Governor‘s Comments...

Our Lions Clubs Object and Lions Code of Ethics urge us to be good citizens. When we became Lions, we agreed to abide by the Lions Club Objects and Code of Ethics. In the Objects, we promised “To promote the principles of good government and good citizenship” and in the Code of Ethics, “Always to bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state, and my community.”

Do we Lions ever stop to consider what we promised to do when we became a Lion? Sometimes it is just words.

November is the time of the year when we hear nothing but candidates for an office campaigning along with seeing all those hundreds of political signs. Some Lions believe that Lions should not be involved in political campaigns. Hate to tell those of you that believe this—we have Lions who have held political office and Lions who are currently holding a political office. Lest we forget, let us keep in mind Lion Jimmy Carter PDG. We could say that Lion Jimmy started his political career as a tailtwister of his club. He went on to be a district governor, Governor of the State of Georgia, and President of the United States.

Should Lions keep themselves apart from the political campaigns? YES. We should be involved in promoting the privilege of voting; in encouraging the person who endeavors to hold a political office; in sponsoring open forums on issues that affect our communities…but we should not take a stance on any candidate or issue.

Our Code and Object asks us to remember of obligations as a citizen and to promote the principles of citizenship. We are not asked nor do we promise to become actively involved as a club. As private citizens we should be active in this freedom that we enjoy. We should remember that the freedoms we have are privileges earned through the courage of those who have defended our country from the early colonists to the present day. With privileges come responsibilities to properly exercise those rights these people earned for us.

Now, promoting citizenship and our obligations as a citizen can be exercised as a Lion through our community service projects, for they are conducted by us for the good of our community. Throughout my visits I have asked each and every club to organize and participate in a project that will benefit their community. This is a fulfillment of our obligations as a citizen. This project will not only benefit the community, but benefit the Lions Club by showing others what good we do and benefit the Lions who participate by fostering the leadership qualities that all of us possess.

This month, take the extra effort to be a citizen of our community, our state, our country and the world. I hope all of you exercised your privilege to vote on November 4. Thank a veteran on November 11 for all they did and are doing to enable us to keep the freedoms we have. When we give thanks on the last Thursday, let us not only be thankful for our family and friends, but also for the fact that we have the freedoms we often take fore granted. Remember, we would not even have Lions Club without the freedom to assemble.

DG Lil

Nov. 17         Bellville

         18         Wilmington Island

         25        Cobbtown

Dec. 2           Savannah Hostess City

         19        Rincon Lions Club

Alamo Lions Club: Helping Methodist Church provide Thanksgiving meals. Aided Sr. Citizens Club

Alma Lions Club: Attended District Rally. Had 1 new member!

Baxley Lions Club: 6 members attended District Rally. Sponsored Peace Poster contest.

Bellville Lions Club: Members attended cabinet meeting and Lighthouse/GLCB joint meeting. Lion Martha Daniels passed away on November 5.

Blackshear Lions Club: Displayed flags on Columbus Day. Charter Member Lion Sam Owens passed away Oct. 24.

Bloomingdale Lions Club: Three new members!!!! Attended cabinet meeting/district rally. Had article on club in Savannah Morning News.

Brantley County Lions Club: no reports received

Brunswick-Gateway Lions Club: Helped fire victims and purchased over $1575 in eyeglasses

Bulloch Lions Club: no reports received

Claxton Lions Club: All reports on time.

Clinch County: Bought eyeglasses for needy. Had Lions Booth at Timberland Jubilee Festival

Cobbtown Lions Club: MMR on time. Had pancake supper

Collins Lions Club: All reports on time. Donated funds for eyeglasses.

Darien Lions Club: Purchased eyeglasses for needy.

Douglas Lions Club: Reported on Big Buck Contest. Had 35 deer to judge. Donated to Leader Dog and purchased $3,780 in eyeglasses. Saddened by the passing of PDG Dr. Walter Wilson.

Folkston Lions Club: 2 attended District Rally. Sponsored annual pancake breakfast during Okefenokee Festival. Celebrating 60^th Anniversary in November.

Garden City Lions Club: no reports received

Golden Isles Lions Club: Planning annual steak dinner. Secretary attended District Rally

Glennville Lions Club: Received MMR and DG Report on time.

Hazlehurst Lions Club: no reports received

Hinesville Lions Club: 7 members attended District Rally. Four members attended Camp/Lighthouse joint meeting in Macon

Jacksonville Lions Club: Had float in Heritage Day parade.

Jekyll Island Lions Club: MMR received on time

Jesup Lions Club: Eagle Scout project to assist club in collecting eyeglasses. Scout Chad Nesmith is planning to make collection boxes and place around town. Scouts will pick up donations for at least 5 weeks.

