Past President Frank Congel sharing the podium with current President Darrel Longest
Lions History
The US Lions were formed in June 1917 by Melvin Jones, an insurance executive. He organized 25 independent business clubs into a service organization. The goal of the first Lions Club was to plan and execute a wide variety of service projects that addressed the local community's needs. The Lions' focus on addressing the needs of the visually impaired followed their 1925 annual convention. Helen Keller, a well-known disability rights advocate, was the principal speaker at the convention and challenged the Lions to become "Knights of the Blind." The Lions enthusiastically endorsed the challenge. While our work continues to serve the needs of the visually impaired, we have broadened our service to include, for example, providing hearing screening to local school children, conducting seminars to improve awareness of the risks of diabetes, supporting youth athletics, granting scholarships to local students, and a range of other services.
Lancaster County Lions Club (LCLC)
The LCLC was chartered on Oct 14, 1947, and has continually served our community for 75 years. We currently have about 35 members. Consistent with the history briefly discussed above, we provide and support many service projects within our community including the following:
Sight and hearing screening for local public and private schools, Head Start, Day Care Centers, and needy adults;
Pay for eye exams and prescription eyeglasses for those in need;
Pay for audiology exams and hearing aids for those in need;
Conduct an Eyeglass Recycling Program that provides free eyeglasses to the needy locally and globally;
Conduct an annual holiday food collection drive for local needy families;
Award college scholarships to local high school seniors;
Participate in the annual Lions' (Bland) music competition that awards scholarships to local talented youth;
Sponsor a local high school LEO Club and a middle school Peace Poster Contest.
There also are many other activities underway to raise funds required for us to carry out our work. We are always looking for individuals to become Lions and join us in this most satisfying endeavor. If you desire to get involved in the community and meet great people, please contact us. Our contact page provides the required information.
We are a member of Lion District 24-I. This district includes all clubs within Southeastern VA.
Following is our Club's Constitution, updated in 2023.
Lancaster County Lions Club CONSTITUTION
(Adopted January 2023)
Table of Contents
ARTICLE I – Name ...................................................... 3
ARTICLE II – Purposes ............................................... 3
ARTICLE III – Membership
SEC. 1 – Eligibility for Club Membership ...................... 3
SEC. 2 – Membership by Invitation ................................ 3
SEC. 3 – Forfeiture of Membership ................................ 3
ARTICLE IV – Emblem, Colors, Slogan, and Motto
SEC. 1 – Emblem ............................................................ 4
SEC. 2 – Use of Name and Emblem ................................ 4
SEC. 3 – Colors ............................................................... 4
SEC. 4 – Slogan .............................................................. 4
SEC. 5 – Motto ............................................................... 4
ARTICLE V – Supremacy ........................................... 4
ARTICLE VI – Club Size ............................................. 4
ARTICLE VII – Officers
SEC. 1 – Officers ............................................................ 5
SEC. 2 – Removal ........................................................... 5
ARTICLE VIII – Board of Directors
SEC. 1 – Members .......................................................... 5
SEC. 2 – Quorum ............................................................ 5
SEC. 3 – Duties and Powers ............................................ 5
ARTICLE IX – Delegates to International and District Conventions
SEC. 1 – Delegate Entitlement International Convention 6
SEC. 2 – Delegate Entitlement District/Multiple District Convention 6
SEC. 3 – Selection of Club Delegate(s) and Alternate(s) 6
ARTICLE X – Club Funds
SEC. 1 – Public (Activity) Funds .................................... 7
SEC. 2 – Administrative Funds ....................................... 7
ARTICLE XI – Amendments
SEC. 1 – Amending Procedure ........................................ 7
SEC. 2 – Notice .............................................................. 7
CONSTITUTION Articles
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this organization shall be the Lancaster County Lions Club, chartered by, and under the jurisdiction of the International Association of Lions Clubs.
ARTICLE II
Purposes
The purposes of this Club shall be:
- To create and foster a spirit of understanding among the people of our community.
- To promote the principles of good government and good citizenship.
- To take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social, and moral welfare of the community.
