The Lions Clubs International (LCI) association has seen explosive growth in Central-Eastern Europe since it chartered the first Lions club in Budapest, Hungary in 1989.
Lions have generated 10 new districts, 400 new clubs and more than 11,000 new members.
European states on the Baltic coast have created successful membership growth in countries like Poland and Estonia by developing relationships with Eastern European states.
Between 1995 and 2000, annual membership in Eastern Europe nearly doubled.
From 2000 to 2003, membership in Eastern Europe grew by 20 percent.
Women’s membership increased from 28% to 34% from 2006 to 2011.
Membership Growth
Basic information, training and working materials to current members.
Comprehensive information about LCI to prospective members.
Leadership training at all district levels.
Experts in the field, including experienced Certified Guiding Lions, to address needs and challenges and work directly with local Lions.
Access to experienced, senior Lions leaders in the European region.
Central-Eastern European Initiative
To accelerate membership growth in Eastern Europe in 2007-2008, (then) Second International Vice President Eberhard J. Wirfs developed the Eastern Europe Project (EEP) which has now been transformed into the Central-Eastern European Initiative (CEEI) under the guidance of Past Inernational Director Ernst A. Musil. This initiative:
Provide financial aid and clear goals for each country with realistic time frames.
Train and prepare each country to function independently.
In fiscal year 2011-2012, begin to move these countries into the GMT/GLT structure.
