an alternative way to grow your club

Recently 1st VDG Randy and I attended the USA/Canada Forum in Portland and attended a variety of seminars. Several I attended had to do with membership and the need to make changes in our clubs to accommodate millennials. Millennials are the generation born in 1980 and stretches to the late 1990s early 2000s, putting these folks around the age of 20 – 25. They are preceded by Generation X born in the early to mid 1960s and ending in the late 1970s to early 1980s. The one thing these seminars had in common is unless we change as Lions we will not survive in the 21st century.
 
Missing from these discussions are any practical steps to accomplish change without alienating current Lions and club traditions. The message is - you need to change to accommodate millennials. I would like to offer an alternative to this approach, one in which we respect the work and legacy of Lions over the past 100 years and we still welcome new members into the pride.
 
First, recognize that millennials are just one group from which to draw new members; there is also Generation X, a group in the age range of 35 – 55. Second, rather than change the cultural traditions of your club, consider bringing in new, younger members as a branch club. Give them the opportunity to decide how and when they want to have meetings. Be sure to provide them with 1 or 2 mentors to guide them in understanding what it means to be a Lion. Avoid telling them they need to sing, tail twist, pledge allegiance, and support the same organizations you do. Third, support their projects and always invite them to be part of the parent club projects. Fourth, hold meetings with both clubs from time to time to build fellowship and understanding.
 
Now I can hear some people saying, hey wait a minute, you are telling us to separate the groups and this isn’t good. True, it isn’t optimum. It is realistic, when you consider the alternative is losing long-time Lions who have given many years in building their clubs and serving their communities. And as many people are living longer, long-term Lions still have many years of service ahead of them. We need to recognize everyone has value, young and old.
 
Recognize that it is not us or them, it is we. And together “we” can find a way to continue our legacy of community service, by finding ways to attract new members. And together we must respect what each of us brings to the table. And together “We Serve”.