More Information About Leo Clubs Leo Membership Leo Club Activities Leo Leadership Awards and Recognition How to Organize a Leo Club Just For Advisors Information for Chairpersons Updates For Leos Leo Conference Grant Program Leos at Convention

Organizing a Leo Club
Promoting Leo Clubs
Leadership Workshops
Seminars for Leos
Forming a Leo District / Multiple District

Leo Chairperson Responsibilities

Leo chairpersons should understand the underlying philosophies of the Leo Club Program:

• to offer young people the opportunity to help others through organized and productive service activities;            
• to provide young people with the opportunity to develop leadership abilities;
• to alert young people to the circumstances of persons who are less fortunate than themselves.

Leo club chairpersons are responsible for providing information and encouraging both potential and active participants in the Leo Club Program. In addition, Leo chairpersons encourage and help coordinate Leo functions.

• The multiple district Leo club chairperson is appointed by the council chairman.
• The district Leo club chairperson is appointed by the district governor.

Chairpersons should:

• become familiar with the Leo Club Program Handbook (Leo-65) and the principles and procedures for organizing a Leo club.
• provide current information at the local level on the organization of Leo clubs.
• publicize and promote the Leo Club Program.
• become knowledgeable about Leo Club Program resources (available upon request) from the Youth Programs Department at international headquarters as well as local resources which can help Leo clubs develop into dynamic youth groups.
• be familiar with the latest news about Lions youth programs.
• maintain contact with Leo club advisor(s). Encourage the advisor(s) to report on the progress of their Leo clubs.
• conduct two leadership development seminars early in the fiscal year; one for Leo advisors; the other for Leo club officers.
• serve as a non-voting advisor to the Leo council, if one has been established in the district. The Leo club chairperson serves as official liaison between the Lions district cabinet and the Leo district council.
• inform the district governor and international headquarters of district Leo Club Program progress. The district Leo club chairperson submits suggestions for improving the program to the district governor.  
• recommend an outstanding Leo club to the district governor for a Leo Club Excellence Award nomination.
• prepare the Annual Report for Leo Districts and Multiple Districts (Leo91). Submit the report to international headquarters.
• be available to Leo clubs to provide assistance in resolving problems.
• share information with the district youth outreach chairperson and youth exchange chairperson to enhance the district's service to youth.

Associate district Leo chairperson

This is an optional appointment made at the discretion of the district governor in districts where a Leo district has not been established. This appointee must be a Leo club member.

The primary function of the associate district Leo club chairperson is to promote the Leo Club Program and to help form new Leo clubs, when requested.  

The name and address of the associate district Leo club chairperson should be reported to the Youth Programs Department. A special lapel pin is available for the associate district Leo club chairperson.

Encourage new Leo clubs

Leo club chairpersons should determine the number of Lions clubs in the area that sponsor a Leo club. Then, contact Lions clubs that are not currently sponsoring a Leo club. Offer to provide assistance in organizing a new Leo club.

Understand the Lions / Leo relationship

Leo clubs are an activity of Lions clubs. Leo clubs cannot exist without the approval of a Lions club sponsor.

When sponsoring a Leo club, a Lions club assumes responsibility for guiding and directing the youth group. The appointed Leo club advisor works with the Leo club and serves as a delegate for the Lions club.

One of the advisor's goals is to assist Leos in developing their leadership skills. Another goal is to recognize Leo community service opportunities and to guide club members toward completion of these projects.

To learn more about the role of the Leo club advisor, click here.

Leo club chairpersons work with advisors

District Leo club chairpersons should maintain an updated list of the Leo club advisors in their district. The names and contact information of these advisors can be obtained from the sponsoring Lions clubs.

Chairpersons should maintain frequent contact with Leo advisors through e-mails, bulletins or letters.

District Leo club chairpersons can assist Leo advisors in fulfilling their responsibilities by:

• maintaining good communications between Lions and Leo clubs;
• transmitting requests for assistance from one group to another;
• encouraging Leo involvement in Lions club activities whenever possible;
• providing assistance to Leo clubs without dominating their activities;
• helping Leos to receive acknowledgement from their sponsoring Lions club as well as from the local media.

Leo awards

Many awards are available for Leos. For detailed information about Leo awards, click here. 

To view the current winners of the:

• multiple district Leo Club Extension Award (reported an annual net gain of five Leo clubs) click here.
• district Leo Club Extension Award (reported an annual net gain of three Leo clubs), click here.
• Top Ten Leo districts for the fiscal year, click here.  

Click here for awards and recognition information for: Lions members, Lions districts, Lions multiple districts, Leos and youth, international Lion leaders, and non-Lions. 

Communicate with international headquarters

When Leo clubs complete a significant service project or fundraiser, they are invited to send written details and photographs to international headquarters on the Report of a Successful Leo Club Project of Activity (Leo-SPA) form. 

Many Leo forms and publications are available in the Resources section of this Web site.

To order service program publications, including Leo publications, click here.

Chairpersons are encouraged to communicate with the Youth Programs Department at international headquarters.