Constitution and Bylaws

District 14-P – Berks and Chester Counties
Of
Multiple District 14 – State of Pennsylvania
Of
The International Association of Lions Clubs

ARTICLE I – Name

Section 1. This organization shall be known as District No. 14-P, Lions Clubs International (hereinafter referred to as “district.”) of Multiple District 14 (Pennsylvania) (hereinafter referred to as “state” or “multiple district”) of the International Association of Lions Clubs (hereinafter referred to as “Lions Clubs International” or “association”).

ARTICLE II – Objective

Section 1. To provide an administrative structure with which to advance the Purposes of Lions Clubs International in this district.

ARTICLE III – Membership

Section 1. The members of this organization shall be all Lions Clubs in this district chartered by Lions Clubs International.
Section 2. The boundary lines of this district shall be the boundary lines of Berks and Chester Counties.

ARTICLE IV – District Organization

Section 1. CABINET AND OFFICERS. The district shall have a district cabinet composed of the district governor, the immediate past district governor, the vice district governor, the region chairpersons (if the position is utilized during the district governor’s term), the zone chairpersons, and a cabinet secretary-treasurer or a cabinet secretary and a cabinet treasurer, and such district chairpersons and coordinators as the district governor shall appoint. The members of the district cabinet shall be the officers of the district. Each such officer shall be a member in good standing of a Lions club in good standing in the district.

Section 2. ELECTION OF DISTRICT GOVERNOR and VICE DISTRICT GOVERNOR.
A. The district governor and the vice district governor shall be elected at the annual convention of the district.
B. The district shall elect or the district governor shall appoint, by the time he/she takes office, the cabinet secretary-treasurer or a cabinet secretary and a cabinet treasurer, one region chairperson for each region (if the position is utilized, at the discretion of the district governor, during the district governor’s term), and one zone chairperson for each zone in the district, and such other chairpersons and coordinators as the governor deems necessary to further the Purposes of Lions International, in the district.
C. No district governor or vice district governor may succeed themselves in office except with the approval of the International Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V – District Convention

Section 1. TIME AND PLACE. An annual convention of the district shall be held in each year, to conclude no less than thirty (30) days prior to the convening of the international convention and at least fifteen (15) days prior to the state convention, at a place selected by a previous annual convention of the district, and at a date and time fixed by the district governor. A meeting of the registered delegates of the district in attendance at the annual convention of the multiple district, of which this district shall be a part, may constitute the annual convention of the district.

Section 2. CLUB DELEGATE FORMULA. Each chartered club in good standing in Lions Clubs International, the multiple district, and this district shall be entitled in each annual convention of the multiple district and this district 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 on the first day of the month last preceding that month during which the convention is held. The major fraction referred to in this section shall be five (5) or more members. Each certified delegate present in person shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote only for each office to be filled by, and one (1) vote only on each question submitted to, the respective convention. Unless otherwise specified herein, the affirmative vote of a majority of the delegates voting on any question shall be the act of the convention. 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 respective convention.

Each past international officer who is a member in good standing, of a club in good standing, in the district shall be granted full delegate status in the district, independent of the club delegate quotas herein above specified.

Proxy voting is strictly prohibited.

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.

ARTICLE VI – Amendments

Section 1. AMENDING PROCEDURE. This constitution may be amended only at a district convention, by resolution of the Constitution and By-Laws Committee and adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast.

Section 2. NOTICE. No amendment shall be so reported or voted upon unless the same shall have been furnished in writing to each club no less than thirty (30) days prior to the convening date of the annual convention with notice that the same will be voted upon at said convention. Publication of such amendment(s) and notice in the District Newspaper mailed and or made available electronically to each Lion in the district shall satisfy the above requirement to furnish a copy to each club in the district.

Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. Each amendment shall take effect at the close of the convention at which adapted, unless otherwise specified in the amendment.

