Lions of Michigan 
District 11-B-2
Constitution & By-Laws
AS AMENDED 3-24-07
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1921 - KALAMAZOO DOWNTOWN 
1926 - NIL'S
1926 - ST. JOSEPH 
1933 - BUCHANAN 
1934 - BENTON HARBOR-
              FAIRPLAIN
1936 - BERRIES SPRINGS
1936 - DECATUR
1937 - COLON
1939- THREE OAKS
1941 - SAWYER
1942 - NEW BUFFALO
1944 - GALENA
1945 – CENTREVILLE
1945 - WHITE PIGEON
1946 – EDWARDSBURG		 1946 – HARTFORD
1948 - LAWRENCE
1949 - SURGES
1949 - THREE RIVERS
1952 - COLOMBIA
1952 - DOWAGIAC
1953 - LAWN
1953 - VICKSBURG
1953 - WATERVLIET
1954 - RICELAND GULL LAKE
1958 - MATTAWAN
1961 - LAKESHORE
1961 - PORTAGE
1963 - HOWARD COMMUNITY
1966 - SISTER LAKES
1967 - PARCHMENT		 1968 - BANGOR
1968 - BRIDGMAN
1968 - PAW PAW
1970 - COMSTOCK
1970 - MARCELLUS
1981 - ST. JOSEPH TOWNSHIP
1984 - BARODA
1985 - COVERT TOWNSHIP 
1985 - SCHOOLCRAFT
1986 - CONSTANTINE
1988 - CASSOPOLIS
1994 - KAL HAVEN
1996 - BLACK RIVER
1997 - NEW KAZOO
2006- PINE GROVE TWP
2006-JEPTHA LAKE

Index

Amendments, By-Laws
Amendments, Constitution
Bond
By-Laws
Cabinet
Cabinet Meetings
Camp Chris
District Administrative Fund
District Convention
District Convention Fund
District Governor, Duties of
District Governor's Advisory Committee
District Governor's Honorary Committee
District Governor's Special Fund
District Involvement
District Nominations & Elections
Dues
Expenses, Convention
Expenses; Officers		 Federal Identification Number (FEIN)
Judy Shreve-Peggy Thornton Award Committee
Late Fees 
Membership
MD-11 All State Band
Name
Object
Officers
Quorum, Cabinet
Quorum, Convention
Region Chairmen
Regions & Zones
Service Foundation Trustee
Special Meetings, Cabinet
Territory
Vacancies in Office
Vice District Governor
Vision & Hearing Program
Zone Chairmen

DISTRICT 11-B-2 CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I NAME
Section 1. This organization shall be known as District 11 -B-2 of Multiple District 11, State of Michigan, a District of the International Association of Lions Clubs, FEIN 38-3441112.
ARTICLE II OBJECT
Section 1. The purposes of this organization are to advance and better the District and promote the principles of Lionism throughout the District in conformity with the Constitution and By-Laws of the International Association of Lions Clubs and Multiple District 11.
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The membership of this organization shall be all Lions Clubs in this District chartered by Lions International.  Where the male pronoun appears, it shall be interpreted to mean both male and female Lions.
ARTICLE IV TERRITORY
Section 1. The territory of District I I -B-2 shall be: All Lions Clubs now existing and hereafter existing in the counties of Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren, in the State of Michigan.
ARTICLE V OFFICERS
Section 1. CABINET AND OFFICERS 
A. The District shall have a Cabinet composed of the District Governor as chairman, Immediate Past District Governor, Vice District Governor, Region Chairmen, (if the position is utilized during the District Governor's term), Zone Chairmen and Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Treasurer (or Secretary-Treasurer).  The District Cabinet shall be the executive Officers of the District, District Officers shall be members in good standing of the District and shall perform duties as outlined in the District Policy Manual.
B. THE DISTRICT GOVERNOR shall be elected at the annual Convention of the District in accord with the International Constitution.  He must appoint, by the time he takes office, the Cabinet Secretary/Treasurer, and District Committees as required by International and Multiple District 11 Constitutions.
C. THE VICE DISTRICT GOVERNOR must be elected at the annual Convention of the District in accord with the International Constitution.
