• LOPF By-laws
• Lions Of Pennsylvania Foundation
• LOPF Management
• LOPF ​Board Responsibilities
• ​Portrait of an Ideal Board Member
• ​Board Member Description
• ​Board of Directors List
• ​Regulations For LOPF Grants
• ​LOPF Funding

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​Lions Of Pennsylvania Foundation By-laws

ARTICLE l
PURPOSES
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The purposes of this Corporation are to operate exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, and will be limited to making gifts and gift contributions to one or more organizations described in section 501©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

To receive any property, real, personal, or mixed, by gift, devise, bequest, purchase, lease, own or otherwise, absolutely or in trust for the foregoing purposes or any one of them, and to carry out and exercise the powers contained in any trust or other instrument under which such property may be so received including without limitations, the expenditures of the principal and income of any property so received if authorized or directed in such trust or instruments and if so received without any one or more of the foregoing purposes in such manner and amounts and at such time or times as deemed proper by the Board of Directors of this Corporation and

To do any and all lawful activities that may be incidental or reasonably necessary to any of the foregoing purposes and to have and exercise all other powers and authorities now or hereafter conferred upon not-for-profit corporations under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

This corporation is under the supervision of the International Association of Lions Clubs and is governed by the Constitution and By-Laws of said organization.

ARTICLE ll
OFFICES
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The Corporation shall have its principal office at 949 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17111, or at such other place or places as shall be the official office of the Pennsylvania State Council of Lions Clubs (State Council).

ARTICLE lll
MEMBERS

SECTION 1. Voting Members
The members of the Board of Directors of this Corporation, as from time to time constituted, a majority of which must be Lions club members, shall by virtue of such positions, be voting members of this Corporation, and shall comprise the entire voting membership thereof. Any person, who ceases to hold such a position, shall cease, thereon, to be a voting member of this Corporation.

SECTION 2. Non-Voting Members
All contributing members, regardless of the amount of their contribution, shall be considered non-voting members of the Corporation.
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SECTION 3.
Each voting member shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to, or requiring the vote of, such member.

​ARTICLE lV
MEETING OF MEMBERS

SECTION 1. Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the members of the Corporation shall be held at the Annual convention of the Multiple District Fourteen of the Lions International at the city in which said State Council meeting is held. Thereafter, an Annual Meeting of the members shall be held each year at the Annual Convention of the Multiple District Fourteen meeting of the Pennsylvania State Council of Lions Clubs and in the same city in which said State Convention is held for the purpose of hearing reports of the officers and directors of the Corporation and for transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting.

SECTION 2. Special Meetings
Special meetings of the members may be called by the Chairperson of the Pennsylvania State Council of Lions Clubs and the President of the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation at their joint direction, or shall be called by the President of the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation upon written request addressed to said President of a majority of the Foundation’s voting members. The time and place of any special meeting shall be determined by the President and the call shall be made by him or the Secretary at the direction of the President. The meeting shall be called within a period not to exceed 30 days following the request for special meeting.

SECTION 3. Meetings at State Council Meetings
Meetings of the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation at State Council meetings will be held at the May State Convention meeting and the Fall meeting. Reports to State Council will be presented at all State Council meetings.

SECTION 4. Notice of Meetings
Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of any meeting shall be delivered, either personally or by mail, to each member entitled to vote at such meeting, but not less than five and not more than 25 days before the date of such meeting. In the case of a special meeting only, the purpose for which the meeting is called shall be stated in the notice. If mailed, notice shall be deemed delivered when deposited in the U.S. Mail addressed to the address of the member as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage therein prepaid. Any member may waive notice of the meeting.

SECTION 5. Quorum
A majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of members, a majority of the members then present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.

SECTION 6. Informal Action by Members
Any action allowed by law to be taken at a meeting of members, or any action which may be taken at a meeting of members, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by all of the members entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
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SECTION 7. Proxies
No Proxy voting shall be allowed at any meeting.

​ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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SECTION 1. Designation
The Board of Directors shall be 19 in number. The Foundation shall recommend the Directors from each of the 17 Districts in the State Council for their approval. The State Council shall approve the Board member from each District. The Director can serve on the Board until such time as the District Governor makes a change or it is determined that the Board member is not fulfilling his/her duties. At such time the District Governor will be asked for a replacement. One remaining member of the Board of Directors shall be appointed by the Board of the Pennsylvania Lions Hearing Research Foundation, and one remaining Board member shall be appointed by the Board of the Pennsylvania Lions Sight Conservation and Eye Research Foundation. Both appointees will serve until replaced by their respective Boards, Such latter two appointees shall have the right of vote but shall not be eligible to serve as a Corporation officer other than a member of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE Vl
OFFICERS AND COMMITEES

SECTION 1. Officers
a. Executive Officers. The Executive Officers of the Corporation shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, or Secretary-Treasurer.

b. Administrative Officers. The Chief Administrative Officer shall be an Executive Director who shall conduct the day-to-day activities of the Corporation. In the absence of a Chief Administrative Officer, the President shall act in such capacity.

SECTION 2. Election and Term of Office
a. The officers of the Corporation, other than the Executive Director, shall be elected annually by the voting members of Directors at the time of the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors, If the election of the officers shall not be held at such meetings, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as is convenient. Each officer shall hold office from the close of the meeting at which he is elected until the close of the meeting at which his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

b. The Executive Director shall be elected by a majority vote of the Board of Directors to serve at the will of the Board of Directors for as long as the Board of Directors shall decide.

SECTION 3. Removal
Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed by a vote of the majority of the Directors then in office (including the vote of that person being the subject of removal if that person has the right to vote) whenever, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the officer so removed.

SECTION 4. Vacancies
A vacancy in any elective office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, shall be filled by the voting members of the Board of Directors at the next regular meeting for the unexpired portion of the term, except that in the case of a vacancy in the position of President, the Vice President shall assume the office of President, and the vacant office of Vice President shall be filled in the manner set forth hereon.

