A near-century-old role with one job above all others: keep meetings fun. A short, interactive tour of the tail twister's duties, a toolkit of tried-and-tested activities — and the things every tail twister should avoid.
~20 min readMind map + activity toolkitSelf-check quiz
The position of tail twister is the best one to have in the club — just as important as the position of president or secretary.
What you'll be able to do
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
Explain the duties of a tail twister and why the role matters.
Suggest tried-and-tested activities to add fun and fellowship to meetings.
Identify activities and behaviors a tail twister must avoid.
Describe what makes a great tail twister and how to plan a session.
The five duties of a tail twister — mind map
Five duties drive the whole role. Tap any branch to reveal what it actually involves.
Tail Twister
Legend has it Melvin Jones told the story himself: when a stubborn cow refused to go through a gate, someone grabbed its tail and gave it a twist — and the name stuck, over the board's own objections.
Fun props every tail twister should have
A handful of cheap, reusable tools cover most meetings.
The Calendar
Mark every meeting date, holiday, birthday, anniversary and district officer visit — your single most valuable planning tool.
Fine-Exemption & Pass-It-On Cards
Easily printed on a computer — a pass-it-on card can even land back on the tail twister, so don't hand out too many.
Cards, Dice & Quizzes
Shuffle seating, run a personal-info quiz about members, or test local and Lionism trivia — endless, low-cost variety.
Prizes in Numbered Bags
Dollar-store gag gifts go a long way: a "laptop" that's really a calculator, a "washer and dryer" that's really a dishcloth and tea towel.
Building your activity toolkit
One tested order to gather before your first meeting. Tap any box to see how it plays out.
Start with the calendar
Add quizzes & trivia
Bring games of chance
Save the big fun for occasions
Plan one long and one short activity for every meeting, and rotate through this toolkit so nothing repeats within the same Lions year.
What makes a great tail twister
Duties and props matter — but how you carry them out matters more. Tap a card to learn more.
A tail twister can be an integral part of eliminating the long, boring meetings members often cite when they stop attending.
How to plan a tail-twisting session
Build your calendar
Mark every meeting date, holiday, birthday, anniversary and district officer visit at the start of the year so a theme is always ready.
Prepare two activities
Plan one long and one short activity for the evening, then check with the president to see how much time you'll actually have.
Run it with heart
Keep fines light and voluntary in spirit — an uncollected IOU is fine — and simply walk away from anyone who can't or won't pay.
Never repeat, all year
Vary the activity every meeting — even one that was wildly successful shouldn't come back until the next Lions year.
Across 37 years of Lionism, the presenter has seen every one of these done at club meetings — and there is no place for any of them today: dangerous stunts, embarrassing someone with baby food or a dunce cap, personal or ethnic remarks, and unplanned tie-cutting.
Why it's worth the effort
Meetings people actually want to attend
Long, boring meetings are a leading reason members drift away — a lively tail twister directly fights that retention problem.
A steady lift for the admin account
Fines usually top up the club's administrative account — and some clubs even earmark the funds for something specific, like an anniversary dinner.
A gentle door in for the shy and the new
Deputizing a new or shy Lion to help run an activity gives them a low-pressure, memorable way to feel part of the club.
Good tail-twisting vs. what to avoid
Do
Fine playfully and lightly — five cents to a dollar is plenty
Vary the activity every meeting, planned two to ten minutes long
Deputize new or shy Lions to help run the activity
Check timing with the president — it's their meeting
Avoid
Any dangerous or embarrassing stunt
Personal, religious, ethnic or political remarks
Simply walking the room with a fine box, no reason given
Repeating an activity within the same Lions year
Check yourself
Eight quick questions. Pick an answer to see instant feedback.
1. What was the tail twister position originally called in the early 1920s?
2. According to Melvin Jones' story, how did the position get the name "tail twister"?
3. Who told Lions in 1929 that they took themselves too seriously and clubs should have tail twisters?
4. What does the lesson say is more important than collecting fines?
5. Who can vote to fine the tail twister?
6. About how long should a typical tail-twisting activity take?
7. Which of these is explicitly named in the lesson as something to avoid today?
8. Where does fine money collected by the tail twister traditionally go?
Bring it home
Does your tail twister plan two activities — one long, one short — before every meeting, or improvise on the spot?
Which item from the "avoid" list have you seen happen in your own club — and how could you gently retire it?
Is there a new or shy Lion in your club who could be deputized to help run the next activity?
This interactive lesson was written by Amman Royal Swords Lions Club from the material presented in Lions University Course 127 (Tail-Twisting), part of the Bachelor's Program, presented by PDG Dave Duran and facilitated by PDG Wendy Kaine, produced by the USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum. For the official webinar, handout and the graded quiz, visit the official course page.
Official course