Resolutions

Resolutions accepted by Council for MD Convention

Birmingham 2022


Resolution A: Proposed by District 105N

This Convention resolves that the International Board of Directors be requested to revisit their decision to include the District Co-Ordinators of the Global Membership Team, Global Leadership Team, Global Service Team and the District LCIF Co-Ordinator as non-voting members of the District Cabinet and consider giving these valuable members of the District Teams full voting privileges as Cabinet members.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Lions Clubs International have made the decision to mandate that the District Cabinet shall include the Co-ordinators of the Global Membership Team, Global Leadership Team, Global Service Team, and the LCIF Co-ordinator as non-voting Cabinet posts. The Cabinet of 105N consider that these roles are important and should be included in Cabinet as full voting members. 

If this Resolution is not carried at District Convention in February, then it is requested that it be withdrawn as a Resolution from this District to the MD Convention in Birmingham.


Resolution B: Proposed by the Council of Governors

This Convention Resolves that the Multiple District Dues for Lions Year 2022/2023 be set at a maximum of £36.50 per member per annum, payable in two equal instalments (on 1 August 2022 based on membership at 30 June 2022 and on 1 February 2023 based upon membership at 31 December 2022).

The exact amount to be decided at the April 2022 Council of Governors Meeting, but not expected to exceed: £30.00per member per annum.

EXPLANATORYNOTE

Convention considered the level of Dues payable at the 2019 MD Convention. The Dues set, £28.50, was done without any anticipation of a global pandemic. The Multiple District has had significantly less expenditure since March 2020, and it is exceedingly difficult to predict what is going to happen in the coming months. Therefore, it is proposed that we set a maximum due for the 2022/2023 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 returning 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 fourteen 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 5.4%. The budget proposals have been considered carefully by both the Finance Committee and Council.

Council receives 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 as a consequence 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 9,750.

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 their 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 2018-2019 Per Head Actual 2019-2020 Per Head Actual 2020-2021 Per Head Budget 2021-2022 Per Head Budget 2022-2023 Per Head Comments
1 COG Meetings etc. 19234 1.64 10859 0.95 144 0.01 16,155 1.62 19,757 2.03
2 Council Chairman 4129 0.35 1255 0.11 0 0.00 2,698 0.27 2,743 0.28
3 Secretary to Council 2457 0.21 1922 0.17 0 0.00 2,000 0.20 1,000 0.10
4 MD Council Treasurer 914 0.08 1014 0.09 850 0.08 950 0.10 950 0.10
5 A Sergeant at Arms   0.00 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Budget included within Council Meetings.
B MD Convention 25376 2.17 5158 0.45 7346 0.67 25,000 2.50 25,000 2.56
6 A Elect Seminars - DG Elect net of Grant 4477 0.38 3096 0.27 2149 0.20 3844 0.38 4,240 0.43
B 1st Vice DG Elect Seminars 3726 0.32 3438 0.30 0 0.00 3844 0.38 4,740 0.49
C 2nd Vice DG Elect Seminars 968 0.08 2069 0.18 0 0.00 2444 0.24 - 0.00
7 Partner Travel International Convention 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 7,500 0.75 5,100 0.52 As approved by Convention Resolutions, most recently Southport 2009. 2022 Convention is in Montreal, 2023 Boston, 2024  Melbourne.
8 Sp Cttees, Meetings and Contact Govrs 70 0.01 235 0.02 0 0.00 0 0.00 - 0.00
9 Strategic Development Committee 339 0.03 116 0.01 0 0.00 600 0.06 600 0.06
10 Insurance (excl. charged to Clubs) 27256 2.33 25830 2.26 28803 2.62 32,500 3.25 32,500 3.33 After discussion with MD Insurance Adviser.
11 National Headquarters 136809 11.69 123556 10.79 117091 10.64 135,520 13.55 136,904 14.04
12 Directory & Postage 1990 0.17 2135 0.19 475 0.04 475 0.05 - 0.00
13 Independent Examination - Accountants 1500 0.13 1500 0.13 1750 0.16 1,750 0.18 1,750 0.18
14 Travel Aid (105CN, 105N, 105SC) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
229,245 19.59 182,183 15.91 158,608 14.42 235,280 23.53 235,284 24.13
Communication
15 Magazine 45893 3.92 42198 3.69 35732 3.25 35000 3.50 35,000 3.59
16 Information Technology Committee 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0.00
17 Contribution from PR Reserve 0.00 0 0.00 -5000 -0.50 -5,000 -0.51
18 PR Comm & Pub 33000 2.82 33505 2.93 42660 3.88 33000 3.30 48,000 4.92 £20,000 minimum, dictated by Convention Resolution, budget in
line with indexation.
78,893 6.74 75,703 6.61 78,392 7.13 63,000 6.30 78,000 8.00
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
11167 8809 2527 7601 9851 1.01
25 New Lions Symposium 10930 10205 12000 12000 1.23
22,097 1.89 19,014 1.66 2,527 0.23 19,601 1.96 21,851 2.24
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