Bylaws

ARTICLE I – District Convention

Section 1. CONVENTION SITE SELECTION. The district governor shall receive invitations in writing from places desiring to entertain the succeeding year(s) annual convention. All invitations shall set forth such information as the district governor shall from time to time require and shall be delivered to the governor no later than thirty (30) days prior to the convening date of the convention at which they are to be voted upon. Procedure to be followed in investigation of bids and in presentation of the same to conventions, as well as action to be taken by a convention in the event no bids are acceptable to or so received by the district governor, shall be determined by the district governor.

Section 2. SITE CHANGE. The district governor shall retain, and have power to change at any time, for good reason, the convention site chosen by a previous district convention, and neither the district governor, nor the district, nor any member of the district cabinet, shall incur any liability thereby to any club or club member in the district.

Section 3. OFFICERS. The members of the district cabinet shall be the officers of the annual district convention.

Section 4. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. A convention sergeant-at-arms and such assistant sergeant-at-arms as deemed necessary shall be appointed by the district governor.

Section 5. OFFICIAL REPORT. Within sixty (60) days after the close of each district convention, the cabinet secretary shall transmit one copy of the complete proceedings to the international office, and to each Lions club in the district. Publication of said report in the district newsletter, mailed and/or made available electronically to each Lion in the district shall satisfy this second requirement.

Section 6. CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE. The Credentials Committee of the district convention shall be composed of the district governor, as chairperson, the cabinet secretary or treasurer and two other non-officers of the district appointed by the district governor. The Credentials Committee shall have the powers and perform the duties set forth in ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER, NEWLY REVISED.

Section 7. ORDER OF CONVENTION BUSINESS. The district governor shall arrange the order of business (agenda) for the district convention, and the same shall be the order of the day for all sessions.

Section 8. DISTRICT CONVENTION COMMITTEES. The district governor shall appoint, designate the chairperson or coordinator of, and fill any vacancies occurring in the following district convention committees: Resolutions, Elections, Constitution and Bylaws, Rules, and International Convention. Each region should have at least one representative on each such committee. These committees and/or coordinators shall perform such duties as the district governor shall designate.

Section 9. CONVENTION FUND TAX. In lieu of or in addition to a district convention registration fee, an annual per capita district convention fund tax of twenty cents ($0.20) is hereby levied upon each member of each club in the district and shall be collected and paid in advance by each club, except newly chartered and reorganized clubs, in two (2) semi-annual payments as follows: ten cents ($0.10) per club member on September tenth of each year; and ten cents ($0.10) per club member on March tenth of each year, with billings of said tax to be based upon the roster of each club as of the first days of July and January, respectively. Any club which is chartered or reorganized in a current fiscal year shall collect and pay said convention per capita tax for said fiscal year on a pro-rata basis from the first day of the second month following the date of its organization, as the case may be. This tax shall be collected from the clubs by and remitted to, the cabinet treasurer, or cabinet secretary/treasurer who shall deposit the monies so collected in the convention fund account. The fund so collected shall be used exclusively for defraying expenses of district conventions.

Section 10. REMAINING FUNDS. In any fiscal year, any balance remaining in the convention fund after payment of all convention administrative expenses in that year shall remain in said convention fund and become available for future convention expense and be treated as income in any fiscal year in which expended or otherwise budgeted for payment of such expenses.

Section 11. FEE COLLECTION. Such fee as the district governor shall set may be collected, under procedures set by the district governor, from each delegate, alternate, and guest attending the district convention to defray the actual cost of convention meals and entertainment.

Section 12. AUDIT OR REVIEW. The district governor shall provide for an annual or more frequent audit or review of the district convention fund and shall give an annual financial report of such fund to each annual district convention.

