Anyone Inspired?
Written by Mary Stephenson 7-25-2019
For our July 25th meeting we had a visitation from our new District Governor Elisa Coyle and company. With their presentations to our club, I believe we need to look at membership in different terms.
We all have our pet projects and they are worthwhile in every aspect of our endeavors. It becomes, how can we plug in others where we have managed without them. Are they the kinds of projects that would interest younger folks? What would members of the community embrace and give us their all, if they were included?
So now we can go out and invite people to become Lions and tell them we meet every Thursday but they don’t have to come to any of the meetings or limited after we decide on how to proceed for the future. Having talked to members of the community at the Chamber of Commerce Greeters and Connect 4 Lunch, I see the reluctance to the early morning meetings or even the idea of meetings. The new attitude to no longer require meetings to be a member would change the dynamics of being a Lion. But we also have to give them a reason to join.
When we were at the Convention 3 years ago the speaker, Lewis Quinn from an Alaska Lions Club, was talking about finding what the community wanted to do, and help them put on an event through the Lions club. He had talked about a snowmobile race, which for them made perfectly good sense.
I have been in contact with someone in their 30’s, who is interested in the Lions club and is already helping in the community. The next step is a question of what project would he like to be involved in, or what would he like to see as a project, and could he get friends involved?
Our goal is to help the community and this might be in ways none of us have considered. Fresh ideas of what younger people could be eager to do or want to do can ignite this club.
I agree the meetings are a big obstacle for many people, but for us retired folks the meeting is good. Loved the thought when someone said it was more of bonding for us. Since we don’t have a work environment we probably all need it from time to time. I believe we also need that bond to keep us focused on our purpose of serving.
Tyler had mentioned about Seal Beach Lions and how they have generated 395 members. Here is their website link: https://www.sealbeachlions.org/ On their website you can click on “Become a Lion” and see what the requirements they have in place. Also on the “Welcome” page are links: 1. their extensive calendar with everything planned out as to who is in charge and when things will be happening. 2. The Weekly Roar 3. The Growl Newsletter
It seems as if they have community projects, then they also have social events. If there is not a combination of both it will most likely not interest volunteers.
If the club can adopt a process similar to Seal Beach Lions for membership it will be easier to recruit new members.
Just my thoughts.
2 Responses to Anyone Inspired?
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As the archetypical Neandertal of the digital age, I would like to share my observations on why it is difficult attracting the younger crowd into Lionism.
First and for most is it appears many of our successors will only “commit” to a cause as by clicking the “like” button to someone’s selfie while buying Starbucks coffee for the person in the car behind them at the drive through. Please help me but I have not heard lately of a bunch of 20-40 year old’s banding together to do anything unless it involves beer and free music.
For these youngsters “Community Involvement” is defined as using the city’s River Trail to jog, bike and walk there dogs on or a free concert in the park. Other means of “Involvement” also include an occasional march or protest against an apparent evil or cause of some sorts.
Perhaps as they mature, they will realize helping build a better community might require looking up from the “Smart Phone”, banding together with other like minded people, rolling up their sleeves and doing something.
Ugg!
Perhaps most are, but others are out there doing good. Yes, we have to find them. People like Preston Sharp or the young man that did the beach project for Camp McCumber. I know the one young man that is in his early 30’s that is doing community involvement with kids. Young married people with kids are interested in their community.
It is all about helping them with what they are interested in giving back to the community, not necessarily pigging-backing on our in place projects.
If it isn’t fun why would anyone really want to do it. As a Lion once told me, “if I’m not enjoying myself, I don’t want to do it.” Sure, not everything is supposed to be 100% fun, but if volunteers are not enjoying themselves how can we possibly get them interested in joining.
If Seal Beach Lions can get that much involvement they must be doing something right. We may need to take a hard look at what they do and try to do some of the same.
So I guess the next question is are we going to reconstruct our membership guidelines to get busy people involved. We meet a lot of 30 to 50 year olds at the Chamber of Commerce Events. They are there to grow their businesses. If they can also show their buying public that they give back to their community via non-profits in money and involvement, it favors well with their customers. It is a proven fact in marketing.