3,568 0.30 763 0.07 2,313 0.21 3,000 0.30 3,000 0.31
International
33 International Conv. (including attendance  13895 1.19 884 0.08 - 0.00 17,500 1.75 18,830 1.93
34 Europa Forum
35 Mag. Editor to Europa Forum
36 International Convention Committee
37 LCIF Officer
38 International Relations Officer
39 Patron Liaison
5,756 0.49 4,355 0.38 1,237 0.11 6,383 0.64 6,903 0.71
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
1,776 0.15 542 0.05 146 0.01 2,500 0.25 2,500 0.26
Adm. & Management
47 MD Officers - Attendance, Convention 4987
48 Centennial Committee
49 Charities Treasurer
50 Constitution, Noms & Resolutions Officer
51 Credentials Officer Included with CNRO
52 Data Protection
53 Health & Safety Officer
54 Legal Adviser
55 Tax Advisor
56 Vulnerable Person Co-ordinator
3,154 0.27 567 0.05 218 0.02 3,900 0.39 3,900 0.40
Gross Revenue Total 363,371 31.06 284,011 24.8 243,441 22.13 351,164 35.12 370,268 37.98
Income & Injection
 -20,146 -1.76 -22,730 -1.99 -14,402 -1.31 -13,250 -1.33 -15,500 -1.59
Budget 343,225 29.34 261,281 22.82 229,039 20.82 337,914 33.79 354,768 36.39
No of members per budget 11,700 11,450 11,000 10,000 9,750
Dues Calculation 28.54 28.80 30.45 33.79 36.39
Income & Injection
Sundry Expenses 9,016 9,443 3,986 2,250
Depreciation 3,693 2,724 1,816 2,000 2,000
Sundry Income
 -288 -1,163 -5,941
Gross Profit - Sales (National Headquarters)
 -4,265 -7,628 -365
-6,000 -6,000
Rental Income
 -18,250 -15,396 -9,987
-8,500 -8,500
Contribution 
 -8,901 -9,349 -3,322
-5,000 -5,000
Interest
 -6,170 -4,313 -2,488
-3,000 -3,000
Tax 5,019 2,952 1,899 5,000 5,000
Total
 -20,146 -22,730 -14,402
-13,250 -15,500
Dues Set 28.50 28.50 28.50 33.50 29.50
Proposed Income Budget 333,931 329,805 334,987 337,914 354,768


Resolution C: Proposed by the Council of Governors

Council seeks the agreement of Convention to request the MD 105 Foundation Trustees to consider applications for Funds from the International Disaster Fund (Restricted Water) to support Water, Sanitation, and Health projects.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

