It Takes A Team

September 2021 - Lions Magazine

Hello Lions,

            Wow.  It’s hard to believe when you read this article we will already have two months behind us in our Lion’s year. I'm still excited for what this Lion’s year will bring us. We had our first ever Lions International convention done virtually. Hope some of you got to listen and enjoy it. It was filled with information. There was a great segment on International President Doug Alexander from his neighborhood in New York. Lion President Doug is the real deal. He is all about service. I know I joined Lions because of the service they do for their communities. WE all had that one bond when we joined Lions and that bond was and is service to others. 

     When we do service in our communities we do it as a team.  We do it because of that bond we all have of helping others. TEAMWORK is the ability to work together towards a common vision. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. So I ask each of you Lions and Lions clubs to continue to work as a team as we SERVE our communities. We've seen many changes in the way we do service but Lions are a resilient pride. We find ways to continue to serve others. While we are not sure about this crazy pandemic and how it will affect us - we continue to adapt to safe ways to serve. In my governor school we talked about change and the way we are going about things in life and one common thing we all agreed to was that the only thing constant in life is change and if anyone can adapt to change I believe it is the LIONS.

     I talk a lot about service but I want to tell you the vision our District has about membership. When we are doing our service projects consider inviting your friends, or maybe your neighbor to help with your service project. Then invite them to a meeting and let them learn more about the Lions and what we do. Who knows this might be the link we are looking for to gain membership. 

     Helen Keller was asked the question: Is there anything worse than no sight?  She replied “Yes.  Having sight but no vision."  We as a District do have a vision and that vision is to gain members, gain two new Lions clubs and adding another Leos club or two. The time is ripe as people are ready to get involved with some service organization. Why not the Lions club -- the largest service organization in the world? 

Remember your cabinet is here to serve you Lions and to help each club be successful. I ask every club to support your club president as they direct your club. They cannot do it alone, it takes a team. Be proud to be a Lion and have fun in your club. 

     It's going to be a great year for our Lions as we continue our journey together in service to others. "SERVICE FROM THE HEART."  I believe Lions Change Lives Today.  So let’s go out and change someone’s life.

District Governor Lion Lynn Coon 36-R

Service From the Heart

July/August - Lions magazine

     Greetings Lions of 36-R.

     As your new District Governor I look forward to visiting all of your clubs, meeting all of you and serving alongside each of you Lions of 36-R.  As this 2021-2022 new Lion’s year begins I want you to know that 36-R’s District Cabinet is looking forward to great things for our District and for our clubs.

      I am excited to be your District Governor and make this journey this Lion’s year with each of you.  One thing I want the Lions of 36-R to know is that we as a Cabinet are here to serve you.  It's your club your way but we are here to help the clubs succeed and serve their communities.  We all share a bond and that is the service we do for others.  New clubs.  New members.  New opportunities to lead, to grow, to encourage and to do good things.

     Our incoming International President Doug Alexander's theme this year is Service From the Heart.  I encourage each Lion of 36-R to follow the lead of President Alexander and go out there and serve.  When we serve from the heart it is contagious and others will follow.  

     As Mohammed Ali said and I try to follow this very thought "Service is the rent we pay for our time here on earth." 

     So Lions of 36-R – let’s have fun this Lion’s year.  Let’s help one another serve others in our communities.  Let’s grow our club membership because as you know the more members we have the more service we can do.

     I thank you for this opportunity to serve YOU the Lions of 36-R this Lion’s year.

District Governor Lion Lynn Coon 36-R

Look for Opportunities

JUNE 2021 - LIONS MAGAZINE

     Well, we’ve finally made it to the end of this year and it’s been a rough ride – what with COVID and wildfires. 

     The response to the wildfire disasters was unbelievable.  The Santiam and Holiday Farm fires were devastating but District R Lions were there to help with volunteers, supplies, and donations.

     We obtained an LCIF disaster grant for $10,000, which was spread around to the fire areas.  We set up an account with our District Treasurer so people had a place to send financial donations.  

     As a result of the response we received throughout the District, the four District Governors recognized the need for better disaster response and proposed setting up an Oregon Lions Disaster Recovery Foundation.  Donations would be tax-deductible for individuals and businesses and would also make us eligible to receive grants from larger grant organizations. To take advantage of that requires us to have a 501(C)(3) foundation.  Many clubs in the District have 501(C)(3) foundations and are well aware of the benefits of having this type of foundation.  If you attended the 36-R convention, you heard opinions from various levels of Lions leadership that in the future it will be necessary to have advance planning so we can be prepared when the next big disaster (think Cascadia) happens. 

