Transcript Starting a Leo Club

Lions and Leos,
A Great Partnership!!!
Starting a
Leo Club
Starting a
Leo Club
Every 5M2 Club
Should Sponsor
a Leo Club!!!
First, a Little History
Coach Graver Started the Ball Rolling
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Forty-eight years ago, Coach Jim Graver
started the Leo ball rolling. Chances are, that
ball was a baseball.
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Back in 1957, Graver was the coach of the
Abington High School, Pennsylvania, USA,
baseball team. Graver was also an active
member of the Glenside, Pennsylvania, Lions
Club.
Coach Graver Started the Ball Rolling
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With fellow Lion, William Ernst, Graver talked
about starting a service club for high school
boys. "The Kiwanians had their Key Clubs and
the Rotarians had their Wheel Club (since
changed to Interact Clubs)," Ernst is quoted
as saying in an October 7, 1976 newspaper
article in "The Evening Bulletin.“
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So they asked their fellow Lions for support.
Without hesitation, the Glenside Lions agreed
that a Lions youth group was a good idea.
Graver and Ernst set to work.
Coach Graver Started the Ball Rolling
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"We needed a nucleus, a group of kids to start
with," stated Ernst. "So we got Jim's son to
come to the first meeting with his whole
baseball team." Nine sophomore, junior, and
senior boys joined the group of 26 baseball
players.
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Together, the 35 teens formed a club. On
December 5, 1957, the Glenside Lions
presented a charter to the Abington High
School Leo Club.
Coach Graver Started the Ball Rolling
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As the world's first Leo Club, the group
created the Leo acronym - Leadership,
Equality, Opportunity (Equality was later
changed to Experience.) And, the group chose
maroon and gold - their school colors - to
serve as the Leo club colors.
Leo Motto

Leadership - Leos develop skills
as organizers, time managers, and
motivators of their peers.
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Experience - Leos learn the
importance of cooperation through
the performance of community
service.
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Opportunity - Membership in a
Leo club provides young people
with a chance to excel, to develop
character traits, and to receive
recognition for their contributions
to the community.
Alpha or Omega?
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In 2002, existing Leo Clubs declared themselves
as either Alpha or Omega Leo Clubs.
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Members of Alpha Leo Clubs are between the
ages of 12 and the legal age of majority in their
country.
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Omega Leo Club members are between the
legal age of majority in their country and an age
deemed appropriate by the multiple district. All
other requirements are identical for Alpha and
Omega Leo Clubs.
Alpha or Omega?
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All Leo clubs have been asked to declare their
clubs as either Alpha or Omega Leo Clubs. Ageappropriate publications will be mailed to Alpha
and Omega Leo Clubs.
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Alpha Leo Club advisors will accept a more
active role in guiding young Leos to plan
effective meetings and successful service
projects. Omega Leo Club advisors will serve
mainly as liaisons between the Leo Club and the
sponsoring Lions Club.
It’s Time to Meet
the 5M2 Leos!!!
The Leo Clubs of 5M2
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Central Leos
– Cologne, Hamburg, Norwood-Young America
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Northfield Leos
– Northfield
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Sibley East J.H.S and S.H.S. Leos
– Arlington, Gaylord, and Green Isle
Leo Clubs of 5M2
The Sponsoring Clubs
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Central Leos
– Hamburg, Norwood-Young America, and West Carver
Lions Clubs
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Northfield Leos
– Northfield Lions
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Sibley East J.H.S and S.H.S. Leos
– Arlington, Green Isle, and Sibley East Arlington
Lions Clubs
The First Leo Club in 5M2
May 8, 1998
Sibley East Junior High School
Gaylord, MN
Test Your 5m2 Leo Knowledge:
Which are Alpha or Omega Clubs?
All Alphas!!!
Which are School Based?
Answer
Central Leos
 Sibley East J.H.S. Leos
 Sibley East S.H.S. Leos
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Suggestion for
School Based Groups
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Start in the middle or junior high school
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As members hit high school, there is a
nucleus to start a high school group.
Our Only Community Based Club
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The Northfield Leos
5M2 Leos
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Earn Money for
Charity
Do Service Work
Assist Lions Clubs
Win Awards
Donate
Have Fun!!!
5M2 Leos Earn Money
in Many Ways
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As an example, the Sibley
East J.H.S. Leos clean the
Sibley County Fair for five
days each August, earning
enough to fund their
projects, as well as serving
their communities!!!
5M2 Leos “We Serve”
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Leo Nick Barlage
erases bar codes in
preparation for
Santa’s Helpers, a
program which made
Christmas possible for
675 needy children in
his county.
5M2 Leos Assist Lions Clubs
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Leos Brent Farber and
Brent Sharping
recently assisted the
Arlington and Sibley
East Lions in a waffle
breakfast fundraiser
for local Cub Scouts
5M2 Leos Win Awards
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Leos Joe and James
Maki receive the
Lions Young
Leaders in Service
Award award from
District Governor
Meskans for
contributing over 100
hours of community
service in a single
year!!!
