Where Do We Go From Here?
The holiday season has now come and gone – Christmas, Kwanzaa and all the other celebrations a mere memory of good times. Of remembrances and of honoring those who have gone before us or at least thinking of what the season truly stands for. The year has past, may 2021 become a year of promises kept, of better national health, the real vaccine to help eradicate Covid–19, the installation of a new president and – we need – the healing of all from the discord of the past.
It has been said that time heals all wounds, but it takes an honest person to acknowledge their own foibles. Although we can never truly take back things we have said in anger or disgust, we can all model the appropriate behavior we all know to be correct. Let us all as Lions really start the healing from the past. Half a year has gone by, Oregon’s share of tragedies are being addressed, lost homes, from the conflagrations we suffered in September will be remedied through rebuilding, the forests will be replanted and nature will heal the wounds suffered.
So, where do we go from here? Covid still will linger for a period, conventions will be done through the social media of Zoom or some other offering. Some of us will in all probability be able to meet in person, as long as we take proper precautions, masks, safe distances and honoring the edicts from state, medical and national rules and regulations regarding the pandemic. As Lions we must both adjust and proceed somewhat as usual. Our collective numbers are dramatically down from last year, so we must strive to increase them. Some have left the den as we have not addressed their needs. Others dropped membership because of not having meetings – often either in person or social media. AS members have you contacted or asked how your fellow Lions are doing? Have you asked about their health or mental state or even made contact if only to say “Hi”?
Clubs need to remember that not only have we a responsibility to serve our communities, we need to serve members as well. Service programs that have been somewhat ignored need to be re-thought as to ensure their successes. Working with other community organizations should give you at least some satisfaction of doing a great job in service to others. Using our collective imaginations should lead to innovative activities for fundraising, for making our town and areas better places to live work and play. Go out and seek new members, create the good in Lions and then make it work for one and all.
Clubs are said to wither when there is no excitement about what we are doing. Let’s change that into vitality with action. Become the leader that can and will take us to the new levels that create success and make more individuals want to join in on the fun of Lionism. Lions Clubs International is there to assist us in making our clubs better for all of us. Check their website often, take part in what they have available online, learn and then implement what can be done locally as a club, and regionally as a zone. Lastly, do not forget that we have several great Foundations – our own Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation serving the basic vision and hearing needs of our communities (as well as working to combat other tragic maladies), and Lions Clubs International Foundation working to end vision problems, childhood cancer, world-wide hunger, save the environment, make the world a better place for children and truly put the SERVE into Action. Let’s make a resolution to donate money to both foundations as clubs and individuals – make the world a better place! Then – be sure to put our motto into active mode – WE SERVE!