LIONS CLUBS OF DISTRICT
20-W
CONSTITUTION AND
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
NAME
Section 1. This
organization shall be known as District 20-W of the International Association of
Lions Clubs, and hereinafter referred to as the District.
ARTICLE II
OBJECTS
Section 1. To provide the
District with an organization for the express purpose of: advancing Lionism and
providing proper District Administration; coordinating, standardizing and
directing the activities, other than local activities, of all affiliated Lions
Clubs within the District; and promoting the general welfare of the
International Association of Lions Clubs, Multiple District 20 and the District
while carrying out the ideals and principles of Lionism.
ARTICLE
III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The membership
of the District shall consist of all the Lions Clubs in the District duly
chartered by The International Association of Lions Clubs and in good standing
with The International Association of Lions Clubs, Multiple District 20 and the
District.
Section 2. The boundary
lines of the District shall include all of
ARTICLE IV
DISTRICT
OFFICERS
Section 1. The Officers of
the District shall be the District Governor, who shall be the presiding officer,
the Vice District Governor and the Cabinet Secretary - Treasurer, the Region
Chairs, the Zone Chairs and the immediate Past District
Governor
Section 2. A. A candidate
for the office of District Governor shall at the time he/she takes office as
District Governor.
(1) Be an active member in
good standing of a chartered Lions Club in Good Standing in the
District.
(2) Secure the endorsement
of his/her club or a majority of Clubs in this District.
(3) Have served or will
have served at the time he/she takes office of District
Governor.
(a) As President of a Lions
Club for a full term or major portion thereof, and as a member of the Board of
Directors of a Lions Club for no less than two (2) additional years;
and
(b) Have served as Zone
Chair, Region Chair or Cabinet Secretary and or Treasurer for a full term or
major portion thereof, and one (1) additional year as a member of the District
Cabinet;
(c) With none of the above
being accomplished concurrently;
(d) Effective July 1, 1995,
shall have served as Vice District Governor for a full term or major portion
thereof.
B. A candidate for the
office of Vice District Governor shall
(1) Be an active member in
good standing of a chartered Lions Club in good standing in this
District.
(2) Secure the endorsement
of his/her club or a majority of Clubs in the District.
(3) Have served or will
have served at the time he/she takes office as Vice District
Governor;
(a) As president of a Lions
Club for a full term or major portion thereof, and as a member of the Board of
Directors of a Lions Club for no less than two (2) additional
years;
(b) As Zone Chair, Region
Chair or Cabinet Secretary and/or Treasurer for a full term or major portion
thereof;
(c) One (1) additional year
as a member of the District Cabinet,
(d) With none of the above
being accomplished concurrently.
Section 3. The District
Governor and the Vice District Governor shall be elected separately at the
annual Multiple District 20 Convention and shall take office immediately upon
the close of the International Convention next following their
election.
Section 4. In the event a
vacancy occurs in the office of District Governor the Vice District Governor
shall act as the District Governor and perform the duties of, and have the same
authority as, the District Governor until such time as said vacancy is filled by
the International Board of Directors as provided for in the International
Constitution and By-Laws.
Section 5. In the event a
vacancy occurs in the office of Vice District Governor, the District Governor
shall have the power to fill such vacancy for the unexpired term
thereof.
Section 6. At the
discretion of the District Governor, The District Governor may appoint, at the
time he/she officially takes office, one Region Chair in each Region of the
District, who shall be an active member of a Lions Club in the Region where
appointed and shall be qualified in accordance with the provisions of the
International Association's Constitution.
Section 7. The District
Governor shall appoint, at the time he/she officially takes office, one Zone
Chair in each Zone of the District, who shall be an active member of a Lions
Club in the Zone where appointed and shall be qualified in accordance with the
provisions of the International Association's
Constitution.
Section 8. The District
Governor shall appoint a Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer who shall be an active
member of a Lions Club in the District.
Section 9. Any vacancy in
any District Office, except that of the District Governor, shall be filled by
appointment by the District Governor for the unexpired term
thereof.
Section 10. If any Region
Chair, or Zone Chair, shall cease to be a member of a club in the Region, or
Zone, to which he was appointed, his/her term of office shall thereupon cease
and the District Governor shall appoint a successor to fill said
office.
