Dare To Do The Right Thing
36-G Lions are responding to the challenges and changes brought about by floods, fires, and COVID-19 by finding new and innovative ways to support the needs of their communities.
· Lions Charlene Larsen and I continue to participate in the Blue Mountain Long Term Recovery Group and Unmet Needs Table assisting the survivors of the February 2020 flooding that hit Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Columbia Counties. This expected to be ongoing for 7 years!
· FEMA estimates the duration of relief and recovery work as follows:
· ~10 X the number of days an event lasted, start to end, = the amount of relief time
· Number of relief days X 10 = days needed for recovery
· For example, Beachie Creek fire starting with the wind event is now 30+ days X 10 = 300+ days for relief
· 10 X 300 = 3000 days or 8.2 years for recovery
· There will be many opportunities for Lions to become involved in Long Term Recovery Groups in their area. I encourage you to do so, it can be very rewarding and informative.
· Pendleton Lions have applied for grants and received $3,500 from the Walla Walla Community Foundation, and $8,000 from Round-Up Cares. The club is also finishing a can and bottle drive expected to raise close to $10,000!
· I want to remind readers that our district received a $10,000 grant from LCIF for COVID relief, and to encourage clubs and Lions to make donations to LCIF for disaster relief.
· The Dalles Lions have been hard at work restoring features in Sirosis Park, where they have been meeting this summer outdoors. Nice work, Lions! Lion Timothy McGlothlin is also starting an International Forum of Lions to discuss issues of mutual interest. This looks to be highly interesting!
· Elgin Lions piloted new COVID-safe vision testing in the local schools, and found it faster, easier, and fun. The club also planted trees for the school for community beautification and conducted a highway cleanup. President and 1VDG Kathy Oliver stated the activity went “real well” and “There was a lot of trash!” Kathy said Lions need to be out in the community showing people that we Lions are still active.
· Crooked River Ranch Lions held their annual “Limb Dump” which allows locals to clean up potential fire hazards for fire mitigation. In winter the Lions and local fire department host a Burn to Learn session during which fire fighters get to practice on a large fire. President Kristie Peterson said the fire is always too big and hot to cook wieners and marshmallows on a stick. What a wasted opportunity we say.
Lions, dare to do the right thing! Keep your cool, wear a mask, wash your hands, and socially distance but reach out to your club members. Membership retention being what it is we cannot afford to lose a single Lion to COVID, especially you or me!