Lions Club Structure
Who does what, how a club meets and decides, and where it has room to be creative. A short, interactive tour of how a Lions club is built to lead at the club level.
Good structure frees a club to serve — it should never get in the way.
What you'll be able to do
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Name the required and optional officers of a Lions club and what each one does.
- Describe how clubs schedule their meetings and the formats the by-laws allow.
- Explain how committees are formed and the president's role in them.
- Distinguish a parent club from a branch and know when a branch makes sense.
- Recognise special-interest clubs and the flexibility a club has to shape its own structure.
The big picture — mind map
Six moving parts make up a club's structure. Tap any branch to reveal its key ideas.
Who leads the club
Tap a role to see what it does. Roles marked 'optional' can be appointed if the club chooses not to elect them.
The president, immediate past president, vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, membership chair and elected directors together make up the board of directors — the group that steers the club between general meetings.
How the club meets
There are three kinds of meeting — and more than one way to hold each. Open each card to learn more.
Regular club meetings
Held at times and places the board recommends and the club approves, starting and ending promptly. LCI recommends meeting at least twice a month — a recommendation, not a rule. Clubs choose breakfast, lunch or dinner slots to fit their members' lives.
Board of directors meetings
Held when and where the board decides; LCI recommends at least once a month. They should be open to any member to be heard — though only board members vote. Many clubs hold a short board meeting just before or after a regular club meeting.
The annual meeting
The by-laws say this meeting 'shall' be held at the close of each Lions year. Retiring officers give their final reports and the newly elected officers are installed — a clean handover from one year's leadership to the next.
Meeting formats
In-person is the standard, but the by-laws also allow teleconferences, web conferences, and even business conducted by mail (email, fax or letter). An alternative format can be started by the president or any three directors — and to keep conducting business that way, two-thirds of the members must approve.
Where the work gets done
Committees are how a club turns good intentions into projects. The president appoints standing committees — and may form special committees for one-off needs, such as finding a new meeting place. Many committees mirror the association's service areas.
Two rules worth remembering: the president is an ex-officio member of every committee, and every committee should have a chairperson plus as many members as needed.
Beware the 'committee of one.' Even a second person to share the load and bounce ideas off makes a committee stronger — and the club more likely to follow through.
Branches: growing gently
A branch lets Lions take root where a full club — which needs 20 members — isn't yet possible, or where a group wants to focus on one interest or meet at a different time.
- Chartered with at least 20 members
- Governed by a board of directors
- Adopts its own constitution and by-laws
- Full, independent standing in the district
- Ideally about five members; at least three officers
- Run by an executive committee: president, secretary, treasurer + a branch liaison
- Its members belong to the parent club
- Keeps its own finances, but reports to the parent club; its president sits on the parent's board
Special-interest clubs
A club — or a branch — can form around almost any shared interest, profession or community. Here are some of the most common kinds.
Cyber / e-clubs
Conduct most business online and gather in person mainly for service and fellowship — ideal for busy or scattered members.
Campus clubs
Connect students with faculty, staff and local business leaders — service and leadership alongside seasoned professionals.
Champions clubs
Build inclusive communities for people with intellectual disabilities and serve Special Olympics athletes.
Hobby & interest clubs
Turn a shared passion — cycling, gardening, crafts, music, sports — into rewarding community service.
Professional clubs
Bring together doctors, first responders, teachers, lawyers or business owners to serve while they network.
Cultural & community clubs
Center on a heritage, neighbourhood or cause and the people who care most about it.
Check yourself
Five quick questions. Pick an answer to see instant feedback.
Bring it home
- Look at our club's officers. Is any role sitting empty, or carried by someone stretched too thin?
- Do our meeting times and formats truly fit the members we have — and the members we want to attract?
- Is there a special interest, campus or community near us that could become a branch or a new club?