Section 11. No salary shall
be paid to any officer of the District.
Section 12. The Vice
District Governor, subject to the supervision and direction of the District
Governor, shall be chief administrative assistant to the District Governor.
His/her specific responsibilities shall be to:
(a) Further the Purposes
and Objects of this Association;
(b) Familiarize
himself/herself with the duties of the District Governor so that in the event of
a vacancy in the office of District Governor he/she will be better prepared to
assume the duties and responsibilities of said position;
(c) Perform such
administrative duties as may be assigned to him/her by the District
Governor;
(d) Perform such other
functions and acts as may be required of him/her by the International Board of
Directors through the Vice District Governor's Manual and other
directives;
(e) Actively participate in
all cabinet and council meetings and conduct all meetings in the absence of the
District Governor;
(f) Participate in the
preparation of the district budget;
(g) Be actively engaged in
all matters to be continued during the next year;
(h) Participate in
the review of the strengths and weaknesses of the clubs of the district;
and
(i) At the request of the
District Governor, supervise appropriate district
committees.
ARTICLE V
DISTRICT
CABINET
Section 1. The District
shall have a District Cabinet comprised of the District Officers, the Committee
Chairs, the Club Presidents and the Past District Governors of District
20-W.
Section 2. A minimum of
fifteen (15) District Cabinet Members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose
of conducting business.
Section 3. Each Cabinet
Member who is present will be limited to one vote even though they may hold more
than one cabinet position.
Section 4. The District
Governor shall call at least four (4) regular meetings of the District Cabinet
with the first of these meetings held within ninety (90) days after the
adjournment of the preceding Lions Clubs International Convention. Written
notice of these meetings shall be given to each member of the District Cabinet
at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting.
Section 5. Special meetings
of the District Cabinet may be called by the District Governor at his
discretion. Special meetings shall be called upon written request to the
District Governor, or the Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer, by a majority of the
District Officers. Not fewer than seven (7) nor more than fifteen (15) days
written, or verbal, notice of special Cabinet meetings shall be given to each
member of the Cabinet.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRICT
ORGANIZATION
Section 1. The District
Governor shall divide the District into Region of no more than sixteen (16) and
no fewer than ten (10) Lions Clubs, and each Region into Zones of no more than
eight (8) and no fewer than four (4) Lions Clubs, giving due regard to the
geographical locations of the clubs. All such Regions and Zones shall be subject
to change by the District Governor when, in his/her sole discretion, he/she
shall deem it necessary in the best interest of Lionism and the individual Lions
Clubs.
Section 2. The District
Governor shall have the authority to determine whether the position of Region
Chair will be utilized during his or her term. If not so utilized the position
of the Region Chair shall remain vacant during said District Governor's term.
The Region Chair, if the position is utilized during the District Governor's
term is subject to supervision and direction of the District Governor and shall
be the chief administrative officer in his/her region.
ARTICLE
VII
DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Section 1. In each zone,
the Zone Chair and the Club Presidents and Secretaries shall comprise a District
Governor's Advisory Committee, with the Zone Chair as Chair
thereof.
Section 2. The Zone Chair
in each zone shall call at least three (3) meetings of the Committee during the
year with the first meeting called not more than thirty (30) days following the
first Cabinet Meeting.
Section 3. A Zone meeting
may be held in conjunction with an Advisory Committee
Meeting.
ARTICLE
VIII
DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S HONORARY
COMMITTEE
Section 1. The District
Governor may appoint a District Governor's Honorary Committee comprised of Past
International Officers, Past International Directors and Past District Governors
who are members in good standing of clubs within the District. The Chair of the
Committee shall be the Director of the Past District Governors Association
elected by the Past District Governors of the District.
Section 2. The District
Governor's Honorary Committee shall meet when and as called upon by the District
Governor.
ARTICLE IX
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE
FUND
Section 1. To provide
Revenue for the purposes of District Operation and Administrative Expenses,
annual dues in an amount established by the By-Laws of the District shall be
assessed against each club in the District.
Section 2. The District
dues shall be paid by each club to the Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer by September
10th of year with billings to be based on the roster of each club as of the
first day of July of that year. New or reorganized clubs shall pay dues on a
pro-rata basis from the first day of the next month following the date of their
organization or reorganization.
