"Can anyone be a Lions Club President?". This is a question asked when a club has leadership problems.
The answer is "Yes".
But most importantly, how will one be an
effective Lion Club President?
During the good old days, every President was given a
handbook (and later an e-book) to read with clear instructions to plan and
carry out the duties.
Nowadays, with the advent of ICT, the Lions Clubs
International gives the President an authority to view MyLCI and familiarise himself
with the running of the club. It is imperative that the President set the dates
for the board and regular meetings in the calendar year as well as chart the
types of projects for implementation during his tenure, in particular, the five
core service projects set by LCI.
During the local Lions Convention, a Key Officers' School is usually
held and the incoming Presidents must make it a point to attend the school. Meanwhile,
“Workshops for Presidents” are also conducted at the Regional/Zonal level
before the fiscal year or at the beginning of the fiscal year. However, the
current situation of Covid-19 has deprived physical attendance; nonetheless, video
or zoom meetings are conducted.
If every President was to attend these schools or via zoom with
commitment and zeal, he should be able to perform his duties efficiently. Such
schools are good platforms to learn good leadership and governance of the club.
But, at the end of the day, sad to say, there are still the odd non-performing
Presidents. Therefore, it boils down to
my earlier question: "How will one
be an effective Lion Club President?"
Being a Lions Club President is not just a prestigious title
that is given to a “Captain” of the Lions movement. The President must live up
to the expectations of the LCI Charter. The post entails great responsibilities
and top leadership qualities.
Obviously, the first thing that comes to my mind is that the
Club President must not be a spendthrift. Extravagant projects or irresponsible
spending are a definite No-No. The
club should spend within its means.
Giving of one's time is all-important to the club. Don’t run
for the presidency if you are not willing to devote a lot of time to achieve
the goals set for the betterment of the club and the community. The club comes
first! In fact, the incoming President should strive to match or better the
good work of his predecessor. That aside, a good President will also need to
respond immediately to unchartered appeals. For instance, during trying times such
as the Covid-19 pandemic or the menacing floods.
The President’s responsibility is to ensure his team delivers
its true potential. To realise this, he needs to understand and empathise with
his members. He has to be approachable, sociable, and knowledgeable. Stay
connected with your members, be generous always, and you will build trust and a
good support base. While we are wowed by the wonders of ICT, nothing beats the
human touch!
Be alert and smartly dressed on all formal occasions as we
carry the Lions’ brand on our shoulders. Having said that, the President must
have a good attitude and dedication. It is also important to be humble (by
listening to the views of the members) and be wary of the need to maintain
confidentiality. Sometimes, there is a need to tap the views of Past Presidents
when it comes to tough decision-making. Whatever it is, a positive attitude always
goes a long way!
Finally, it is the duty of the incoming President to attend
the Lions Convention, the OSEAL Forum, and LCI Convention. It is also imperative
that the current President groom potential leaders and ensure that there will
always be new blood to take over. Mentoring is a proven way to groom leaders.
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