SECTION 5. Duties and Powers
a. President The President shall be the principal Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall in general, supervise all of the business and affairs of the Corporation either personally or through the Executive Director. He shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors. He may sign, with the Secretary or any other officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board of Directors, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors, or by these By-Laws or by statute, to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, and in general, he shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

b. Vice-President In the absence of the President or in the event of his inability or refusal to act, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the President. Any Vice-President shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the President or by the Board of Directors.

c. Secretary The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose, see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws or as required by law, be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation and see that the seal of the Corporation is affixed to all documents, the execution of which, on behalf of the Corporation under its seal, is duly authorized in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws, keep a register of the post office address of each member which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such member, and in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to such office by the President or by the Board of Directors.

d. Treasurer The Treasurer shall be bonded for the faithful discharge of his duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties, as the Board of Directors shall determine. He shall have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and securities of the Corporation, receive and give receipts for monies due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever, and deposit all such monies in the name of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be directed in accordance with the provision of Article VIII of these By-Laws, and in general, perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the President or by the Board of Directors.

e. Executive Director The Executive Director shall have the day-to-day supervision of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as are assigned to said individual by the President or the Board of Directors.
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SECTION 6. Committees
The President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall designate appropriate committees and appoint individuals to said committees, which appointees need not be members of the Board of Directors

ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
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SECTION 1. Personal Liability
A Director of the Corporation shall, in the maximum extent permitted by the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, have no personal liability of monetary damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a director, provided that this section shall not eliminate the liability of a director in any case where such elimination is not permitted by law.
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SECTION 2. Indemnification
Each person who, at anytime, is or shall have been a director or officer of the Corporation and his heirs, executors and administrators, shall be indemnified by the Corporation in accordance with, and to the full extent permitted by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as in effect at the time of such indemnification. The foregoing right of indemnification shall constitute a contract between the Corporation and each of us as directors and officers and shall not be deemed exclusive of other rights to which any director, officer, employee, agent or other person may be entitled in any capacity as a matter of law or under any by-law, agreement, vote of members or directors or otherwise. If authorized by the Board of Directors, the Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person to the full extent permitted by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

ARTICLE VIII
CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS, AND FUNDS

SECTION 1. Contracts
The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, in addition to the officers so authorized by these By-Laws, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

SECTION 2. Checks, Drafts, etc.
All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents, of the Corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. In the absence of such determination by the Board of Directors, such instruments shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President or Vice-President.

SECTION 3. Deposits
All funds of the Corporation shall be deposited to the credit of the Corporation at such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of Directors may from time to time direct.
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SECTION 4. Gifts
The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the Corporation any contributions, gift, bequest or devise for its general purposes, or for any special purpose consistent with the purposes as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.

ARTICLE IX
RECEIPT AND DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

SECTION 1. Disbursements
The Board of Directors shall designate guidelines for disbursements of funds with or without individual pre-approval by the members of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. Recipient
The Board of Directors shall require that the purposes and activities for which any grants, gifts, or loans, are made to be approved by the members of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3. Use of Funds
The Board of Directors shall specify and agree with any recipient organizations that the actual use of any donated funds shall be only for purposes approved by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4. Grant Report
The Board of Directors shall require recipient organizations to provide the Corporation with a full accounting and complete financial report which accounts for the use of donated funds.
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SECTION 5. Refusal
The Board of Directors may refuse any contributions or designated grant, including a donation conditioned on its being paid out for a specific purpose, and return to the donor any such contributions actually received.

ARTICLE X
FISCAL YEAR AND AUDIT

SECTION 1. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of July in each year and end on the last day of June in the next succeeding calendar year.

SECTION 2. Financial Review
Within 90 days of the close of each fiscal year, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall have a financial review of the books and records of the Corporation prepared by a certified public accountant who is not a member of the Corporation, and copies thereof shall be distributed to the voting members of the Corporation of the State Council of Lions Multiple District 14.
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SECTION 3. Audit
An audit of the Corporation books and records will be prepared by a certified public accountant every three years at the end of a fiscal year.

ARTICLE XI
FISCAL AGENTS
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The Board of Directors may employ one or more fiscal agents to handle details of its investment program, the purchase and sale of securities and investments under the supervision of the Board of Directors, the custody of all securities and investments, and the keeping of corporate accounts and records whenever the funds of the Corporation are sufficiently large to justify the same.

ARTICLE XII
NAME, EMBLEM, OTHER INSIGNIA AND SEAL

SECTION 1. Name, Emblem, Other Insignia
The name, goodwill, emblem, and other insignia of this Corporation may not be used by any Lions Club, Lions Club member, or any Lions District (Single,Sub-, or Multiple), or by any entity (legal or natural in corporate or any other form), organized and/or controlled by any Lions Club, Lions Club members, or any Lions District, for any purpose except those expressly authorized by the provisions of these By-Laws or by policies of the Corporation Board of Directors, and no other individual or entity (legal, natural or any other form) may use the name, goodwill, emblem and other insignia of the Corporation without written consent and license as shall be required by the Corporation Board of Directors, all of which is subject to rules and regulations of Lions Clubs International.
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SECTION 2. Corporate Seal
The Board of Directors shall provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation and the words “Corporate Seal”.

ARTICLE XIII
WAIVER OF NOTICE

Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of Pennsylvania law, or under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent in the giving of such notice.

ARTICLE XIV
DISTRIBUTION AT DISSOLUTION
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Upon dissolution of the Corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Corporation, dispose of all the assets in such manner, or to organization(s) organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes as at the time shall qualify as an exempt organization(s) under Section 501©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding provisions of any United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the County in which the principal office of the Corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization(s), as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

ARTICLE XV
AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS

These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new By-Laws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members of the Corporation at any regular or special meeting after approval of the change by the State Council of Lions Multiple District 14.

​Lions Of Pennsylvania Foundation

PURPOSE:
The purpose of the Foundation shall be to develop, manage and distribute funding to help Lions Clubs provide services designed to meet existing and emerging needs that will improve the quality of life of Pennsylvania residents, and any other related program which may be adopted from time to time by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of the Foundation and so approved by the State Council or by the Lions of Multiple District Fourteen at an annual State Lions Convention.

GENERAL:
1. The name of the project of Pennsylvania Multiple District Fourteen Lions of Pennsylvania shall be “The Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation”.

2. The Foundation shall be governed by a Board of Directors, with each Board member recommended to the Board of Directors by the District Governor based on the articles of incorporation required for this Foundation, and as so required by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a non-profit organization.

3. A majority of the Board members must be members in good standing of a recognized Lions Club of Multiple District 14, with the qualifications fitting him/her to administer the purposes and objectives of the Foundation.

4. The Board Member must be interested in achieving and maintaining the Charitable goals of the Foundation.

5. The Board of Directors shall be 20 in number. The Foundation shall Recommend the Directors from each District to the State Council for their Approval. The State Council shall approve one Board member from each District. This Director can serve on the Board until such time as the District Governor makes a change, or it is determined that the Board member in not fulfilling his/her duties. At such time the District Governor will be asked for a replacement. One remaining member of the Board of Directors shall be appointed by the Pennsylvania Lions Hearing Research Foundation, and one remaining Board member shall be appointed by the Board of the Pennsylvania Lions Sight Conservation and Eye Research Foundation. Both appointees will serve until replaced by their respective Boards. Such latter two appointees shall have the right of vote but shall not be eligible to serve as a Corporation officer other than a member of the Board of Directors.

6. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the members of the Corporation shall be held on the Saturday at the first regular State Council meeting after the close of the Annual Convention of the Multiple District Fourteen of the Lions International at the city in which said State Council meeting is held. Thereafter, an annual meeting of the members shall be held in each year. The first regular meeting shall be conducted after the close of the Annual Convention of the Multiple District Fourteen meeting of the Pennsylvania State Council of Lions Club and in the same city in which said State Council meeting is held for the purpose of hearing reports of the officers and directors of the Corporation and for transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting.

Special Meetings. Special meetings of the members may be called by the chairperson of the Pennsylvania State Council of Lions Clubs and the President of the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation at their joint direction, or shall be called by the President of the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation upon the written request addressed to said President of a majority of the Foundation’s voting members. The time and place of any special meeting shall be determined by the President and the call shall be made by him or the Secretary at the direction of the President. The meeting shall be called within a period not to exceed 30 days following the request for a special meeting.

7. The responsibilities and duties of the state coordinator for the Foundation are:
a. Report to Council of Governors and the Lions of Multiple District 14 on the statues of the Foundation, at the November State Council Meeting and report to the delegates at the general session of the State Convention.
The Foundation may request to make a presentation at the August State Council Meeting only if the committee has an action item or if requested to appear before the Council of Governors.
The Foundation is required to supply the Council of Governors and The state office, written minutes of the quarterly Board of Directors meetings, quarterly financial statements and a copy of the annual audit.
b. To be in position to answer all questions relative to the Foundation as may be asked from time to time by the members of the State Council.
c. To promote the objects of the Foundation to the Lions of Multiple District 14, such as applying for Grants from the Foundation.
d. To inform State Council of all necessary appointments to the Board of Directors.
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8. The Foundation Board of Directors shall recommend a member of the Board of Directors to report to State Council and at the State Convention.

LOPF Management

There is a 20-member Board and an Executive Director, who has been given the responsibility to manage the Foundation which has a corpus of over $1,200,000. This has been raised in conjunction with the Lions of Multiple District 14.

There is a member on the Board from each of the Pennsylvania Lion Districts, plus a representative from each of the other two foundations – The Eye Research Foundation and the Hearing Foundation.
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The Board will meet at 2 of the State Council meetings – The November meeting and the State Convention in May. Other meetings will be held at the State Office when called by the LOPF President.

Board Responsibilities

​In fulfilling their governance role, the Board of Directors has eight general responsibilities:

1. Establish, clarify and revisit the organization’s mission.

2. Ensure effective and long-range planning.

3. Ensure the availability of adequate financial resources.

• Make personally meaningful donations.
• Open doors to other individuals, corporations, the Lions and Leos regarding the “Pa. Fellows
• Program”.
• Help acknowledge donors regularly and personally.

4. Ensure sound financial management.

5. Monitor the effectiveness of the grant program and lend Assistance to the Executive Director by making people Aware of the grant program.

6. Serve as advocates for the organization in the community and beyond.
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7. Maintain an effective Board of Directors and regularly engage in board education and self-evaluation to enhance effectiveness.

​Portrait of an ideal Board Member*

An effective Board will solve all—yes, all—the problems of building and maintaining The Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation: financial, administratively, and be active in planning for it’s future, and whatever else there is. The effective Board is successful only because of the individual members during their job. Thus, find good Board Members and you will have a successful organization.

What does the Ideal Board Member look like? The Ideal Board member is…

A Leader: Followers need not apply, accept only Leaders!
Financial, political, social, educational.

A Worker: Find someone with the old fashion work ethic; one who wants and needs to work in order to be fulfilled.

A Giver: Of time, care, concern, and money. Let’s face it, it is expensive to be a volunteer. You are properly expected to set the standard for the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation for contributions to the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation.

A Goer: How can you really tell someone (the community) of the wondrous experience of the last Board & Committee Meeting?

A Persuader: It’s really not advice the organization is after. They need someone to persuade friends, business, government, and the community to help support the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation so that grants may be awarded.

Committed: It cannot and will not happen unless one truly expects results.

Tenacious: Suppose the first two prospects turn you down?

Dependable: All is for naught unless you can depend on the task being completed.

Enthusiastic: An absolute must! And if they don’t have it, (no matter what other virtues they possess) keep looking!

Knowledgeable: Not necessarily a PhD, but intelligent and gifted with common sense.

Finally, look for a Board member who on a given day are rewarded by slipping into his/her seat at the meeting and when the meeting begins he/she murmurs to him or herself, “If it weren’t for me, we wouldn’t have this organization”. This *idea was taken from Ralph Black, Vice President for In Field Consulting American Symphony Orchestra League.
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After all isn’t, the Symphony but it is the Lions of Pennsylvania to be able to help the Community of the Visually Impaired & Handicap with projects, & serve the less fortunate?

​Board Member Job Description

Election to the Board of Directors of “The Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation” of Multiple District 14 is an honor with attendant privileges, but which brings with it the deep responsibilities of trusteeship. It calls upon the Lion elected to work toward the viability and progress of the Foundation through dedication of time, thought, energy, and financial means. A member of the Board of Directors is a constant proponent of the Foundation to the general public, and serves the organization’s welfare in all possible Ways.

Election brings close association with other outstanding men ad women who look for a chance to leave their world and their community a little better than they found it.
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New Board members are singled out as persons most capable of helping to raise and Maintain the high standards of the Foundation, and to bring the enrichment of it’s service To thousands of people in Pennsylvania.

​Generally, a Board Member’s responsibilities embrace all of the following:

1. To develop and maintain an awareness of the Foundation’s importance to the quality of life throughout the state;

2. To communicate this understanding to other people and institutions in the community and state;

3. To attend meetings, activities, and to make visits to the clubs with reasonable regularity; (if two unexcused Board meetings are missed during the Lion year, the Board Member should graciously vacate the Board);

4. With the help of Officers and other Board members, learn all you can about the Foundation and how it works so that you are knowledgeable;

5. To volunteer or be available for committee assignments and other activities For the good of the Foundation;
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6. To help the financial position of the Foundation through personal Contributions, seeking contributions through the Pennsylvania Fellows program, contributing memberships, and Candy Day promotions.

​BOARD MEMBER JOB DESCRIPTION
(shall serve as a policy)

The role of a Board Member is to provide Leadership, Governance and oversight to “The Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation (LOPF)”, to know and understand the mission of the foundation.