Section 3. The funds
received from the District dues and from District 20 refunds shall become and
remain a fund of the District and shall be disbursed only for operational and
administrative expenses of the District that are approved by the District
Cabinet.
Section 4. Expenses of the
District Governor in connection with his/her attendance at International and
MD-20 Conventions, not reimbursed by International or MD-20, shall be considered
a District Administrative Expense subject to the District Rules of
Audit.
Section 5. The fiscal year
of the District shall be from July 1st of one year to June 30th of the following
year.
Section 6. The District
Governor and his Cabinet shall not incur obligations in any fiscal year that
will result in an unbalanced budget, or deficit, in said fiscal
year.
Section 7. The District
Governor will prepare and present a budget for approval at the first Cabinet
Meeting. Said Budget will include a balance to be carried over to the next
fiscal year for expenses that may be incurred before dues are
received.
Section 8. The District
Governor shall provide for an annual, or more frequent, audit of the books and
accounts of the Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer.
ARTICLE X
ADOPTION
Section 1. This
Constitution shall be in effect when it has been approved by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the certified delegates present and voting at a District
Convention.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This Constitution may be amended only at
a District Convention by resolution reported by the Committee on Constitution
and By-Laws and adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the votes
cast by the certified delegates present at the convention.
Section 2. No amendment
shall be so reported, or voted upon, unless the same shall have been furnished
in writing to each club not less than thirty (30) days prior to the convening
date of the District Convention with notice that the same will be voted upon at
said Convention.
Section 3. Each amendment
shall take effect at the close of the District Convention at which adopted
unless otherwise specified in the amendment.
ARTICLE
XII
DELEGATES TO THE DISTRICT
CONVENTION
Section
1.
A.
Each chartered club in good standing
in the association and in District 20W shall be entitled in each annual
convention of the district 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 the
club, or major fraction thereof, of said club as shown by the records on the
international office of the first day of the month last preceding that month
during which the convention is held.
B.
The major fraction referred to in
this section shall be five (5) or more members.
C.
Each club shall be entitled to at
least one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate.
D.
District 20W also grants full
delegate status to each past district governor who is a member of a club in such
district independent of the club delegate quotas herein-above
specified.
E.
Each certified delegate present in person
shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote of his/her choice for each office to be
filled by, and one(1) vote of his/her choice on each question submitted to the
respective convention.
F.
In event of the absence of a
delegate at the convention, the alternate would assume delegate status.
G. Any club which is newly chartered, and
any other club which takes in new members prior to the convening of any such
convention, shall have its delegate quota determined on the basis of members who
have been enrolled in the club for at least one year and a day as shown on such
record date in the records of the international office.
H.
Delinquent dues may be paid and good
standing acquired at any time prior to the closing of the credential
certification, as such closing time shall be established by the rules of the
respective convention.
I.
The Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer, under the
direction of the
District Governor, will have the
major responsibility for managing the delegate certification and accounting
procedures in accordance with the provisions of this article.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
DUTIES
Section 1. DISTRICT
GOVERNOR. Under the general supervision of the International Board of Directors,
the District Governor shall represent the International Association in the
District. In addition, he shall be the chief administrative officer of the
District, and shall have direct supervision over the Vice District Governor,
Region Chairs, Zone Chairs, Secretary-Treasurer and such other cabinet members
and committees as may be provided for in this Constitution and By-Laws. The
District Governor shall have the authority to dismiss any officer appointed by
him/her for good and sufficient reason. His/her specific responsibilities shall
be to:
A. Further the purposes and
object of the International Association of Lions Clubs.
B. Supervise the
organization of new Lions Clubs.
C. Preside over Cabinet and
other District meetings. During any period when he/she is unable to preside, the
presiding officer shall be the Vice District Governor, followed by the Immediate
Past District Governor.
D. Perform such other
functions and acts as shall be required of him/her by the International Board of
Directors as set forth in the District Governor's Manual and other
directives.
Section 2. VICE DISTRICT
GOVERNOR. The Vice District Governor, subject to the supervision and direction
of the District Governor, shall be the chief administrative assistant to the
District Governor. His/her specific responsibilities shall be
to:
A. Further the Purposes and
object of the International Association of Lions Clubs.
