Through December 2020 - The New Member Fee To LCI Has Been Waived!
I am writing this article today and pretending that I am headed to the Lions International Convention in Singapore. I am excited and know that I will come home with tons of information to share with my district. It was exciting to plan to go to another country and meet new people there and see friends I made while in Chicago at the DG Training. But, thanks to the Corona Virus that is taking over our lives, there is no International Convention, and new and wonderful things are not to be told to us. We are in a new world as far as travel and togetherness are concerned. We are in a learning situation to which we all have to adjust while continuing in the world of Lions and being prepared to help as many as we can of those needing our assistance.
The theme this year for International President Dr Jung-Yul Choi is “United in Kindness and Diversity” and initiatives will focus on four key elements of Lions International that are essential to our mission of service: Addressing global causes by serving local needs; Supporting our global foundation, LCIF; Inspiring kindness with our stories of service; and Empowering our clubs to serve safely.
Within our own United States one of our main initiatives that we are focusing on this year is Membership and utilizing NAMI (North American Membership Initiative). Through December 2020, the new member fee to LCI has been waived and here in District E we have set up a dues plan for new members to pay 1/2 of the required club dues for their first year, then 2/3 for the second year and then the full dues on the third year. The loss in dues to LCI will be covered by the district. This 2/3-year plan constitutes somewhat of a retention plan along with less cost to join the organization. Sometimes funds make a big difference, so hopefully this will be a help in bringing in new members. Then it is up to us in the clubs to make sure that we keep them.
I am looking forward to starting my official duties as District Governor in August with doing the installation of officers for the Canyonville Club on August 1. Following that my first visitation will be in Powers on the 11th of August. Then I will head over to the east side of the district to the Klamath area. Our first District Cabinet meeting will be held in Klamath Falls on August 29. The club has arranged for the location to be such that we will be able to have social distancing, but we are also asking that masks be worn as well.
Lastly, I would like to thank everyone who agreed to fill the District Cabinet positions for this year. I know that you will all do a great job in fulfilling the duties of the position you have accepted. I also want to give a special thanks to PCC Joyce Anderson, PCC Gail Black and CCE Bob Chaney for all their continued support.
Remember - Family, Friends, and Fellowship for this coming year. In Lionisim we are family, we make new friends but keep the old and fellowship is invaluable to all. Thanks for reading this and we will talk again next month.