ARTICLE II – Meetings

Section 1. DISTRICT CABINET MEETINGS.
A Regular. A regular meeting of the cabinet shall be held in each quarter of the fiscal year, with the first of which to be held by August 31 following the adjournment of the preceding international convention. Ten (10) days written notice of meetings setting forth a date, time and place determined by the district governor shall be given to each cabinet member by the cabinet secretary.
B Special. Special meetings of the cabinet may be called by the district governor at the governor’s discretion, and shall be called upon written request made to the district governor or the cabinet secretary by a majority of the members of the cabinet. No fewer than five (5) nor more than twenty (20) days written (including letters, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, or cable) notice of special meetings, setting forth the purposes and a date, time and place determined by the district governor, shall be given to each member by the cabinet secretary.
C Quorum and Vote. The attendance of a majority of the members of the cabinet shall constitute a quorum for any meeting. In all such meetings the voting privilege shall extend to the district governor, the immediate past district governor, the vice district governor, the region chairpersons (if the position is utilized during the district governor’s term), the zone chairpersons, the cabinet secretary, the cabinet treasurer (or cabinet secretary/treasurer) and such district chairpersons and/or coordinators as the district governor may appoint.

Section 2. REGIONS AND ZONES.
A Organizational. The district governor shall divide the district into regions of no more than sixteen (16) and no less than ten (10) Lions clubs, and each such region into zones of no more than eight (8) and no less 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 district governor, when in the district governor’s sole discretion, the district governor shall deem the same necessary to the best interests of the association.
B Regional Meetings. Meetings of representatives of all clubs in a region, with the region chairperson (if the position is utilized during the district governor’s term) or other district cabinet member, as may be assigned by the district governor, presiding, should be held during the fiscal year at times and places fixed by the region chairperson of the respective region.
C Zone Meetings. Meetings of representatives of all the clubs in a zone, with the zone chairperson presiding, shall be held during the fiscal year at times and places fixed by the zone chairperson.

ARTICLE III – District Nominations, Elections, and Appointments

Section 1. NOMINATING COMMITTEE. Each district governor shall appoint by written notification received at least sixty (60) days prior to the sub-district convention, a Nominating Committee of not more than five (5) nor less than three (3) members, each of whom shall be a member in good standing of a different Lions club in good standing in the district, and shall not at the time of their appointment hold any district or international office. Publication of the names and addresses, of the Lions so appointed, in the district newspaper, mailed and/or made available electronically at least thirty (30) days prior to the convening date of the district convention, shall be considered adequate notification to the general membership.

Section 2. DISTRICT GOVERNOR ELECTION PROCEDURES. Any qualified member of a club in the district seeking the office of district governor shall file his/her intention to so run in writing with the Nominating Committee no less than seven (7) business days prior to the day of its report to the convention. DISTRICT GOVERNOR QUALIFICATIONS: Candidate must furnish evidence of his/her compliance with the qualifications for said office set out in the International Constitution and Bylaws. 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, but then only, nominations for the office may be made from the floor. A candidate shall be allowed one nominating speech of no more than five (5) minutes duration, and one seconding speech of no more than three (3) minutes duration.

Section 3. VICE DISTRICT GOVERNOR ELECTION PROCEDURES. Any member of a club in the district seeking the office of vice district governor shall file his/her intention to so run in writing with the Nominating Committee no less than seven (7) business days prior to the day of its report to the convention. VICE DISTRICT GOVERNOR QUALIFICATIONS: Candidate must furnish evidence of his/her compliance with the qualifications for said office set out in the International Constitution and Bylaws. 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, but then only, nominations 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 one seconding speech of no more than three (3) minutes duration.

Section 4. BALLOT. The election shall be by secret written ballot. When two or more candidates are placed in nomination, the candidate receiving the simple majority of the votes cast shall be elected. If, on the first ballot, and subsequent ballots, no candidate receives a majority, the candidate or tied candidates receiving the lowest number of votes shall be eliminated and balloting shall continue until one candidate receives a majority. In the case of a tie between the final two (2) candidates, on three successive ballots, such tie shall be resolved by having the Election Committee prepare lots. The tied candidates shall cast said lots before such committee within one (1) hour after the election shall have been declared a tie. If any such candidate shall fail to appear within said hour a member of said committee shall cast a lot for such candidate. The candidate, to whom the lot shall fall, shall be declared elected. The type of lot to be cast shall be determined by the respective committee.

