By Lion Steve Dogiakos
Across Lions Clubs International, we regularly discuss membership growth, retention, and service impact. Those are important conversations. But underneath all of that is a more basic and revealing question:
If someone in your community decided they wanted to become a Lion, how would they figure out how to do it?
Picture two different people.
One is a 38-year-old business owner who just moved to town. She searches online for ways to get involved. She checks Facebook. She looks for a website. She wants to know what the organization does, when it meets, and how to reach someone directly.
The other is a 67-year-old retiree who has lived in the area for decades. He reads the local newspaper. He listens to local radio. He notices which groups sponsor youth events. He sees banners at the fairgrounds. He asks neighbors who is active in the community.
Both of these people could make excellent Lions. Both may be looking for purpose and connection. The question is whether your club is visible to either of them.
Most clubs are not formally “invite only.” But some operate in a way that unintentionally limits access. If the only realistic way to join is to already know a Lion well enough to be asked, then membership is restricted to existing social circles. That may feel natural. It may even feel traditional. But it narrows the pipeline.
Visibility has two dimensions: digital and analog. Both matter.
On the digital side, ask yourself: if someone searches for your club, what do they find? Is your meeting time current? Is there a clear contact person? Is there a simple explanation of what your club actually does locally, not just a generic description of Lions? Does your social media reflect recent activity? Is there an obvious path for someone to say, “I’m interested”?
Digital presence is not about chasing trends. It is about clarity. It allows a prospective member to quietly research before making contact. For many people, that step is essential.
But digital presence alone is not enough, especially in many of our communities.
The analog footprint is just as important. Are you consistently mentioned in the local paper? Do your press releases include a line inviting prospective members? Are you visible at community events with signage that clearly identifies you? Does your club name appear on sponsorship banners, park signs, or event programs? Do members talk about Lions work in everyday conversation at church, at the café, at school functions?
For some potential members, awareness grows from repeated, physical visibility. They join not because they saw a website once, but because they have seen the Lions name attached to meaningful projects over time.
Then there is culture. Suppose someone attends a meeting after finding you, whether online or through word of mouth. Is the process clear? Do they understand what is expected? Do they know what the next step is? Or do we assume that interest is enough to convert itself into membership?
Openness must be communicated. Accessibility must be intentional.
At the district level, engagement improves when clubs evaluate both footprints honestly. A strong website cannot compensate for invisibility in the community. A long-standing local reputation cannot compensate for a complete absence online. The most resilient clubs tend to maintain both. They are easy to find digitally and easy to recognize physically.
So here is a practical exercise for your club:
If a motivated person under 40 searched for you tonight, what would they see?
If a motivated retiree looked around town this month, what would they notice?
If either answer is unclear, there is opportunity.
How does your club balance its digital and analog presence? What has helped you attract new members in recent years? What gaps have you identified?
Leave a comment below and share your experience. Specific examples will help other clubs think more critically about their own visibility and engagement.