- To unite the members in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship, and mutual understanding.
- To provide a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however, that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by Club members.
- To encourage service-minded people to serve their community without personal financial reward, and to encourage efficiency and promote high ethical standards in commerce, industry, professions, public works, and private endeavors.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1
ELIGIBILITY FOR CLUB MEMBERSHIP. Subject to the provisions of Article I of the by-laws, any person of legal majority and good moral character and good reputation in our community, may be granted membership in this Lions Club.
Section 2
MEMBERSHIP BY INVITATION. Membership in this Lions Club shall be acquired by invitation only. Nominations shall be made by a member in good standing who shall act as sponsor, and be submitted to the Membership chairperson or the Club Secretary, who, after investigation by the membership committee, shall submit the same to the Board of Directors. If approved by a majority of the Board, the prospect may then be invited to become a member of this Club. A properly filled-out membership form duly signed, as well as, the entrance fee and dues must be received by the Secretary before the member is reported to and officially recognized by the association as a Lion member.
Section 3
FORFEITURE OF MEMBERSHIP. Any member may be expelled from the Club for cause by a two-thirds vote of the entire Board of Directors. Upon removal from this Club, any and all right to use the name “LIONS,” the emblem, and other insignia of this Club and this association shall be forfeited. This Club shall remove any member whose conduct has been deemed a violation of the International Constitution and By-Laws and Board Policy and unbecoming a Lion by the International Office or otherwise face charter cancellation.
ARTICLE IV
Emblem, Colors, Slogan and Motto
Section 1
EMBLEM. The emblem of this association and this Club shall be of a design as follows:
Section 2
USE OF NAME AND EMBLEM. Use of the name, goodwill, emblem, and other logos of the association shall be according to the guidelines established from time to time in the by-laws.
Section 3
COLORS. The colors of this association and of each chartered Club shall be blue and gold, blue, black, or grey scale.
Section 4
SLOGAN. Its Slogan shall be "Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety".
Section 5
MOTTO. Its Motto shall be "We Serve".
ARTICLE V
Supremacy
The Constitution and By-Laws shall govern the Club unless otherwise amended so as not to conflict with the District (single, sub-, or multiple) and International Constitution & By-Laws and policies of Lancaster County Lions Club. Whenever there may exist a conflict or a contradiction between the provisions set out in the Club constitution and by-laws and the District (single, sub-, and multiple) Constitution and By-Laws, the District Constitution and By-Laws shall govern. In addition, whenever there may exist a conflict or a contradiction between the provisions set out in the Club Constitution and By-Laws and the International Constitution and By-Laws or Board policy, the International Constitution and By-Laws and Board policy shall govern.
ARTICLE VI
Club Size
The Club should strive to maintain at least 20 members, the numerical minimum membership required to receive a charter.
ARTICLE VII
Officers
Section 1
OFFICERS. The officers of this Club shall be a President, Immediate Past President, Vice President(s), Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Chairperson, Service Chairperson, and Public Relations and Publicity Chairperson.
Section 2
REMOVAL. Any officer of this Club may be removed from office for good cause by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire Club membership.
ARTICLE VIII
Board of Directors
Section 1
MEMBERS. The members of the Board of Directors shall be determined by the Members from time to time and shall include not less than the following Members: Club officers, Club LCIF coordinator, and all other elected directors, which may also include the Lion Tamer and Tail Twister. The total number of directors shall not exceed 13 persons.
Section 2
QUORUM. The presence in person or by a properly noticed electronic meeting by internet or phone of a majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise specifically provided, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting of the board shall be the act and decision of the entire Board of Directors.
Section 3
DUTIES AND POWERS. In addition to those duties and powers, expressed and implied, set forth elsewhere in this constitution and by-laws, the Board of Directors shall have the following duties and powers:
- It shall constitute the executive board of this Club and be responsible for the execution, through the Club officers, of the policies approved by the Club. All new business and policies of this Club shall be considered and shaped by the Board of Directors for presentation to the Club members at a regular or special Club meeting.