     The other major events, of course, were COVID and the lack of in-person meetings and service projects.  This continues to be a problem and there’s no telling when it will end.  We obtained an LCIF grant for $10,000 for COVID relief and we contacted County Emergency Managers about how to best disperse this grant money, which was to purchase personal protective equipment and share it among the counties.

     We wrapped up the year with our District convention.  It took several Lions working together to make this happen.  We had an International Director from Oklahoma who shared lots of LCI information.  We had eight breakout sessions about a variety of topics.  A big “Thank You” to the Convention Committee that put together a totally virtual convention.

     International President’s Certificates of Appreciation (the 4th highest award in Lions) were presented to Lion Karen Norton of the Eugene Downtown club, Lion 1VDGE Lynn Coon of the Junction City club, and Lion Ward Frederick of the Silverton club.  A special Club Excellence Award was presented to the Silverton Lions Club for their organization and support of the Santiam Fire field kitchen, where hundreds of evacuees, volunteers, and first responders were fed for over two months.

     By now, you should have new club officers in place.  Get all your club members involved.  Look for opportunities to recruit new members.  Get creative with service projects.  To club leadership: “Bring out the best in the team by challenging them with tough but achievable goals, encouraging them with sincerity and trust, motivating them with a compelling vision and listening to them with empathy.”  -- Kai-Fu Lee, CEO of Sinovation Ventures

Treasurer's Reports

     I recently asked the clubs in my District to send me a copy of their current financials / Treasurer's report.  This, of course, created somewhat of an uproar.  This was my response to inquiries as to why I was asking:

Why am I asking for financials?

      First off, there is nothing sinister going on.  Everyone needs to relax.  This information will not be shared with anyone.  It is strictly for me to review.  There will be no punishment involved.

     After meeting with different clubs, it is obvious that serious Treasurer training needs to be done, particularly for incoming Treasurers (or current Treasurers who are staying on).  We are working on getting that organized soon.

Monies are to be accounted for in two separate accounts:  Administrative and Activities.

·         The two accounts are not to be merged into one account.

·         Administrative funds are to be used for club expenses (postage, printing, etc.) and that money is to be strictly raised only from Lions either from dues or from a fundraising activity that is closed to the public.

·         Activities funds are to be raised from fundraising activities that are open to the public (crab feeds, BBQs, golf tournaments, bingo, etc.) and all those funds are to be returned to the community (eyeglasses, scholarships, etc.).  They are not to be used for club expenses.

·         An annual audit is mandatory for all clubs.  This should be done by the end of this fiscal year.  If you need help with this, contact me.

      I am also interested to see where money comes from and where it goes.  This will give me information about what kinds of fundraisers are being conducted and what types of community services are being provided.  I plan to put together a chart with that information that can be available when a club is looking for a new fundraiser idea or community service project.

     And just so you’ll know, the District Governor does get a monthly Recap of Accounts from LCI that shows the balances due to LCI, including those that are overdue at 30, 60, 90, and 120+ days.  I normally contact clubs who have outstanding balances that are overdue more than 30 days.

     I hope this explains why I am requesting to see your financial reports.  There is no special form.  Your Treasurer’s report should show income and expenses divided into two accounts for Administrative and Activities.  Nothing fancy.  Can be handwritten or computer-generated. If your Treasurer needs help, please contact me.

Finals Time

Lion Magazine - April 2021

While this time of year is notable for Spring Break, it is also finals time for those on Winter quarter.  So . . . we’re having an exam today.

There will be 10 questions, each worth 10 points. 

1.     When and where was the Association of Lions Club born?

2.    When and where did the group become the International Association of Lions Clubs?

3.    Who organized the Lions Club and what was his profession?

4.    Who challenged the Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness?” and when and where?

5.    True or False.  Lions Clubs was one of the first nongovernmental organizations invited to assist in the drafting of the United Nations Charter in 1945.