Section 5. DISTRICT GOVERNOR VACANCY. In the event of a vacancy in the office of district governor, the same shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of the International Constitution and Bylaws. The immediate past district governor, vice district governor, the region chairpersons, zone chairpersons, the cabinet secretary and cabinet treasurer (or cabinet secretary/treasurer) and District Governor’s Honorary Committee shall convene at a date, time, and place called and determined by the immediate past district governor, to select a replacement for recommendation to the International Board of Directors. (See the District Policy Manual for Rules of Procedure.)
For the time the vacancy exists in the office of district governor, the vice district governor shall act as district governor and shall perform the duties of, and have the same authority as the district governor until said vacancy is filled by the International Board of Directors.

Section 6. VICE DISTRICT GOVERNOR AND OTHER VACANCIES. Any vacancy in an 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 governor shall convene a meeting of the members of the existing cabinet as provided for in the International Constitution and Bylaws 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 the governor’s 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 at said meeting shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote for the Lion of his/her choice. In order for a Lion to be eligible and qualified to fill a vacancy in the office of vice district governor he/she must furnish evidence of compliance with the qualifications for said office set out in the International Constitution and Bylaws.

If the immediate past district governor fails to serve as a member of the cabinet, the district governor shall appoint the most recent past district governor who is willing to perform the duties of the said office.

Section 7. REGION/ZONE CHAIRPERSON QUALIFICATIONS. Each region and zone chairperson shall:
A. Be an active member in good standing in his/her respective region or zone; and
B. Have served or will have served at the time of taking office as region or zone chairperson as president of a Lions club for a full term or major portion thereof, and a member of the board of directors of a Lions club for no less than two (2) additional years.

Section 8. REGION/ZONE CHAIRPERSON VACANCY. If any region or zone chairperson shall cease to be a member of a club in the region or zone, as the case may be, to which he/she was appointed, the term of office shall thereon cease, and the district governor shall appoint a successor to fill said office. Provided, however, the district governor, may determine not to use the position of region chairperson for the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE IV – Duties of District Officers/Cabinet

Section 1. DISTRICT GOVERNOR. Under the general supervision of the International Board of Directors, the district governor shall represent the association in the district. In addition, the district governor shall be the chief administrative officer in the district and shall have direct supervision over the vice district governor, region chairpersons, zone chairpersons, the cabinet secretary-treasurer, and such other cabinet members as may be provided for in this district constitution and bylaws. The governor’s specific responsibilities shall be to:
A. Further the Purposes of this association;
B. Supervise the organization of new Lions clubs;
C. Promote the Lions Clubs International Foundation and all service activities of the association;
D. Preside, when present, over cabinet, convention, and other district meetings. During any period the district governor is unable to so preside, the presiding officer at any such meeting shall be the vice district governor, but if the vice district governor is not available, the district officer chosen by the attending members shall preside;
E. Promote harmony among the chartered Lions clubs;
F. Endeavor to visit each club at least once during the district governor’s term of office;
G. Exercise such supervision and authority over cabinet officers and district committee appointees as is provided in this district constitution;
H. Submit a current itemized statement of total district receipts and expenditures to the district convention or annual meeting of the district at a multiple district convention;
I. Deliver, forthwith, at the termination of the district governor’s term of office, all district accounts and records to the successor in office;

A. Report to Lions Clubs International all known violations of the use of the association’s name and emblem;
B. Perform such other functions and acts as shall be required of the district governor by the International Board of Directors through the District Governor’s Manual and other directives.

Section 2. VICE DISTRICT GOVERNOR. The vice district governor, subject to the supervision and direction of the district governor shall be chief administrative assistant to the district governor. His/her specific responsibilities shall be to:
A. Further the Purposes of this association;
B. Become familiar with the duties of the district governor so in the event of a vacancy in the office of district governor, the vice district governor will be better prepared to assume the duties and responsibilities of said office;
C. Perform such administrative duties as may be assigned by the district governor;
D. Perform such other functions and acts as may be required by the International Board of Directors through the vice district governor’s manual and other directives;
E. Actively participate in all cabinet and council meetings and conduct all meetings in the absence of the district governor;
F. Participate in the preparation of the district budget;
G. Be actively engaged in all matters to be continued during the next year;
H. Participate in the review of the strengths and weaknesses of the clubs of the district, particularly, identify existing and potential weak clubs within the district, establish plans to strengthen them, and submit the plans to international headquarters by the end of the governor’s term; and
I. At the request of the district governor, supervise appropriate district committees;
J. Chair the district MERLOW team.

