Carl J. Freeland, District Governor

                                                                                                                                             January 2004 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Note from DG Carl:                             

                        HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

For those of you who like snow, you got a belated White Christmas!  The snow was very beautiful to look at -- from inside the house.  But our travels were put on hold for an extra week because it was impossible to drive safely to all my club visitations.  Those visits have been rescheduled for another time.

 

While we were kept home by the snow, I used the time to review the District goals set by our LEMPR team.  It looks like we are headed in the right direction.  We have a half-year meeting coming up later this month where we’ll find out if we really are on track.  I’ve been hearing some encouraging news from around the District as to new growth.  But even with all the new members we have gained, we are still showing a “minus 82” in membership as of December 31st.  Now is the time to turn that minus into a plus -- our clubs should be finished with their “house-cleaning” for this Lions year.

 

It’s time to start planning for the upcoming Daffodil Parade on April 17^th.  This is a four-leg parade, but you can march in whichever parts you’d like.  We start out in Tacoma, then on to Puyallup, then Sumner, and, last but not least, on to Orting.  There, the Orting Lions put on a BBQ and spaghetti feed for those who were in the parade.  So come out and join us for some great fellowship and lots of FUN, FUN, FUN! 

 

In the Kitsap area, Lions are working on another Mall Experience for February 21-22 at the Silverdale Mall.  This time we won't be sharing the mall with anyone else; it will be only LIONS, plus we’ll have the Lions Sight & Hearing Van and the Red Cross Bloodmobile there.  Please stop by to show your support!

 

Just a reminder that our March 5-7 District Conference is fast approaching.  Your club’s voting rights may be in jeopardy if there is an outstanding balance with MD19 and International.  So let’s get our bills paid.  We have several great candidates running for office and they need your votes to advance to the next higher leadership level. 

 

That’s all for this month,

 

Your District Governor

Carl J. Freeland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Relations – by PR Chairman John Doyle

 

Communication is an essential element in any organization.  Therefore, it is imperative as Lions that we take advantage of every opportunity to publicize our successes and activities.  The club bulletin is a very good way to communicate both within and beyond the club.  The last survey of our District indicates that we have 70% of our clubs producing bulletins.  This is a commendable and impressive achievement!  We can easily increase that number to 80% before the Spring Conference.

 

Spring Conference:  Our District is noted for having great conferences.  However, we do not want to be complacent with our past record – our goal is be better each year.  This year there will be panels that will be of interest to everyone.  Our new Lions will be recognized at the opening session of the conference, and the District Governor will present a special pin to these new Lions and their sponsors.  Consider the Spring Conference as an extension of your club’s new member orientation and bring your new Lions to the conference in force.  All of these first-time attendees will receive special recognition and expand their Lions knowledge beyond the club level.

 

Daffodil Parade:  The Daffodil Parade is a resource to let the public know who built their park, or who sponsored the health-screening unit at their school, etc.  Participation in the parade is a very good way to overcome the stigma of the “Best Kept Secret in Town”.  This year’s Daffodil Parade is on Saturday, April 17^th, and the route includes parts of Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, and Orting.  Specifics concerning the parade have not been received yet.  However, general guidelines from past parades included:  minimum insurance requirements can be piggy-backed on the Daffodil Parade’s policy; anyone desiring to enter a float or some type of entry should tell me prior to February 1^st; marchers or any entries may participate in all four cities or select their city of choice; club attire will suffice as the official parade uniform.

 

Video Resources:  Anyone having Lions videos or any other videos pertinent to a Lions program and would like to share them with other Lions, send me the name/title/subject, length and point of contact and I will publish the list.

   

 

         

  

 

 

 

Send in your registration and payment before February 1^st and you might win your money back!

We will be drawing three names out of a hat for the early bird drawing.  The first name drawn gets a refund of the total amount that Lion paid.  Second prize will be a lunch and a registration fee and the third prize will be a registration fee refund.

But you can’t win if you’re late! 

 

And, speaking of late, are your entries in for Contests & Awards?

 

And for more Conference fun:

On Friday night we’ll have professional entertainers!  Stand-up comic Debbie Wooten and vocalist Elaine Patterson will be putting on a show you won’t want to miss.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

MARCH 5-7, 2004

 

(P.S.  Get your LaQuinta hotel reservations in by February 13^th.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is Your Club Changing with the Times?

 

Is it time to ask the question, "Is your club changing with the times?"  Are you attracting younger members?  Have you identified what a "younger member" is?  30's to 40's?  40's to 50's?  Would your club be a place in which younger members would feel comfortable?  Do you have good leadership, good communication between members, and good teamwork?  Are your projects ones that younger members would be interested in working on?           

 

All these questions need to be addressed in order for your club to continue to move forward and change with the times.  So often we get stuck in a rut and do the same projects over and over.  It takes effort to try something new.  We see parallels in our personal life.  Do we change our clothing styles and glasses to reflect the times or do we just stay the same because it is easier?  Most of us do try to change in our personal lives, so why not do the same in your Lions Club? 

 

It is your Club's decision whether or not you will move forward and change with the times.

 

Submitted by PDG Emerson Bishop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

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January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

 

Millions of Americans are at risk of losing their eyesight to glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the United States.  At higher risk for developing glaucoma are African-Americans over age 40, everyone over age 60, and people with a family history of the disease.  

During Glaucoma Awareness Month in January, community leaders and health professionals are encouraged to provide sight-saving information to those who are at higher risk.  The National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the federal government's National Institutes of Health, offers a variety of resources and materials that Lions clubs can download to plan and conduct successful campaign activities.