1. POSITION:
Board Members will support the work of “The Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation (LOPF)” and provide:

Mission-based leadership and strategic governance, while day-to-day operations are led by the LOPF’s chief executive officer (CEO), the Board-CEO relationship is a partnership, and the appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected. Specific Board

Member responsibilities include:

A. Leadership, governance and oversight:

a.) Serving as trusted advisor to the CEO as he/she develops and implements LOPF Strategic Plan.

b.) Reviewing outcomes and metrics created by LOPF for evaluation its impact, and regularly measuring its performance and effectiveness using those metrics; reviewing agenda and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings.

c.) Contributing to an annual performance evaluation of the CEO

d.) Assisting the CEO and Board chair in identifying and recruiting other Board Members.

e.) Partnering with the CEO and other Board Members to ensure that board resolutions are carried out.
f.) Serving on committees or task forces and taking on special assignments.

g.) Representing LOPF to the Lions/Leos; acting as an ambassador for the organization.

h.) Ensuring LOPF’s commitment to a diverse board and staff that reflects the communities that the LOPF serves.

i.) Attend regular Board meetings, including special ones that may be called. Missing two in a row without extending circumstances and notifying the President and/or Secretary calls for a letter to District Governor letting them know you are not attending meetings to represent their district.

B. Fundraising:

The Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation (LOPF) Board Members will consider LOPF a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority. So that LOPF can credibly solicit contributions from foundations, organizations, and individuals. LOPF expects to have 100 percent of Board members make an annual contribution that is commensurate with their capacity.

C. Board Terms/Participation:

LOPF Board Members will serve a three-year term to be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term. Board meetings will be held quarterly and committee meetings will be held in coordination with full board meetings. During the month of May the Secretary should send letter to DG’s asking for recommendations for the Board. Election shall be held at the June Board meeting. Due to the continuity of the Board and type of work it does it is possible for members to stay on if elected by the Board.

D. Qualifications:

Must be an active Lion within the District they represent. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about the LOPF mission and who has a track record of Board leadership. Selected Board members will have achieved leadership stature in business, government, philanthropy, or the non-profit sector.
His/her accomplishments will allow him/her to attract other well-qualified, high performing Board Members.

Ideal candidates will have the following qualification.

• Extensive professional experience with significant executive leadership accomplishments in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of LOPF’s beneficiaries.
• Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals.
• A commitment to and understanding of LOPF beneficiaries, preferably based on experience.

Service on LOPF’s Board of Directors is without remuneration, except for administrative support, and travel, costs in relation to Board members’ duties.

Members Of The Board Of Directors
​Lions Of Pennsylvania Foundation

2022-2023
(1-3-23)

OFFICERS

14-A	​President PDG Ed Tustin 607 Christ’s Home Drive Warminster, PA 18974	​215-266-3222 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected]
​14-G	Vice President PDG Kerry Drake 5455 Warrensville Road Montoursville, PA 17754	570-435-0635 (Home) E-mail: [email protected]
14-A	Secretary DG Norma Evangelista 607 Christ Home Drive Warminster, PA 18974	​215-672-3639 (Home) 267-532-6748 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected]
14-C	Treasurer Lion Mark Tomco 1117 Burgard St. York, PA 17404	717-515-5301 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected] Spouse: Emilee
	Executive Director Wade Markel 156 South Broad St Hellam, PA 17406	​717-495-4691 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected]

​BOARD MEMBERS

14-A	PDG Edmund Tustin 607 Christ’s Home Drive Warminster, PA 18974	215-266-3222 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected]
14-B	PDG Mary Jane Keller 1181 Educational Drive White Oak, PA 15131	412-672-7696 (Home) 412-398-1187 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected] Spouse: PDG Richard
14-C	Lion Mark Tomco 1117 Burgard St. York, PA 17404	1117 Burgard St. York, PA 17404 717-515-5301 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected] Spouse: Emilee
14-D	PDG Rodney Sweger 36 Maria Lane Columbia, PA 17512	717-808-7532 (Home) E-mail: [email protected] or E-mail: [email protected]
14-E	PDG Lance Remic 122 County Lane Export, PA 15632	724-309-6750 Email: [email protected] Spouse: Amanda
14-F	PDG Karoll (Gene) Shelhamer 1761 Donation Road Erie, PA 16509	814-464-4775 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected]
14-G	​PDG Kerry Drake 5455 Warrensville Rd. Montoursville, PA 17754	570-435-0635 (Home) 570-220-9278 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected]
14-H	PDG William Metschulat 9 Elmdale Court Jefferson Twp, PA 18436	​570-351-5177 E-mail: [email protected] Spouse: PDG Cathy
14-J	PDG Richard A. Hautz 133 Redwood Drive Salix, PA 15952	​814-487-5988 (Home) 814-242-4169 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected] Spouse: Carol
14-K	PDG Dan Lombardo 26 Maple Circle Allentown, PA 18104	​610-703-7518 E-mail: [email protected]
14-L	PDG Dennis Clark 1475 Middle Road Lewistown, PA 17044	717-248-7396 E-mail: [email protected]
14-M	PDG Ed Gursky 129 Boyd Avenue Brownsville, PA 15417	724-785-2262 E-mail: [email protected]
14-N	PDG Dr. Don Gibala 228 W. Pearl Street Butler, PA 16001	​724-287-8037 (Home) Email: [email protected] Spouse: PDG Linda
14-P	PDG Richard Taylor 402 Megan Court Kennett Square, PA 19348	​484-631-8932 (Cell) E-Mail: [email protected]
14-T	PDG Kathy Fouse 2352 State Street Harrisburg, PA 17103	717-645-4322 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected]
14-U	PDG Robert G. Neumoyer 18 Teaberry Lane New Ringgold, PA 17960	​570-386-3045 (Home) 570-225-5187 (Work) E-mail: [email protected] Spouse: Rebecca
14-W	PDG Peter Duda 58 Custer Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702	​570-824-3929 (Home) 570-218-0016 (Work) E-mail: [email protected]

Hearing Research Foundation

No Representation

Eye Research Foundation

14-D

PDG Ronald Peters 319 Druid Hill Drive Mountville, PA 17554-1205

717-285-4795 (Home) E-mail: [email protected] Spouse: Roberta

Disaster Committee

Committee Members PDG Rodney Sweger PDG Richard Taylor Lion Mark Tomco PDG Ed Tustin

Chairman Lion James Groff 109 Green Street Christiana, PA 17509

610-636-2612 (Mobile) E-mail: [email protected]

Investment Counselor

14-T

Lion Edward Wagoner 6512 Windmere Road Harrisburg, PA 17111

717-395-1740 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected]

