Guidelines for District Leader Dog Chairs
These guidelines are provided to assist Leader Dog Chairs and Lions in leadership positions to better understand the responsibilities and expectations of a Leader Dog Chair.
What is the purpose of the Leader Dog Chair?
To raise awareness of and promote Leader Dogs for the Blind programs.
Who does the Leader Dog Chair report to?
The Leader Dog Chair is directly responsible to the person who has appointed him or her, e.g. the District Governor, Council Chair or Multi-District Leader Dog Chair, etc.
What are the goals of the Leader Dog Chair?
- To educate Lions in your District about all Leader Dog programs, including the guide dog program, the Accelerated Mobility Program (AMP), and the groundbreaking Kapten Plus GPS program.
- To keep Lions in your District aware of the need for funds to operate Leader Dog programs.
- To inform Lions in your District about new developments at Leader Dogs for the Blind.
- To offer Leader Dog services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired in your District.
- To keep Leader Dogs for the Blind aware of local activities being held on its behalf so that we may support the activity if possible.
How does a Leader Dog Chair accomplish these goals?
- Most importantly, during the Lion year you should contact each club in your District and offer to present a Leader Dog program for the club.
- You will need to follow up with each club to arrange a presentation on the Leader Dog program. Usually programs consist of a 10-20 minute presentation about Leader Dogs for the Blind using DVDs, PowerPoint presentations, or other materials, followed by time for questions from the audience.
- Represent Leader Dogs for the Blind at your District convention by arranging for a booth and, if possible, a speaker or breakout session to educate the Lions in your District about Leader Dog programs and services.
- You can create your own inexpensive Leader Dog table top display by using a corrugate “winged” display (available at any office supply store). Panels for the display are available on the Fundraising Toolkit section of our web site. You can also create your own message by downloading pictures and other information from other portions of the Leader Dog web site.
- Local Leader Dog graduates or puppy raisers are often willing to accompany you on club visits to talk about their experiences, or by helping staff the booth at your District convention. If you need the name of a local Leader Dog graduate or puppy raiser, please email donorsupport@leaderdog.org or call 888-777-5332. Conversely, if you are aware of someone who would make a good representative or speaker for Leader Dogs for the Blind at Lions events, please contact us so that we can add that individual’s name to our list of available speakers.
- Be aware of the various Leader Dog awards available as a way of encouraging club donations. A banner patch is given to clubs contributing $250 or more in a year. The 100% District award is given to the District Governor and Leader Dog Chair when every club in the district gives a donation to Leader Dog in a Lions year. Various other recognition opportunities are available.
- Use local and Lions media (district newsletters, web sites, etc.) to promote the program. Materials are available including DVDs, brochures, the Update newsletter, The Mane Event newsletter, and other information from Leader Dog. There are also items such as newsletter ads that can be downloaded from our web site.
- Many Leader Dog Chairs also take advantage of local celebrations, fairs, White Cane Days, etc. to set up a booth with Leader Dog material and educate the public about the organization’s programs.
- Encourage local Lions Clubs to solicit graduates as club members, and encourage graduates to become Lions. Seeing a graduate become an active member of a club enhances Lions’ awareness of the benefits of Leader Dog programs to people in their communities.
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