Section 3. CABINET SECRETARY OR SECRETARY-TREASURER. The cabinet secretary shall act under the supervision of the district governor. The cabinet secretary’s specific responsibilities shall be to:
A. Further the Purposes of this association;
B. Perform such duties as are implied by the title of said office, including but not by way of limitation, the following:
1. Keep an accurate record of the proceedings of all meetings of the cabinet, and within five (5) days after each meeting, forward copies of the same to all members of the cabinet, and the office of Lions Clubs International;
2. Take and keep minutes of the district convention and furnish copies of the same to Lions Clubs International, the district governor and the secretary of each club in the district. Publication of the minutes in the district newspaper mailed and /or made available electronically to each Lion member in the district shall satisfy the latter requirement;
3. Make reports to the cabinet as the district governor or cabinet may require;
4. Keep accurate books and records of account, and minutes of all cabinet and district meetings, and permit inspection of the same by the district governor, any cabinet member and any club (or authorized agent of any of them) at any reasonable time for any proper purpose. Upon direction of the district governor or the cabinet the secretary shall furnish any such books and records as requested to any auditor appointed by the district governor.
5. Perform such other functions and acts as may be required of each by directives of the International Board of Directors.

Section 4. CABINET TREASURER OR SECRETARY-TREASURER. The cabinet treasurer shall act under the supervision of the district governor. The cabinet treasurer’s specific responsibilities shall be to:
A. Further the Purposes of this association;
B. Perform such duties as are implied by the title of said office, including but not by way of limitation, the following:
1. Make reports to the cabinet as the district governor or cabinet may require;

1. Collect and receipt for all per capita taxes levied on members and clubs in the district, deposit the same in such bank or banks as the district governor and cabinet shall determine and disburse the same by order of the district governor;
2. Shall deposit all funds into, and disperse all funds from, banking accounts, as approved by the district governor and the cabinet, maintaining separate records for each of the Charitable Project Funds and all other district funds which shall be received by the district. Any investment or reinvestment of such funds shall solely be in investments which are guaranteed by the Federal Government. Disbursements from these funds shall be by check signed by the district treasurer and the district governor or the vice district governor if the governor is not available.
3. Remit and pay over to the multiple district council secretary-treasurer the multiple district per capita tax, if any, collected in the district, and secure a proper receipt;
4. Keep accurate books and records of account, and minutes of all cabinet and district meetings, and permit inspection of the same by the district governor, any cabinet member and any club (or authorized agent of any of them) at any reasonable time for any proper purpose. Upon direction of the district governor or the cabinet the secretary shall furnish any such books and records as requested to any auditor appointed by the district governor.
5. Secure bond for the faithful performance of the treasurer’s duties in such sum and with such sureties as may be required by the district governor and cabinet;
6. Perform such other functions and acts as may be required of each by directives of the International Board of Directors.

Section 5. REGION CHAIRPERSON. (If the position is utilized during the district governor’s term).
The region chairperson, subject to the supervision and direction of the district governor, shall be the chief administrative officer in the chairperson’s region. The region chairperson’s specific responsibilities should be to:
A. Further the Purposes of this association;
B. Supervise the activities of the zone chairpersons in the region and such district committee chairpersons as may be assigned to him/her by the district governor;
C. Play an active role in organizing new clubs and in strengthening weak clubs;
D. Visit a regular meeting of each club in the region at least once during the term of office, reporting the findings to the district governor;
E. Visit a regular board of directors meeting of each club in the region at least once during the term of office, reporting the findings to the district governor;
F. Endeavor to have every club in the region operating under a duly adopted club constitution and bylaws;
G. Promote representation at international, multiple district, and district conventions by at least the full quota of delegates to which clubs in the region are entitled;
H. Carry out such official visitations to club meetings and charter nights as shall be assigned by the district governor;
I. Perform such additional assignments as shall be given from time to time by the district governor.
In addition, the region chairperson shall perform such other functions and acts as may be required by the International Board of Directors through a region chairperson’s manual and other directives.
In the event the region chairperson for any reason cannot or does not, in the judgment of the district governor, perform the duties of the office, or in the event the office is for any reason vacated, the district governor shall appoint a successor to serve for the unexpired term, as per Bylaws Article III, Section 8.

