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."

 

Lions, The Greatest Service Organization In The World But The Best Kept Secret.

July 19, 2021  /  Guest User

Let’s get loud about Lions

cc bob 2021.jpg

     Hello everyone, I’m baaaaaack! And so is the Multiple District, to in-person meetings that is, Yaaah!  I am so looking forward to seeing each of you in-person and being able to embrace or shake hands or just converse.

     This last year and a half has been trying not only for all of us Lions who have “suffered” through countless Zoom meetings and not been able to put boots on the ground but to those who have lost in their everyday lives.  The floods, fires and this pandemic have certainly taken a toll on all of us individually and collectively so as we start to emerge from under this guise let’s remember why we are Lions, To Serve! 

     This year first and foremost we are going to have fun.  You have a Council of Governors who are looking forward to serving each of their districts and having a lot of fun in the process.

     Probably the biggest concern facing Lions in the multiple district and throughout North America is membership. We are losing Lions at an alarming rate and if we are not able to stem the tide we will soon be unable to conduct business.  But here’s the thing. It’s not that hard to ask someone to join and if we all ask at least one person odds say that between 30 and 50 percent will say yea. What does that mean?  If you look at our current numbers across our Multiple District you will see a total of 2,997 that would translate to between 899 and 1498 new members. Just saying, can you imagine the influx of new ideas and energy and passion?

     That brings me to the theme for the multiple district for this year.  Restoring Prides Through Service.  What does this mean?  Well we as Lions were able to provide some much needed service in the form of meals up in the Gates area following the wildfires and this service will go a long way to keeping the Lions name known and even possibly re-establishing a club in that area.  Also all of the outreach that clubs have done through all kinds of service have resulted in new members like the Mt Hood club who had a net gain of 10 in membership this last year.  We sometimes don’t know that breadth and depth that our service projects have on individuals and on a community as a whole.

     There are times when we become discouraged or disenchanted with some of the things we do and these last 18 months has certainly played heavy into that. I know personally that I was starting to be a bit disillusioned but when we were able to get together for training the passion and enthusiasm of your District Governors reinvigorated my soul.  I know this group is going to do great things this year so I hope you give them the opportunity to lead.

     Another issue I see that is paramount with this group is making sure that everyone is willing to work together. As our motto says We Serve. I know that most of you will remember my first term as District Governor I had a theme of Together We’ll Restore the Roar and I still feel that way that by working together across all borders that we will be able to return Lions clubs to the robust and vibrant entities they were.

     I have long been a proponent of tooting our own horn, Roaring, if you will and we must continue to do this in order to get away from that old saying I have heard since I joined Lions some 18+ years ago, Lions, the greatest service organization in the world but the best kept secret.  Let’s not let Lions be a secret any more. Scream it from the rooftops, shout it from the mountain tops, show it in everything we do.

     We are the best and largest service organization in the world and we should be proud of that fact.  So remember as we traverse through this coming year we are going to make a lot of noise and get loud about Lions and have a lot of fun doing so as we Restore Prides Through Service all across this multiple district.

Council Chair Bob Chaney

“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