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Lions Clubs International
Newsletter Web-site http://galions.org/18b/ Lillian Shurtleff, District Governor E-mail: [email protected] |
Welby L. Stayton, Cabinet Secretary E-mail:
[email protected] |
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September 15, 2003
Governor‘s Comments...
INNOVATION: GATEWAY TO OUR FUTURE
Each month, as we spell out INNOVATION, I hope we all will reflect on why we are Lions. This month, our third letter reminds us that each club has the duty to extend Lionism by chartering a new Lions Club.
New clubs are not the exclusive privilege of the district extension chairman. New clubs are the responsibility of all Lions Clubs in the district. LCI’s Mentoring Program asks news Lions to replicate themselves. The same holds for clubs—they are to replicate themselves to insure the future of Lionism.
We have clubs in our district that have sponsored as many as eight new Lions Clubs—and we have clubs that have never participated in the formation of a new club. Which of these is your club? Let me rephrase that—when was the last time your club aided in the chartering of a new Lions Club? Many older clubs have forgotten this duty to aid in the chartering process.
New clubs are not easy to form. It is the first step that is the hardest. That first step involves finding a community and a community project around which to build the new Lions club. This community project will bring interested individuals together and make them a team involved in Lionism. Once that first step has been made, the following steps easily follow. At this point, the club extension/membership chairman receives the support of the district in arranging meetings of the new group to form the club.
New clubs can take many forms. They can be a traditional Lions Club, a New Century Lions Club, a Campus Club or a Club Branch. The traditional Lions Club and the New Century Lions Club need a minimum of twenty people to charter. Of course, a Campus Club is located on the campus of any post-secondary school such as Georgia Southern University, Coastal Community College, Savannah State University, Ogeechee Technical College, Savannah Technical College, etc. A Club Branch is really an outreach of your Lions Club. Any group of five or more people who which to be Lions can be a Club Branch. This form of New Club meets independently but their membership and activities are reported with your Lions Club. What a great way to include others in your club, especially those who cannot attend regular meetings or have other obligations.
Innovation—a new way of doing the same old thing. New Clubs—a way for a club to meet the responsibility of extension.
Where’s Lil
DATE CLUB TIME
September 15 Milan 7:00 pm
September 16 Claxton 7:00 pm
September 18 Port Wentworth 7:30 pm
September 22 Alma 7:00 pm
September 23 Jesup 6:00 pm
October 2 Golden Isles 7:00 pm
October 6 Glennville 6:30 pm
October 7 Jekyll Island 6:30 pm
October 14 Kingsland 7:00 pm
October 20 Collins 7:00 pm
October 21 Metter 7:00 pm
CLUB NOTES!
Alamo Lions Club: . MMR submitted on time.
Alma Lions Club: Collected 214 pairs of eyeglasses for Lighthouse. Had two articles in local newspaper.
Baxley Lions Club: Received MMR and Activities report on time. Newsletter sent to DG.
Bellville Lions Club: Attended Cabinet Meeting. Held chicken BBQ over Labor Day weekend.
Blackshear Lions Club: Attended cabinet meeting. Donated stuffed animals to Sheriff Department for abused children
Bloomingdale Lions Club: New member!! Average 100% attendance
Brantley County Lions Club: Reports on time.
Brunswick-Gateway Lions Club: Donated funds for eyeglasses and to help a needy family. Planning mop and broom sales for November 1.
Bulloch Lions Club: No reports
Claxton Lions Club: Reports on time. Collected 43 pairs eyeglasses and 10 cases
Clinch County: Purchased eyeglasses for community need.
Cobbtown Lions Club: Two new members!!
Collins Lions Club: No reports
Darien Lions Club: Contributed to GLCB and purchased eyeglasses
Douglas Lions Club: Donated $1620 for eyeglasses.
Folkston Lions Club: Hosted zone meeting on Aug. 25
Garden City Lions Club: President and guest attended cabinet meeting.
Golden Isles Lions Club: Donated funds for van lift for student and a golf tournament.
Glennville Lions Club: MMR received.
Hazlehurst Lions Club: Received MMR on time.
Hinesville Lions Club: Sponsored Liberty Day program for 27 students. Attended cabinet meeting.
Jacksonville Lions Club: MMR and Activities report submitted on time.
Jekyll Island Lions Club: MMR on time.
Jesup Lions Club: Had program on local mission to Honduras
Kingsland Lions Club: Attended cabinet meeting and zone meeting.
