SECTION 3 : MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE NAME: Heather Lee OFFICE: Membership Chairman November 2011 Cabinet report Is membership Sexy? The M in SMILE ACTIONS TAKEN SINCE LAST MEETING: 1 st meeting of the fiscal year of the membership team Funding available from MD on completion of application form that was duly completed and sent to the MD officer to take to CoG. Funding needed to help with yellow card drops for clubs under 10. These clubs need District help to rebuild and they are often without the funds needed for card drops, posters etc. funding also requested for reprint of New Members booklet. Funding also requested for CGL courses across the District. I have just heard it has been granted Attended Wolverhampton club with Peter Wells. Long discussion with the members on what it can do for membership using Lions projects within the community, use of posters, which Peter had kindly obtained - have now been put to good use. President encouraged to attend Forum with a fellow Lion. It was good to see they did attended and found the day useful, so much in fact Lion Pres has booked for Convention Forum completed 3 presentations with the Leadership and Communication Chairmen. Very encouraging to see the attendance at all 3. Good responses from attendees. Website, continually being updated with information with the help of webmaster Contact via the website has possibly given us an intro into Birmingham University in Perry Barr. Ajay is attending Walsall club and working with Sandwell with their tree planting. This is an area that we have tried before but with no success, as there has not been a contact within the university to lead. Watch this space The last meeting of the membership team had 2 agenda items, 1) clubs under 10, 2) extension. As a team, each club under 10 was discussed and an action plan formulated with a dedicated project leader to take forward. Areas for club development identified and a project leader also identified to take forward. Our next meeting is 24/1/12 to check on updates and to look at clubs under 15 I asked a question; Is membership sexy? We need to be the Service Organisation of Choice. Everything we do to communicate with the public needs to be sexy; to use the modern methods of communication of today be it through technology or through our posters, advertising, presentations. To encourage new younger members we need to be of today, regardless of our average age at the moment. So are we sexy? I think we are getting there. NAME : Douglas Cross OFFICE : District Extension Officer November 2011 Cabinet Report DECISIONS RERQUIRED : None
ACTIONS SINCE LAST REPORT : I am still reporting under my cabinet title but some of the membership work I do does not really support the name. I have said for many years only new clubs will ever give us the total number of new members we require. EXISTING CLUB BRANCHES I will continue to report on all 3 in the extension report others will report as well. Market Harbough Who are working extremely themselves and quickly heading to be a full club in their rights They will want a new name. What great news ( See Chris Haines report) Alcester Tenbury Wells Daventry Have never increased in numbers only 5 and YC have not been a success but Shakespeare have been a big support. A system must be evolved to increase membership. ( See Andy Palmerton s report). Stuck on 2 members I have discussed this with Peter Williams But there does not appear to be any movement They will in a position to organise a YC this spring help will be required from Kidderminster and other clubs. Now closed The lesson must be learnt from here it is only practical these days to form a new club branch - providing continually assistance can be given by other Lions. Therefore other local Lions Clubs - We should therefore not consider forming any branch club with less than say 8 members. REBUILDING I will deal with the two clubs whose meetings I attend, their basis is almost that of a CB s. Coventry Phoenix Lions Club Successful YC drop a little early to be positive but certainly the signs are good and 9 existing members plus the extra 3 or 4 members they will gain will put this club back into full operation within the District. Vice President already appointed. Charter lunch planned for late 2011. Very interesting story of the original Coventry Lions Club President medal which was found during the card drop. Sutton Coldfield & Erdington Lions Club Still problems, a transfer member from the West Indies will take them to 9 but they may lose their meeting place. Difficult to raise enthusiasm; although the 4 new members are keen and we are building on these. Again we have a possible Vice President Another YC drop in the spring is essential. But the cloud of redistricting still exists and it will certainly affect us here in 105M. 2