MD105 International Disaster Fund(Restricted Water). Criteria should be clarified and ongoing be considered as part of the WaSH (Water, Sanitation, Health) portfolio. Manchester 2014 resolved-This Convention instructs the Council of Governors to enter into negotiation with appropriate parties to develop a process whereby the Multiple District can implement a sustainable and ongoing disaster relief programme, based on water purification systems, for rapid world-wide deployment, on a permanent basis. Currently the funds held in International Disaster Fund (Restricted) are £60,236. Since 2015 two major Disaster responses have been undertaken, when the 2015 earth quake struck Nepal (emergency water purification supplies) and Bush Fires struck rural areas of Australia in 2019 (rebuilding water storage facilities for individual homeowners not water purification systems). Original funding was supported by LCIF (since fully utilised) and replenished by appeals on behalf oftheMD105 Foundation. A sustainable and ongoing disaster relief programme, based on water purification system has not been established. There are needs in the third world for pure water supplies to provide much needed sanitation and improve healthy living conditions. The Foundation would consider applications for assistance grants from Clubs working on projects involving Water, Sanitation and Health. Financial Implication -There is no financial impact on MD 105 requirement to raise funds for Dues.

Resolution D: Proposed by the Council of Governors

All new Lion and Leo members should be strongly encouraged where practicable and lawful, to have a DBS check as soon as possible after they have joined the Organisation.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Over the past four to five years, the policy of new members being invited to join the Lions Organisation has been greatly reduced and now members of the public are joining Lions without a great deal being known about them. The MD Vulnerable Person Officer conducted a small survey around the MD over the past fifteen months and found that 27 out of 75 new members were not previously known to existing Lions. Bearing in mind the vast variation of work we do in our communities we do need to protect the good name of our clubs and organisation.

Resolution E: Proposed by the Council of Governors

Existing Lions who have been checked through the DBS system and who are not on the update system will be strongly encouraged after four years to be rechecked and to sign up for the update system when they receive their new certificate from the DBS.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Those members who have signed up for the update system are automatically rechecked annually. Those who are not on the update system have an everlasting certificate from the DBS, and as an organisation it is up to the MD Vulnerable Person team to show due diligence to the public and protect the image of Lions, to stipulate that our members are rechecked after four years and are encouraged to join the update system. The DBS have no control over the frequency of our members being rechecked. This is our responsibility.


A PDF version is also available:

Icon Resolutions2022.pdf


Emergency Resolution 1 - to amend By-Law 11 to the MD Constitution

This Convention Resolves to amend By-Law 11 to the MD Constitution By deleting the current wording in its entirety

Quorum.

11 A minimum of one hundred and fifty (150) delegates in attendance at Convention shall constitute a quorum. If such a quorum is found not to be present during any session of Convention during which matters requiring a vote by registered delegate remain to be dealt with, the Chairperson shall immediately declare that Convention Stands Adjourned – until a time and place to be determined by the Council of Governors.

and replacing with the words:

Quorum.

11 The attendance in person of a majority of the delegates registered at a convention shall constitute a quorum at any session of the convention

Explanation:

The suggested wording mirrors LCI’s Standard MD Constitution requirements for a Quorum at MD Convention.

The current requirement for 150 delegates has remained unchanged since at least 2002, and was adopted unchanged into the updated Constitution in 2005. In 2006/7 when the current Constitution was in force, there were 13 Districts and 20,500 members.

Our membership currently stands at 10,206 and we have 8 Districts. With such a reduction in membership, is it reasonable to expect the same number of voting delegates to attend?

The Cost to the Multiple District, and to individual members attending, of having to hold a second Convention Business Meeting in any year to comply with the requirements of the current By-Law 11 in the event that fewer than 150 voting Delegates registered for Convention would be considerable.

There is nothing in the Constitution to reduce the Quorum at any such re-convened Convention Business Meeting.

This year, less than a month before Convention, there was a very real prospect that the Convention might not be Quorate under the current rules.

By adopting the wording as published by LCI in the Standard MD Constitution the disruption and excess costs suggested above could never occur in the future.