Resolutions

Resolutions accepted by Council for MD105 Coronation Convention

5th-6th May, 2023

Resolution A:

Proposed by HORLEY LIONS CLUB

Seconded by CATERHAM, OXTED & GODSTONE LIONS CLUB

Resolution concerning request to International Board.

This Convention requests that the International Board amend the constitutions relating to all Lions Conventions, International, MD and District, to allow electronic voting by delegates unable to attend in addition to voting on the day for delegates present.

Explanatory notes.

There are many reasons why individual Member delegates may not be able to attend particularly cost for MD and particularly International and there is no democratic means available whereby their view might be taken into account. This leaves clubs disenfranchised, and not feeling part of the organisation.

There is a clear need too, for the Resolutions to be published to clubs well in advance to allow discussion at club Business Meetings. It would also be more environmentally friendly if Clubs a long way from Conventions could still vote but not travel.

Resolution B:

Resolution concerning Multiple District Dues Proposed by Council

That the Multiple District Dues for Lions Year 2023/2024 be set at a maximum of £40.00 per member per annum, payable in two equal instalments (on 1 August 2023 based on membership at 30 June 2023 and on 1 February 2024 based upon membership at 31 December 2023).

The exact amount to be decided at the May 2023 Council of Governors Meetings, but not expected to exceed £35.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

The Dues set for 2022-23, £29.50, was done with the intention of returning underspends generated in previous years to members. The Multiple District has had significantly less expenditure from March 2020, and it is exceedingly difficult to predict what is going to happen in the coming months, given the cost of living crisis, war in the Ukraine and an energy crisis. Therefore, it is proposed that we set a maximum due for the 2023/2024 Lions year, the exact amount being set at the nearest Council meeting to the period start.

This is a pragmatic approach with the intention of continuing to return underspends generated in previous years to members. Council has instructed that the number of in person meetings be reduced with a corresponding increase in digital meetings, including meetings of the Council of Governors.

Over the last few years, successive Councils have looked to reduce cost by comprehensively reviewing the structure and governance of the Multiple District, whilst simultaneously looking to invest in the future of the Association. These changes have been phased in and, notwithstanding falling membership, members' dues have been maintained over the 'change' period at the level set in 2014-15, that is, eight years without increase.

In real terms we have taken over £130,000 of cost out of the Association over the past fifteen years.

Notwithstanding this hard work, we are not immune from the effects of inflation, our suppliers need to cover their costs and the general effects of the overall financial environment. At the time of drafting this Resolution, inflation (CPI) was running at 10.5%. The budget proposals have been considered carefully by both the Finance Committee and Council.

Council receive a quarterly financial analysis and the Council Treasurer undertakes quarterly meetings with Staff to review costs and expenditure, however, it should be noted that certain costs arise because of legislative requirements, Vat and Rates, for example. Of note is the Government's stated aim to increase Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) to parity with Vat over coming years.

The Budget is based on a membership of 9,400.

Cost Analysis attached.

CONSTITUTIONAL NOTE

Article III Sections 1(a) &2 of the Multiple District Constitution (as adopted 30 April 2005 and subsequently amended):

"Section 1(a) � Annual Per Capita Levy

Every District shall pay into a Multiple District administrative fund a per capita levy, based on its membership taken as at 30 June and 31 December in every year. The Council of Governors shall table a resolution at every Multiple District Convention to set the per capita levy for the following fiscal year. Such resolution must be supported by a complete list of budgets for all Multiple District officers and committees, conventions, meetings and administrative functions. If such resolution shall fail then the per capita levy for the time being in force shall be continued until changed by resolution.

Section 2 � Collection of Per Capita Levy

Every District Treasurer shall collect such levy from Clubs in his District by two half-yearly payments and shall pay the monies so collected to the Council Treasurer in August and February of every year."