D. HE REGION CHAIRMEN (if the position is utilized during the District Governor's term) shall be elected at the annual Convention of the District for the term of one year, The Region Chairmen shall be members in good standing of a Lions Club in the Region from which they were elected. One Region Chairman must be elected from each Region.  The Region Chairman must have served as Club President and an additional two years on the club Board of Directors.
E. THE ZONE CHAIRMEN shall be elected at the annual Convention of the District for the term of one year. Zone Chairmen shall be members in good standing of a Lions Club in the zone from which they were elected.  One Zone Chairman must be elected from each Zone.  A Zone Chairman must have served as Club President and an additional two years on the club Board of Directors.
F. VICE DISTRICT GOVERNOR AND OTHER VACANCIES.  Any vacancy in office except that of district governor and vice district governor shall be filled by appointment from the district governor for the unexpired term.  In the event of a vacancy arising in the office of vice district governor, the district governor shall convene a meeting of the members of the existing cabinet as provided for in the International Constitution and By-Laws and all past international officers who are members in good standing of a chartered Lions Club in good standing in the district.  It shall be the duty of the attendees at this meeting to appoint a qualified club member as vice district governor for the remainder of the term.  In filling said vacancy, it shall be the duty of the district governor, or if not available, the most recent past district governor who is available, to send out invitations to attend said meeting and it shall also be his/her responsibility to preside as chairperson of the meeting.  The chairperson shall convey the results to the international office within seven (7) days together with evidence of invitations sent and meeting attendance.  Each Lion who is entitled to receive an invitation to attend and is present as said meeting shall be entitled to cast one vote for the Lion of his/her choice.
G.  If any District Officer except District or Vice District Governor ceases to be a member in the Region or Zone from which he was elected or appointed, his term of office shall cease and the District Governor shall appoint a successor dependent on the approval of the District Cabinet.
H. No salary shall be paid to any officer of the District; however an officer may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses as determined by the District Cabinet.
Section 2 DISTRICT CABINET MEETINGS
A. REGULAR. A regular meeting shall be held in each quarter of the fiscal year, the first to be held within thirty (30) days of the adjournment of the preceding International Convention.  Ten (10) days written notice of meetings setting forth a date, time, and place set by the District Governor shall be given to each member by the Cabinet Secretary (or Secretary/Treasurer).
1. The first order of business of the Cabinet shall be to approve the following:
a. The District Policy Manual, and District Sports Manual
b. A balanced Line Item Budget, from which any expenses in excess of said budget may be paid only with specific Cabinet approval.
c. The financial institution to be utilized during the Cabinet's term
d. The bonding of the Cabinet Secretary/Treasurer.
B.  SPECIAL. Special meetings of the Cabinet may be called at the District Governor's discretion, and shall be called upon written request made to the District Governor or the Cabinet Secretary (or Secretary-Treasurer) by a majority of the members of the Cabinet.  Not fewer than five (5) nor more than ten (10) days written notice of special meetings, setting forth the purpose, date, time, and place determined by the District Governor, shall be given to each member by the Cabinet Secretary/Treasurer.
C. 
QUORUM AND VOTE - A majority of the Cabinet Officers shall constitute a quorum.  The District Governor shall have a vote in all meetings.  The affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum, in any Cabinet session, shall be the act of the District Cabinet
Section 3. REGIONS AND ZONES
A.  The District Governor shall divide the District into Regions of preferably no more than sixteen (16) and no fewer than ten (10) Lions Clubs, and each Region into Zones of preferably no more than eight (8) and no fewer than four (4) Lions Clubs giving due regard to the geographical locations of the clubs.  All such Regions and Zones shall be subject to change by the recommendation of the District Cabinet when it shall deem the same necessary to the best interests of Lions International.
Section 4. DISTRICT COMMITTEES
A. DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE. In each Zone, the Zone Chairman and the Presidents and Secretaries of the Clubs in the Zone shall compose a District Governor's Advisory Committee with the Zone Chairman presiding.  At a date, time and place set by the Zone Chairman, this Committee shall first meet within ninety (90) days of the adjournment of the preceding International Convention-, meet a second time in November; and meet a third time approximately thirty (30) days prior to the District Convention.
B. DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S HONORARY COMMITTEE.  The committee shall be an advisory group composed of Past District Governors who are members in good standing of Clubs within the District.  This Committee shall meet as deemed necessary by the chairman who shall be the Immediate Past District Governor, and as called upon by the District Governor or Cabinet.  The committee shall report to the District Governor & Cabinet through its chairman.
C.  DISTRICT CONVENTION COMMITTEE- The committee shall consist of three (3) members, all in good standing from clubs within the District, as follows:
1) The sitting District Governor, for a term of one (1) year.
2) The second member for a term of two (2) years
3) The third member for a term of three (3) years.
The second and third members are to be appointed by the District Governor, and serve until their term expires, at which time their replacement will be appointed by the then sitting District Governor.  The Committee shall meet as necessary for the purpose of scheduling, planning and conducting the annual District Convention.  The committee shall report to the Cabinet through its Chairperson, who shall be selected by a majority vote of committee members.
ARTICLE VI DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE FUND
Section 1.		 To defray the administrative expenses of the District, an annual per Capita Dues of Seven Dollars and Fifty Cents ($7.50) shall be levied on each club member and shall be paid by each Club in two (2) semi-annual payments as follows: Three Dollars and Seventy-Five Cents ($3.75) per Club Member on September tenth of each year for the period July 1st though December 31 and again on March tenth of each year for the period January 1st through June 30, with billings based upon the membership and activities report of each Club to Lions International; as of June and December respectively.  Said dues shall be paid to the Cabinet Treasurer (or Secretary/Treasurer) by each Club.
a. LATE FEES.  Any club owing the District shall be assessed a late fee of 1 1/2% per month on any balance over 30 days from the posted due date of the corresponding invoice.  Said club shall not be in good standing until both the original balance and late fees have been satisfied. (Effective 3/27/99)
Section 2 Dues shall be disbursed only upon approval of the District Cabinet. The District Governor, Vice-District Governor and Cabinet Treasurer (or Secretary-Treasurer) shall be authorized signatories on the District Accounts. The preferred method of disbursement of funds shall be by checks signed by any two of the three authorized signatories.  The alternate approved method of disbursement of funds shall be by check or electronic funds transfer by any one of the authorized signatories, with prior written (including e-mail) approval and consent to the disbursement by one of the other signatories to the account.
Section 3. DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S SPECIAL FUND. Reasonable expenses of the District Governor attending the International Convention shall be a District Administrative expense and shall be limited to the amount provided by Lions International to the District Governors Elect for their attendance at the International Convention as stipulated in the Rules of Audit of Lions International.  Receipts shall be required for verification.  One Dollar and Fifty Cents ($1.50) or more per member from each club in the District shall be set aside each year from the per Capita Dues.  Funds so designated shall not be used for any other purpose.
Section 4. The District Governor and his Cabinet shall not incur obligations in any fiscal year which will cause an unbalanced budget or deficit in said fiscal year.
Section 5. The District Governor, Vice-District Governor and Cabinet Treasurer (or Secretary-Treasurer) shall be bonded in such amount and with such surety company as shall be approved by the District Cabinet.
Section 6. The District Governor shall provide for an annual or more frequent audit of the books and accounts of the District.  A statement of the financial condition of the District shall be sent to Lions International and each Club in the District within sixty (60) days after the close of the fiscal year by the District Governor then in office.
ARTICLE VII DISTRICT CONVENTION
Section 1. An annual convention of the District shall be held on the 4th weekend of March or as close to that weekend as is practical.
Section 2. CLUB DELEGATE FORMULA.  Each chartered club in good standing in the association and its district (single, sub- and multiple) shall be entitled in each annual convention of its district (single, sub- and multiple) to one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate for each ten (10) members who have been enrolled for at least one year and a day in the club, or major fraction thereof, of said club as shown by the records of the international office of the first day of the month last preceding that month during which the convention is held, PROVIDED, however, that each such club shall be entitled to at least one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate.  Each certified delegate present in person shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote of his/her choice for each office to be filled by, and one (1) vote of his/her choice on each question submitted to, the respective convention.  The major fraction referred to in this section shall be five (5) or more members.  Any club which is newly chartered and any other chartered club which takes in new members prior to the convening of any such convention, shall have its delegate quota determined on the basis of members who have been enrolled in the club for at least one year and a day as shown on such record date in the records of the international office.  Delinquent dues may be paid and good standing acquired at any time prior to the close of credential certification, as such closing time shall be established by the rules of the convention.  The seated District Governor is a voting delegate at the District Convention over and above the delegate count established for his/her club.