Board Member Reporting Form

​Regulations For LOPF Grants

1. The need for Lions of Pennsylvania (LOPF) assistance must be documented by the submission of a LOPF Grant Application form (found on the LOPF and/or Lions of PA website), completed with specific project plans and benefits, a project budget, showing all sources of income and expense, both received and projected, and all other information required by the Board of Directors. Must be signed by District Governor and Board Member of said District.
2. Grant Proposals can originate from any District of Non-Lion organization in Pennsylvania. All applications must be received by the 1st of the following months; July, October, January and April (only in an emergency will an exception be considered). Grants will be awarded following Board Meetings (if the criteria is met) of the current year.
3. The District Governor and the Sitting Board Members signature must certify the significance of the need that’s addressed in the Grant, the social value, and operational feasibility of the proposed project, and the validity and reasonableness of the Grant Request.
4. Any project must show the involvement of the Lions/Leos, and a significant financial commitment on behalf of the project consistent with their respective funding capacity.
5. LOPF grants are intended for projects in the developmental stages, or for projects in progress. LOPF grant funds ARE NOT intended to repay loans, to establish reserve funds and/or salaries of anyone.
6. Grants that are awarded will be made payable to that Lions District/Club and/or organization requesting that grant. Such grants are to be administered by the sitting District Governor or the sitting Foundation Director at the time the grant is awarded. It shall be their responsibility to disburse and account for the LOPF grant funds in his/her possession.
7. Lions/Leos and their families should not receive direct or professional benefit or have proprietary interest in projects receiving LOPF grants (meaning a conflict of interest).
8. All grant applications must have a 501c3 letter attached or a 990/990E/990N showing non-profit status. Must be the most recent years.
9. All Grant Applications must be received in the State Office at 949 East Park Drive Harrisburg, Pa. 17111-2810 addressed to President of the Lions of Pa. Foundation prior to the First (1) of the months specified with completed application. In case of emergency, an exception to this regulation may be made by contacting the President or Secretary of the Foundation.
10. Applicants failing to answer correspondence concerning their pending application shall be notified 90 days from the date of the last correspondence that their application will be automatically withdrawn, unless a response is received within 45 days starting with the date on the notice.
11. New applications for previously withdrawn or rejected projects may be submitted if there is reason to believe the project of the existing conditions are now such that the application is likely to be approved.
12. Grant applications will not be considered that request the LOPF assistance in excess of 50% of the total budget and/or not completed wit the appropriate signatures.
13. Depending on the number of Grants considered during the Board meeting, there may be cause for only one grant per District, per quarter to be considered on priority depending on monies available. Grants exceeding $10,000 may be awarded in two (2) payments.
14. LOPF Grants may only be awarded for projects benefiting Pennsylvanians.

LOPF GRANT CRITERIA
The mandate and challenge to the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation (LOPF) is to achieve significant humanitarian results, specifically those relating to sensory impairment programs within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as funds are available. All grants authorized by the Board of Directors should meet the LOPF’s major objectives – Humanitarian Services, Vocational Assistance Grants, and Disaster Relief Grants.

Grants:

1. Humanitarian Service Grant: This grant may be issued for permanent communal programs or institutes, which satisfy humanitarian needs in harmony with the objectives of Lionism.
2. Vocational Assistance Grant: This grant may be issued for projects meeting a broad range of educational and training projects that provide a means for sensory impaired people to become self-supporting or to improve their economic and social well-being. Funds shall not be granted directly to individuals for such purposes.
   LOPF sponsors activities should further reconstruction efforts, and provide long term benefits to as many sensory people as possible. Among proposed reconstruction projects, higher priority is given to those proposing the creation or reconstruction of new public facilities and services that benefit the sensory impaired.

​Criteria For Grants:

1. Grants shall be authorized for projects meeting diverse human needs not adequately addressed by other programs, having a Distinct Lion identification and character, and providing long-term benefits. Projects serving many people shall be preferred because of more favorable cost effectiveness, economics of scale, and lower costs per amount of service.
2. Lions of Pennsylvania may provide decretory assistance to offer services otherwise available through governmental, religious, charitable, social, welfare, or comparable service programs. It attempts to fund projects more appropriately the responsibility of Lions Clubs, and/or District fund-raising, and/or other Lions units.
3. Grant funds shall be considered when the financial burden of projects are beyond the scope of traditional Lions clubs, and/or Districts. Projects shall be considered that have high implicit promotional value.
4. Where grants are authorized for projects of a permanent nature, such projects shall carry a definite identification, as having been made possible through LOPF specifications, for such identification shall be provided by LOPF. Documentation of identification shall be included in the final report on the project to be submitted by the grantee.
5. Where grants are approved for a single project, no further grants will be permitted to cover continuing operating expenses.
6. Because of limited resources, grants shall be not be made on a continuing basis to any single project.
7. Grants may be made to meet operating expenses of existing institutions or programs, but only when there is a significant increase of services over the above that which had been offered previously, and then only on a one-time basis.
8. grants may be authorized for Non-Lion organizations or programs only when services and facilities would significantly contribute to LOPF mission and vision, and when their specific capabilities, resources, economics, and efficiency exceed those of available Lions programs. The LOPF grant must represent a significant addition to such program’s service capacity and include how Lions/Leos are to be involved with the organization.
9. Grants for Vision Screening (KidsSight projects) instruments are limited to a $2000.00 grant due to the number of potential grants. The Vision Screening grants are awarded to the Districts only.
10. Grants for Vehicles, for each Vision Impaired Organizations, are limited to one grant every three (3) years. The LOPF has the option to determine need if more than one vehicle grant is received per period depending on finances available.
11. Each grant application shall be judged solely on its own merit and the degree to which it meets the criteria and the operating policies of LOPF, as established by the Board of Directors.

​LOPF Funding

There are many ways in which funds are derived.

1. The Foundation conducts fund-raising projects throughout the Commonwealth in conjunction with participating Lions Clubs, such as Candy Day.
2. The Foundation seeks gifts, grants, and contributions from individual corporation and foundations.
3. The Foundation has established a fellowship honors program designated the Lions Of Pennsylvania Foundation Fellow. Besides an individual securing a fellowship or his/her own, the fellowship can be bestowed upon a Lion, Leo, or individual who has faithfully served their Lions Club and/or community, or for exemplary achievements in the area of humanitarian services.
4. The Foundation, with the help of State Council, has created the P.I.P. Joseph Worblewski Award. It is an award that may be given to any Lion or friend of the Lions who is a Foundation Fellow. The recipient, a Pennsylvania resident, must have already received a Fellowship before receiving the Award. The cost of the Award in Pennsylvania is $500, and it cannot be purchased for someone’s own satisfaction. Outside of Pennsylvania the recipient does not already have to be a Foundation Fellow, but the cost is $1000. It can also be purchased for personal satisfaction.
5. The Foundation has created a Memorial Program, which enables anyone to send a gift to the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation in memory of a deceased relative or friend.
6. Club Recognition Program:
   1. Lions Clubs that contribute $2.00 per member to LOPF will receive a patch and be designated as a 100% Club.
   2. Lions Clubs that contribute $5.00 per member will receive a LOPF patch and a rocker designating the club as a 100% Presidents Club.
7. We now have a Vehicle Donation Program from which the Foundation will receive the proceeds from the sale of a vehicle, or the money received from the sale of the parts.

