Always Remembering To Thank And Appreciate Those Dedicated Lions
April already – where has the time gone? Conventions have come and gone and yet more on the way. Elections for filling offices for next year are in the forefront and training for Officers and Cabinet Positions now become a must. Our Virtual MD36 Convention is shaping up with ID Justice C. Shea Nickell and his significant other Dr. Carolyn Sue Watson from Kentucky our International Guests. We’ll have a great time getting to know them and visiting with each other to share ideas, projects and learning some new skills along the way. Be sure to take advantage of whatever convention you attend and volunteer to share with your clubs and members the new ideas and experiences you have. WE SERVE being the motto, does not mean that your new knowledge is held within – share these new experiences widely, after all, as Lions we represent the best in our communities – and they deserve our participation in making things better for one and all!
Every year for the past too many, the Lions of MD36 have decreased in membership. The current year we have lost members in every District. District O has 42 fewer members than they had in February 2020, District R now with 45 fewer, District E losing 28 and finally District G has suffered a loss of 40. This means that even without the problems associated with the Pandemic of Covid, with less members we have not the capacity to continue with the regular activity agenda we have been doing! Less service, money raised, individuals involved, etc, and even more so, less people being served at both the local and international levels. It is now the time for vigorous recruiting – new members as well as trying our best to capture some of our more experienced Lions who have dropped out of our prides! I hate to bring up California as an example, but there are more clubs, many more members and obviously more people being served than last year! If they have found success, we should be able to as well.
Speaking of our money issues – how well have we raised and donated to the two best Foundations associated with Lions? Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation needs and deserves our unqualified support both as clubs and individuals. The OLSHF does much more than screening of school age kids, service to needy is truly a motto they have filled for all the years they have been around. What a dedicated staff: friendly, efficient and caring, from Executive Director Doug Thompson to those who volunteer in some way to assist them in their work. Lions Club International Foundation is as dedicated to International efforts to assist those in need throughout the world. In Oregon we have been the beneficiaries of about $2 million in grants from LCIF, Emergency grants for fires and floods, purchasing needed PPEs and medical needs, assistance in creating eye clinics, food banks, purchasing ambulances, rehabilitating hospital rooms and much, much more, WE must work at increasing the donations to these excellent Foundations as clubs and individuals. Let us step up and work on new and innovative fundraisers that will give us the funds so badly needed for the dedicated Lions and others serving foundations.
When we reflect on where we are, where we have been and where we want to be, let us determine first what the needs are, then how can we best achieve meeting those needs, and always remembering to thank and appreciate those dedicated Lions ever doing the necessary work to make the whole world a better place to work, live and play. We can ill afford to sit back and watch, we must step up and play our part! Thanks to the many who served in the past, who currently give and whose involvement may even increase. You are needed and I applaud your time and efforts. Until next time, I remain as your servant leader, CC – Z, awaiting my new Boston Terrier pup – Rhett! (He will be here before this issue is printed!)