Governor‘s Comments...

As I sat in church one Sunday recently I was so down in the dumps and truly wondered why I had got out of bed that morning. Our house had been filled with so much joy during the Christmas season with our family coming to visit from Iowa and Michigan. Every morning as the three grand children started to move around their excitement set the tone of what was in store for us that day. At night, prior to bedtime, our family would gather for a family devotion and a reflection of what had happened during the day. But, the day came when the cars were packed and the good-byes were said and everyone left for their own homes. The house that had been filled with so much excitement was now so very quite.

The “preacher man” preached that Sunday right at me!!! Be a “ENCOURAGER”, not a “discourager” he stated. Every group needs an “encourager” because everyone needs encouragement at one time or another. We are rarely in a situation where there isn’t someone we can encourage. I left that church service wanting to be an encourager!

This month I will add two more mules: The first, and this will be our ninth mule, is encourager.

As I review what has been accomplished during the last 6 months I want to encourage the club presidents and secretaries to keep up the good work and to also do a better job on their reporting. As I visit the clubs and hear of the wonderful community service projects that you are supporting it is somewhat dishearten the next month to see what is actually reported. Let me be a Barnabas (Encourager) for you right now. Please, document what your club is involved in. Take credit where credit is due! Toot your own horn! In doing this you could well be the encourager to another club. You can give them ideas and courage to try something new or different.

The second mule and the tenth on our team is reports. There are not that many reports to be generated at the club level. The MMR (Monthly Membership Report) and the Governor's Point Contest report should be filled out and sent each month whether there is any changes, updates, etc. They should be sent by the 5th of each month.

There are two annual reports one being the PU101 report for updating your newly elected club officers. This report should be completed as soon as possible after your club elections in April of each year. The next form is your "Annual Lions Club Activities Report” (Form A-1) it is a mandatory reporting item for all clubs. This is merely what hours or donations your club has done in what areas during the past year. It has 9 different services to report what you may have been involved in. Both reports can be done on line or accomplished by hand. This report is to be completed and sent to Lions Clubs International and the District Governor by June 30th each year. I have attached a copy of this last form for your review. Last year, our District only sent in 14 reports! Let’s do better. Let’s be 100% on reporting what we do as “LIONS”.

Oh, by the way, my our grandchildren just called this afternoon and they have encouraged me. They are returning in July for another visit. So Brenda and I are getting excited with the anticipation of another visit and turning this ole house up side down once again.

WHO HAVE YOU ENCOURAGED TODAY?

God Bless,

DG Jerry

Date                     Day                          Club                                      Time

January 20^th         3^rd Monday             Hinesville                             7:00 p.m.

January 21^st         3^rd Tuesday             Bulloch                                 7:30 p.m.

February 3^rd         1^st Monday             McRae                                   Noon

February 17^th       3^rd Monday             Collins                                   7:00 p.m.

March 17^th           3^rd Monday             Reidsville                              7:00 p.m.

The next Southeastern Lions Leadership Institute is scheduled from Thursday, April 24, 2003 through Sunday, April 27, 2003. The Institute will be located in the conference facility of Lakepoint State Park and Resort, which is located seven miles north of Eufaula, Alabama, off Highway 431 on the Alabama-Georgia Line. (2 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours drive time from 18-B)

Topics include goal setting and meeting management, group dynamics and team building, personality and leadership styles, problem solving and conflict resolution, delegation and mobilization of volunteers, diversity and inter-cultural communication, protocol, Lion fundamentals, mentoring, and public speaking.

The cost of this institute is $110.00. This institute is available to any Lions who has not reached the level of Vice District Governor and is interested in developing their leadership skills with the goal of becoming a leader within the club or the district. For more information or for applications contact, DG Jerry Kaiser, VDG Lil Shurtleff, Newsletter Editor, Rick Mizell. The information is also available on the web at http://galions.org/leadership

Second I.P. Clement F. Kusiak welcomes all Lions to the “Gateway to Leadership” USA/Canada Forum , September 18-20, 2002, in Portland, Oregon.

Last year, 55 Lions from MD 18 attended the USA/Canada Forum in Fort Worth. Information is now available for early registration and to take advantage of reduced fees. If you register by January 31, you can save as much as $30. Registration information is available from VDG Lil, in future issues of “The Lion”, or on line at www.usa-canada-lions-forum.com

We hope everyone had a great Holiday Season. Things are quiet right now but we will soon begin to make preparations for the upcoming camping season. President Lion Jim Davis has announced the hiring of our new Camp Director. Her name is Mrs. Kimberly Roberts and will begin her duties on January 27, 2003. We are now at full staff.