6.    What is the Lions Vision Statement?

7.    What is the Lions Mission Statement?

8.    What is the Lions Motto?

9.    What is the Lions Slogan?

10. Name three Service Activities.

ANSWERS

1.     1917 in Chicago, Illinois

2.    1920 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada

3.    Melvin Jones was an insurance agent

4.    Helen Keller in 1925 at the International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio

5.    True

6.    To be the global leader in community and humanitarian service

7.    To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions Clubs

8.    We Serve

9.    Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety

10. Diabetes, Vision, Hunger, Environment, Childhood Cancer

The good news is if you scored at well, you can switch over to the Spring Break mentality . . .  but please do it following pandemic guidelines.  Anyone who wants to go to the beach, you’re welcome to come to my house.  The bad news is you’ll have to take a year-old hyperactive Goldendoodle with you.

Kindness Is Like Snow--It Beautifies Everything It Covers

Lion Magazine - March 2021

     At the beginning of this Lions year, I selected “Forward!  Upward!  Onward!” as my District Governor’s motto.  LCI focused on “Kindness.”

     We are now 9 months into our year and it is time to review and see if we lived up to these positive thoughts.  I think we have for the most part.  With a year full of COVID and wildfires, District 36-R Lions stepped up and made the best of it.

     We received three LCIF grants – a community grant for school supplies, a COVID grant for Personal Protection Equipment that was distributed among our six counties, and a Disaster grant for supplies and support of areas hit hardest by the wildfires.

     Not only did we receive LCIF Disaster grant monies, we also had Lions from around the District volunteer to deliver supplies and man the Santiam wildfire field kitchen.  Clubs chipped in to donate additional funds for supplies beyond the LCIF Disaster grant.

     The MD 36 Global Action Team (GAT) established challenges for each District.  These challenges encompass “Forward!  Upward!  Onward!”

     Under Leadership (GLT), the 36-R challenge is to have officer training completed for 30 clubs by June 30.

     For Service (GST), 12 clubs reported events this year and last year 21 events were reported.  The goal is to increase reporting to 30 clubs.

     For Membership (GMT), last year we had 758 Lions and currently we have 705.  The goal is to have 759 members by June 30 and one new club in the District.

     These are indeed some challenging goals but if we pull together, we can achieve them.  Every club and every Lion are urged to reach out to Zone Chairs and District Cabinet members for assistance.  Let’s do our best to achieve them or get close as we near the end of this Lion year.

     In addition, “Choose Kindness” signs are popping up around the District.  I would like to challenge each of you to think about posting yard signs or displaying car decals to that effect. The www. SpreadingKindnessCampaign.org has these items available.

     As Kahlil Gibran said: “Kindness is like snow--it beautifies everything it covers."

Remember “We Serve” Can Be Accomplished in Many Different Ways

Lion Magazine - February 2021

     “What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.”  --   Vern McLellan

     Seems everyone let out a sigh of relief when we moved away from 2020 and into 2021.  While we’ve all been sequestered at home, we are still Lions.  We need to step up and remember “We Serve” can be accomplished in many different ways.

     Let’s think of 2021 as the year of creativity when it comes to our meetings and service activities.  I have sent out a document titled “Fundraising & Service Projects in the Era of Covid-19,” which was created and compiled by Lion Carrie Bartley, the MD 36 Public Relations and Lions Information committee chair.  It is a 32-page document full of great ideas for clubs to consider during the pandemic to continue serving their communities and conducting fundraising activities.

     Our annual convention, originally scheduled for February 13, has been postponed to May 1.  This will be a virtual convention with an online business meeting (elections, International Director Justin Faber, OLSHF, special awards, etc.).  We will then have breakout sessions on various topics for everyone to pick and choose from.  If there is a topic you’d like covered, please let me know.

     Since this is a virtual convention, think of the money you’ll be saving.  No travel, no meals, no hotels, and no convention fees!

     While the wildfires have pretty much burned themselves out, there are still areas that need help.  The Eugene Downtown club is putting together a tool lending library to help those in the Holiday Farm fire.  They are looking for tool donations, so contact club president Lion Susan Pfanner and ask her for the list of needed items if you want to help out by donating used (or new) tools.

     Our District R Peace Poster entry won at the District level and is now headed to the International level.  Winner Mica Tonnsen is a student at Talmadge Middle School in Monmouth.  Her entry was submitted by the Central Lions Club.  Congratulations, Mica!

     Things that will be coming up before we can believe it include voting in our elections.  We are planning on using Election Runner, an online ballot system.  Each club will be notified how many delegates it has and will need to choose Lions in the club who have internet so they can participate.

