MAY ISSUE
Happy Spring Mighty Lions of MD36! The skies are clearing, the rain and snow are slackening and the time for our spring service projects is upon us! I’m certain that great numbers of you were doing just what I did the day before Easter … putting on your Club’s annual Easter Egg Hunt! It’s always so great to see those excited and happy little children doing what their parents (and sometimes their grandparents) did with your Lions Club in the past! Not to mention the sugar high they’ll experience later in the weekend!
Since my last column was written (but published after) we celebrated with the Lions of District E at their Convention in Canyonville! The entertainment was astounding! Who knew DG Bob was so talented! And ID Sam Lindsey was another wonderful International Director guest! Whew! It’s taken a few weeks to recover from three back-to-back-to-back Conventions! (*Not to mention St. Patrick’s Day weekend! But that’s another story!) Kudos to your amazing District Governors, Lion Bert, Lion Tom, Lion Bob and Lion Debi for the extraordinary Conventions they put on for you!
Well, well! Your Multiple District 36 94th Annual Convention, set for May 17-19 at the Valley River Inn in Eugene, is shaping up extraordinarily well! Your MD36 Convention Committee has been working most diligently to collect timely and interesting Forums for you to learn and enjoy! We’re also doing not one … but two service projects! All through the Convention, we’ll be accepting you and your Club’s donations of non-perishable food for the FOOD for Lane County Food Bank. Collection barrels will be in the McKenzie Ballroom throughout the Convention.
Also, as you have possibly heard, we’re making hygiene kits for the “full spectrum” of homeless individuals. I’ve been involved in these projects from the USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum, to the District O Convention … and I thought we were doing a pretty good job. Well, it has been brought to my attention that we can do better. At any given time, there are almost 14,000 homeless people in Oregon and 36.5% of them are women. (This is where I slapped my own forehead!) So throughout the Convention we’ll be happily collecting feminine hygiene products from Lions and Lions Clubs and on Saturday, May 19th, there will be a project forum filling 200 bags with these products for a local women’s shelter. Please be generous with both of these worthy service projects!
Also, I’ve been in frequent contact with our guests, International Direct Lion Bruce Beck and his lovely wife, Lion Erin. I can guarantee you that they plan to have a lot of fun with the wonderful Lions of MD36! ID Lion Bruce is a “retired law enforcement administrator”, (he retired as the Undersheriff of his Sheriff’s Department), so at least he and I will have a lot to talk about! When you come to the MD36 Convention, take a moment to introduce yourself to ID Lion Bruce and Lion Erin and you’ll find them to be warm, welcoming Lions!
In addition to the great forums, projects and guests, there will be excellent meals, including the OLSHF Luncheon of Friday, with games and the Parade of Checks; District Banquets on Friday evening, May 18th; the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation Hall of Fame Induction Dessert that evening (come support your favorite Lions!); Multiple District Officer Elections and the grand Saturday evening MD36 Banquet! Come and celebrate how you have all “Moved MD36 Forward … into Our Second Century of Service!” Help recognize those Lions from your Clubs, your Zones, your Districts and Multiple Districts who’ve made such remarkable impacts in this first year of our second century. Come and take part in the SERVICE, grow your LEADERSHIP, enjoy the FELLOWSHIP and COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE!!! Do it … Lead it … Enjoy it and … Tell About It!
I am constantly so very honored to serve you, so proud of your trust in me and deeply humbled to be counted among you, the GREAT and MIGHTY LIONS of MD36.