B. Familiarize
himself/herself with the duties of the District Governor so that in the event of
a vacancy in the office of District Governor he/she will be better prepared to
assume the duties and responsibilities of said office.
C. Perform such
administrative duties as may be assigned by to him/her by the District
Governor.
D. Perform such functions
and acts as may be required of him/her by the International Board of Directors
as set forth in the Vice Governor's Manual and other
directives.
Section 3. CABINET
SECRETARY-TREASURER. The Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer shall act under the
supervision of the District Governor. His /her specific responsibilities shall
be to:
A. Further the purposes and
objects of the International Association of Lions Clubs.
B. Perform such duties as
are implied by the title of said office, including but not limited to the
following:
1. Keep an accurate record
of the proceedings of all Cabinet meetings and within fifteen (15) days after
each meeting arrange for copies of the same to be forwarded to all members of
the Cabinet.
2. Make reports to the
Cabinet as the District Governor, or the Cabinet may
require.
3. Collect and record all
dues and monies paid to the District, deposit the same in such bank or banks as
the District Governor shall determine and disburse same by order of the District
Governor.
4. Keep accurate books and
records of accounts and minutes of all Cabinet and District meetings and permit
inspections of same by the District Governor, and Cabinet member, and any club
(or an authorized agent of any of them) at any reasonable time for any proper
purpose. Upon direction of the District Governor, or the Cabinet, may furnish
any such books and records as requested to any auditor appointed by the District
Governor.
C. Perform such additional
assignments as shall be given by the District Governor.
D. Perform such other
functions and acts as may be required by the International Board of Directors as
set forth in the Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer's Manual and other
directives.
Section 4. REGION CHAIR.
The Region Chair, subject to the supervision and direction of the District
Governor, shall be the chief administrative officer in his/her region. His/her
specific responsibilities shall be to:
A. Further the purposes and
objects of the International Association of Lions Clubs.
B. Supervise the activities
of the Zone Chairs in his/her region and such District Committee Chairs as may
be assigned by the District Governor.
C. Play an active role in
organizing new clubs and in strengthening weak clubs.
D. Visit a regular meeting
and/or a Board of Directors meeting of each club in his/her region at least once
during his/her term of office, reporting his findings to the District
Governor.
E. Perform such additional
assignments as may be given to him/her by the District
Governor.
F. Perform such other
functions and acts as may be required of him/her by the International Board of
Directors as set forth in the Region Chair's Manual and other
directives.
Section 5. ZONE CHAIR The
Zone Chair, subject to the supervision and direction of the District Governor
and/or Region Chair, shall be the chief administrative officer in his/her zone.
His/her specific responsibilities shall be to:
A. Further the purposes and
objects of the International Association of Lions Clubs.
B. Serve as the chair of
the District Governor's Advisory Committee meetings in his/her zone and as such
Chair of such to call regular meetings of said committee. C. Make a report of
each District Governor's Advisory Committee meetings and send copies within five
(5) days thereafter to the International Association of Lions Clubs, the
District Governor and Region Chair.
D. Play an active role in
organizing new clubs and keep informed on activities and well-being of all clubs
in his/ her zone.
E. Foster inter club
meetings and joint projects between clubs in his/her zone.
F. Supervise the progress
of District, Multiple District and Lions International projects in his/her
zone.
G. Visit a regular meeting
of each club in his/her zone once or more during his/her term of office, and
report his/her findings to the Region Chair and District
Governor.
H. Perform such other
functions and acts as may required of him/her by the International Board of
Directors as set forth in the Zone Chair's Manual and other
directives.
Section 6. DISTRICT
CABINET. The District Governor's Cabinet shall:
A. Assist the District
Governor in the performance of his/her duties and in the formulation of
administrative plans and policies affecting the welfare of Lionism within the
District.
B. Receive from the Region,
Zone and Committee Chairs reports and recommendations that concern the clubs and
the District.
C. Approve the operational
budget of the District.