Section 3.  QUORUM.  The attendance in person of a majority of the delegates registered at a convention shall constitute a quorum at any session of the convention.  The affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum, in any session of the convention shall be the act of the district.
Section 4. The District Cabinet shall receive written requests from Lions Clubs within the District to host the Convention up to Thirty-Seven (37) months prior to the requested date.  Requests shall include the tentative location and other information as the District Cabinet may require.  Requests shall be delivered to the District Cabinet Thirty (30) days prior to the convening date of the convention at which time they are to be voted upon.  The District Cabinet shall determine the procedures for reviewing requests.  The District Cabinet shall also determine procedures in the event no requests are considered acceptable, or none are received,
Section 5. Within sixty (60) days after the close of the Convention, an official report of the Convention proceedings shall be mailed to Lions International and each Club in the District by the Cabinet, Secretary (or Secretary-Treasurer).
ARTICLE VIII RULES FOR CONVENTION PROCEDURE
Section 1. DISTRICT CONVENTION COMMITTEE.  The District Governor shall appoint a District Convention Committee consisting of:
A. A District Chairman whose term shall be two years, and the Chairman or Co-Chairmen of the host club for the immediately previous, current and immediately upcoming conventions.
B. The committee shall be the officers of the convention and shall have supervision over all phases of the convention.
1. The committee shall develop a budget to be approved by the District Cabinet at the second regular meeting of the cabinet.
2.  Upon approval of the Convention Budget, the District Convention Fund shall be disbursed in its entirety to the current host club to defray actual costs of the convention.  The host club shall collect all registration and meal fees and disburse the same.
3. The committee shall create and maintain a provision in the District Policy Manual for "District Convention Procedure".
4. The committee must forward a convention report including attendance and financial statement to the District Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer within 30 days of the close of the convention.
5. Any profit as shown on the Convention financial report must be shared equally between the host club and the District.  Such District funds that may be received must be deposited in the General Administrative Fund.
Section 2. The District Convention Committee shall arrange the Order of Business for the Convention, with all questions of Order and Procedure governed by Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.
Section 3. A Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the District Governor to carry out the procedures.
ARTICLE IX DISTRICT CONVENTION FUND
Section 1. In addition to a District Convention registration fee, an annual per capita District Convention Fund tax of One ($1.00) Dollar may be levied upon each member of each Club in the District and shall be collected and paid in advance by each Club, in two (2) semiannual payments as follows: Fifty ($0.50) cents per Club member on September Tenth of each year to cover the semi-annual period July 1 through December 31; and Fifty ($0.50) cents per Club Member on March Tenth of each year to cover semiannual January 1 through June 30, with billing of said tax to be based upon the roster of each Club as of the first days of July and January respectively, This tax shall be collected from the Clubs by, and shall be remitted to, the Cabinet Treasurer (or Secretary/Treasurer), who shall deposit the moneys so collected in a special account.  The fund so collected shall be expended only by District checks drawn and signed by the Cabinet Treasurer (or Secretary-Treasurer) and countersigned by the District Governor.
ARTICLE X DISTRICT INVOLVEMENT
Section 1.  PROFESSIONAL FUND RAISING. The District Governor and/or District Officers shall not hire or otherwise enter into any agreements to employ the services of Professional Fund Raisers or Solicitors to raise funds for any purpose whatsoever.
Section 2.   LIONS OF MICHIGAN SERVICE FOUNDATION. The District shall be a participating District of the Lions of Michigan Service Foundation.
A.  Nomination and election for District Representatives on the Board of Trustees of the Michigan be held at the District 11-B-2 Convention in accordance with the said Foundation.
Section 3. DISTRICT VISION & HEARING PROGRAM. The District Cabinet shall provide for a Vision & Hearing Program.  The program shall be jointly administered by the District Sight Chairman and those District chairmen whose committees benefit the public welfare, with the approval of the District Cabinet.