5M2 Leos Give
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5M2 Leos have
donated many things
to their schools and
communities,
everything from large
screen TV’s to
physical education
equipment for the
blind and they have
fun doing it!!!
Are You Sold on Leos?
If you are, here are
the steps to get started
How a Lions Club Starts the
Process of Forming a Leo Club
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1. Request a Leo Club Organization Kit (Kit 830) from
international headquarters.
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2. Arrange a meeting with Lions club members to explain
the responsibilities of Leo club sponsors. Explain that every
Leo club must have an advisor. This advisor must be a Lion
who enjoys working with young people. School-based Leo
clubs often require a teacher or school administrator to
serve as co-advisor.
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3. Sponsoring a Leo club also involves a financial obligation.
The Leo club organization fee is US$100 or the national
currency equivalent.
How a Lions Club Starts the
Process of Forming a Leo Club
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4. Lions clubs are also responsible for the annual
Leo club sponsor levy of US $90 or the national
currency equivalent. The levy pays for Leo Club
Program materials, mailings, club record
maintenance, communications, awards, and Web
site maintenance. The annual sponsor levy is
prorated for clubs certified within the fiscal year.
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5. Appoint three or more Lions to serve on a Leo
club committee
How a Lions Club Starts the
Process of Forming a Leo Club
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6. Determine if the new Leo Club will operate in
conjunction with a local school, church, or other
community group. Often, outside agencies require
the appointment of their own club leader or
advisor. This agency must agree to fulfill Leo Club
Program responsibilities
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7. Obtain the names of potential Leos from
schools, houses of worship, youth groups, and
friends and relatives of Lions Club members
Organizing a new Leo club
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1. Announce the day and date for a Leo club
formation meeting. Inform local young people
about this meeting through notices sent to
schools, religious youth groups, community
programs, and the local media.
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2. Lions should be prepared to answer questions
concerning: requirements for Leo club
membership, the relationship to the sponsoring
Lions club, and activities undertaken by Leos.
Organizing a new Leo club
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3. Distribute the Application for
Membership (Leo-50). Leo leaders can
then submit: a signed Leo Club
Organization Report (Leo-51) and the Leo
club organization fee of US$100, or
national currency equivalent, to the Youth
Programs Department at international
headquarters. Only registered Leo
clubs will receive a Leo club charter
and Leo membership materials.
Organizing a new Leo club
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4. After review of the applications by
Lions, the new Leos can vote to accept:
the original members
the Leo Club Constitution and Bylaws (Leo-5)
club officers
a specified amount of money for member fees
a day, place, and time for club meetings
Charter Night
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Together, the Leo Club officers and Lions on the
Leo Advisory Committee plan the Leo installation
ceremony as outlined in the Leo Club Officer
Installation and New Member Initiation (Leo-8).
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During the ceremony, the highest-ranking Lions
official presents the Leo Certificate of
Organization to the club officers. The Leo Club
members also receive their new member kits
during the ceremony.
Charter Night
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Invitees to the ceremony should include:
-Lions Club members
-parents and friends of the new Leo Club
members
-representatives of outside agencies such as
schools, religious youth groups, or
community programs
-Lions and Leo district officers
-local media representatives
Leo/Lion Relationship
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Every Leo Club is sponsored by a Lions Club.
Sponsoring Lions Clubs maintain close rapport
with Leo Clubs.
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A Lion is appointed as a Leo Club advisor (or
co-advisor). This Lion promotes communication
between the two clubs. Through this club
liaison, Lions and Leos often agree to work
together on joint community service projects.
The Leo Advisor –
The Key to Success
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Every Leo Club has a sponsoring Lions Club. A
Leo club advisor is appointed to serve as liaison
between the two clubs. The advisor is a member
of the sponsoring Lions Club. School-based Leo
clubs often require a teacher or school
administrator to serve as co-advisor. The
advisor(s), along with two other appointed
Lions, form the Leo Club advisory committee.
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The role of the advisor includes that of
motivator, educator, counselor, and role model.
The Leo Advisor –
The Key to Success
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All advisors are adults who help guide the Leos
as a club. The qualities of a successful Leo Club
advisor (according to Lion Tom Swann of
California, USA) include:
A - Available
D - Dependable
V - Virtuous
I - Imaginative
S - Supportive
O - Organized
R – Responsible
The Leo Advisor –
The Key to Success
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The Leo Club advisor, and, occasionally, one or
more members of the sponsoring Lions club,
should attend Leo club and board of directors
meeting. In addition, three representatives from
both clubs should meet on a regular basis to
review the actions of the Leo Club and its board
of directors. If arranging this meeting is difficult,
Leos can submit copies of the meeting minutes
to the Lions Club for review.
Where can I find
this information later?
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Check the 5M2 website for this powerpoint
Or
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Go to the International Website home
page, then Youth Programs > Leos. It’s
all there and more!
Best of luck on you endeavor.
Your Leo advisors are always
available for advice.
Don’t hesitate to call.
Need Help?
Contact Leo Cabinet Advisor
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Lion Dan Hislop, Advisor of the Sibley East
J.H.S. Leo Club
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[email protected]