Lions Clubs of Multiple District 36, Oregon and Northern California

We Serve

Eugene, OR USA

541-484-0452

Lions of Oregon & Northern California are a part of an international network of 1.4 million men and women in 200 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world. Lions are best known for working to end preventable blindness, the giving of eyeglasses and hearing aids for the needy and local service projects.

 

Mission Statement of Lions Clubs International:

 

"To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation."

 

So why is this a big deal?

October 04, 2024  /  Jennifer Brewster

Hello fellow Lions! Several of us just returned from the USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum in Louisville, Kentucky.  I cannot recommend this event ENOUGH; it is worth every penny and then some.  I would encourage all clubs to try to find funds in their admin account to help send one or two of your members to this yearly event that rotates around North America.  Next year's event will be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, September 18-20.  Start planning now, you won't regret it!

So why is this a big deal?  Attending the Forum isn't just about attending training sessions, it is about networking and meeting Lions from all over the world.  Sharing information, learning from one another, getting new ideas and socializing is just the tip of the iceberg- this event is Lionism at its finest.  To give you an idea, we sat and talked with Lions from Canada, Texas, Wisconsin, Delaware, Iowa, California, Colorado, and more at the meals.

Some of the highlights for me:

Being surrounded by 2000+ like-minded people who want to improve and help their community is itself inspiring.

Learning Sessions that cover all kinds of topics- my favorites included the session on online fundraising and using Artificial Intelligence to help our clubs.  Lion David and I hope to have a Zoom training about using AI and ChatGPT. What you can do and how technology can save time and energy in promoting our clubs are impressive. Let me know if you'd be interested!

The guest speakers are always high quality and two stood out to me this year, the first being motivational speaker Sam Glenn (https://www.samglenn.com/ and https://www.samglennart.com/).  If you need a chuckle and a smile, I highly recommend you check him out online and on YouTube- he is hilarious.  The second speaker I want to highlight is Randy Pierce, a few Lions from New Hampshire.  When he was 22 he lost the majority of his vision within two weeks due to a neurological disease.  He talked about overcoming the odds with his guide dogs and how it led to him hiking mountains, running marathons and so much more.  He was very inspiring and a great speaker. (https://futureinsight.org/randypierce/)

I know the cost can be prohibitive, but I hope more Lions try to attend future Forums with some planning.  Dates for future events: September 18-20, 2025 Atlantic City, New Jersey, September 3-5, 2026, Memphis, Tennessee, September 16-18, 2027 Huntsville, Alabama.

As a multiple district, we are struggling to bridge the leadership gap among our members, and training like this is invaluable when it comes to the knowledge gained and being inspired.  For more information, please check out the website for the Forum at  https://lionsforum.org/

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!  My cell is 541-391-0767 and my email is cls24@hotmail.com

“Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?”
— Helen Keller's Speech at 1925 International Convention Cedar Point, Ohio, USA June 30, 1925