Global Membership Team Report – PDG Richard Gessling-August 2025
Global Membership Team
Global and Montana Membership – August, 2025
Growing Lion Leaders 3
I’ve been describing what the clubs should be doing to make a Lions leader, but I will describe what a Lion member should be doing to learn how to be a leader in whatever endeavor you pick, including a Lion leader. You might ask why should I want to a Lions leader. My reply would be, you will gain the skills for all aspects of your life. You’ve probably already gained the skills that are necessary to fulfill your lifestyle goals. If so you were exposed and taught and demonstrated by many people in your life, a teacher, parent, or a relative or friend. It is time to pay it back, so they say.
By Global Membership TeamGlobal Membership Team Report – PDG Richard Gessling-July 2025
Global Membership Team
Global and Montana Membership – July, 2025
Growing Lion Leaders 2
Growing a lion leader begins with the new member induction. They have decided to help their community by joining a Lions Club. They hear a bit about the International Lions founding and the international services during the induction ceremony. After they receive their pin, the entire club should make them feel welcome.
Global Membership Team Report – PDG Richard Gessling-June 2025
Global Membership Team
Global and Montana Membership – June, 2025
Growing Lion Leaders
This will be a continuing discussion from my speed learning presentation at the convention. By “Putting meat on the bones”. Our Montana Lions District is not growing the leaders we need to keep and improve our district. This is evident by not being able to fill our zone chairs positions, Club presidents that are presidents longer than one or two years, and members holding club officer positions for multiple years. To grow leaders, leaders need to allow for succession, replacing one’s self.
Let’s start with club service projects. A new lion needs to be immediately included in service, not by saying come and help but giving them a duty, or by a club member taking them on as an assistant. Club Members tend to have the same duties over multiple years. Incorporating the new member might mean be giving up your current duty, but hopefully you move on to another duty. Let’s face it, change is hard for humans. A chair of a service project should also change after a few years allowing another to grow their leadership skills. The replacement could be a vice chair for a year prior to moving up.
These small steps need to be continued to “GROW A LION LEADER”. I hope you catch my drift and keep moving from position to another and keep the flow moving. This will keep every member engaged and help recruit new members and keep the current members engaged. Doing this should keep your club strong and encourage club and personal growth. The International Lions state that we create leaders. Let’ make sure we do our part.
Lion Richard Gessling
406-425-3785