Liberty Coastal Lions Club:.
Lyons Lions Club: Attended Cabinet and Zone Meeting
McRae Lions Club: Hosted Zone Meeting
Metter Lions Club: . Donated funds for sight projects in community.
Milan Lions Club: Nine members attended zone meeting.
Odum Lions Club: Had 220 hours of community service.
Patterson Lions Club: Hosted zone meeting. Working on projects with Patterson Exchange Club.
Pembroke Lions Club: Hosted District Leader Dog Chair Evelyn Kennedy. Ten members attended zone meeting. Had two newspaper articles.
Port Wentworth Lions Club: Attended Lions Day at GLCB and Cabinet meeting
Reidsville Lions Club: No reports
Richmond Hill: Hosted DG. New member.
Rincon Lions Club: Adopted a family and provided gift certificate
Rincon Noon Lions Club: No reports
Rincon – Savannah River Lions Club. No report
Savannah Lions Club: Donated 50 pairs of eyeglasses and exams during month. Had over 230 hours of club administration or 5 hours per member.
Savannah-Chatham South Lions Club: Received MMR on time.
Savannah-Hostess City Lions Club: Donated to Breast Cancer Walk. Guest speaker was club’s Guiding Lion, Bill Ricks.
Savannah-Port City Lions Club: MMR received on time.
Statesboro Noon Lions Club: No reports
Vidalia Lions Club: Donated $5,000 to the Ladson Genealogical Library in Vidalia. Also purchased eyeglasses for needy individuals.
Waycross Lions Club: Had speakers on Okefenokee Regional Library and Concerted Services.
Waycross-Okefenokee Lions Club: Sponsoring 2 Peace Poster Contests. New Member!! Attended zone meeting in Patterson
Wilmington Island Lions Club: Put eyeglass collection boxes at Kroger and Wal-Mart on Wilmington Island for special collection over Labor Day weekend. Lions Jack Sullivan and Mary Douglas were married August 23.
Woodbine Lions Club MMR received on time
Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind
The official date of Send a Kid to Camp was September 13th. That does not mean that it is too late to have a fundraiser for this important fundraiser for your camp.
Please contact Lion M. P. Jones, V. P. if you need information or ideas about this fundraiser.
Lion M. P. has produced a 8 minute video about the camp. He is available for club programs with showing of the video.
The new video is available on the website at http://galions.org/activities.html
Many thanks to Lion M. P. Jones for his work for the camp and for this district.
Upcoming Articles in the Newsletter
October - Children’s Eye Care Center Martha Bovee
Youth Opportunities Anne Kasbohm
November - Leo Clubs Winston Walker
Youth Exchange Bob Smith
December - Recordings for the Blind Billy Marshall
Cultural & Community Activities John Blair
January - White Cane Day Kay Spurley
Liberty Day Winston Walker
February - Youth Outreach Steve Bellmoff
GA Lions All State Band Marjorie Nesmith
International Convention VDG Rick Mizell
March - Golden Chain Awards Stan
Bazemore
Outstanding Blind Award Janet Ward
Outstanding Deaf Award
Anne Sullivan Award Frank Jones
April - LCIF Jerry Kaiser
State Awards Welby Stayton
May - Send a Kid to Camp Day
Thoris Youmans
Leader Dogs Evelyn Kennedy
SAVE OCTOBER 11 FOR DISTRICT RALLY!!
The 2nd District Cabinet meeting and District Rally will be on Saturday, October 11, 2003, 3:00 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church Social Hall, Hwy. 144, Richmond Hill, Georgia. The church is located on GA Hwy 144 between Interstate 95 and US Hwy 17. Look for the signs at the entrance to the parking lot. The Richmond Hill Lions Club will be our host club.
Our guests will be Past International Director Jay Patel and his wife, Lion Kamini, from South Carolina. They are honorary members of District 18B.
The Richmond Hill Lions are planning a low country boil following the cabinet meeting. The cost is only $6.50 per person. Please make reservations not later than October 6 so they can plan accordingly. Reservations can be made by mailing the form at the bottom of the letter, phoning Club Secretary Al Quinn at (912) 727-2455, or emailing him at [email protected].
This is a great chance for all the Lions of 18 B to enjoy a cabinet meeting, a great low country boil and fellowship. I look forward to seeing all of your club members there.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Has your club nominated its Associate Directors to the Georgia Lions Lighthouse, the Georgia Camp for the Blind, and the Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic?
