New MemberInduction Ceremonies
The Induction Ceremony is the symbolicbeginning to a member’s service as a Lion. It isalso a key element in the lifelong retention of amember. A thoughtful induction, followed by a thoroughorientation and meaningful involvement in the club’sactivities will keep a new member interested andengaged in the club. (or – alternate: will help the newmember feel that he/she is a valuable part of the club.)
While it is customary for the club president to inductnew members, it is certainly appropriate to have aformer international or district officer, the MembershipCommittee chairperson or a well-respected senior Lionconduct the ceremony.
Induction Ceremonies will vary depending on localcustoms or activities of the club and district. Also, it isacceptable and encouraged to adapt the New MemberInduction Ceremony to the affiliate membershipcategory. When planning the ceremony, it is importantto keep in mind that it should be dignified andmeaningful for the participants.
Following are some ideas for creating an appropriate andmeaningful Induction Ceremony, as well as suggestedwording for the presentation.
Suggested Ceremony Order
1. Begin by inviting each new member and their sponsorindividually by name to the front of the room.
2. Welcome all the participants to the ceremony andshare your joy for their attendance.
3. Give a brief history of the distinguished history ofLions Clubs International.
4. Present a short history about your club and itscurrent activities.
5. Administer the pledge.
6. Present the pin.
7. Close the ceremony with a welcoming statement onbehalf of your club and district, the presentation of anew member kit and an explanation of the sponsor’sresponsibilities.
Suggested Presentation Wording
Following is suggested wording for the different facets ofthe Induction Ceremony as described in the SuggestedCeremony Order above. Feel free to change the wording asnecessary to reflect local customs, add further informationor reflect the presenter’s communication style.
1) Call to Order
We are about to begin our New Member InductionCeremony, in which we will induct ______newmembers into our club. At this time, I would like to call each of the new members and their sponsors. As theirnames are called, will the sponsors and new members please rise and come forward. Please hold your applauseuntil all the names are announced. Thank you. (Insertnew member names and sponsor names.)
2) Welcome
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the officers andmembers of the ______Lions Club, I want toexpress our sincere pleasure at your presence at thismeeting. You have been invited to become members andwe are all extremely proud that you have acceptedmembership in our club and Lions Clubs International.
Membership in a Lions club is a privilege. You havejoined the world’s largest and most active service cluborganization; a group of more than 1.4 million men andwomen in ______clubs in ______countries and geographical areas around the globe, whoare dedicated to making a difference. Through yourmembership, you will help our club reach out to peoplein need in our community, and throughout the world.
3) Lions Clubs International History
You are becoming part of a distinguished service historythat dates back to 1917, when Lions ClubsInternational began as the dream of Chicago insuranceman Melvin Jones. He believed that local business clubsshould expand their horizons from purely professionalconcerns to the betterment of their communities andthe world at large.
Jones’ own group, the Business Circle of Chicago,agreed. After contacting similar groups around thecountry, an organizational meeting was held on June 7,1917, at the LaSalle Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Thenew group took the name of one of the groups invited,the “Association of Lions Clubs,” and a nationalconvention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October ofthat year. Thirty-six delegates representing 22 clubsfrom nine states were in attendance. The conventionbegan to define what the association was to become. Aconstitution, by-laws, objects and code of ethics wereapproved.
Since that humble beginning, Lions club members havevolunteered their time and talents to meet needswherever they exist. Lions are especially dedicated toserving the blind and visually impaired, a commitmentmade after Helen Keller challenged our members tobecome her “knights of the blind in the crusade againstdarkness” during the 1925 convention in Cedar Point,Ohio, USA.
Our motto, “We Serve” perfectly exemplifies thededication to helping those in need felt by Lionsworldwide. Your membership in the ______Lions Club will help us carry on this tradition of servicefor many years to come.
4) Local Club History
Our own club was founded in ______(year). For______years we have been tirelessly serving thosein need in ______(your town). With projectsranging from ______to______, the______Lions Club is committed to bringingthe unparalleled services of Lions Clubs Internationalto our community. (Add additional relevantinformation about your club and the exemplary workit has done within your community.)
