Pulling together, we succeed and prosper!
December and the year is half over – hard to believe that although 2020 seems to truly drag on with COVID–19 and its problems. Still time marches on! May we embrace this Holiday Season and let the spirits move us to help make things better for everyone – family, friends, neighbors and the whole world! The saying “Where there is a Need, there is a Lion” could never be more true than now. Oregon with its fires has demonstrated needs that the Lions of the districts more than fulfilled. From seeking and securing grants to continually using portable kitchens to feed those in need – you are to be applauded for your efforts.
Looking back on 2020 we started the year out with tons of promising activities, with conference planning going great for each district and the Multiple District. Then along came March and the big shutdown that meant cancellation after cancellation. Conventions planned and promises of great times with the camaraderie of like-minded Lions came to an abrupt halt as COVID-19 and the impact of this deadly corona-virus spiking and waning left us all in the lurch. Thus, districts had to create alternate programs to elect new officers, recognize worthy Lions for their efforts and plan opportunities for a new normal that we still find wanting.
Probably the worst case is that we can no longer operate as we once did, with face-to-face meetings, fundraising activities or community gatherings. Postponing or canceling things right and left is still the operative action for the day. Schools essentially crippled in their educational pursuits, school vision clinics and activities done away with, even parades of celebrations in many communities eliminated. Will we ever come back or is the so-called new normal here to stay?
There is hope, with using social media coming to the rescue of meetings, either zoom type or even hybrid programs, to keep us informed and involved. Club meetings have changed – and some would say for the better, as if one does not want to watch or hear – there is an easy off button to hit. This means that we must alter the way of doing business, making our meetings both more exciting and worthwhile. At the same time, one hopes that we can meet and get more individual participation and commitment from our members. Even so, we have to look for those opportunities and activities that are meaningful and allow Lions to serve our purposes in new ways, e.g., drive-by food drives or similar activities with most of what we do for fundraising and other activities. Now we have to imagine what to do, not just do the same old thing repeated for so many years.
Of course the time of cooking in-house pancakes, sausage and eggs may be a thing of the memorable past, but using our brain power we should be able to create the good via alternative methods to reach out to our communities. While I doubt virtual meals will ever catch on, serving those in need must continue to be our mission.
With December coming and then going, we will be in a New Year, hopefully we can make it a better one for all involved and rewarding for those who put in the time and dedication to serve. Conventions for a while will probably be virtual, selection for officiating our clubs, zones, regions, districts and even international will be a challenge we will overcome successfully as it is with confidence in Lionism we all move forward as one pride! Let’s take this opportunity to remember those in the past, honor their service and work for inclusion of so many more that we can find who have similar principles of WE SERVE!
Life gives us both challenges as well as rewards. Do not let life’s little diversions get in the way of positive progress of mankind. Pulling together, we succeed and prosper! Make this Holiday Season one to remember fondly and with grace as well as humility.