District 37 Constitution
Article 1: Name
This organization shall be known as District 37, hereinafter referred to as “District”.
Article 2: Purpose
The purposes of this District and this constitution shall be:
To provide an administrative structure with which to advance the purposes of Lions Clubs International in this district.
To unite the members in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding.
Article 3 Membership
The members of this organization shall be all Lions Clubs in the District chartered by and in good standing with Lions Clubs International. The boundary lines of this District shall be the entire state of Montana.
Article 4 Supremacy
The District Constitution and By-Laws shall govern the District unless otherwise amended so as not to conflict with the International Constitution and By-Laws and policies of Lions Clubs International. Whenever there may exist a conflict or a contradiction between the provisions set out in the District Constitution and by-laws and the International Constitution and By-Laws, then the International Constitution and By-Laws shall govern.
Article 5 Officers and District Cabinet
Section 1: Officers:
The officers of this District shall be the District Governor, the Immediate Past District Governor, the First and Second Vice District Governors, the Region Chairpersons (if the position is utilized during the District Governor’s term), the Zone Chairpersons, Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer or a Cabinet Secretary, a Cabinet Treasurer and District Administrator. Each such officer shall be a member in good standing of a Lions Club in good standing within the District. Each of these members shall have one vote at Cabinet meetings.
Section 2: District Cabinet:
The District shall have a District Cabinet composed of the District Governor, the Immediate Past District Governor, the First and Second Vice District Governors, the Region Chairpersons (if the position is utilized during the District Governor’s term), the Zone Chairpersons, Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer or a Cabinet Secretary, a Cabinet Treasurer, District Administrator and such other Club members as may be included in this section as enumerated in the By-Laws or Policy Manual. Each of these members shall have one vote at Cabinet meetings.
Section 3. Election/Appointment of District Cabinet Members:
The district governor and first and second vice district governors shall be elected at the annual convention of the district. The district governor shall appoint, or the district shall elect 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 during the district governor’s term), and one zone chairperson for each zone, in the district, sergeant at arms and such other club members as may be included in the district cabinet.
Section 4. Removal:
Members of the District Cabinet other than the District Governor, First Vice District Governor and Second Vice District Governor may be removed from office for cause by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the entire number of the District Cabinet.
Section 5: Executive Committee:
The Executive Committee shall consist of the District Governor, the Immediate Past District Governor, the First and Second Vice District Governors, Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer or a Cabinet Secretary, Cabinet Treasurer and District Administrator. The Executive Committee may act in place of the cabinet as circumstances dictate.
Article 6 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 at a place selected by the delegates of a previous annual convention of the district and at a date and time fixed by the district governor.
Section 2. Club Delegate Formula
Each chartered club in good standing in Lions Clubs International and its district (single or sub- and multiple) shall be entitled in each annual convention of its district (single or 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 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. All eligible delegates must be members in good standing of a club in good standing in this district. Delinquent dues may be paid and good standing acquired up to fifteen (15) days prior to the close of credential certification, as such closing time shall be established by the rules of the respective convention.
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.
Section 4. Special Convention
A Special Convention of the clubs of the District may be called by a two-thirds vote of the District Cabinet at such time and place as they shall determine; provided that such Special Convention shall conclude no less than 30 days prior to the convening date of the International Convention and that such Special Convention shall not be convened for the election of the district governor, first vice district governor or second vice district governor. Written notice of the Special Convention setting forth the time, place and purpose thereof, shall be provided to each club in the District by the District Cabinet Secretary, no less than 30 days prior to the convening date of the Special Convention.
Section 5: Notice and Voting
Notice of a Special Convention will be given to clubs as stated in section 4 by the most efficient method. The vote on the Special Convention may be done by the most practical method.
ARTICLE 7 District Dispute Resolution Procedure
All disputes or claims arising from provisions of the District Constitution and By-Laws or any policy or procedure adopted from time to time by the district (single or sub-) cabinet, or any other internal Lions district (single or sub-) matters that cannot be satisfactorily resolved through other means, arising between any clubs in the district (single or sub-), or any club(s) and the district (single or sub-) administration, shall be resolved in accordance with the Dispute Resolution Procedures established by the International Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 8 Amendments
Section 1: Amending Procedure:
This Constitution may be amended only at a District Convention, by resolution of the Constitution and By-Laws Committee; or a resolution proposed by 25% of the Clubs in good standing in the District; and adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast.
Section 2: Automatic Update:
When amendments to the International Constitution and By-Laws are passed at the International Convention, any amendments that would have an effect on this District Constitution and By- Laws shall automatically be updated in this District Constitution and By-Laws at the close of the International Convention.
Section 3: Notice:
No amendment shall be so reported or voted upon unless the same shall have been published by regular post or electronic means 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.
Section 4: Effective Date:
Each amendment shall take effect at the close of the convention at which adopted unless otherwise specified in the amendment.
Last updated