Section 6. ZONE CHAIRPERSON. The zone chairperson, subject to the supervision and direction of the district governor and/or region chairperson, shall be the chief administrative officer in his/her zone. The zone chairperson’s specific responsibilities shall be to:
A. Further the Purposes of this association;
B. Serve as chairperson of the District Governor’s Advisory Committee in the zone and as such chairperson to call regular meetings of said committee;

A. Make a report of each District Governor’s Advisory Committee meeting and send copies within five (5) days thereafter to Lions Clubs International and to the district governor and the region chairperson;
B. Play an active role in organizing new clubs and keep informed on the activities and well-being of all clubs in the zone;
C. Represent each club in the zone in any problems with district, multiple district council chairperson, or Lions International;
D. Supervise the progress of district, multiple district, and Lions Clubs International projects in the zone
E. Endeavor to have every club within the zone operating under a duly adopted club constitution and bylaws;
F. Promote representation at international, multiple district, and district conventions by at least the full quota of delegates to which clubs in the zone are entitled;
G. Visit a regular meeting of each club in the zone once or more during the term of office, reporting the findings to the region chairperson – particularly with respect to weaknesses that may have been discovered (copy to the district governor);
H. Perform such other functions and acts as may be required by directives of the International Board of Directors.
In the event the zone chairperson for any reason cannot or, in the judgment of the district governor, does not perform the duties of the office, or in the event the office is for any reason vacated, the district governor shall appoint a successor to serve for the unexpired term.

Section 7. DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S CABINET. The district governor’s cabinet shall:
A. Assist the district governor in the performance of the governor’s duties and in the formulation of administrative plans and policies affecting the welfare of Lionism within the district;
B. Receive from the region chairpersons or other assigned district cabinet members, reports and recommendations which concern the clubs and zones;
C. Supervise the collection of all per capita taxes by the cabinet treasurer, designate a depository(s) for said funds and authorize the payment of all legitimate expenses pertaining to the administration of the affairs of the district;
D. Secure, set the amount of and approve the surety company issuing the surety bond for the cabinet secretary and/or treasurer and other signatories;
E. Secure semi-annually or more frequently, district financial reports from the cabinet treasurer (or secretary-treasurer)
F. Provide an audit of the books and accounts of the cabinet secretary, cabinet treasurer, or cabinet secretary-treasurer and with the district governor’s approval, set up definite schedule of dates, times, and places of cabinet meetings to be held during the fiscal year.

Section 8. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall maintain order and decorum at the respective conventions and meetings and perform such other duties as are incident to the office under ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER, NEWLY REVISED.

ARTICLE V – District Committees/Duties

Section 1. DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE. In each zone, the zone chairperson and the presidents and secretaries of the clubs in the zone shall compose a District Governor’s Advisory Committee, with the zone chairperson as chairperson. At a date, time, and place called by the zone chairperson, this committee shall hold a first meeting ninety (90) days after the adjournment of the preceding international convention; a second meeting in the month of November; a third meeting in the month of February or March; and a fourth meeting approximately thirty (30) days prior to the multiple district convention. It shall assist the zone chairpersons in an advisory capacity, procure recommendations affecting the welfare of Lionism and the clubs in the zone, and relay the same through the zone chairperson to the district governor and the cabinet.