• ​​LOPF Fellowship Program
• ​Pip Joseph L. Wroblewski Award
• Club Recognition Program​
• ​Planned Giving Program
• ​Designated Fund Grant Request
  
• ​LOPF Statewide Vehicle Donation Program
• Candy Days
• ​Lions Of Pennsylvania Foundation Investment Policy

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​LOPF Fellowship Program

The Fellowship Program is one of many ways for the Foundation to secure funding for the Grant program. It is a program to recognize a Lion, Leo or friend of Lionism for years of service to Lionism. This award can be secured by anyone by donating $500 to the Foundation, or it can be used as an award for an individual who has performed above and beyond the cause of Lionism.
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To qualify, a donation of $500 is required. This will provide the recipient with a Fellowship pin and pinnacle, which includes the person’s name and year of the donation. There are several progressive levels available.
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• Level 1 Gift (initial) $500 – LOPF Pin and Bevel Pinnacle
• Level 2 (Additional) $250 – 1 Diamond
• Level 3 (Additional) $250 – 2 Diamonds
• Level 4 (Additional) $250 – 3 Diamonds
• Level 5 (Additional) $250 – 4 Diamonds
• Level 6 (Additional) $250 – 5 Diamonds

​A one-time gift of $1250 after the initial $500 would receive a 5 Diamond pin.
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The Foundation realizes that some individuals and clubs can make a donation of $500 while some would prefer a payment plan. Therefore, an initial payment of $100 is acceptable and the balance can be paid over a 3-year period.  The Foundation’s objective is that all who aspire to become a Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation Fellow should have that opportunity to achieve this honor. The funds received from the LOPF Fellows Program is held in a trust fund and the interest derived from that fund is how the Foundation grants are awarded.

​​Pennsylvania Fellows Award

The “Pennsylvania Fellows Award” is one of many ways for the Foundation to secure funding for The Grant Program. The fellowship is available to and Lion, Leo or friend of Lionism. A Club or District may honor an outstanding individual who has performed above and beyond the cause of Lionism by securing an award.
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To qualify, a donation of $500 is required. This will provide the recipient with a Fellowship, pin and pinnacle for display on a desk or shelf, which includes the person’s name and date of the donation. There are several progressive levels available. For each additional $250 donation, a diamond will be added to the lapel pin. Please see the application included.

APPLICATION FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA FELLOWS AWARD

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​You can contact any LOPF Board member for this award, or you can download the form and mail it.
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Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation
Copyright @ 2013 All Rights Reserved

​The State Council of Governors during the year 2004-2005 approved an award to honor Past International President Joseph L. Wroblewski. The Lions of PA Foundation was asked to create the award and handle the method of presentation with all proceeds going to the Foundation.

This award may be given only by a club or district, and is only available to an outstanding Lion, Leo or community leader who holds a “Pennsylvania Fellows Award”.

This award honors PIP Joseph L. Wroblewski for his years of service to Pennsylvania and to the Lions of the world. He has worked over 50 years as a Lion to prevent blindness and fulfill the goals of Lions International. This award should be given to an outstanding Lion who portrays all of the things that Pip Joe stands for and one who believes in the theme that “We Serve Better Together”.
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The award requires a $500 donation and the recipient must also be a LOPF Fellow.

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION

​Club Recognition Program

The Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation is excited to inform you of the revitalization of the Club recognition Program. This is a great program for the Clubs (Lions/LEOs) as well as the Foundation.

Donations will be made through the Club Treasurer and sent to:

Lion Mark Tomco
1117 Burgard St.
York, PA 17404
Phone: 717-515-5301 (Cell)
Email: [email protected]

Banner Order Form

​The following information is needed: the name of the Club and District, number of members in the Club and total donation made by the Club. The District Governor will receive the proper patches to present to the Clubs.
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If all Clubs in a District are either a 100% Club, 100% Director’s Club or 100% LOPF Club the District will also receive a 100% District Patch and rocker for that year. There will also be a rocker for each year the District is a 100% District and the District Governor will receive a plaque for his/her efforts.
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This is a contribution separate from any other donation your Club makes.
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The 100% Club Award will be presented for a donation of $2.00 per member of your Club.

This is over and above any other donation made.

The main patch will be award for the first time donation with the dated patch.
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The dated patch will be awarded for every year after your Club is a 100% Club Award.
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​The 100% Directors’ Club Award will be presented for a donation of $5.00 per member of your Club.

This is over and above any other donation made.

The main patch will be award for the first time donation with the dated patch.
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The dated patch will be awarded for every year after your Club is 100% Directors’ Club Award.

​The 100% LOPF Club Award will be presented for a donation of $10.00 per member of your Club.

This is over and above any other donation made.

The main patch will be award for the first time donation with the dated patch.

The dated patch will be awarded for every year after your Club is a 100% LOPF Club Award.

LOPF Planned Giving Program

The Lions of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce the launching of its charitable gift income program. Another term for this program. Another term for this program is “Friends For Life”. One of the most important benefits of being a Lion is the lifelong friends we make and cherish over the years of serving others. Our clubs and communities honors Lions with extraordinary years of service. Through the “Friends For Life” program we can continue our desire to giver to others that which has been given to us.
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We believe one way of accomplishing this is through the pooled income funds. The pooled income fund is a tax exempt public charity approved by the IRS. This is an investment vehicle designed to provide you (the donor) or your designated beneficiaries with a lifetime stream from diversified portfolios. Upon the death of the income beneficiary the assets can be distributed to the Lion of PA Foundation.

​Bequest:

There are many ways to make a Planned Gift. One of the most popular is through a Bequest in a will. Making a gift to LOPF through a will is simple. One can either make a will or write an amendment called a codicil.

​Charitable Gift Annuity:

A gift annuity produces guaranteed payments to the investor for life, some or all of which may be received tax-free. A portion of the lump sum contributed is a gift that will immediately support the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation.

