members.
6) Improper or no induction.
7) Need of new members not assessed by senior lions.
8) Initial adjustment problem of new members.
9) Age gap of old and new members.
10) Dominance by senior lion or dominance by a
group.
11) No care and importance given to new members.
12) Lack of periodical orientation.
13) Ever increasing financial obligation.
14) Dues not collected in time – accumulated liability
difficult to pay.
15) Lack of communication.
16) Lack of service activities.
17) No fund raising by clubs.
18) Lack of fellowship and family involvement.
19) No permanent project of the club.
20) Lack of involvement – new members are not given
responsibility.

21. 21) Lack of motivation and encouragement.
22) Lions not properly recognized.
23) Ego of members.
24) Club politics and cliques.
25) Leadership not allowed to grow.
26) Bitterness due to elections at club, district and multiple level.
27) Showoff of culture – difficult for muffosil lions to easily accept Five star culture.
28) More publicity than service.
29) Leaders do not easily delegate.
30) Time constraints of members.
31) Meeting do not start on time.
32) Lengthy and boring meetings.
33) No regular general and board meetings.
34) No incentives to members – members generally not satisfied.
35) Membership growth due to political and personal reasons.
36) City transfer of members.
37) Negative impact of nucleus family.
38) Physical and personal problems of members.
39) Lack of commitment of members.
40) Leaders are not exemplary.
41) Lack of pride of being a lion.
42) Poor image of lions club and lions.

22. WHAT TO DO FOR
MEMBERSHIP GROWTH
• Accelerate induction of quality members.
• Open new viable Clubs in potential unrepresented areas.
• Retain member – Reduce dropage.
GROWTH MUST INCLUDE
RECRUITMENT & RETENTION.

23. INVITE PROPERLY
INTRODUCE PROPERLY
INDUCT PROPERLY
INDOCTRINATE PROPERLY
INVOLVE PROPERLY

24. OUR RESOLUTION
• “LET US RESOLVE OURSELVES TO FACE THE CHALLENGING
SITUATION SINCERELY & PUT IN OUR BEST EFFORTS TO
ADD MEMBERS, OPEN CLUBS & TAKE EFFECTIVE
MEASURES TO RETAIN MEMBERS.”
• YESTERDAY is gone, Let us tighten our belts
TODAY for better TOMORROW.