1. Ensuring A Strong Future
Redistricting MD-20
Ensuring A Strong Future
Rev

2. Rationale Membership in MD-20 going down and down
5 of 12 districts are below 1250 members
MD-20 income dropping
Expenses limited to 2% annualized increase but MD-20 will still be bankrupt in 5 years

3. Committee Composition
The LRP Committee of 2008
Successive CC’s
State Secretary Treasurer
The International Family

4. Our deliberations have been comprehensive, detailed and careful
3 consecutive Councils have been aware of our deliberations
and worked to reverse the membership losses utilizing the GMT and
MERLO Teams to return all 12 districts to full district status
We are well aware of the difficulties redistricting presents
We are well aware of the uncertainty and anxiety it produces
WE FIRMLY BELIEVE REDISTRICTING IS THE RIGHT PATH
WE FIRMLY BELIEVE IT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS
OF ALL LIONS
WE BELIEVE IT IS VITAL FOR MD-20’S FUTURE

5. US Household Income Assume $100,000 as an example
In 2010 inflation has reduced it to $80,380

6. What Can a Household Do?
More Income
Less Expense
Both
Downsize

7. MD-20 Membership By District

8. MD-20 Membership

9. MD-20 Dues Income
Dues Increase
Dues Increase

10. What Can MD-20 Do? Add Members - We have not been successful
Raise Dues Anger membership/lose members
Reduce Expenses We have; see next slide
Downsize Redistricting is downsizing

11. MD-20 Expenses 1995 expenses were $ 418,000
2010 expenses are projected to be $ 434,915
This is a total increase of only 4.04%
Annual rate of increase is only 0.25%
This is much lower than inflation over the same period of time

12. Redistricting is the only viable, effective, long term solution to the situation MD-20 is in.

13. Benefits of Redistricting
Financial - Each DG costs MD-20 about $7,000
Each district will be strong with significant membership
Every Lion who otherwise qualifies can run for international office
Districts will have a larger leadership pool to draw from

14. MD-20 Expenses for a District

15. Parameters Used In Developing The Plan
Start with a clean map - eliminate all current district boundaries and start fresh
Minimum district size of at least 1600 Lions
County lines used as district boundaries
Be as fair as possible to every Lion
Be even-handed across MD-20
Create a solution that will be successful and sustainable for decades

16. Start With A Clean Slate
Bermuda

17. The Beginning of a New Tradition New District Names
We recognize that with a new district distribution some traditional associations and identities will change
We want to avoid any appearance of one district “assimilating” another
We feel the most important part of districts is their effectiveness not their names

18. The New MD-20

19. The New MD-20 # Clubs In Districts
Total Members - 16,939

20. The New MD-20 Map

21. Concerns About District Size
It is strongly suggested that both VDGs be fully utilized
The DG does not have to visit every club
Over 3 years the DG will have visited each club if the visitation distribution is designed correctly

22. How Do We Redistrict?
Each current sub district over 1250 members votes to approve the changes
All sub districts over 1250 must approve by a simple majority
After approval at the sub district level a vote at the MD-20 Convention will occur
A simple majority will approve the change
The ratified proposal is sent to the International Board for approval
After Board approval the change will take place at the start of the next Lions’ year

23. Sub District Vote
Each sub district over 1250 at the beginning of the month of their convention is required to vote
Normal convention voting announcements and delegate qualifications must take place
There may have to be a “special” convention to complete on time
We are asking your cooperation to complete this process early in the year
The committee will visit each district to explain the proposal

24. MD-20 Vote
All certified delegates vote from all 12 districts regardless of size
A simple majority needed to pass
We will ask for seminar time to fully explain the proposal

25. Concerns We Have Considered
Create a STRONG VITAL MD-20
Be fair to all Lions
Recognize district size and travel
all districts will have major highways to facilitate travel throughout the districts
Use county lines for district boundaries
We are aware of 2nd VDG concerns and vulnerability - see next slide

26. VDG Concerns The current 1st VDG will serve as DG in 2011-2012
We are acutely aware that in some of the new districts there may be two nd VDGs ready to become DG in 2012
This will not affect all 2nd VDGs
We have a plan to amicably resolve the situation - see next slide

27. Resolving the 2nd VDG Situation
The two 2nd VDGs should begin NOW discussing in a cordial, ethical and Lions like fashion who will be elected DG first and who will wait a year - They have 18 months to decide
They will do this on their own without an election within the new district
The new district leadership, PDGs and International Family will enforce the decision of the Lions involved

28. The nd VDG Election
Anyone considering running for 2nd VDG for the Lions’ year should know that this same process will be applied for their moving up to 1st VDG
The current candidates may begin their discussions now or wait until after the 2011 MD-20 Convention.
We suggest starting early

29. The Cabinet
The executive officers of the new sub districts should begin discussing appointments to the new cabinet early enough to create a smooth transition
It is suggested that in the case of a large merger an equal number of Lions from each of the old districts be appointed to keep things amicable

30. Merging of Finances
Each of the new districts will create a new bank account and the funds of districts merged will be distributed to them based on the number of members merged
Sub district dues will be transferred to the resulting new district from the old based on membership - less any accounts receivable from the individual clubs

31. Summary
This is a very difficult process with a lot of emotion - WE NEED TO BE OBJECTIVE
We all need to be STATESMEN AND
HAVE REAL VISION for the future
This is not a time for parochialism
We need to be most concerned with the people and communities we serve rather than district boundaries, names, or internal administration

32. As difficult and emotionally charged as this process is we are confident that the Lions of MD-20 have the courage, leadership and vision to recognize the necessity of making this change

33. QUESTIONS INPUT SUGGESTIONS