     Clubs should be thinking ahead about holding club elections in the next couple of months.  Club secretaries should be prepared to send voting results to LCI in a timely fashion so new officers can be granted access to MyLCI.  Trainings of incoming officers are also being put together.  Everyone is encouraged to attend these trainings.  In addition, there are eBooks for all club positions available in the Lions Learning Center.  They’re extremely helpful for news officers, including those who are holdovers from previous years. 

     Seems Lions are not the only ones preaching Kindness.  This organization is based in Springfield and is spreading the word through yard signs and other means.  It would be great to get the word out to everyone by putting one of these in your yard and following up with information about Lions and our vision of Kindness everywhere.

     Tibetan proverb: “The secret to living well and longer is: eat half, walk double, laugh triple, and love without measure.”

LIONS = Loving Individuals Offering Needed Services

     “No matter what happens in life, be good to people.  Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”  -- Anonymous

     I recently had the privilege of distributing 91 Membership Chevrons for Lions who have reached significant membership milestones.  A Chevron is an addition to a Lions membership pin, to be worn with pride.

     The following Lions are District 36-R Lions who have dedicated a good part of their lives to Service and Kindness over a good many years.  Congratulations to all of you!!  (The number in parentheses is the number of years of membership.)

Albany East - Neil Johnson (20), David Schnebly (45), Merl Helms (50)

Blue McKenzie – Clayton Robson (25)

Central – Rod Bach (20), Robin Puccetti (25), Craig Johns (30), Timm Cable (30)

Corvallis – Kelly Tharp 20), Marc Vomocil (30), Warren Elliott Volkmann (30), Wesley Thomas Adams (40), Clifford Trow (50)

Cottage Grove – Wendy Sue Benson (20), Lloyd Williams (20), James Goodling (35), Doug Lund (55), Jim Gant (60)

Elkton – Craig Zolezzi (30), King Phelps (45)

Eugene Bethel – Paul Renner (30)

Eugene Downtown – Craig Ford (20), Carol Casciato (30), Stanley Stewart (35), Don Erwin Jones (60), Gene Gustafson (50), Roger Smith (55)

Florence-Siuslaw – Mark Meyers (35)

Gardiner-Reedsport – Madeline Gonsalves (20)

Jefferson – Allan Oakes (30)

Junction City – Mike Skinner (25), Lynn Coon (30)

Keizer – Kathleen Henry (25)

Mapleton – James Grano (30), Bryan Moore (40)

Mill City – Daniel Lemke (25), Joe Uffelman (35)

Mount Angel – Matt Holt (20), Scott Korte (20), Wally Berning (20), Joe Davis (20), Steven Ritchie (35), Thomas Charles Bauman (40)

Newport – Gilbert Lecren (20), Norman Jones (20)

Philomath – Richard Raleigh (45)

Salem Downtown – Neil Kliewer (20), Carleene Iverson (20), Betty Levenhagen (30)

Salem Northeast – Kevin Raschko (25), Michael Key (25), Peter Larson (65)

South Salem – Gary Marr (50)

Silverton – Jon Debo (25),

Springfield – John Vogt (20), Marjory Bartholomew (20)

Stayton – Frank Storey (40)

 Yachats – Bert Harley (25), Elaine Harley (25)

     Pearls of wisdom:  “Remember - a goal without a plan is just a wish” and I stole this definition of a Lion during a Zoom meeting:  LIONS = Loving Individuals Offering Needed Services

Thank You! To Everyone Who Helped Out in These Trying Times

“It’s not for money, it’s not for fame.

It’s not for any personal gain.

It’s just for love of fellowman.

It’s just to send a helping hand.

It’s just to give a tithe of self.

That’s something you can’t buy with wealth.

It’s not medals won with pride.

It’s for that feeling deep inside.

It’s that reward down in your heart.

It’s that feeling that you’ve been a part

of helping others far and near,

that makes you be a Volunteer!”

-Author Unknown

     2020 has pretty much been a miserable year, what with COVID, wildfires and politics.  But I have to admit I am overwhelmed with the response District R received from our own Lions Clubs as well as clubs from other districts and from the public toward helping wildfire victims in District R.

     We had the Echo Mountain fire (Lincoln City area), the Beachie Creek and Lionsheads fires (Santiam Canyon area), and the Holiday Farm fire (McKenzie area east of Springfield).  We applied for an LCI $10,000 disaster grant, received it almost immediately and got busy purchasing supplies for the various evacuee centers.