ARTICLE II
COMMITTEES
Section 1. The following
are the standing committees of the District: CAMPUS CLUB, CONSTITUTION AND
BY-LAWS, CONVENTION & CONFERENCE, CULTURAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVATES,
DIABETES AWARENESS, ENVIRONMENTAL, EXTENSION, FINANCE, HEARING AND SPEECH ACTION
& WORK WITH THE DEAF, HONORARY, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INTERNATIONAL
UNDERSTANDING & COOPERATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, LEO CLUBS, LCIF,
MEMBERSHIP, PEACE POSTER, PUBLIC RELATIONS $ LIONS INFORMATION, RETENTION, SIGHT
CONSERVATION & WORK WITH THE BLIND, WOMEN'S MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
& PARTICIPATION, YOUTH & LIONS OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH, EXCHANGE &
YOUTH OUTREACH.
Section 2. The District
Governor may establish and appoint such other committees, as he/she deems
necessary and appropriate for the efficient operations of the
district.
Section 3. The District
Governor shall appoint a Chair for each of the standing and ad hoc
committees.
Section 4. The District
Governor shall appoint the members of all committees except where membership is
determined by succession. Strong consideration should be given to establishing a
line of succession in all committees.
Section 5. The District
Governor shall have the authority to remove the chair, or any member, of a
committee for inactivity or other valid cause.
ARTICLE
III
RULES FOR MEETING
PROCEDURES
Section 1. Except as
otherwise specifically provided for in this Constitution and By-Laws, or in the
rules of procedure adopted for a meeting, all questions of order and procedure
in any District, Region, Zone or other member club meeting, or any group or
committee of any one of them, shall be determined by the latest edition of
Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.
ARTICLE IV
DISTRICT
REVENUE
Section 1. The amount of
the District dues as established in the Constitution, shall be recommended by
the Finance Committee and approved by the Cabinet.
Section 2. Checks drawn on
District Funds shall be issued only upon receipt of an itemized bill, or
voucher, that has been approved by the District Governor and falls within the
amount allocated for that line item in the approved District
budget.
Section 3. Two signatures
shall be required on District checks. Authorized signatures shall be the
District Governor, the Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer and the Finance Committee
Chair.
ARTICLE V
Article V. Endorsement of a
20W Candidate for International Director or Second Vice President. A qualified
Lion, who is in good standing in a Lions Club within District 20W who seeks an
International Office in Lions Clubs International, must first receive the
endorsement of District 20W.
Sect.1. This endorsement is by a positive majority vote of
the certified voting delegates to the 20W District convention.
Sect. 2. The endorsement will
be valid for consideration for two MD20 Conventions past the date of the
District endorsement.
Sect. 3. The District cabinet secretary will notify the
State Secretary Treasurer in writing that an endorsement has been made.
A.
Both the District Governor and Cabinet Secretary will be signatories to this
letter of endorsement.
ARTICLE VI
CONFORMITY TO THE INTERNATIONAL AND
MULTIPLE DISTRICT CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
Section 1.
In the event that the International or Multiple District 20 Constitution and
By-Laws shall be amended or otherwise changed in such a manner as to render any
part of this Constitution and By-Laws invalid, such changes shall not render
this Constitution and By-Laws inoperable until proper opportunity is presented
under provisions of this Constitution and By-Laws to correct the affected
Articles and Sections.
ARTICLE
VII
AMENDMENTS
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These By-Laws
may be amended only at a District Convention by resolution reported by the
Committee on Constitution and By-Laws and adopted by a majority affirmative of
the votes cast by the certified delegates present at the
convention.
Section 2. No amendment
shall be so reported or voted upon, unless the same shall have been furnished in
writing to each club not less than thirty (30) days prior to the convening date
of the District Convention with notice that the same will be voted upon at said
District Convention.
Section 3. Each amendment
shall take effect at the close of the District Convention, at which adopted,
unless otherwise specified in the amendment.
Section 4. Proposed District
Constitution and By-Laws and amendments must first be submitted to the MD20
Constitution and By-Laws Committee to check for conformity to both the MD-20
Constitution, By-Laws and Policy Manual and the Constitution, By-Laws, and
Policy Manual of Lions Clubs International prior to their adoption by the
Sub-District.
ARTICLE
VIII
RATIFICATION
This Constitution and
By-Laws shall take effect at the close of the District Convention at which the
same is adopted by a majority of the certified delegates present and
voting.
Amended at
Amended at District
convention in