Gift annuities are an agreement between the giver and the Foundation. In exchange for the gift, the giver and up to one other person receives a fixed income for life, plus several other benefits.
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The Gift results in a charitable contribution deduction, which may provide a welcome savings in Federal Income Tax. A portion of the income received from the annuity may also be tax-free. Many charities throughout the United States adhere to the gift annuity payment rates suggested by the American Council on Gift Annuities.

Charitable Trust:

An individual can make a gift of investments without giving up income produced from those investments by setting up a chartable fund.

Gift of Property:

A gift of property produces a tax receipt at a fair market value. Gifts of appreciated property such as gifts of art, real estate, and especially publicly traded securities, have special tax benefits.

Endowment Fund:

An individual may want to establish an endowment fund so that the amount contributed remains intact as a “Lasting Legacy”. The income produced by investing the endowment will be spent on programs that individual designates. He/she may wish to name the endowment fund after themselves, their family, or a loved one.

​Friends for Life Program:

​The investment in the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation will ensure a “Living Legacy” that will continue to help those with visual and hearing difficulties. The LOPF is a 501C-3 organization under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

The many benefits to this approach to charitable giving are as follows:

1. Income for life
2. Avoidance of capital gain taxes
3. Immediate tax deduction
4. Avoidance of estate taxes
5. Successor election feature
6. Low cost
7. High-quality money management

The 3-year results of the funds are:

1. Hi Yield 8.71
2. Income 7.37
3. Growth & Income 4.50

The Pooled Income Fund offers a simple, cost-effective way to avoid capital gains on appreciated securities and provides income for your and your loved ones, while enabling the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation to continue its legacy of charitable activities for generations.

​Designated Fund Grant Request

(For Return of Funds Deposited With LOPF)

There may be a time when a club or district receives a monetary gift from an individual or company, and that person or persons would like to receive a tax deduction for that gift. That check needs to be made out to the “Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation”, and the club or district needs to forward it to LOPF along with the proper form which will allow the Foundation to write a check to that club or district for the amount of the gift if the form is not included, or Is not available, the Foundation needs to be contacted so that the form can be forwarded and properly filled out and returned. A check from the Foundation cannot be issued to the club or district without this document.
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The document simply requests how the funds are to be used, the project name, amount of funds needed, and who receives this check. It is to be sent to the Foundation Treasurer.

Designated Funds

​LOPF Statewide Vehicle Donation Program

​The Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation has a vehicle donation program that lets supporters donate vehicles located anywhere in Pennsylvania. Donors can donate over the internet by typing in Careasy or by calling 877-999-8322. Just follow the various tabs, and when reaching the page for the organization, type in Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation.

This is an important fundraising tool that can actually give more in tax benefits than one can receive by trading in their vehicle. Vehicle donations are more than a way to get rid of an unwanted vehicle — they have tax leverage. You get to value your vehicle at the retail price for tax purposes. This means that instead of valuing the vehicle at what the dealer offers you in a trade-in, you value it at what he would sell it for in their showroom. You have to deduct the cost of bringing it to the showroom condition but this is far less than the difference between retail and trade-in. Essentially, you capture the dealer margin for your tax deduction — without actually doing any work.

This tax leverage means that if you are a middle-income individual filing PA taxes and are offered less than 25% of the retail value in a trade-in, you will usually be better off donating (as long as you itemize deductions). If you are a high-income individual, you may be better off donating even if you are offered 35% of the retail value in trade. There is a tx worksheet available at the website. Simply click on the vehicle donation icon and then on “Tax Information” in the left column.

Most people don’t think of donating vehicles as a tax strategy but rather as a predicament solver. Next time you buy a car, look at whether you are better off donating rather than trading in. Your decision to donate instead of accepting a trade-in offer can result in a sizeable donation to the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation.
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You can help the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation raise money by putting the following announcement in your local and district newsletters and other publications. Vehicle sales occur year-round so put it in every issue.

VEHICLE DONATION FORM

Be Smart!
Don’t Trade In!
Donate Your Car
To The
Lions of PA Foundation
https://careasy.org/nonprofit/lions-of-pennsylvania-foundation
877-999-8322

​Chairperson:
PDG Richard Taylor
402 Megan Court
Kennett Square, PA 19348
Email: [email protected]

Candy Days

Lions Candy Day pulls in top returns for a club’s favorite project, and it alerts the community to Lionism. It can bring in new members, increase attendance, and instill enthusiasm and excitement in every Lions Club taking part. The Candy Day program has been proven through many years of successful experience. All the guesswork has been eliminated. This is the finest, most effective money-raiser available to Lions Clubs today. It is the ideal way to raise funds.

This is how it works. Candy mints are shipped on consignment and are to be paid within 10 days after the advisement of your Candy Day event. You pay for the candy out of your contributions.
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The candy costs $0.14 a roll. Contributions usually work out to $1.00 per roll. Each club orders what they think they will hand out in case lots. There are 600 rolls in a case, and cots the club $85.00 per case. The club will receive one free Candy Day apron with each of the first three cases ordered. Additional aprons may be purchased for $5.00 each. After the contributions are collected, the bill should be paid and the profit should be split 50-50 with the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation. This will help ensure that the Foundation can continue to provide funding requests that are out of reach of a local club.

DOWNLOAD THE CANDY FORM NOW

​In order to succeed, the following needs to be done immediately:

1. Make sure each club has a Candy Day chairperson, and the district has a chairperson.
2. Meetings between the district and club chairpersons should be held prior to the end of the year.
3. Rally members, set up teams, set dates, pick sites and locations.
4. To help clubs with shipping costs, the district chairperson should try to collect all orders for the candy and have it shipped to one location with a club’s name on specific cases.
5. Orders should get in by March 30th so that the project can be held on April 30th or May 1st.

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Clubs should be encouraged to make a display about their Lions Club depicting what they do, and at the same time pass out the candy in exchange for contributions.

I. Introduction

The Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation Endowment Fund (hereafter referred to as the “Fund”) was created to provide perpetual financial support to projects supported by Lions in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The purpose of this Investment Policy Statement is to establish guidelines for the Fund’s investment portfolio (the “Portfolio”). The statement also incorporates accountability standards that will be used for monitoring the progress of the Portfolio’s investment program.

II. Role of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation (the “Board”) is acting in a fiduciary capacity with respect to the Portfolio and is responsible for overseeing the investment of all assets owned by, or held in trust for the foundation.

A. This Investment Policy Statement sets forth the investment objectives, distribution policies, and investment guidelines that govern the activities of the Committee and any other parties to whom the Committee has delegated investment management responsibility for Portfolio assets.

