What is your Superpower?
Give Your Best to Lions this Year
By Phyllis Carlin, Council Chairperson
Gudrun Yngvadottir took the reins of the world’s largest service organization at the Lions International Convention in July, 2018, becoming the first female president in the 101 year history of the organization. She was also our first president from Iceland. Gudrun became a Lion in 1992 and has held many offices and received numerous awards including our highest honor, the Ambassador of Goodwill. She is a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a biomedical research scientist, a university administrator and, to top it all off, a Lion.
I ran into her in a restroom at the International Convention the day before she was to be installed as our 101st president. We were alone, just the two of us there and I said to her, “You are going to do such a fantastic job.” She hugged me and thanked me, treating me like an old friend, not like one of the 700-plus unknown District Governors assembled at the convention for training. She spoke to me in my native tongue, not hers. And right there in the underbelly of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas at the end of a very, very long day, I learned the superpowers of Gudrun Yngvadottir—that being her ability to make you feel special and, most importantly, valued.
One month from now, five years after Lion Gudrun’s installation, we will install our second female president, Dr. Patti Hill from Alberta, Canada. Lion Patti is currently the president of a consulting firm with 30 years of experience as an educator and psychologist. In addition, she has championed the rights of youth who are deaf and/or blind. While her theme and goals have yet to be released, I will certainly share them with you when they are. As I haven’t heard her speak in person, I have yet to glean what her superpowers might be. But I have no doubt there are many.
This is my challenge to you, Lions of MD36, as we head into our new year of service: “Will you not give your best to Lions this year?” Each of you has your own unique set of “superpowers.” Will you not channel these energies and talents toward Lions and toward the greater good as we strive to serve our communities, districts and state? Much progress has been made, but we are still in a state of rebuilding and revitalizing our organization as Covid wanes. We need to come together in service as we continue this process. “Will you give your best to Lions this year?”
Speaking of giving your best, we had a committee that did just that last year. The Public Relations committee, led by Lion Carrie Bartley, wrote and procured a grant to purchase yard signs and bumper stickers for every Lion in MD36. The committee met by Zoom and “Got ‘er done” with the result being more visibility for our Multiple District. If you have yet to receive your yard sign or bumper sticker, please contact your district governor. A shout out to the fourteen Lions from around state who served on this committee.
Let’s follow their lead because none of us want Lions to be the “Best Kept Secret” anymore. Put the bumper sticker on your car and the sign in your yard. Write articles for your local paper. Start an Instagram or Facebook page and show, through your club’s great works, how proud you are to be a Lion.
I look forward to seeing you this year at club events, meetings and conventions and I wish you the best as you begin your new year of service this July. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the phone number or e-mail listed above.