The Cabinet may assess Lions Clubs in the District an annual fee for support of the Program, only if the balance of funds are less than twice the previous year's operating budget, In no event will the annual assessment exceed an amount equal to the previous year's operating budget.
A. T he program may include, but not be limited to; sight and hearing screening, diabetes screening and broad based efforts to maximize public outreach of sight and hearing preservation.
B. Purchase of equipment or awards of financial grants for individuals are excluded, as are any expenditures for public relations except those deemed incidental to promoting the program.
Section 4.  CAMP CHRIS. The District Cabinet shall provide for a Deaf, Hearing and Speech Impaired Youth Camp in the District to be named "Camp Chris" in memory of Past District Governor Chris Williams.  The District Governor shall appoint a Committee and its’ chairman to administer the camp program.  The District Cabinet shall award and fund an annual full scholarship for one or more campers to attend Camp Chris.
Section 5 LIONS OF MICHIGAN ALL STATE BAND.  The District shall participate by collecting and forwarding voluntary donations from clubs within the District.
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This Constitution may be amended only at a District Convention by resolution(s) reported by the District Committee on Constitution and By-Laws.  The affirmative vote of the majority of the quorum shall be required to adopt any amendment.
Section 2. No amendment shall be reported or voted upon unless it was furnished in writing to each Club not less than thirty (30) days prior to the convening date of the Convention with written notice that the amendment will be voted upon at the Convention.
Section 3. Each amendment shall take effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year unless otherwise specified by the amendment.
 
DISTRICT 11-B-2 BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I DISTRICT NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. The District Governor shall have appointed, by the time he takes office, a Nominating Committee of not more than five (5) members, each of whom shall be a member in good standing in the District, and shall not at the time of their appointment hold any District or International Office.  The names and addresses of Lions so appointed shall be sent to all Clubs in the District by the first day of December prior to the convening day of the District Convention.
Section 2.  Any member of a Club in the District seeking elected Office shall file his intention to run in writing with the Nominating Committee sixty (60) days prior to the day of its report to the Annual Convention, and furnish evidence of his qualifications for office as required by the International Constitution and By-Laws.  The Nominating Committee shall place in nomination at the District Convention the names of all candidates so qualified.  If none are so received and/or so qualified, then, and only then, nomination for the office may be made from the floor.  Each candidate shall be allowed one nominating speech of no more than five (5) minutes duration, and two seconding speeches of no more than three (3) minutes duration.
Section 3.  The election shall be by secret ballot, unless there shall be only one nominee, in which event a voice vote may be taken.  The candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast shall be declared elected.  In the event there are three (3) or more candidates for elected Office, unless one candidate receives a majority vote on the first ballot, the candidate receiving the least number of votes shall be dropped from the succeeding ballots until there are two (2) remaining candidates.  In the case of a tie, balloting shall continue until one candidate is elected.
Section 4. The District Governor and Vice -District Governor elections shall be by secret written ballot, with the candidate or candidates required to secure a majority of the votes cast by the delegates present and voting in order to be declared elected; for purpose of such election, a majority is defined as a number more than one-half of the total valid votes cast excluding blanks and abstentions.  If, on the first ballot and subsequent ballots, no candidate receives a majority, the candidate or tied candidate receiving the lowest number of votes shall be eliminated and balloting shall continue until one candidate receives a majority.  In case of a tie on any ballot, balloting shall continue on the tied candidates until one is elected.
Section 5. A candidate for the office of the International Board of Directors must first obtain the endorsement of the District. This is accomplished by the candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast by the delegates present and voting.
ARTICLE II AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended only at District Convention by resolution(s) reported by the District Committee on Constitution and By-Laws.  The affirmative vote of the majority of the quorum shall be required to adopt any amendment.
Section 2. No amendment shall be reported or voted upon unless it was furnished in writing to each Club not less than thirty (30) days prior to the convening date of the Convention with written notice that the amendment will be voted upon at the Convention.
This Constitution and By-Laws shall take effect at the close of the District Convention at which the same is adopted by the affirmative vote of majority of the votes cast.  Each amendment shall take effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year after adoption unless otherwise specified in the amendment.