     I want to recognize clubs that stepped up to help with gathering donations and distributing them, as well as volunteering at the field kitchen in Gates:  Stayton, Silverton, Eugene Bethel, Florence-Siuslaw, Junction City, Mill City, Central, and West Salem.

     Cash donations of $3,250 were received from the following clubs:  Pendleton, South Salem, Central, Lake Oswego, and Crooked River Ranch.  Note that three of these clubs are in other districts.

     Individuals who went above and beyond include the following:  1VDG Lynn Coon (Junction City), PDG Steve Moser (Central), Patty Harrison (Florence-Siuslaw), Susan Pfanner (Eugene Downtown), Ward Frederick (Silverton), Fran Silbernagel (Stayton), Heidi Ostrom (Silverton), and PDG Gary Mose (District G).

     If I’ve overlooked someone, please forgive me (and let me know who I missed).

      Portland TV station KGW filmed a story about the volunteers at the Gates kitchen, which has been feeding 300-500 people three meals a day.  To see the video, go to https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/volunteers-help-feed-families-in-the-santiam-canyon-after-devastating-wildfire/283-674af158-85c5-4776-b276-74b5555018f6.

     In case wildfires weren’t enough, PDG Steve Moser had applied for an LCI $10,000 COVID grant to be shared by the six counties in our district.  We could not give money directly to the county Offices of Emergency Management, so $1,666 worth of Personal Protective Equipment (gowns, gloves, and sanitizer) was delivered to each county.  The county officers were very appreciative as COVID supplies will continue to become hard to come by as we face another virus surge.

     Again, I want to shout out a big THANK YOU! to everyone who helped out in these trying times.  Keep up the good work and remember:

                                                Forward!  Upward!  Onward!

     As a parting thought, I offer this from Maya Angelou:  “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

Keep Up The Good Work!

     “Everyone has that one friend that has absolutely no concept of geography.  If you can’t think which of your friends it is, it’s probably you.”

     One thing I discovered over the past few weeks is I had no concept of Oregon’s geography . . . . until the wildfires started burning.  I have now been to Gates, Mill City, Stayton, Newport, and Lincoln City following up on wildfire needs.  I admit I had to Google where some of them were before I took these road trips.  I was hoping to determine where the $10,000 LCIF disaster grant money could best be used. 

     It was heartbreaking to drive through a burned-out area and know that many of these people would now be homeless.  It was interesting to note how the fires seemed to hopscotch through town, burning some places and skipping over others.

     In addition to the LCIF grant, District R received monetary donations from several MD 36 clubs.  These donations allowed us to provide items that were not covered by the disaster grant.  In addition, we received donations from the public of clothing and food items from all over the state.  Thank you, District G and PDG Gary Mose!

     In Gates, the Silverton Lions Club has partnered with the Silverton Elks Club to set up a field kitchen where 300-500 people are being fed three meals a day.  They’re feeding evacuees, firefighters/first responders, and volunteers.  Several of the Lions from my Florence-Siuslaw club made the three-hour drive to Gates to help out with the kitchen.  It’s quite an operation!  The Silverton club has several grills and put them to good use.  There were also several non-Lion volunteers who felt they wanted to contribute and came from different parts of the district to help cook, clean table and commune with evacuees and other volunteers. 

     Napoleon Hill, an American self-help author, stated: “It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.”  This is certainly illustrated by the Oregon Lions response to this ongoing wildfire crisis.  Keep Up The Good Work!

Can you find a personal mission in all this devastation?

     Greetings, fellow Lions!  Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go forth into your community and serve.  As always, should you or any members of your club be active, I will spread the word.

     Speaking of missions, are you familiar with the Lions Mission Statement? 

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

     That’s about as far as I got before wildfires started spreading throughout our district.  Little did we know what opportunities would arise as a result.  This disaster will clearly give all Lions a chance to provide “voluntary services through community involvement” close to home.

     District R has received approval of an LCIF emergency grant for $10,000.  We will need input from all the clubs in the district – who is affected, what is being done, how Lions are participating in disaster relief, etc.  We will also need photos of Lions in action to submit to LCIF.   

     W. Clement Stone stated, “When you discover your mission, it will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it.”  Look around you.  What do you see?  Towns completely destroyed or heavily damaged.  Homes and businesses burned to the ground.  500,000 people under evacuation orders of some sort.  Lions who have lost their homes.  Lions who have welcomed evacuees into their homes.   