Kingsland Lions Club: MMR on time. Hosted zone meeting. Planning turkey shoot

Liberty Coastal Lions Club: no reports received

Lyons Lions Club: Club involved in Lyons Better Hometown activities in Oct. Collected 347 pairs of eyeglasses for Lighthouse

McRae Lions Club: MMR received on time.

Metter Lions Club: Reports on time. Purchased eyeglasses for needy

Milan Lions Club: Sheriff Dept program on new 911 program

Odum Lions Club: Had 406 hours community service or over 26 hours per member.

Patterson Lions Club: Donating food basket for needy. Hosted Halloween Dance for community. Member attended District Rally and Camp/Lighthouse joint meeting in Macon.

Pembroke Lions Club: Two new members!!! Three attended cabinet/district rally.

Port Wentworth Lions Club: Secretary attended zone meeting. Reports on time.

Reidsville Lions Club: MMR on time

Richmond Hill: MMR on time

Rincon Lions Club: Sponsoring Rincon Lions Christmas Parade on Nov. 22

Rincon Noon Lions Club: no reports received

Rincon – Savannah River Lions Club MMR on time

Savannah Lions Club: Purchased 20 pairs of eyeglasses for needy.

Savannah-Chatham South Lions Club: MMR on time

Savannah-Hostess City Lions Club: Completed donation for Melvin Jones Award. Member attended Camp/Lighthouse joint meeting in Macon.

Savannah-Port City Lions Club: 14 members attended District Rally; 4 attended joint Lighthouse/Camp meeting in Macon; 13 attended zone meeting

Springfield Lions Club: The newest club held its charter night on Nov. 8. Guest speaker was PIP Jim Ervin. PID George Crumbley was also a guest.

Statesboro Noon Lions Club: no reports received

Vidalia Lions Club: New Member! Donated to Boy Scouts and Camp. Purchased 11 pairs of eyeglasses.

Waycross Lions Club: Volunteered at Vietnam Moving Wall during visit in Waycross.

Waycross-Okefenokee Lions Club: Had children’s carnival. Helped sponsor Ware County band trip to NYC. Planning Boston butt sale on Nov. 22

Wilmington Island Lions Club: 17 attended district meeting. A 100% LCIF club!

Woodbine Lions Club Held a fish fry to benefit Woodbine Elementary School.

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 M. P. Jones
                      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

Lion Beatrice Wells          Jacksonville Lions Club                                  Sept. 28
Lion Sam Owens               Charter Member Blackshear Lions Club         Oct. 24
PDG Dr. Walter Wilson    Douglas Lions Club                                         Nov. 2
Lion Martha Daniels          Bellville Lions Club                                       Nov 5

Lions Clubs International offers youth from 12-28 the opportunity to serve their communities and at the same time learn leadership skills and service to others through membership in LEO Clubs. LEO Clubs are divided into Alpha Clubs for youth 12-17 and then Omega Clubs for older youth from the legal age of consent through 28.

The Leo Club Program objective is: “To provide the youth of the world an opportunity for development and contribution, individually and collectively, as responsible members of the local, national, and international community.”

LEO Club members work at service projects and hold meetings just like older Lions. A LEO Club can be formed through the sponsorship of a Lions Club and 15 youth members. The youth club is organized with an adult advisor, who may or may not be a Lion. If the advisor is not a Lion, then the sponsoring Lions Club should assign one of a member to work with the advisor. The clubs can be organized in middle and high schools, as well as, in after school programs.

According to Lions Clubs International Web-site, “more than 140,000 community-minded Leos (ages 12-28) belong to more than 5,600 clubs in 137 nations. These Leos serve their communities through a plethora of projects from environmental cleanups to visiting children and the elderly in hospitals and nursing homes. LEO Club projects offer Georgia students an excellent opportunity to meet their community service requirements for high school graduation.

If your Lions Club is interested in sponsoring a Leo Club in your community, contact Lion Winston Walker III at (912) 877-3453 work, (912) 369-0557 home, or e-mail [email protected]. The Lions Club sponsoring cost is $100 US fee, which includes: 20 Leo new member entrance fees (kits complete with lapel buttons and membership cards); a Certificate of Organization: a Leo club officer’s kit; and a Leo club sponsor kit. Information is also available at http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/youth_leo_clubs.shtml .

Ron Avery of Americus, GA, was the winner of the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind truck raffle. Over 44,000 tickets were sold. The drawing was held at the joint Camp and Lighthouse meeting on October 19 in Macon.

Induction fees for all women joining a Lions club during the period November 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004, are waived?

This means that the $25 entrance fee is waived for all women who join an established Lions club and the $30 charter fee is waived for all women charter members during the period.

Club secretaries should designate on the MMR when a new member is a female and attach the waiver form. Copies of the waiver form are included in this newsletter and are available from PDG Chris Barbieri, District Membership Chair, or DG Lil. Click here to download waiver form. PDF Format.