Thanks are in order to the following clubs for their support of the Lighthouse so far this Lions year. This is based on giving from July 1 through November 30, 2002; These clubs are Alamo, Bellville, Bloomingdale, Jesup, McRae, Metter, Rincon, Savannah Port City, Waycross Okefenokee, Wilmington Island, Woodbine, and McRae Lioness. Listed below are the total contributions from District 18-B for the same period last year and this year. Please note that our giving is significantly less than last year. Clubs are reminded that the Lighthouse needs our support too.

Regular Contributions   Memorials         White Cane              Eye Center             Other          Total

2001-2002

4,075.00                              270.00              1,625.11                 3,820.00         1,600.00      11,390.11

2002-2003

2,125.00                                50.00                 350.00                    800.00            525.00        3,850.00

Services to the District include $23,008.27 for surgery services for 11 patients. For these services we received $65,724.32 in discounts. $140.00 was spent for glasses. Total spent for 18-B, $23,148.27. Total value of services $88,872.59. Think about what services and fundraisers we would have to perform to match the services that the Lighthouse provides for us. The Lighthouse needs your support.

February 21st and 22nd, 2003

Claxton, Georgia

The 2003 18-B District Convention will be held on February 21st and 22nd in Claxton, GA. Everyone is invited to attend our district convention this year. International Director Ross Thorfinnson and his wife, Lynda from Minnesota will be our special guest and speaker for our convention this year. We hope that you will make your plans to attend the convention this year and join in the fun with all the other Lions from 18-B and across MD18.

The Host Motel for the convention this year is the Carriage Inn which is located on US 301 North, just 1/2 block from the intersection of U. S. Highway 280 and U. S. Highway 301. The special rate for rooms is just $49.00. Please call 800-251-1962 to make your reservations. Continental Breakfast is included each morning with this rate.

The events of the 2003 18-B Convention are:

Hospitality Room will open at the Carriage Inn on Friday evening at 8:30 P.M.

PDG Luncheon at the Bellville Methodist Church at 12 Noon.

18-B Cabinet Meeting will be held at the Veterans Center on U.S. Hwy 280 in Claxton at 3:00 P.M.

18-B District Convention Banquet at the Veterans Center at 6:00 P.M.

Hospitality Room at the Carriage Inn will open Saturday evening at 9:00 P.M.

Banquet Tickets are only $10.00 a person for a delicious buffet meal catered by Joyce James. For Tickets please send your reservations to:

PCC Stan Bazemore

Convention Chairman

PO Box 868

Lyons, GA 30436

We hope you will plan to join us for the 2003 18-B District Convention in Claxton this year. Convention packets are being mailed out this week with all detail information and reservation forms included. For more information, please call PCC Stan Bazemore at 912-537-4122 at work or 912-526-8808 at home.

One order of business to be conducted at the District Convention is the election of officers. This year the following offices are up for election: District Governor, Vice District Governor, and Vice President of the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation. The following are procedures for nominations as specified by the constitution.

ARTICLE IX, SECTION 3(a) of the Multiple District 18 Constitution provides: A letter certifying the District Governor Candidates and Vice District Candidates qualifications and intent to seek office must be received by the District Governor at least thirty (30) days prior to the convening of the District Convention at which the Candidate is to voted upon.

ARTICLE IX, SECTION 3 (d) of the Multiple District 18 Constitution provides: In the event there are no qualified candidates for the Nominating Committee to present, either because of death or disqualification of some intended candidate or because no candidates filed notice of candidacy as prescribed at least thirty (30) days prior to the opening date of the convention, and only in such event, nominations for the office of District Governor and Vice District may be made from the floor of the District Convention.

Under the International Constitution only the sitting vice District Governor qualifies for election to the position of District Governor unless he/she declines to be a District Candidate or is not able to serve.

Vice District Governor Lillian Shurtleff has provided the necessary letters and endorsements to be a candidate for District Governor for Lions year 2003/2004.

(a) Be an active member in good standing of a Chartered Lions

Lion Richard Mizell has provided the required letters of candidacy and endorsement to be a candidate for Vice District Governor for Lions year 2003/2004.

As a result of the letters having been received, there will be no nominations received from the floor. There may be no other qualified candidate for the position of District Governor. Any Lion who meets the qualifications outlined above and follows the required procedure outlined above may be a candidate for Vice District Governor should they so choose.

Qualifications to serve as Vice President of the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation are as follows.

(a) Be an active member in good standing of a Chartered Lions

(d.) Served as Director representing the District for a full term or a major portion thereof. Time served as Vice District Governor and District Governor does not count toward requirement.

Lion Jerome Ney, PDG has provided the required letters of candidacy and endorsement to be a candidate for Vice President of the Georgia Lions Lighthouse for Lions year 2003/2005.

Deadline for nominations is January 21, 2002.

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