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Kansas Lions History and Organization
In 1918 at the Second International Convention it was decided to parcel the United States into districts, and each was to have a District Governor. They were numbered from the west coast to the east coast, and the state of Kansas and Oklahoma became District 6. At that time, Kansas had no Lions Clubs. On December 4, 1919 , the first Lions Club was chartered in Wichita . An earlier club was started in June of 1917, in Wichita , but it disbanded after its second meeting. In 1921, Kansas became a separate District, and John H. Boys became the District Governor. In 1922, he became an International Director.
The first convention was held April 27, 1922 , in Hutchinson . However, in International records, Kansas did not become District 17 until July 1921. On June 30, 1921 , Kansas had nine clubs, and 340 Lions members. However, convention records show 23 clubs in April 1922. Kansas today is District 17. In July 1937, Kansas had 102 clubs and at that time Kansas subdivided into three districts. They were districts K, A, and N.
In 1947, a need for another district was recognized, and Kansas was subdivided into districts K, A, N, and S. Four years later, in 1951, the need again arose, and Kansas was subdivided into eight districts. The four previous districts were each divided into an east and west subdivision, thus creating Districts NE-NW, SE-SW, KE-KW, AND AE-AW. Another drawing of boundaries occurred on July 1, 1965 . The current district configuration was approved at the State Convention in Topeka in June 1994 and took effect July 1, 1995 . This configuration changed the total district to seven and is designated K1 (Southeast), K2 (South Central), K3 (Southwest), K4 (Northwest), K5 (Northwest Central), K6 Northeast Central, and K7 (Northeast).
When six or more clubs in a nation or territory have been chartered, Lions International can grant a status of "provisional district" and appoint a District Governor to that area. When the district reaches 20 clubs, it can then hold a district convention and elect its own District Governor. However, the district still must remain a provisional district and has three years to add 15 more clubs. This would bring the total clubs to 35, and the membership must be 1250 Lions members in good standing. Should a district nor have 35 clubs or 1250 Lions, a District Governor shall not be elected, but will be appointed by the International Board. Provisions in the Constitution of Lions Clubs International provides for redistricting a Multiple District where provisional districts exits for more than three years. That is why we had the redistricting in 1995.
The governing body of the Lions of Kansas is the State Council. The State Council is composed of seven district governors, the council chairman, State Treasurer and State Secretary. The current District Governors and the District Governor Elect elect the Council Chairman. The Council Chairman is chosen from the current District Governors as an organizational meeting just prior to the State Convention. The Council chooses the Treasurer after advertisement of the position and applications filed. The Treasurer generally serves until resignation or being replaced. The State Secretary is the only paid employee of the Multiple District and serves until resignation or replacement. Currently the State Secretary is Linda McCormick of Wichita , Kansas .
The State Office is located at 231 South Tyler , in Wichita . This process of filling the Council Chairman position was started in 1954. Before that time, the state convention was rotated among the districts, and if the convention was in your district, you were the council chairman. The state council did not exist before 1937: however, it is not exactly sure when it did come about. It is fairly certain that the first state council met during the 1938-39 Lions year.
The state council holds four meetings annually, besides any special meetings that may be called. The meetings are generally held in August, October, January, and June. These may vary into July, November, February, and May. The third council meeting is held in conjunction with the Mid-Winter Rally, and the fourth in conjunction with the state convention. An organizational meeting is held at the state convention each year to select the new council chairman and to make the committee appointments.
The state council is the custodian of all state funds, it selects the state convention site, and it is responsible to maintain, promote, and extend Lionism in the state or Multiple District 17. Any and all statewide activities are under the supervision of the state council.
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