Your club belongs to Lions Clubs International, theworld’s largest service organization founded in 1917and comprising 1.4 million members belonging to45,000 Lions club worldwide. Throughout its proudhistory Lions Clubs International has broughtunparalleled humanitarian services to more than 192countries and geographic areas around the globe andall continents.
You will find that membership in our Lions club willoffer many opportunities for personal growth. Not onlycan you experience the incomparable feeling youreceive from volunteering, but you will also have thechance to hone leadership, communication andorganizational skills. You can develop friendships thatlast a lifetime, meet other Lions from all corners of theworld and contribute ideas that will help our club bean even more valuable part of our community.
Your membership in the ______Lions Clubwill allow us to reach more people in need, in both ourlocal and world communities. The officers andmembers of this club are thrilled that you have chosento help us continue the legacy of Lions ClubsInternational by improving the lives of the lessfortunate and making our community an even betterplace to live.
5)Suggested Pledges
Suggested Pledge 1
“Since you have expressed a desire to affiliate withthis club, and with Lions Clubs International, I nowask that you repeat after me the Obligation ofMembership:
I do hereby accept membership in the______Lions Club knowing that suchmembership encourages me to participate in functionsof the club. To the best of my ability I will abide by theLions Code of Ethics, and contribute my share to theprograms of my club, district and Lions ClubsInternational.
You are now officially a member of the______Lions Club. Your sponsor will nowpresent to you the Lions emblem pin, which signifiesmembership.”
Suggested Pledge 2
“Since you have expressed a desire to affiliate withthis club, and with Lions Clubs International, I nowask that you respond to my words with a simple ‘I do’or ‘I will.’
Do you hereby accept membership in the______Lions Club knowing that you areencouraged to participate in functions of the club?
- I do –
To the best of your ability will you abide by the Lions Code of Ethics, attend meetings whenever possible andcontribute your share to the programs of your club,district and Lions Clubs International?
- I will –
You are now officially a member of the______Lions Club. Your sponsor will nowpresent to you the Lions emblem pin, which signifiesmembership.”
Suggested Pledge 3
“I, ______in the presence of the members of the______Lions Club, take this solemn obligation toabide by the constitution and By Laws of the club andthat of Lions Clubs International, to attend all meetingsregularly, to support and further the interests of theclub in all its undertakings, and to contribute my fairshare towards the financial support of the club.
I further declare that I will assist in maintaining,building, and strengthening the membership of theclub. Furthermore, I will help the club by activelyserving on committees and in other capacities wheremy efforts are needed, and that, I will practice theprinciples of the Code of Ethics and the Purposes ofLions Clubs International.
By the power vested in me by Lions Clubs InternationalI now declare you as having been inducted as a Lion inLions Clubs International.
Congratulations!”
6) Pin Presentation
(Sponsor presents pin to new member.)
“Now, I would like to ask the sponsor, Lion ______to respond to my words with a simple ‘I will.’
Will you fulfill the following obligations?
• Be a sponsoring ‘mentor’ for your new lion;
• Make your new member feel welcome;
• Introduce your new member to all club members;
• Provide your new member with informationabout the club, its officers and constitution;
• Arrange for orientation sessions for the newmember;
• Be ready and willing to answer any questions thatmight arise;
• Encourage the new member to discuss with youany problems and offer possible solutions;
• Assist the new member in developing into anoutstanding Lion?”
- I will –
7) Closing Statement
“Fellow Lion ______(insert new membername), wear this emblem with pride, for it representsyour membership in the world’s largest service cluborganization; an association that has a distinguishedlegacy of meeting needs worldwide.
Let me congratulate you and welcome you to thegreatest of all service club organizations … TheInternational Association of Lions Clubs.
On behalf of the club, I now present you with yourofficial Certificate of Membership and a New Member Kit,which will help you get off to a good start in your life asa Lion.
We are all extremely proud and happy to have you as amember of the ______Lions Club.”
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