Section 2. DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S HONORARY COMMITTEE. The district governor shall appoint a District Governor’s Honorary Committee composed of past international officers who are members in good standing of clubs within the district. This committee shall meet when and as called upon by the district governor. It shall act under the direction of the district governor in the promotion of harmony throughout the district. This committee shall perform such additional functions as are specified in the district constitution and bylaws and the district policy manual. The chairperson of this committee shall be a member of the cabinet.

Section 3. DISTRICT CABINET COMMITTEES. The district governor shall establish and appoint such other committees and/or coordinators as the governor deems necessary and appropriate for the efficient operations of the district. These committees or coordinators shall perform the functions assigned by the district governor and/or as specified in the district policy manual. Such committee chairpersons and coordinators shall be deemed either voting or non-voting members of the district cabinet and may be terminated and/or replaced as the district governor sees fit.

ARTICLE VI – District Administrative Fund

Section 1. DISTRICT REVENUE. Revenue to defray the non-convention administrative expenses of the district shall be derived from a District Administrative Fund Per Capita Tax levied upon each member of each club in the district by the multiple district in accordance with the multiple district constitution and bylaws. The multiple district will collect and forward all such funds collected to the district governor. Said per capita tax shall be disbursed only for non-convention administrative expenses of the district and only upon approval by the district governor.

Section 2. DISTRICT NEWSPAPER. To provide revenue to defray expenses of a District Newspaper an annual per capita tax of three dollars and eighty cents ($3.80) is hereby levied upon each member of each club in the district. This tax shall be collected and paid in advance by each club, except newly chartered and newly reorganized clubs, in two (2) semi-annual payments as follows: One dollar and ninety cents ($1.90) per club member on September tenth of each year and one dollar and ninety cents ($1.90) per member on March tenth of each year, with billings of said tax to be based upon roster of each club as of the first day of July and January respectively. The 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 into the district checking account, keeping accurate records of all such funds for the District Newspaper Fund. All such funds collected shall be used exclusively for defraying expenses of the district newspaper and shall be expended only by district checks drawn and signed by the Cabinet Treasurer (or Secretary Treasurer) and countersigned by the district governor or the vice district governor if the governor is unavailable. Any club which is newly chartered or reorganized shall pay such taxes effective the next semi-annual period after the semi-annual period in which that club was chartered or reorganized.

Section 3. DISSOLUTION. In the event that the district shall cease to exist, all residual charitable funds shall be distributed to appropriate charitable entities consistent with the donors’ intentions; all residual administrative funds shall be disbursed in accordance with the provisions of the district policy manual.

ARTICLE VII – Nominations and Endorsement International Director And Second Vice President Nominees

Section 1. ENDORSEMENT PROCEDURE. Subject to the provisions of the International Constitution and Bylaws, any member of a Lions club in the district seeking the endorsement of the district convention, and the multiple district convention, as a candidate for the office of international director or second vice-president shall:
A. Secure the written endorsement of his/her club, or a majority of the clubs in the district;
Deliver written notice of intention to seek the endorsement of the district convention to the district governor and to the multiple district council of governors no less than 105 days prior to the

A. convening date of the district convention at which such question of endorsement is to be voted upon;
B. Deliver with said notice of intention evidence of fulfillment of the qualifications for such office as set forth in the International Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 2. NOMINATION. Each notice of intention shall be transmitted forthwith by the district governor to the Nominating Committee of the district convention, which shall review and perfect same by obtaining from each prospective candidate any additional evidence of such intention and qualifications as may be necessary under the International Constitution and Bylaws, and shall place in nomination at the district convention the name of each such prospective candidate who has fulfilled said procedural and constitutional requirements.

Section 3. SECONDING SPEECH. Each such nominee for endorsement shall be entitled to one seconding speech of no more than three (3) minutes in duration.

Section 4. VOTING. The vote on the question of endorsement shall be by secret written ballot. The nominee receiving a majority of the votes cast shall be declared endorsed as the candidate of the convention and the district. In the event of a tie vote, or failure of one nominee to receive the required majority, on any ballot, balloting shall continue, with respect to only the two nominees who received the largest number of votes on the previous ballot, until one receives the required majority of the votes cast.