- It shall authorize all expenditures and shall not create any indebtedness beyond the current income of this Club, nor authorize disbursal of Club funds for purposes inconsistent with the business and policy authorized by the Club membership.
- It shall have the power to modify, override, or rescind the action of any officer of this Club.
- It shall have the books, accounts, and operations of this Club reviewed annually or, at its discretion, more frequently and may require an accounting or have a review or audit made of the handling of any Club funds by any officer, committee, or member of this Club. Any member of this Club in good standing may inspect any such review or accounting upon request at a reasonable time and place.
- It shall appoint, on recommendation of the Treasurer, a bank or banks for the deposit of the funds of this Club.
- It shall appoint the surety (if any be required) for the bonding of any officer of this Club.
- It shall maintain at least two (2) separate funds governed by generally accepted accounting practices. The first fund to record administrative monies such as dues, tail twisting fines, and other internally raised Club funds. A second fund shall be established to record activity or public funds raised by asking for support from the public. Disbursement from such funds shall be in strict compliance with Section (h) of this article.
- It shall not authorize, nor permit, the expenditure, for any administrative purpose, of the net income of projects or activities of this Club by which funds are raised from the public.
- It shall submit all matters of new business and policy to the respective standing or special Club committee for study and recommendation to the Board.
ARTICLE IX
Delegates to International and District Conventions
Section 1
DELEGATE ENTITLEMENT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION. Since Lancaster County Lions Club is governed by Lions Clubs in convention assembled, and so that this Club may have its voice in association matters, this Club shall have the power to pay the necessary expenses of its delegates to each annual convention of the association or to any state or district convention or gathering properly noticed by the state or district officers. This Club shall be entitled in any convention of this association, to one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate for every twenty- five (25), or major fraction thereof, of its members as shown by the records of the international office on the first day of the month last preceding that month during which the convention is held, provided, however, that this Club shall be entitled to at least one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate. The major fraction referred to in this section shall be thirteen (13) or more members.
Section 2
DELEGATE ENTITLEMENT DISTRICT/ MULTIPLE DISTRICT CONVENTION. Since all district matters are presented and adopted at the District or Multiple District conventions, this Club shall be entitled to send its full quota of delegates to all such conventions and have the power to pay the necessary expenses of such delegates attending such conventions. This Club shall be entitled in each annual convention of its district (single or sub- and multiple) to one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate for each ten (10) members who have been enrolled for at least one year and a day in this Club, or major fraction thereof, of this Club as shown by the records of the international office on the first day of the month last preceding that month during which the convention is held, provided, however, that this Club shall be entitled to at least one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate. Each certified delegate present in person shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote of his/her choice for each office to be filled, and one (1) vote of his/her choice on each question submitted to, the respective convention. The major fraction referred to in this section shall be five (5) or more members.
Section 3
SELECTION OF CLUB DELEGATE(S) AND ALTERNATE(S). The Board of Directors or its designated committee shall name and appoint the delegates and alternates of this Club to District (single, sub-, or multiple) and international conventions. Eligible delegates must be members in good standing in the Club and entitled to vote by the rights and privileges chart set forth in Exhibit A of the Club By-Laws.
ARTICLE X
Club Funds
Section 1
PUBLIC (ACTIVITY) FUNDS. All funds raised from the public must be returned to public use, including money accumulated from invested public funds. The only deductions that may be made from the activity account are the direct operating expenses of the fundraising activity. Money accumulated from interest must also be returned to public use.
Section 2
ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS. Administrative funds are supported through contributions from members through dues, fines, and other individual contributions.
ARTICLE XI
Amendments
Section 1
AMENDING PROCEDURE. This constitution may be amended at any regular or special meeting of this Club, at which a quorum is present, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present in person and voting, provided that the Board has previously considered the merits of the amendments.
Section 2
NOTICE. No amendment shall be put to vote, unless written notice, stating the proposed amendment shall have been published to the member through regular post or electronic means, or delivered personally to each member of this Club at least fourteen (14) calendar days before the meeting at which the vote on the proposed amendment is to be taken. The fourteen calendar day notice required by this Section shall apply only to Motions to Amend this Constitution.
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.
