As a district governor or council chairperson, you play a vital role in how your district or multiple district collaborates and grows with young people. Having a robust network of younger members strengthens your area as they bring expertise and new service and membership ideas.
Appointing a Leo/Leo-Lion cabinet or council liaison can improve your area’s connection with young people.
Appointing a Leo/Leo-Lion cabinet or council liaison can improve your area’s connection with young people. Their insight can help you promote and replicate success stories and may help you understand and find solutions for challenges, but it is important to know how to position them for success. Here are a few tips that can help!
- Mindful appointment matters
- Consider potential liaison’s connection to the Leo club program and young people in your area so that your liaison can adequately represent Leos and Leo-Lions.
- Consulting with your Leo district leadership to assess candidate's relationship with the Leo club program prior to your selection can help.
- Prepare liaisons with partners and resources
- Make certain your liaison meets with the district and multiple district Leo president, if applicable, and of course the Leos and other young members in the area. Convening with them helps your liaison be an effective advocate.
- Help liaisons connect with a team of people who can work on the Leo to Lion transition, including your Leo chairpersons, multiple district and district Leo presidents and GET/GMT.
- Report your liaison in the Lion Portal so that they receive communications and are able to operate to their full capacity.
- Direct your liaisons to resources available on the Leo/Leo-Lion Cabinet and Council Liaison webpage, including tips for cabinet and council liaisons.
- Ensure young people are on the agenda.
- Make sure liaisons attend Lion cabinet and council meetings to be well-informed.
- Encourage liaisons to share their ideas on how Leos and Leo-Lions could be included in district and multiple district events, such as (but not limited to) conventions, service projects, leadership training, grants and more.
- Be vocal in your support of ideas to collaborate with Leos, celebrate Leo-Lions and emphasize the importance of young Lions in your area.
- Help clubs in your area strengthen their bonds with young people by encouraging them to collaborate and sharing resources about connecting to young people.
- Leverage having a liaison!
- Include liaisons in your Leo to Lion transition plans. They can serve similarly to a project manager, developing a plan and helping to coordinate a team to establish goals and utilize the resources available to encourage more Leos to become Lions.
- Help them gain practical leadership experience. Liaisons should chair one district or multiple district collaboration project between Leos and Leo-Lions.
- Ask them what their strengths are and about any supports they may need. Encourage them to lead using those skills when they chair their collaboration project.
- Utilize liaisons to help you identify other young leaders who can assist in building a vibrant Lion community where people of all ages lead and serve.
Visit the Leo/Leo-Lion cabinet or council webpage to access additional resources and learn more about this role.
Kaylee Baumbach is the Young Lions Program specialist at Lions International.
