Lions District 5M-7 Constitution

Name, Territorial Limits, Membership

Section 1. The name of this Organization shall be District 5M-7 of Multiple 5M, International Association of Lions Clubs.

Section 2.The boundaries of District 5M-7 be the counties of Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Sherburne and Wright unless otherwise established by redistricting approved by Multiple 5M Convention and Lions International.

Section 3. The Membership of District 5M-7 shall consist of members of all Lions Clubs in good standing in District 5M-7, duly chartered by Lions International and in good standing with Lions International.

Section 4, Wherever the male gender or pronoun appears in this Constitution and By-Laws, the pronoun shall be interpreted to mean both male and female persons.

Objectives

Section 1. The objectives of this Constitution and By-Laws shall be to promulgate to the fullest the advancement of Lionism and to provide efficient organization and proper administration throughout the District.

Finances

Section 1. To provide revenue to defray expenses of the District an annual tax of Five dollars and twenty-six cents ($5.26) for each Lions Club member shall be levied upon every Lions Club in the District and shall be paid in advance by each Lions Club (except new and reorganized Lions Clubs), in two semi-annual payments as follows. Two dollar and sixty- three cents ($2.63) on July 1^st of each year to cover the semi-annual period July 1^st to December 31^st and Two dollar and sixty three cents ($2.63) on January 1^st of each year to cover the semi-annual period of January 1^st to June 30^th; such billings shall be based upon the roster of each Lions Club as of the first day of July and the last day of January respectively. This tax shall be collected by the Cabinet Secretary / Treasurer from the Lions Clubs of the District.

Section 2. New and reorganized Lions Clubs shall not be required to pay any District tax for the semi-annual period in which there establishment or reorganization occurs.

Section 3. The District Administration Fund shall be expended by order of the District Governor’s Cabinet for all necessary and proper expenses incurred in administration of District business.

Section 4. The District shall not incur expenses in excess of the anticipated income from the annual per capita District tax and any balance carried over from previous year or years.

Section 5. The District Governor shall provide for an audit of all District funds by a competent auditor and such audit to be completed not later than ninety days from the close of the fiscal year. A financial report of the funds shall be made available to each Lions Club in the District thirty days after completion of the audit.

Section 6. An annual tax of one dollar ($1.00) for each Lions Club member shall be levied upon every Lions Club in the District in addition to the tax specified in Article III, Section 1 of the District Constitution. This tax shall be used for the sole purpose of helping to defray the operation cost of the District Midwinter Convention.

Section 7. The annual tax for each Lions Club member levied upon every Lions Club in the District shall be one dollar ($1.00) more than tax specified in Article III, Section 1 and 6 of the District Constitution. This additional one dollar per year per member shall be used for the sole purpose of helping to defray the personal expenses of the current District Governor. This tax shell be assessed and collected in accordance with provisions set forth in Article III, in semi-annual payments.

Section 8. The annual tax for each Lions Club member levied upon every Lions Club in the District shall be 50 cents in addition to the tax specified in Article III, Section 1 – 6 and 7 of the District constitution. This additional 50 cents per year per member shall be used for the sole purpose of helping to defray the expenses of the current Vice District Governor. This tax shall be assessed and collected in accordance with provisions set forth in Article III, in semi-annual payments of 25 cents each.

Section 9. Reimbursement for said expenses of Vice District Governor shall be on the same basis as outlined in Rules of Audit of Lions International, and approved by District 5M-7 cabinet. But not to exceed the 50 cents annual per capita tax as outlined in Section 8.

District Organization

Section 1. The officers of District 5M-7 shall be the District Governor, who shall the presiding officer, the Vice District Governor, the Cabinet Secretary/ Treasurer, the Region Chair (optional), the Zone Chair and all the Presidents and Secretaries of the Clubs in the District.

Section 2. (a) The District Governor and Vice District Governor of District 5M-7 shall be elected at the Midwinter Convention of the District. He / She shall take office immediately on adjournment of the International Convention next succeeding their

election and shall serve until adjournment of the next following International Convention.

(b) If, for some reason, a District Governor or Vice District Governor is not elected at the Midwinter Convention, then such election shall take place during a District 5M-7 business session at the Multiple Convention as provided in Article I of the Multiple District By- Laws.

(c) The District Governor shall appoint the Nominations Committee mentioned in Article I, Section 1 of the District 5M-7 By- Laws and give the appointees and 5M-7 Lions Club Presidents notice of said appointments at least thirty days prior to the start of the scheduled Midwinter Convention.

Section 3. The District Governor shall appoint, within fifteen days after the beginning of his term of office a Cabinet Secretary / Treasurer, one Region Chair (optional) in each Region in his District one Zone Chair in each Zone in his District if one has not been elected, and the District Committee Chairs. Each officer appointed by the District

Governor shall be a member in good standing of a Chartered Lions Club in good standing with in the District.

Each Region and Zone Chair shall.

Section 4. Other than the office of District Governor or Vice District Governor, in the event of a vacancy in the District Governor’s Cabinet or other District appointment, the District Governor shall have the power to fill such vacancy for the unexpired term thereof.

Section 5. There shall be no salary paid by the District to any officer of District 5M-7.