Not only must your club name someone for each of these, but the club secretary must send the name, address, phone number, and email address to each of the organizations. The Associate Director is the liaison between the organization and your club. He or she will be the point of contact for information.
The Associate Director should understand that responsibilities come with the position. They should plan to attend district and multiple district meetings, such as the combined Camp and Lighthouse meeting in Macon on October 18-19. This is a weekend commitment as committee meetings are held on Saturday and the general session is on Sunday. Your club should expect the Associate Director to report to the club on the organization’s activities.
SIGHT NIGHT IS FAST APPROACHING
How can we get involved in the community? Are you kidding? Lions International has passed the word, but we do not seem to communicate. Here it is again.
This may be a project between Lions International and LensCrafters, but here in Georgia, we have our own Georgia Lions Lighthouse who collects eyeglasses and hearing aids.
This is a great opportunity to partner with a Leo club, Scouts, Youth Church Groups, or other community youth organizations. Can you imagine a kid coming up to your door on Halloween and saying “Trick or Treat, do you have any eyeglasses or hearing aids you with to give to the Lions Club?” They can carry two bags—one for candy and the other for glasses and hearing aids. Sounds easy and it has been proven to be successful in a number of communities. Who said we’re the greatest secret in the world? If you get your Club involved by getting with youth groups and the local papers, maybe we can spread the word “Thank God the Lions are here and active.” Help Support the Lions so they may help others.
ARE YOU A CENTURY CLUB MEMBER?
Over the past few months, the Camp for the Blind has experienced several personnel changes. These changes have caused the lose of information on Century Club membership. If you are a Century Club member and haven’t heard anything recently about your membership, take the time to tell the Camp the following: Yours Name, Address, Name of Club, and the last time you make a contribution to the Century Club.
The Camp has decided to send a reminder to all Century Club members during the months of November and December. This is a change from past reminders.
60th Anniversary Announced
The Folkston Lions Club will be marking the 60th Anniversary of its Charter on Monday, November 10, 2003 at 7:00 PM in Folkston's Historic Train Depot and are inviting all interested parties in 18-B to celebrate this occasion with us. Our very special guest speaker will be Past International President Jim Ervin. Please RSVP to Lion Anne Kasbohm, Event Chairman, at (912)496-4846 or [email protected], or Calls Chairman Lion Nevada Golaszewski at (912)496-7184. Seating is limited to 70 people so please consult your calendar soon.
Upcoming Zone Meetings
Club Officers are reminded to encourage your club members to attend the zone meetings in your area.
Sept. 15 Region 2 Zone 3—James Curl, Zone Chair
Bellville, Cobbtown, Collins, Claxton, Reidsville & Glennville
7:30 pm Bellville United Methodist Church
Oct. 2 Region 1, Zone 1—Medie Still, Zone Chair
Rincon, Rincon Noon, Rincon Savannah River, Garden City,
Port Wentworth, Bloomingdale
7:00 pm Garden City Senior Center
Oct. 21 Region 1, Zone 2—Mary Ann Barbieri, Zone Chair
Richmond Hill, Savannah, Savannah Chatham South, Savannah
Hostess City, Savannah Port City, Wilmington Island
7:00 pm Ryan's Steakhouse, Stephenson Ave
Nov. 10 Region 3, Zone 3—PDG Jerry Kaiser, Zone Chair
Alamo, Lyons, Milan, McRae, Vidalia
7:00 pm Milan
Diabetes Awareness
It is estimated that more than 200 million people have diabetes. They are at risk of losing sight due to diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy affects the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that transmits visual messages via the optic nerve to the brain. When this delicate tissue is damaged by diabetic retinopathy, the result may be visual impairment or blindness.
Diabetes awareness was adopted as a long-term commitment of the association in March 1984. The primary objective of the Lions program is to reduce the number of new cases of blindness caused by diabetic retinopathy through diabetes education, early detection and treatment, and support of research.
Lions are especially encouraged to conduct awareness activities during the month of November--Lions Diabetes Education Month. The Lions Diabetes Activity Guide (IAD163) features suggested diabetes service projects.
Why is it important to know how diabetes affects the eyes?
If you have diabetes--or if someone close to you has this disease--you should know that diabetes can affect the eyes and cause visual impairment.
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent or lessen damage to the eyes caused by diabetes. That is why it is so important for people with this disease to have a professional eye examination as soon as their diabetes is diagnosed, and at least once a year thereafter.