The strong districts in the south of the MD will not want to give up areas to assist us which will mean a carve up of what s left. But somehow we must get back to 1250 members, even if the District is changed we could even gain both area and numbers under the details of some plans floating round. In 105M we have supported clubs in membership drives paying for the printing ( or part of) of the Yellow Card system. In some cases we have also paid advertising costs. Remember new Lions joining fees are paid by District in any club with 10 members. or less. But you must get approval first before any moneys are spend NEW CLUBS If we are going to increase both our numbers as suggested and our service location then we must revert and try to form new Lions Clubs. The membership committee have decided to try and reform 3 new clubs. But we must have Zone and local club help to achieve this. Can you help do you know anyone who lives in one of these areas. Atherstone Lions Club Preliminary work has already started work by Bill Rannutta, support promised by Nuneaton Lions Club, meeting place located. Proceeding slowly Hall Green Lions Club. The local Zone with ZC Terry Smith plus Moseley & Kings Heath have been asked to set up a team for YC drop in the spring to try and reform this club. Martin Bye is going to help in setting up a team Royal Leamington Spa Lions Club Again the local Zone headed by new ZC Ian Heffner have been asked to set up a club team to try and reform this Club. A meeting place will have to be obtained. Henry Woodgate is going assist When will Cabinet officers take on board you are all in the membership team and we require your help. NO the District requires your help!!!! NAME : Andy Pemberton. OFFICE : District Retention Officer DECISIONS REQUIRED : None ACTIONS TAKEN SINCE LAST MEETING : In other Officers reports you will be informed about the Certified Guiding Lion training courses undertaken. CGLs are an essential resource to assisting weak clubs and forming new clubs we need more. Zone and Region Chairmen are aware of the My Ideal Club programme which is a key tool for assisting Clubs develop a strategy to ensure that all members are feeling they are listened to and fulfilling their objectives within the club and personally from
their continued membership of Lions. Happy clubs attract members but more importantly RETAIN members. If any one feels a club would benefit from the programme contact the Zone Chairman, GMT co-ordinator, DG Team of myself to discuss the issues and the clubs participation in the programme OBJECTIVES : Retain as many members as possible to ensure the District has positive growth. Work with the rest of the GMT members to deliver positive growth Work with GLT members to develop the skills at club and District level to deliver the best possible retention figures. NAME : Ann Pemberton. OFFICE : District Registrar DECISIONS REQUIRED : None. ACTIONS TAKEN SINCE LAST MEETING : Have continued to publish data to officers on membership numbers. As a result of changes enforced by the MD Data Protection Officer details of members leaving Lions (either by Death or Resignation).Former members full personal details are being removed from the LCI and MD data base within a month. This makes the records kept by the Registrar the permanent record. There are six clubs with significant backlog of WMMR reporting all Secretaries have been contacted asking them if they require assistance OBJECTIVES : Make sure that all Secretaries keep membership information up to date. NAME: Peter Wells OFFICE: Region 1a Membership Officer DECISIONS REQUIRED: Acceptance of this report. JUSTIFICATION FOR DECISION : Continued Guiding Lion support to the low numbered clubs in Zone A, namely Dudley & Wolverhampton. ACTIONS SINCE LAST MEETING: Dudley Club: I had the honour of inducting their new member during my visit in July, and for a club so small in numbers they put to shame much larger clubs for the number of activities they undertake. I have obtained Making a difference leaflets from MDHQ & they are handing these out at every event they attend, also 10 posters have been displayed in prominent places. I am looking to undertake a membership drive with them next Spring. Wolverhampton Club: 7 of their 9 members have completed the Ideal Club Questionnaire this autumn and I have consolidated the results, and with the support of Heather Lee have discussed the comments to encourage them to undertake more
activities in the future. I am also looking to undertake a membership drive with them next Spring. OBJECTIVES: To provide support & encouragement to Dudley & Wolverhampton clubs with their rebuilding & retention of members on a regular basis.