From club-level initiatives to district-wide strategies, here’s a look at the people, planning, and partnerships shaping MISSION 1.5 in MD 317.
MISSION 1.5 Moment: Hassan Lions Club Shows What Focused Growth Can Achieve
PMCC A.V. Vamanakumar
GAT Area Leader, MD 317
As Hassan Lions Club, District 317D, enters its Golden Jubilee year, it has marked the milestone with a membership achievement that reflects both intention and teamwork—a true MISSION 1.5 moment.
Chartered in the Lionistic year 1975–1976, the club had a modest beginning with 26 members. Despite many challenges, the club grew steadily over the decades. By the end of the 2024–2025 Lionistic year, membership stood at 82. For 2025–2026, Club President H. Ramesh and his team set an ambitious goal: “50th Year, 50 New Members,” all to be inducted on installation day.
5 Golden Tips For Growth
As Hassan Lions Club celebrates 50 years, it offers a practical roadmap for MISSION 1.5, drawn from its own experience.
- Set a Goal: Every incoming president should define a growth goal and work steadily toward it.
- Make Meetings Joyful: Create an environment members are proud to invite others into.
- Serve Locally and Globally: Conduct impactful service projects to raise awareness and reflect the core values of Lionism.
- Invite, Mentor, Nurture: Encourage all members to invite new Lions, mentor them in their early months, and nurture their growth within the club.
- Keep the Club Friendly: Leadership must maintain a welcoming, inclusive environment to retain members.
Growth, then, becomes a natural outcome of shared purpose.
With 45 days of focused effort and the support of three engineers who led the outreach, the club not only achieved the goal but surpassed it. On installation day, 50 new engineer members and 9 contractor members joined the club, bringing total membership to 141—a significant leap that demonstrates what clear goals and collaborative effort can accomplish.
The club’s recruitment strategy was simple and personal: identify individuals who value service, speak openly about the purpose of Lionism, and use existing friendships to create meaningful introductions. This approach strengthened both membership and fellowship, showing how relationships can drive real growth.
The club’s progress extends beyond membership. Over the years, Hassan Lions Club has:
- Helped establish 11 new clubs.
- Built and owns a G+2 facility.
- Runs a Lions Dialysis Unit that serves local families.
- Engages members through fellowships, tours, and community activities.
- Contributed 125 MJF/PMJF recipients to date—including 25 in the current year.
When District 317A underwent redistricting in 2023, it faced the challenge of growing its pride while ensuring participation across all clubs, not just influential pockets. The district leadership chose a simple approach—plan early, involve everyone, and make membership growth a shared, enjoyable effort. The focus remained on rebuilding, re-energizing, and retaining both long-standing members and new entrants. Here’s the step-by-step guide to growth that that powered District 317A’s results.
Step 1: Plan Early
Recruitment planning began in June, with a clear responsibility matrix:
- PSTs encouraged team outreach through recognition systems.
- RCs and ZCs focused on low-hanging fruit.
- GMT and GET teams acted as facilitators.
- PDGs and DGs played influencer and “firefighting” roles.
- Leos targeted young members to reduce the average age by 2 years.
- Admin teams tracked targets monthly, weekly, and by club/zone.
Step 2: Communication & Recognition
Transparent weekly updates ensured all clubs knew their progress. Low-member clubs were actively supported, and first-time recruitment was encouraged through jeweller-partner incentives — gold vouchers for sponsors and new members, diamond rewards for club extension chairs. Certificates, medals, and MISSION1.5 pins created friendly competition across clubs, zones, and regions.
Step 3: Celebrating Success and Staying Practical
Following the mantra “Bad news doesn’t get better with age,” the district addressed challenges quickly. Attention was given to retention, re-recruitment, diversity, and family membership. The ‘Each One Bring One’ effort encouraged Lions to introduce friends and relatives. The Lions Business Network helped strengthen professional bonds within the Lions family. Membership growth was made a joyous experience, without burdensome targets.
The Results
The district’s approach translated into strong early outcomes, with growth visible across clubs, age groups, and membership categories.
- Over 30% recruitment by Cabinet Presentation (July 27, 2025) and 51% of MISSION 1.5 target achieved in Q1.
- 15% overall growth compared to the previous year.
- 75% of existing clubs added new members.
- Lions Clubs of Bangalore Aishwarya and Bengaluru Sankalpa added over 20 members each.
- 40+ Leo-Lions or student members joined.
- Diversity now at 35% and growing.
- 150+ family, Leo, or women members inducted in Q1.
Yes, thoughtful planning, recognition, and inclusivity can make membership growth both effective and enjoyable. Just ask District 317A!