COST ANALYSIS FOR DUES RESOLUTION

MD 105					Actual 2019-2020	Per Head	Actual 2020-2021	Per Head	Actual 2021-2022	Per Head	Budget 2022-2023	Per Head	Budget 2023-2024	Per Head	Comments
1		COG Meetings etc.	10859	0.99	144	0.01	12,491	1.28	19,757	2.10	17,044	1.81
2		Council Chairman	1255	0.11	0	0.00	2,536	0.26	2,743	0.29	2,743	0.29
3		Secretary to Council	1922	0.17	0	0.00	931	0.10	1,000	0.11	1,000	0.11
4		MD Council Treasurer	1014	0.09	850	0.09	1,139	0.12	950	0.10	1,200	0.13
5	A	Sergeant at Arms	0	0.00		0.00		0.00		0.00		0.00	Budget included within Council Meetings.
	B	MD Convention	5158	0.47	7346	0.73	34,976	3.59	25,000	2.66	25,000	2.66
6	A	Elect Seminars - DG Elect net of Grant	3096	0.28	2149	0.21	2645	0.27	4,240	0.45	4,240	0.45
	B	1st Vice DG Elect Seminars	3438	0.31	0	0.00	0	0.00	4,740	0.50	4,740	0.50
	C	2nd Vice DG Elect Seminars	2069	0.19	0	0.00	0	0.00	-	0.00	-
7		Partner Travel International Convention	0	0.00	0	0.00	3,881	0.40	5,100	0.54	8,175	0.87	As approved by Convention Resolutions, most recently Southport 2009. 2023 Convention is in Boston, 2024 Melbourne, 2025 Mexico.
8		Sp Cttees, Meetings and Contact Govrs	235	0.02	0	0.00	0	0.00	-	0.00	-	0.00
9		Strategic Development Committee	116	0.01	0	0.00	0	0.00	600	0.06	600	0.06
10		Insurance (excl. charged to Clubs)	25830	2.35	28803	2.88	36,609	3.75	32,500	3.46	33,500	3.56	After discussion with MD Insurance Adviser.
11		National HQ	123556	11.23	117091	11.71	111,971	11.48	136,904	14.56	133,453	14.20
12		Directory & Postage	2135	0.19	475	0.05	0	0.00	-	0.00	-	0.00
13		Independent Examination - Accountants	1500	0.14	1750	0.18	1,800	0.18	1,750	0.19	1,750	0.19
14		Travel Aid (105CN, 105N, 105SC)		0.00		0.00		0.00
			182,183	16.56	158,608	15.86	208,979	21.43	235,284	25.03	233,445	24.83
		Communication
15		Magazine	42198	3.84	35732	3.57	25259	2.59	35,000	3.72	44,285	4.71
16		Information Technology Committee	0	0.00	0	0.00	0	0.00		0.00		0.00
17		Contribution from PR Reserve		0.00	0	0.00	0	0.00	- 5,000	-0.53	- 5,000	-0.53
18		PR Comm & Pub	33505	3.05	42660	4.27	35730	3.66	48,000	5.11	50,650	5.39	£20,000 minimum, dictated by Convention Resolution, budget in line with indexation.
			75,703	6.88	78,392	7.84	60,989	6.26	78,000	8.30	89,935	9.57
		GAT: Service, Leadership & Membership											To cover all GAT/GLT/GMT/GST activities.
19		MD Co-ordinator
20	A	Membership Officer inc Campus, Extension & Retention
21	B	Regional Institute/Faculty Development Institute.
22	C	Membership Activities
23		Leadership Development
24		Service Team
			8,809		2,527		3,642		9,851	1	9,851	1.05
25		New Lions Symposium	10,205				10,325		12,000	1	15,000	1.60
			19,014	1.73	2,527	0.25	13,967	1.43	21,851	2.32	24,851	2.64
		Youth
26		Lions Opportunities for Youth Com Chmn
27		Young Ambassador
28		Yth Exchange
29		Leo Clubs Co-ordinator (net of Yth Tst contr.)
30		Life Skills Officer
31		Peace Poster
32		Young Leaders in Service
			763	0.07	2,313	0.23	78	0.01	3,000	0.32	3,000	0.32
		International
33		International Conv. (including attendance	884	0.08	-	0.00	16,478	1.69	18,830	2.00	20,790	2.21
34		Europa Forum
35		Mag. Editor to Europa Forum
36		International Convention Committee
37		LCIF Officer
38		International Relations Officer
39		Patron Liaison
			4,355	0.40	1,237	0.12	4,396	0.45	6,903	0.73	7,000	0.74
		Projects
40		Sight First Officer
41		Portfolio
42		Speech/Hearing Officer.
43		Diabetes Education Prog Co-ordinator
44		Medic Alert Officer
45		P&L Disabilities Officer
46		Environment Officer
			542	0.05	146	0.01	929	0.10	2,500	0.27	2,500	0.27
		Adm. & Management
47		MD Officers - Attendance, Convention
48		Centennial Committee
49		Charities Treasurer
50		Constitution, Noms & Resolutions Officer
51		Credentials Officer
52		Data Protection
53		Health & Safety Officer
54		Legal Adviser
55		Tax Advisor
56		Vulnerable Person Co-ordinator
			567	0.05	218	0.02	1,714	0.18	3,900	0.41	3,900	0.41
		Gross Revenue Total	284,011	25.82	243,441	24.34	307,530	31.54	370,268	39.39	385,421	41.00
		Income & Injection	- 22,730	-2.07	- 14,402	-1.44	- 21,572	-2.21	- 15,500	-1.65	- 4,000	-0.43
		Budget	261,281	22.82	229,039	20.82	285,958	28.60	354,768	37.74	381,421	40.58
		No of members per budget	11,450		11,000		10,000		9,750		9,400
		Dues Calculation	28.80		30.45		28.60		36.39		40.58
		Income & Injection
		Sundry Expenses	9,443		3,986		799				10,000
		Depreciation	2,724		1,816		2,732		2,000		2,000
		Sundry Income	- 1,163		- 5,941		- 4,019
		Gross Profit - Sales (National HQ)	- 7,628		- 365		- 8,684		- 6,000		- 6,000
		Rental Income	- 15,396		- 9,987		- 10,866		- 8,500		- 10,500
		Contribution	- 9,349		- 3,322		- 1,244		- 5,000		-
		Interest	- 4,313		- 2,488		- 2,906		- 3,000		- 4,500
		Tax	2,952		1,899		2,616		5,000		5,000
		Total	- 22,730		- 14,402		- 21,572		- 15,500		- 4,000
		Dues Set	28.50		28.50		33.50		29.50		35.00
		Proposed Income Budget	329,805		334,987		337,914		354,768		381,421
		Dues Income					270000		287625		329000