Section 6. There shall be a District Governor’s Cabinet in District 5M-7, composed of the District Governor as it’s presiding officer, Vice District Governor, Region Chair (optional), Zone Chair and Cabinet Secretary / Treasurer. The Governor, upon approval of a majority of the aforesaid Cabinet, may include Committee Chairs of the District; inclusion of Committee Chairs in the Cabinet shall confer upon them full privileges of voting, discussion and participation in the activities of the Cabinet.

Section 7. The District Governor shall call at least one regular meeting of his Cabinet each quarter during the year and the first of these meeting shall be held within sixty, (60) days after the adjournment of the preceding International Convention. A majority of the cabinet shall constitute a quorum. Ten days written notice of regular meetings of the Cabinet shall be given to each member thereof by the Cabinet Secretary / Treasurer. Special meetings of the District Governor’s Cabinet may be called by the District Governor or the Cabinet Secretary / Treasurer at his discretion, or shall be called upon

written request made to either the District Governor or the Cabinet Secretary / Treasurer by a majority of the members of the Cabinet. Not less than five days and not more than ten days written or telegraphic notice of a special meetings of the Cabinet shall be given to each by the Cabinet Secretary / Treasurer.

Section 8. The District shall be divided by the District Governor into Regions of approximately sixteen Lions Clubs, due regard having been given to geographical locations of the Clubs. The boundaries of said Regions shall be subject to change by the

District Governor as is deemed necessary for the best interests of Lionism and the individual Lions Clubs.

Section 9. Each Region shall be divided by the District Governor into Zones, Zones shall be composed of approximately eight Lions Clubs each, due regard having been given to the geographical location of the Lions Clubs. The boundaries of said Zones shall be subject to change by the District Governor as is deemed necessary for the best interests of the individual Lions Clubs.

Section 10. Meetings of all member Lions Clubs in a Region may be called and held at such times and places as specified by the Region Chair or Vice District Governor in the Region. The Vice District Governor or the Region Chair shall have charge of such meetings. Meetings of all member Lions Clubs in a Zone shall be designated and known as Zone Meetings. Zone Meetings may be held in each Zone in the District during the year at such times and places as shall be fixed by the Zone Chair in each Zone. The Zone Chair shall be in active charge of each Zone Meeting. Such meetings shall be under the general supervision of the District Governor and shall be held for such purposes as will be in the best interests of the individual Lions Clubs of the Region or Zone.

Section 11. There shall be a District Governor’s Advisory Committee in each Zone, composed of the Zone Chair, and the Presidents and Secretaries of the Zone. The Zone

Chair shall be the Chair of this committee. He/she shall call and conduct no fewer than three and, preferably, four meetings of the committee during the year. The first of these meetings shall be held within ninety days after adjournment of the preceding International Convention. The remaining meetings shall be held at such times and places as designated by the committee, as shall serve the needs and convenience of the members of the committee.

Section 12. There may be a District Governor‘s Honorary Committee appointed by the District Governor. The members of this committee shall consist of Past International Officers, Past International Directors and Past District Governors. The Immediate Past District Governor shall be the Chairperson of the committee. The committee shall meet when and as called by it’s Chair or the District Governor.

Section 13. Expenses of the District Governor in attending the International Convention shall be considered a District Administrative expense, and ten cents out of each annual District Administrative Fund Tax per capita shall be set aside in this District

to defray his expense. In the event the amount so set aside is insufficient to meet the expense necessary, the District Governor’s Cabinet shall have the authority to supplement same from the District Administrative Fund in order to meet the deficiency. Reimbursement for said expenses of the District Governor shall be on same basis as outlined in the Rules of Audit of Lions International.

Section 14. The District Governor shall appoint a member or members from District 5M-7 to serve as Trustee to the Minnesota Eye Bank Inc. as provided in the Multiple District 5M Constitution.

Section 15. The District Governor shall appoint a member or members from District 5M-7 to serve as Trustee to the Multiple Hearing Foundation Inc. as provided in the Multiple District 5M Constitution.

Section 16. The election of Vice District Governor is in accordance with the provisions of the District Constitution and By-Laws as set down for the office of District Governor.

Section 17. Each Zone in the District 5M-7 shall hold an annual election for the position of Zone Chair.

Article VIAmendments

Section 1. Amendments to the constitution shall be submitted in writing to the District Governor and in his hands at least forty five (45) days prior to the opening session of the District Convention or forty five (45) days prior to the opening session of the Multiple

5M Convention. A copy of the proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to each Lions Club in 5M-7 at least thirty (30) days prior to the opening business session of the applicable convention. The Governor may comment on each proposed amendment

and it’s effect on the District when he submits the proposed amendments to each Lions Club in the District.

Section 2. Amendments proposed according to the provisions of Article VI, Section 1 shall be deemed adopted and thereafter a part of this constitution, when approved by affirmative vote of a majority of the delegates registered in District 5M-7 present, in person, qualified and voting at a District 5M-7 Midwinter Convention or a Multiple 5M Convention.

Adoption

Section 1. The Constitution herein shall become in full force and effect when adopted by an affirmative vote of the 2/3 majority of the delegates registered at a convention of District 5M-7 present in person, qualified and voting, and there upon all former Constitutions and provisions of whatever kind relating to District 5M-7 are repealed. Any rights or obligations pending under authority of the provisions repealed shall be proceeded with and concluded under such provision.