     Can you find a personal mission in all this devastation?  Clubs can make donations to a district fund to be disbursed along with the LCIF grant monies.  Lions can volunteer at shelters and evacuation sites, sort and hand out supplies, build livestock pens, feed those who have been evacuated, welcome people into their own homes.

     As stated by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: “The mission of your life should be to leave a better world behind than what you inherited.” 

     We’re Lions and “We Serve!”  Step up and take the challenge!  We can do this!

Communication Is The Key To Keeping Members Interested

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” ― Tagore (Nobel Prize in Literature 1913)

“We Serve.” How many times have we proudly said that as Lions? But due to COVID, we are not able to do as many service projects as we would like. That does not mean we should do nothing.

Several clubs in the district are still providing service to their communities. It may require creativity to accomplish this. Collecting eyeglasses so they can be cleaned and calibrated at the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center and then distributed to those in need is still a major activity for many clubs. Scholarships are being handed out by several clubs. Roadside cleanups continue. The Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation is devising ways to continue doing school vision screenings that will comply with the latest social distancing guidelines.

Fundraisers can also happen. A flower basket fundraiser was held by the Dallas Lions Club. Community calendar sales are being handled by phone by the Elkton Lions Club. Raffles are being held by several clubs. The Salem West Lions Club made cotton candy to sell at a local event.

Communication is the key to keeping members interested and willing to remain a Lion. A survey of district clubs revealed that most clubs are holding off meeting until after Labor Day. While there will always be those who will resist participating in online virtual meetings, there are ways to keep club members informed about what is happening in their areas. Want to meet in person? Look for a public park that allows socially distanced attendance in a picnic areas. That will be an option as long as the weather holds. Club presidents and/or secretaries should consider putting out a newsletter. I’ve received several that are outstanding.

The district convention is currently scheduled for February 13 in Florence. We are playing it by ear right now, hoping that the COVID guidelines will allow us to hold our convention. We are tentatively scheduling forum speakers right now, fingers crossed.

Again, remember our motto: “Forward! Upward! Onward!” Please try to share this motto by continuing to meet as best you can, performing service activities and doing some fundraising in a COVID-safe manner. Share your successes by letting me know what you’ve accomplished. I’m available to attend in-person meetings or virtual meetings, so please keep in touch!

Stay Positive and Get Creative

July/August 2020

Forward!

Upward!

Onward!

When I selected my motto for the 2020-2021 year, it was a different time, pre-virus, Lions getting together at meetings and performing community service projects.  Everyone was enthusiastic and full of plans for the coming year, spreading the “Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion” slogan around the state and around the world.

Now, times have changed, at least as far as meeting in person.  Virtual meetings have pretty much become the new reality.  And clubs are learning to adapt to new technology and devise creative ways to continue service in their communities.

Forward!  We must continue to move forward and keep our clubs active.  If you have not tried virtual meetings and need help getting started with them, please contact me.  We already have several Zoom and GoToMeeting gurus in our district who will be happy to help you set up your account.  If you have not participated in a virtual meeting, please consider it.  It’s a good way to keep in touch with your fellow Lions and can be a social event (cocktail hours are popular) as well as a business meeting. 

Upward!  Due to the virus, LCI anticipates membership will drop 20% this coming year.  The North American Membership Initiative (NAMI) is already underway in several districts to address the continuous drop in membership in the U.S. and Canada.  We will have to work even harder to raise (or at least steady) our membership numbers this year.  Consider forming branch clubs in your community, which only require five members to start.  Consider establishing a Leos club.  They are prime targets for virtual meetings as most youth have been doing that for quite a while.  When the stay-at-home orders are lifted, consider having a membership drive in your area.  There are lots of tools and Lions available to help you.  Just ask.

Onward!  Service projects are continuing, even though we are limited as far as getting out in the community.  This is a prime time to be creative.  Read the Lions magazine and various Lion Facebook pages for ideas.  Several clubs in our district are still doing service projects, though some may be on a limited scale.  Two projects you might consider are Trek’s Bags for Benches, which helps alleviate our plastic problem and provides a visible example of Lions at work.  Building a Buddy Bench for your local schools is also a viable option.  You can research both of these projects on the internet or contact me for more information.

Kai-Fu Lee, CEO of Sinovation Ventures, stated: “Bring out the best in the team by challenging them with tough but achievable goals, encouraging them with sincerity and trust, motivating them with a compelling vision and listening to them with empathy.”

As we start our new Lions year, stay positive and get creative.  We won’t just fade away . . . that’s not the Lions style!