Resolution C:

Proposed by COG

Resolution Concerning Request for Clubs to donate towards MD Youth Activities.

This Convention resolves that the sum of £4.00 (four pounds) per Club Member to be requested from Clubs to support Youth Activities be increased to £6.00 (six pounds) per Club Member for the Lionistic Year 2023-2024.

This sum shall continue to be reviewed annually by the Council of Governors who may make recommendations to future Conventions as to a suitable sum to be requested for the immediately following Lionistic Year. In the event that no such recommendation is made or, that same is rejected by Convention, the sum to be requested shall continue to be the sum for the time being in force.

Explanatory Notes:

This sum can be paid from a Clubs charitable funds.

Convention Torquay 2013 passed a Resolution to request each Club in the Multiple District to pay the sum of £4 per member to support Youth Activities each year, commencing July 2013.

It also resolved that the Council of Governors review this sum on an annual basis and make a recommendation to successive Conventions as to a suitable sum to be requested for the immediately following Lionistic Year. This is the first request for an increase since 2013.

At the time of the 2013 Resolution the budget for the then forthcoming year 2014 was £38,130. The budget for 2024 is £49,887. Not only has the membership declined but also contributions in 2022 represented only 62.1% of members.

Council have agreed they wish continue to promote the benefit of the youth activities which comprise of Peace poster and Essay Competition, Young Leaders in Service including the Ship Shape Award, Young Ambassadors, The Youth Exchange Programme, Youth camp and Leos.

In the event that no such recommendation is made or, that same is rejected by Convention, the sum to be requested shall be that agreed at the most recent preceding Convention. The failure to increase income for Youth Activities will result in a request to Council to reduce Youth Activities funded by the MD 105 Foundation.

A PDF version is also available to download and print:

2023 Convention Resolutions to combine.pdf