Important Updates Regarding Changes in Second Vice District Governor Qualifications and Discounted Members No Longer Included in Club Delegate Formula As we all move forward with planning our district conventions, please keep in mind the following changes potentially impacting nominations and credentialing. Qualifications for Second Vice District Governor Delegates at the 2024 International Convention approved an amendment expanding the qualifications for the office of second vice district governor. In the past, to qualify for nomination, a candidate had to have served as president of a Lions club for a full term or major portion thereof, and served as either a zone chair, region chair, or cabinet secretary and/or cabinet treasurer, with none being accomplished concurrently. The amendment provides that alternatively, a candidate can have served as a club president and member of the club board of directors for at least two years, and, in addition to either zone and/or region chair, and CST, can have served as either a district global extension team coordinator, district global leadership team coordinator, district global membership team coordinator, or district LCIF coordinator, for a full term or major portion thereof, with none being served concurrently. It is important to note that a district LCIF coordinator’s term in three years so a candidate in that position would need to have served a majority of the three-year term to qualify. The amendment levels the playing field for those who have served on the global action team but not as a zone/region chair or CST, by enabling them to qualify to advance in their district. The amendment did not alter the other qualifications of being an active member in good standing belonging to a Lions club that is in good standing, securing the endorsement of his/her club, and not having previously served a full term or major portion thereof as district governor. Nominating committees are encouraged to use the Nominating Committee Checklist for Second Vice District Governor Candidates located on page 39 of the LCI Standard District Constitution and Bylaws, and the checklists for district governor and first vice district governor candidates that precede. Discounted Members No Longer Count In Club Delegate Formula Another amendment recently passed provides that members of a club who pay discounted dues as a result of family membership status or student status, shall not be included in the club delegate formula calculation. The discounted member retains all voting rights and is eligible to serve at club and district levels. Each chartered club in good standing in LCI and its district shall be entitled in each annual district convention to one (1) delegate for every ten (10) members, who have been enrolled for at least one (1) year and a day in the club or major fraction thereof. The major fraction referred to here is five (5) or more members. For example, if a club has 20 members, 18 of whom have been lions for over a year, then they would typically be entitled to two (2) delegates (18/10 = 1.8). However, if four (4) of the 18 are discounted members, the club is only entitled to one (1) delegate (14/10 = 1.4). The district credentials committee should also keep in mind that to be an eligible delegate, a Lion must be in good standing and their club must be in good standing. Another change in credentialing involves past district governors (“PDGs”). LCI Standard District Constitution and Bylaws (“CBL”) Section 2, footnote 6, reads, “The district may amend this provision to allow for a past district governor to vote apart from a club delegate quota. Pursuant to Article IX Section III of the International Bylaws, … FURTHER PROVIDED, that each district may, by express provision in its respective constitution and bylaws, grant full delegate status to each past district governor who is a member a club in such district independent of the club delegate quotas hereinabove specified.” In the past, PDGs were allowed full delegate status apart from their home club’s delegates determined through the club delegate calculation regardless of whether an express provision was included in a district’s CBL. Credentials committees are encouraged to read all pertinent sections of their district’s CBL (whether standard LCI or their own) and the applicable provisions of the multi- district and international CBLs. DG Tracy Thompson, 34B