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."

 

Our District Leadership is Here for Our Clubs

February 07, 2023  /  Guest User

Greeting Lions of District 36R,

     At the time of publishing, I will have finished my last three official DG Club Visits of our 32 clubs. Lion Patty and I had the opportunity to share a Christmas Dinner with our smallest club (Jefferson) and two of their community partners and a lunch with our second largest club (Eugene Downtown). While being small (5 members) the Jefferson Lions club is active in their community as are many of our smaller clubs.  Did you know District R has 16 clubs with less than 15 members.  This is not an impediment for our members to serve their communities.  I have heard too many times that if a club falls below 20 members, they can no longer be a Lions Club and that is not true, 20 members are required when starting a new Lions Club.

     Another thing I have experienced this year is that LCI is very responsive to the District Governors (DGs). For our clubs, what that means, if you need something from LCI and are not getting a response, get the DG involved. Our district leadership is here for our clubs but it is a two edged sword as our district leadership comes from our clubs. We have many open positions on the cabinet and committees that need our club leaders, seasoned or otherwise, to step up. This coming year we will also have a need to fill and replace our 8 Zone chairs as there are new term limits. I choose the perspective that this is a great opportunity to get our newer Lions involved and launch our District forward on its next period of growth and the increased service to our communities that comes with it.

     Our next district cabinet meeting is coming up on February 18th and is being hosted by one of our small clubs, Salem North East. Once again we encourage all of our members to attend, especially the club presidents and secretaries. One of the topics that we will be discussing is LCIF Grants that are available at the district level. Many of these are from $10K to $100k and require multiple clubs to be involved with some level of Lions and community match. Lion International President, Brian, has challenged us to think outside of our often-self-imposed boxes and to “Think Big When We Serve”. This is one way that LCIF helps us with that sentiment and encourages partnerships with other organizations in our communities.

Happy New Year - DG 36R Lion David O’Kelley – Together We Can and Together We Will

“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