by Lisa Thomas

“Retention programs help the club function with fulfilled members who better understand being a Lion and are better able to serve,” said Past Council Chairperson William Kent Clovis.

Being Multiple District 3’s retention chairperson for over five years, Clovis has plenty to say on the subject of retention. Like so many Lions, Clovis is discovering new ways to deal with and think about retention issues. He adds, “The best retention programs make sure that existing Lions are involved and fulfilled and that a follow-up program is in place for members who have left or are considering leaving.”

Clubs worldwide retain members by implementing several different types of programs. Several clubs within Multiple District 3 (Oklahoma) find that having some type of orientation program aids them best in retaining members. The Oklahoma City Downtown Lions Club runs a member orientation effort called The Red Badge Program, where new members have to complete certain tasks before being presented with a regular name badge to wear at meetings.

Other clubs in Oklahoma use annual orientation sessions as a part of their effort to retain members. As Clovis puts it, “The key to retention just might be finding an orientation program that fits your club. Out of all the programs I have seen, the clubs with the best orientation programs have stellar retention rates and create members who know and appreciate what they have joined.”

Informed, involved and fulfilled Lions can also be found in District 33-Y (Massachusetts) where District Retention Chairperson Beverly Prentice started the Lion-by-Lion Program. In this program, club officers randomly call other Lions within the same club to ask how they are doing. You can find out a lot of things from a member if you just ask. “In addition to thanking them for being a member, you may find that they have suggestions about club projects, thoughts on the quality of meetings, or a strong desire to become more active as a Lion,” said Prentice.

Perhaps one of the most comprehensive retention programs around is the Project Refresh Campaign run by Multiple District 105 (British Isles and Ireland). (A similar program has been implemented in Multiple District 201, Australia.)

The Project Refresh Campaign was designed for a club to take a look at the satisfaction of its members. It encourages members to fill out surveys built to identify their thoughts on meetings, service activities, fundraising, recruitment practices and other club matters. Surveys are then analyzed by club-level Project Refresh committees looking for common dissatisfactions and concerns among members. Created by Past District Governors Gilbert Lee and William Blake as well as other leadership in MD 105, Project Refresh encourages districts and clubs to see the importance of surveying members and improving club atmosphere. Overall, Blake sees tremendous value in the program that “reminds club presidents and members to work together and discuss whether members are satisfied.”

Using Project Refresh, clubs within MD 105 have been able to address the reasons why Lions leave. Reasons given for being dissatisfied within a club can vary greatly; Blake acknowledges that most dissatisfaction can be avoided by making sound decisions. Blake adds, “Project Refresh reminds us of the importance of club-level decisions. Club members and leadership decide whether to start and end meeting on time or decide to follow an agenda and such.”

The Stroud, Oklahoma, Lions Club knows that it is possible to save members from becoming non-Lions. Led by Lion Clovis, Stroud sends a group of three Lions to visit any member of the club that requests to be dropped. The group discusses with the dissatisfied Lion about why he or she is considering leaving. Clovis confidently states, “A visit like this, from Lions who have a personal connection and fellowship with each other, can make a big impression on the member who is considering leaving. We have saved several members that way.”

Other ways to follow up with the former member include, as District 33-Y (Massachusetts) does, calling former members or sending them a letter. Prentice sums up this practice up best by saying, “What is important is thanking the former members for giving their time and talent in serving others. Let former members know what they contributed to the club. They may be so impressed at the time you spent with them, they may return to Lionism.”

Look at retention in terms of taking care of members so they can better serve others. As clubs from Oklahoma to England have demonstrated, all a club needs to implement a retention program is the desire to address issues and to help members feel that they belong. For more information on finding a retention program that works for your club, contact the Membership Operations Department at 630-571-5466, ext. 356 or by e-mail.