by Marilee Seef

Save the Date! The ninth annual Lions Worldwide Induction Day will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2006, to welcome new members into our association. On this special day, Lions clubs from around the world will simultaneously join together to induct new members into our association while reaffirming their own passion and dedication to serve others. “Men and women in every community would welcome an invitation to be a member of the world’s largest service club organization. Seek them out and offer them this unequaled opportunity to enjoy the satisfaction of being involved with voluntary community service,” states International President Dr. Ashok Mehta.

Participation Provides a Meaningful Experience
All Lions are encouraged to participate! Holding a district-wide event has the potential for the largest number of participants, which can maximize the impact of the event. It provides a great opportunity for Lions to meet other members throughout their district, and exchange ideas, too. Some districts choose to celebrate this event during their district conventions, allowing more Lions to participate. Worldwide Induction Day ceremonies can also be organized within regions, zones or by individual clubs. Leo Clubs, Campus Lions clubs and New Century Lions clubs are encouraged to participate and lend their support, as well.

Participation in Lions Worldwide Induction Day provides members with a positive experience to celebrate together in friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding. Each member is recognized with the “Lions Clubs International Certificate of Membership – Worldwide Induction Day,” signed by our international president, to commemorate this worldwide event.

Participation also offers clubs and districts the opportunity to publicize their community achievements. Press releases to promote Lions Worldwide Induction Day can help to showcase Lions projects and activities and help increase public knowledge of the numerous contributions Lions members have made to the community. A fill-in-the-blank format release is available online. Simply fill in the blanks, print on club letterhead and send to the local media.

Teamwork Helps to Ensure Success
To commemorate Worldwide Induction Day last year, District 35-L, Florida, hosted a large event to induct 17 new members into seven Lions clubs on April 16, 2005. Over 100 Lions attended from various clubs in the district to lend their support to the new Lions. Worldwide Induction Day Chairperson Lion Michael C. Mason enlisted the help of the Lions Charitable Trust in Marion County to offer a free dinner to all who attended. He also received club donations and individual contributions from Lions members in Multiple District 35. “One of the goals of the Lions Charitable Trust is to promote Lions in Marion County, and with the challenges of membership, we feel it is important to recognize efforts of clubs who are striving to increase membership, " said Past District Governor John Lovill. “It costs more to hold this type of event, but it was undoubtedly the best Lions Induction Day we ever had. It was a fantastic event,” continued Lovill.

To welcome the new Lions, the district prepared an attractive, commemorative program keepsake which listed all the new members’ names, club affiliations and sponsors. As part of the program, guests enjoyed a video production produced by Mason which featured highlights of recycled eyeglass mission trips taken by district club members. The video also featured images and music from countries visited during the mission trips to recognize the international scope of our association. “We’ve started a tradition here,” says Mason, who is setting higher membership and participation goals for the 2006 Worldwide Induction Day celebration. He also stresses the importance of the team effort which helped to make this event a success. Lions throughout District 35-L contributed in various ways such as organizing the event, publicizing, helping to prepare the dinner, and welcoming the new members.

Start Planning!
Begin preparations now! A helpful guide is available to assist clubs and districts in hosting a successful celebration. Download the Lions Clubs International Worldwide Induction Day Club and District Planning Guide to help plan and organize a meaningful, newsworthy event. The guide contains ceremony ideas, a time line with helpful month-to-month planning tips, sample press releases to promote this event, public relations tips, and more. You may also request the guide from New Clubs and Marketing Department at inductionday@lionsclubs.org.

To obtain more information, please contact your district governor or click here. You may also call the New Clubs and Marketing Department at 630-571-5466, ext. 522 for further information. Look for more news about Lions Worldwide Induction Day in future issues of THE LION Magazine.