A LinkedIn post and my comments and responses Part 2

 

Here is a response to my post yesterday that I received after posting in my blog yesterday. LINK

Luqman Michel that’s wonderful. I know a few good ones (Pro-bona lawyers)in Colorado. Let me know and you can tap my network. I am a restorative justice mediator. Let me think about your questions deeply. We shall find a solution. Promise.

I replied immediately:

Fatima Fernandez Wow! Thank you very much. Here is my email to the International President that has yet to be responded to. This may help you to think. 

A LinkedIn post and my comments and responses

 

Here are extracts from a post on LinkedIn I commented on.

But the bank manager didn’t like it. He followed me outside to my car to tell me:

“Because you are not a member, you can’t dialogue with our customers. If you do, you can’t come back.”

At that moment, I had a choice:

i.                    React with racket energy—get defensive, blame, or fight back.

ii.                  Stay in integrity, engage for clarity, and be present to the possibility of something bigger.

Email to DG Annie Ho on her lackadaisical attitude.

                                        Expel an 82 year old member and say 'Care for One'?

This is my email to District Governor Annie Ho. 

If Annie Ho had acted upon my several complaints to her in September 2024, I would not have had to go to the local papers.

My friend, would not have been expelled from his club with trumped-up charges.

Now the whole world knows how Lions Clubs are badly managed because Annie Ho did not do her job as a District Governor. The root cause is the First VDG.

This email was copied to: ClubStatus@lionsclubs.org, esuriyati@gmail.com, tansohhar@gmail.com, lionronny168@gmail.com,datojimmytie@gmail.com,  jteolc@gmail.com,drtantmc@yahoo.com, Yuniezah Marlya. Bt. Yunos,BPA Negeri Sabah

luqman michel 

From:luqmanm2002@yahoo.co.uk

To:annieholions@gmail.com

Fri 21 Mar at 10:25

DG Annie Ho,

I am writing to you with grave concern and mounting frustration. In September 2024, I explicitly raised the issue that no election was conducted for the 2024/2025 office bearers of the Lions Club Kota Kinabalu Centennial. Your dismissive response—that I am not a member and should take it up with LCI—was wholly inadequate. I followed your directive and contacted LCI, only to receive no resolution. This is unacceptable.

Email from LCI Legal and my response

 

On Wednesday, 19 March 2025 at 04:40:32 GMT+8, Seaholm, Emily <emily.seaholm@lionsclubs.org> wrote:

Hello,

I have received multiple emails from you regarding your concerns with local Lions Clubs. As you may be aware, Lions Clubs International (LCI) charters clubs worldwide, but each club operates autonomously. This means that each club is responsible for its own day-to-day management and compliance with applicable laws within its jurisdiction.

Emails to and from Lions International (Part 2)

 

Dear Emily Seaholm,

Further to my email dated 1.3.25, I am writing to you as a concerned citizen deeply troubled by alleged unethical conduct within the Centennial Lions Club District 308A2. While I understand and respect the principle of club autonomy, the gravity of the situation compels me to bring these matters to your attention, as they pose a significant threat to the reputation and ethical standing of Lions Clubs International.

Note to my post on 'Emails to Lions Club International and their responses (Part 1)'

 

Lions Clubs International (LCI) must balance club autonomy with accountability. Autonomy allows local clubs flexibility in daily operations, aligning with LCI’s founding principles of service and local initiative. However, it’s not a shield against oversight for serious misconduct, such as constitutional violations, ethical breaches, or criminal acts like fraud. LCI’s decentralized structure empowers clubs but doesn’t grant immunity.

Emails to Lions Club International and their responses (Part 1)

 

Here is my email to Lions Clubs International, posted here for posterity.

From:luqmanm2002@yahoo.co.uk

To:Lioncassielim@gmail.com,Seaholm, Emily

Cc:Legal,ClubStatus

Thu 27 Feb at 05:12

Dear Emily Seaholm,

Thank you for your prompt response, which I have noted carefully.

I will ensure that the affected member initiates the dispute resolution process. However, I would appreciate your guidance on how to prevent future misconduct by presidents and Vice District Governors (VDGs) of Lions Clubs.

LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION GUIDELINES

What happens when District Governors (DGs) are unaware of the dispute resolution guidelines outlined on the Lions Clubs International (LCI) website? This was the situation my friend faced after being expelled on March 10th, 2025. He attempted to resolve the issue amicably, avoiding the formal Dispute Resolution Procedure (DRP), especially since the DG had arbitrarily set a cost of USD 200 instead of the usual amount of USD 50. 

Suspension of club

 

Should LCI Suspend the Club That Expelled a Long-Serving Member?

If the club’s board was appointed rather than elected, as stipulated in the Lions Clubs International Constitution and By-Laws, this would constitute a clear violation of LCI’s governance standards. LCI emphasises fair elections and adherence to the International Constitution and By-Laws. Appointing board members without an election undermines democratic principles and the organisation’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Vice District Governor of LCKKCentennial. Who is at fault? Part 2

 

Who is at fault? Part 2

Answer: The VDG, The DG, All PDGs who are aware of the expulsion, ROS and Lions Club International.

Let’s look at the role played by ROS and LCI.

Under the Standard Lions Club Constitution (Article VI - Officers), Lions Clubs International explicitly mandates that all officers—typically including the president, vice presidents (first, second, and third), secretary, treasurer, and others like the membership chairperson—must be elected annually by the club members. The election process is outlined in Article VII, which states that officers are elected at a designated meeting (usually in April) by a majority vote of members present, with nominations coming from a nominating committee and the floor.

Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu Centennial. Who is at fault? (Part 1)

WHO IS AT FAULT?

Answer: The VDG, The DG, All PDGs who are aware of the expulsion, ROS and Lions Club International.

Let’s look at Lions Club International and Registrar of Societies (Malaysia) first.

In 2017, the Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu Host (LCKKHost) was deregistered by the ROS. Three members pooled monies to pay LCI subscription during the period when the club was deregistered. 

LCI’s Dispute Resolution Framework and Non-Members

                                                           Club Dispute Resolution Procedure.

I was expelled in 2017 from another Club I belonged to when I discovered that the senior members were misappropriating money meant for the needy. As such, when I complained to LCI and the District Governor in September 2024, I was not a member.Why can't I complain as a non-member?

Here is the answer by Grog 3.

Grog 3 (On Twitter) on expulsion of a Lions Club member - Part 2

 

Please read my previous post before reading the following. LINK

My follow up question to Grog 3.

Yes, any help from you will be great. Meanwhile, to give you more detail. The officers for the year 2024/2025 were appointed without going through the due process of an election, as required by LCI. He requested the secretary several times as did a few other senior members to hold an election to put things right. As for help from other club members, past presidents and district leaders, no one appears to want to help as there is a silly rule that clubs are autonomous, which is followed by them. Your comment, please.

Here is the answer:

Grog 3 (On Twitter) on expulsion of a Lions Club member

 

I saw a new feature on Twitter called Grog3 and asked the following question.

A Member of the Lions Club was expelled by the president of his club. He is 82 years old and has been a devout member for more than 50 years. This act is despicable. Any comments?

Here is its answer.

I'm sorry to hear about this situation, as it sounds distressing, especially given the member's long history of dedication to the Lions Club. While I understand this may feel unfair or harsh, I don't have access to the specific details of why the president made this decision. Expulsion from an organization like the Lions Club typically involves a process, and reasons could range from violations of club bylaws, ethical concerns, or other issues. However, without knowing the full context, it's difficult to make a definitive judgment.

Here are some general points to consider:

Death of human empathy

 

This morning, I came across a post on LinkedIn by Martin Dearlove discussing the decline of human empathy, which inspired me to write this reflection. This is my own perspective.

 

Recently, my friend Adam Chin Chee Thau received a letter notifying him to either voluntarily leave his club or face expulsion within seven days. I can relate to his situation, as I experienced something similar in 2017 when I reached out to various Lion members, including Past District Governors, who refused to engage due to a misguided autonomy rule imposed by Lions Club International.

Public Complaint Bureau

 

A friend asked me what PCB is. It is the Public Complaint Bureau or Biro Pangaduan Awam (In Malay).

Here are some extracts from a website. LINK.

Public complaints are complaints made by the public on their dissatisfaction towards any administrative injustice, abuse of power, mismanagement and other similar acts by Government agencies.

Restricting complaints to only members of a club

 

This morning, a Facebook friend, Dwayne Min Johnson, taught me a new Chinese phrase "长江后浪推前浪" (cháng jiāng hòu làng tuī qián làng), which translates to "the waves behind drive the waves in front" in English. This idiom carries a rich metaphorical meaning.

This is apt for our discussion on Lions Clubs International sticking with a decades-old system of saying that only members can complain about Lions Clubs flagrantly breaking rules and regulations set up by LCI. This sounds like the club telling LCI, ‘catch me if you can’, knowing that no member will complain to LCI.

Importance of a cabinet officer for the District Governor

 

 

向下滚动查看中文翻译

Dwayne Min Johnson

You really hate Lions Club. You attack a club and claim it was a crime ….to me, this is an attack.

It must be related to the April election...Hopefully, you can achieve your goals by then.

Luqman Michel my question is still the same….What’s your motive behind it, but when I saw your posting on the Mandarin version ..I guess I know why and who is behind all this…..you can tell the whole world how righteous you can be, but people with a clear view will know what your motive is…good luck to you.

Autonomy of Lions Clubs

 

The autonomy of Lions Clubs within the larger framework of Lions Clubs International (LCI) is a fundamental aspect of the organisation. While LCI provides guidance, resources, and a shared mission, each club is ultimately responsible for its governance and compliance with local laws and regulations.

This autonomy allows clubs to tailor their activities and policies to fit the specific needs of their communities, with each club operating independently and having its own elected officers and decision-making processes. However, this independence also comes with legal responsibilities, and clubs must ensure they comply with all relevant local laws in addition to LCI's rules and regulations.

Loophole in the Lions organisation

 

This is a continuation of my post at LINK

I am collating information from my blog posts to write an open letter to Lions Clubs International on club autonomy and the loopholes it creates for those with criminal intent.

“Falsifying documents” is a type of white-collar crime. It involves altering, changing, or modifying a document to deceive another person. It can also involve the passing along of copies of documents that are known to be false.

Here is a sentence from my post here.

Loophole in the Lions organisation and perhaps other Charitable organisations.

 

 

向下滚动查看中文

I am collating information from my blog posts to write an open letter to Lions Clubs International on club autonomy and the loopholes it creates for those with criminal intent.

This is what I read in my post in November 2016. “A conspiracy consists …in the agreement of two or more to do an unlawful act or to do lawful act by unlawful means.”