Section 5. CERTIFICATION OF ENDORSEMENT. Certification of endorsement by the district convention shall be made in writing by the district governor to the international office and to the multiple district council of governors for consideration by a convention of the multiple district, in accordance with the requirements set forth in the International Constitution and Bylaws and in the Multiple District 14 Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 6. VALIDITY. No endorsement of any candidacy of any member of a Lions club in this district shall be valid unless and until all provisions of this Article VII have been met.

ARTICLE VIII – Rules of Procedure

Section 1. RULES. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this constitution and bylaws, or in the rules of procedure adopted for a meeting, all questions of order and procedure at any district meeting or convention, or any meeting of the district cabinet, region, zone, or members club, or of any group or committee of any one of them shall be determined by ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER, NEWLY REVISED.

ARTICLE IX – Miscellaneous

Section 1. DISTRICT GOVERNOR EXPENSES – INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION. Expenses of the district governor in connection with his/her attending the international convention shall be considered a multiple district administrative expense, that is reimbursable by the multiple district per rules of audit, and as such, shall not be reimbursed in whole or in part by the district.

Section 2. FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. The district governor and/or the district cabinet shall not incur obligations in any fiscal year which will effect an unbalanced budget or deficit in said fiscal year.

Section 3. CABINET SECRETARY – TREASURER BOND. The cabinet secretary and treasurer (or secretary/treasurer) and other authorized signatories shall be bonded in such amount and with such surety company as shall be approved by the district governor’s cabinet and the cost of same shall be an administrative expense.

Section 4. AUDIT OR REVIEW OF BOOKS. The district governor’s cabinet shall provide for an annual or more frequent audit or review of the books and accounts of the cabinet secretary and cabinet treasurer (or secretary/treasurer), and a statement of the financial condition of the district shall be sent to Lions Clubs International and each club in the district, at the close of the fiscal year, by the cabinet then in office. A copy of said financial statement published in the district newspaper, mailed and/or made electronically available to each member, shall satisfy the above requirement to provide a copy to each club in the district.

Section 5. COMPENSATION. No officer shall receive any compensation for service rendered to this district in his/her official capacity with the exception of the cabinet secretary, cabinet treasurer (or secretary/treasurer) whose compensation, if any, shall be fixed by the district cabinet. The other exception being the vice district governor who shall receive reimbursement, only to attend multiple district directed training sessions, as per District 14-P Rules of Audit.

Section 6. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of this district shall be from July 1st to June 30th.

Section 7. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The clubs in the district shall pursue all complaints, disputes, or claims according to the terms and conditions of rules or procedure adopted, from time to time, by the International Board of Directors.

ARTICLE X – Amendments

Section 1. AMENDING PROCEDURE. These bylaws may be amended only at a district convention, by resolution reported by the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and adopted by a majority of the votes cast.

Section 2. NOTICE. No amendment shall be so reported or voted upon unless the same shall have been furnished in writing to each club no less than thirty (30) days prior to the convening date of the annual convention with notice that the same will be voted upon at said convention. Publication of such amendment(s) and notice in the District Newspaper, mailed and/or made electronically available to each Lion in the district, shall satisfy the above requirement to furnish a copy to each club in the district.

Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. Each amendment shall take effect at the close of the convention at which adopted unless otherwise specified in the amendment.

ARTICLE XI – Effective Time

This constitution and bylaws shall take effect at the close of the district convention at which the same is adopted by a majority of the votes cast.

ARTICLE XII – Precedence

Section 1. The following Constitution and Bylaws, as amended from time to time, listed in the order of precedence, shall take precedence over this Constitution and Bylaws:
A. The International Association of Lions Clubs Constitution and Bylaws and policies of the Board of Directors of Lions Clubs International.
B. Multiple District 14, State of Pennsylvania, Constitution and Bylaws.

Constitution and Bylaws:
Approved April 19, 1997
Amended April 18, 1998
Amended April 21, 2001
Amended - Effective July 1, 2006