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."

 

District Governors Break Ground

October 02, 2013  /  Guest User

“October News Article”
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Our District Governors are breaking new ground.  I wonder if the Lions of Multiple District 36 realize that our 4 District Governors have made a commitment to each other for a net gain of 200 new members by June 30th, 2014. This is a massive goal, a humongous undertaking and they need our help. Each year the clubs of MD 36 are very successful at membership. We bring in hundreds of new Lions, but we also lose hundreds of Lions for many reasons. Some of those reasons a club can do nothing about, such as age and Lions moving to another location. But other things we can do something about, such as making certain that we are having interesting meetings and good projects as well as being a caring friend to our fellow Lions. 

I know we are all working on creating better clubs for our members, so I am wondering if every club would accept a challenge to gain one new member by the New Year. If each club would be willing to do a little extra e.g., ask a friend to a meeting or project, ask one more persons to be a Lion, then we can contribute to our District Governors’ success. We, the Lions of MD36, need to do a little more this year. We have 167 clubs in MD 36 and if each club gained just one new member (in addition to their normal efforts) by the New Year, it would allow your District Governors to be off to a great start with their membership commitment.  

If you need membership ideas, look to your Club Membership team. If they need ideas to increase membership, ask them to talk with the District Global Membership Coordinator. Your Zone Chair, along with the rest of the District Leadership Team, are always available to assist your club with ideas and suggestions.

 

Communication Task Force

September 05, 2013  /  Guest User

“September News Article”
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This month I want to report on the August Council of Governor’s meeting. As the mystery writers say, something new and exciting is afoot. The Council is in the process of forming a Communication Task Force to look at the way we are communicating with members in the Multiple District. The goal is to make certain that not only are the District Governors being heard, but that the clubs have the opportunity to hear and see what is going on around the MD. 

The Council feels everyone should be able to access the activities of Lions in the MD. But, why is this important at this time? It is being driven by the MD budget. I think it was only three years ago we had to increase the MD dues. The loss of members then and now has continued to shrink the MD budget. We can no longer provide assistance to programs for membership and leadership that are vital to the Lions of MD 36 without increasing dues again or finding a way to lower the cost of portions of the budget.  

One of the larger items in the budget is the printing of The Oregon Lion and it is one of the few items in the budget that is not fixed. Therefore, can we find a way to communicate at a lower cost and not raise membership dues? The Task Force’s mission as stated in brief is: The Council of Governors wishes to communicate with all members of the Multiple District, to find ways to reduce the cost of producing a monthly newsletter (The Oregon Lion) and to explore the possibilities of utilizing electronic media in that communication.

District O - DG Sharon Rollins September 2013 - Lion Magazine Article

District R - DG Greg Pierce September 2013 - Lion Magazine Article

District E - DG Bruce Boone September 2013 - Lion Magazine Article

District G - DG Bill Burley September 2013 - Lion Magazine Article

When The Rubber Hits The Road

August 09, 2013  /  Guest User

“July/August News Article”

Starting a new job or role is always exciting and sometimes a little scary, because you never are sure what to expect or what is going to happen. It is the same in Lions. As a new club President, Secretary, District Governor or even the Council Chair, the beginning of a new year is always exciting.

Luckily for you, me, and the Lions of Multiple District 36, we have four new District Governors who are thoroughly trained (with the actual nuts & bolts of being the district leader, not just the theory) and excited about what the new Lions year will bring.  District Governors Sharon, Greg, Bill and Bruce have all set goals and developed action plans for their year as District Governor. While each has a set of goals unique to their district, they broadly flow together, partly because of their training and partly because the needs of Lions are generally the same.

Each year as District Governors change, so do the district goals change, but there remains the need to concentrate on membership and training. This year, in addition, the emphasis will be on additional training for Zone Chairs (sometimes the almost forgotten, but important link in the leadership chain), and rebuilding those struggling clubs that want to be rebuilt.

Finding a way to strengthen the extension portion of membership is also a goal, maybe by recognizing an extension team in each district. To some extent, we lost the E in MERL (Membership, Extension, Retention and Leadership) when we changed to the GMT (Global Membership Team) and GLT (Global Leadership Team) reorganization. We need to bring that emphasis back so that new club development can continue.

Finally, past Council Chairs Rod Bach and David Rich have submitted a request for a $20,000 grant to Lions Clubs International to develop a state-wide projects-oriented program. The program is aimed at creating interest (with the help of social media) in Lions through community service projects that clubs could lead and support. Community volunteers would have an opportunity to help their community and learn about Lions at the same time. This is what we already do, but on a larger scale and with more diverse community projects.

Goals are great, but action happens when the rubber hits the road. Let’s lay a little rubber!

 

“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