B. The investment policies for the Fund contained herein have ben formulated consistent with the Foundation’s anticipated financial needs and in considerations of the Foundation’s tolerance for assuming investment and financial risk, as reflected in the majority opinion of the Board.

C. Policies contained in this statement are intended to provide guidelines, where necessary, for ensuring that the Portfolio’s investments are managed consistent with the short-term and long-term financial goals of the Fund. At the same time, they are intended to provide for sufficient investment flexibility in the face of changes in capital market conditions and in the financial circumstances of the Foundation.

D. The Board will review this Investment Policy Statement at least once per year. Changes to this Investment Policy Statement can be made only by affirmation of a majority of the Committee, and written confirmation of the changes will be provided to all Board members and to any other parties hired on behalf of the Portfolio as soon thereafter as in practical.

III. Investment Objective and Spending Policy

A. The Fund is to be invested with the objective of preserving the long-term, real purchasing power of assets while providing a relatively predictable and growing stream of annual distributions in support of the Institution.

B. For the purpose of making distributions, the Fund shall make use of total-return-based spending policy, meaning that it will fund distributions from the net investment income, net realized capital gains, and proceeds from the sale of investments.

C. The distribution of Fund assets will be permitted to the extent that such distributions do not exceed a level that would erode the Fund’s real assets over time. The board will seek to reduce the variability of annual Fund distributions by factoring past spending and Portfolio asset values into its current spending decisions. The Board will review its spending assumptions annually for the purpose of deciding whether any changes therein necessitate amending the Fund’s spending policy, its target asset allocation, or both. The Foundation has a policy of appropriating for distribution each year 5.0% to 7.0% of its endowment fund’s fair market value based on a three year average balance and is determined annually by the Board of Directors. In establishing this policy, the Foundation considers the long-term expected return on the endowment fund.

D. Periodic cash flow, either into or out of the Portfolio, may be used to better align the investment portfolio to the target asset allocation outlined in the asset allocation policy at Section IV. A. herein.

IV. Portfolio Investment Policies

A. Asset Allocation Policy

1. The Committee recognizes that the strategic allocation of Portfolio assets across broadly defined financial asset and sub-asset categories with varying degrees of risk, return, and return correlation will be the most significant determinant of long-term investment returns and Portfolio asset value stability.

2. The Committee expects that actual returns and return volatility may vary from expectations and return objectives across short periods of time. While the committee wishes to retain flexibility with respect to making periodic changes to the Portfolio’s asset allocation, it expects to do so only in the event of material changes to the Fund, to the assumptions underlying Fund spending policies, and/or to the capital markets and asset classes in which the Portfolio invests.

3. Fund assets will be managed as a balanced portfolio composed of two major components: an equity portion and a fixed income portion. The expected role of Fund equity investments will be to maximize the long-term growth of Portfolio assets, while the role of fixed income investments will be to generate current income, provide for more stable periodic returns, and provide some protection against a prolonged decline in the market value of Portfolio equity investments.

4. Cash investments will, under normal circumstances, only be considered as temporary Portfolio holding, and will be used for Fund liquidity needs or to facilitate a planned program of dollar-cost averaging into investments in either or both of the equity and fixed income asset classes.

5. Outlined below are the long-term strategic asset allocation guidelines, determined by the Board to be the most appropriate, given the Fund’s long-term objectives and short-term constraints. Portfolio assets will, under normal circumstances, be allocated across broad asset and sub-asset classes in accordance with the following guidelines:

Asset Class Target Allocation
Equity 70% – 90%
Fixed Income 10% – 30%
Cash 0% – 20%

B. Diversification Policy

1. Diversification across and within asset classes is the primary means by which the Committee expects the Portfolio to avoid undue risk of large losses over long time periods. To protect the Portfolio against unfavorable outcomes within an asset class due to the assumption of large risks, the Committee will take reasonable precautions to avoid excessive investment concentrations. Specifically, the following guidelines will be in place:

a) With the exception of fixed income investments explicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, no single investment security shall represent more than 5% of the total Portfolio assets.

b) With the exception of passively managed investment vehicles seeking to match the returns on a broadly diversified market index, no single investment pool or investment company (mutual fund) shall comprise more than 30% of the total Portfolio assets.

c) With respect to the fixed income investments, for individual bonds, the minimum average credit quality of these investments shall be investment grade (Standard & Poor’s BBB or Moody’s Baa or higher).

C. Rebalancing

It is expected that the Portfolio’s actual asset allocation will vary from its target asset allocation as a result of varying returns earned on its investments in different asset and sub-asset classes. The Portfolio will be rebalanced to its target normal asset allocation under the following procedures:

1. The investment manager will use incoming cash flow (contributions) or outgoing money movements (disbursements) of the Portfolio to realign the current weightings closer to the target weightings for the Portfolio.

2. The investment manager will review the Portfolio annually (June 30) to determine the deviation from the target weightings. During each annual review, the following parameters will be applied:

a) If any asset class (equity or fixed income) within the Portfolio is +/-5 percentage points from its target weighting, the Portfolio will be rebalanced.

b) If any fund within the Portfolio has increased or decreased by greater than 20% of its target weighting, the fund will be rebalanced.

3. The investment manager may provide a rebalancing recommendation at any time.

4. The investment manager shall act within a reasonable period of time to evaluate deviation from these ranges.

D. Other Investment Policies

Unless expressly authorized by the Committee, the Portfolio and its investment managers are prohibited from:

1. Purchasing securities on margin or executing short sales.

2. Pledging or hypothecating securities, except for loans of securities that are fully collateralized.

3. Purchasing or selling derivative securities for speculation or leverage.

4. Engaging in investment strategies that have the potential to amplify or distort the risk of loss beyond a level that is reasonably expected, given the objectives of their Portfolio.

5. Purchase individual stocks. (All equity investments must be purchased in either an EFT or mutual fund).

V. Monitoring Portfolio Investments and Performance

The committee will monitor the Portfolio’s investment performance against the Portfolio’s stated investment objectives. At the frequency to be decided by the Committee, it will formally assess the Portfolio and the performance of its underlying investments as follows:

A. The Portfolio’s composite investment performance (net of fees) will be judged against the following standards:

1. The Portfolio’s absolute long-term real return objective.

2. A composite benchmark consisting of the following unmanaged market indexes weighted according to the expected target asset allocations stipulated by the Portfolio’s investment guidelines.

a) Equity: S&P 500 Index

b) Cash: Citigroup 3-Month T-Bill Index

B. In keeping with the Portfolio’s overall long-term financial objective, the Board will evaluate the Fund’s performance over a suitably long-term investment horizon.
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C. Investment reports shall e provided by the investment manager(s) on a (calendar) quarterly basis or as more frequently requested by the Board.