Annual eye examinations are especially important for people who have a high risk of developing eye complications from diabetes. These include persons with diabetes who have had their disease five years or longer, and those who have difficulty controlling glucose levels in their blood.
In addition, pregnancy is known to be a factor in the development or worsening of diabetic eye disease. There is evidence to suggest that high blood pressure and smoking may cause diabetic eye disease to worsen.
For more information about Diabetes contact District Chair Trott Hurd at 912 355-6033.
Campus Club News
We have had an initial meeting to organize Statesboro's Georgia Southern Campus Club. I have three requests for each Lions Club.
First, each Lion and each Club in the district needs to consider who they know that is a student at Georgia Southern. Do your Club members have children or grandchildren at Southern? Did your Lions Club sponsor a Lions Band member or a scholarship? Surely some of those students ended up at Southern. Please give us names and contacts. Our student body president Reggie Brown came to college as a freshman with a Lions scholarship! He is helping to organize the club. What other ties to Southern Students have to Lionism?
If you know a Georgia Southern Student who is interested have them contact the students, Shantell Roberson, [email protected], or Reggie Brown, [email protected], or the faculty advisor, Lion Donna Fisher, [email protected], or me the 18B Campus Club Chair, Lion Darrell Parker, [email protected].
Second, would your club consider sponsoring the first year membership for a college student. One thing that becomes apparent is that at different stages of life we have different things to contribute. These students are ready to give time and energy to Lions. For many the dues may be a barrier. Lions International recognizes this by waving the Charter fee for College students. However, we must still be prepared to pay ongoing International, state, and district dues. Let's not trip over pennies on the way to a prosperous future for Lions in Georgia. Surely we have Clubs that can help these students start on the path to Lionism. Let's put a little money together at the district level to support these clubs.
Third, Georgia Southern University is just the alpha club on our drive to organize the college campuses of this state. I need Lions Clubs to tell me they are ready to start a Campus Club in their community. We have Savannah State, SCAD, Armstrong Atlantic, Coastal Georgia Community College, South Georgia College, Waycross College, and then the tech schools. If we can not get twenty members for a Campus Club, maybe we can get ten for a Club Branch. Give me some leads and I will come talk to your Club about starting a Campus Club. I really believe that when we get the first club started, the students will be our best ambassadors. Expect them to be networking with every campus in the state.
Getting the support of 18B is the first step toward our campus club initiative. We really need contacts through the other District Governors as well. If any Lion knows any College student in 18 B who would be a good Lion, then give me a lead.
The future of Lionism in Georgia is ready to contribute on College Campuses. This year expect to be invited to a Charter Night for a Campus Club and expect to be reminded why you are proud to be a Lion.
Lion Darrell
Darrell Parker, Ph.D.
Director, School of Economic Development
Professor of Economics
William Freeman Distinguished
Professor of Free Enterprise
P.O. Box 8152
College of Business
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA 30460
phone: (912) 681-0347
fax: (912) 681-0710
[email protected]
Visit the Lions Learning Center Today!
The Lions Learning Center offers all members easy access to on-line courses customized for Lions members. Course #1, "All About Lions," is composed of five modules focusing on: Lions History, Membership, Structure, Protocol and Badges.
Each module takes approximately five minutes to complete. Simply click on the chapter segments you wish to view.
Over 30,000 Lions have already viewed this course, and have found it to be especially useful as an orientation tool for new members. Unfortunately most new members do not know about it, so please pass the information along!
New courses will be available in December 2003. They will focus on leadership development topics similar to the curriculum offered at the Lions Leadership Institutes.
To access the Lions Learning Center go to http://lionsclubs.org
International Visit
Lions Clubs International President Tae Sup Lee will be visiting the Lions of Georgia, April 18 through 21, 2004. In honor of this occasion, the Lions of Georgia will honor President Lee with a banquet.
The “Gateway to the Future of Lionism” banquet will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 7:00 pm. At the Renaissance Concourse Hotel, Atlanta Airport. Tickets are $46.00 per person and will be available in November.
A special room rate of $79.00 are available by mentioning the “The Lions Clubs of Georgia” when reserving your room. Club Level Rooms are also available at the reduced rate of $129.00. Hotel phone number are 888-391-8724 or 404-209-9999.
Hotel rates are good until March 28, 2004. For more information contact Lion John Keeter at 770-560-2303.
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