On Saturday, October 11, over 77 Lions and guests attended the annual 18B Fall Rally in Richmond Hill.

Our guest was PID Jay Patel from North Charleston. PID Jay gave pointers on membership and retention. He urged all Lions and all clubs to make an effort to recruit and retain. As North American loses Lions, other parts of the world gain Lions. If this trend continues, we will see North America having fewer International Directors and may even see the headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois, move to another country.

PDG Chris Barbieri was voted the title of Tailtwister Emeritus. He received an International President’s Certificate of Appreciation from PID Jay. Another Lion is to receive a certificate at a later date.

After the cabinet meeting, the Lions and guests were treated to an outstanding low country boil hosted by the Richmond Hill Lions Club.

Does your club know of or have as a member an outstanding Lion? Honor that Lion by nominating him or her to the District 18B Hall of Fame.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, December 5. A form in available in the 18B directory. A check for $35 payable to the Past District Governors Association must be attached. The check will be returned if the nominee is not accepted into the Hall of Fame. For more information, contact PDG Jerry Kaiser, President, 18B PDG Association.

Don’t delay! Nominate that deserving Lion today!

District 18B welcomed the Springfield Lions Club on their charter night, November 8. The Springfield Lions Club was officially chartered on July 23, 2003. PIP Jim Ervin was the keynote speaker. PCC Jack Kennedy inducted the charter members and DG Lil Shurtleff installed the new officers. New officers are Charter President Jimmy Simmons; Secretary Tonya Miller; Treasurer Becky Smith; Vice Presidents Mike Lee and Donald Nelson; Tail twisters Jimmy Parker and David Gnann; Lion Tamer Shannon Roberts; Directors Bonny Gnann, Salome Duncan, David Rutherford, and Brad Green; Membership Chair Judy Zitterouer; and Chaplin Mike Lee. Many thanks to Lion Danny Fries, District Extension Chair, who organized this club and Certified Guiding Lions PDG Jerry Kaiser and Lion Brenda Nease. Congratulations to all the new Lions of the Springfield Lions Club!

The Board and Officers of the American Medical Association are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2003 Dr. Nathan Davis International Awards in Medicine and Public Health:

For Outstanding Global Health Initiative

In the flight against blindness, Lions Clubs International Foundation is a heavyweight: 46.8 million treatments for river blindness; 3.5 million cataract surgeries; 154 eye hospitals built or expanded; 54,000 village health workers trained in eye care services. The SightFirst program was begun in 1990 to reduce preventable blindness worldwide and targets the five major blinding diseases: cataracts, onchocerdiasis, trachoma, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. The Foundation fights these diseases by mobilizing lions to carry out its projects and by partnering with the World Health Organization, the Carter Center, and other health-related entities. Lions worldwide generously funded SightFirst by initially raising $143 million. The SightFirst Program was nominated by Mr. Lonnie Chafin, Treasurer of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. The award will be accepted by Mr. Buddy Ouzts, Vice Chairperson of the Lions Clubs International Foundation Executive Board.

The first Wednesday of each December, LensCrafters stores and affiliated doctors' offices in the U.S. and Canada set aside time to provide free eye exams and glasses to local residents in need as pre-screened by Lions clubs and other charitable groups. Lions clubs can contribute by determining in advance patients in need, providing patient transportation and arranging in-store events and refreshments. To get your Lions Club involved in Hometown Day, contact your local LensCrafters store.

Note: Number of Members Billed For: According to the state constitution:

Effective September 23 the new membership Web site was brought down. It is being modified for repairs and enhancements suggested by club and district officers, including the ability for clubs to print a paper copy of the Monthly Membership Report (MMR). Problems with e-mailing the electronic MMR centered around three factors: full mailboxes, use of spam filters/blockers and use of anti-virus software. The result was that most e-mail was returned or deleted. Reintroduction of the site is scheduled for no later than March 2004. Enhancements are underway and a group of Lions is assisting with testing the site.

In the meantime, members are asked to submit all reports through the old membership Web site.

There will be a Holiday Reception for District Governor Lil Shurtleff on Sunday December 14th from 2:30 until 6:00 p.m. The reception will be hosted by PCC Jack and Evelyn Kennedy. Their new Address is 3557 Kennedy Bridge Road, Register, GA. Directions are as follows:

Traveling east or west on I-16 exit south at Hwy 301 (exit 116), travel 1.2 mile from the bridge and turn right on Adabelle Road. There is a small Bar-B-Que Restaurant sign at the turn. Travel 5.3 miles on Adabelle Road to Kennedy Bridge Road. There is a New Hope Community sign on the NW corner of the intersection. Turn right and travel .3 mile to red mail box post and turn left into Last Walkabout.

Approaching from Claxton turn on Adabelle Road and proceed. If you get to I-16, turn around and follow above. Approaching from Statesboro on Hwy 301 follow above after passing over I-16.

Lions can offer community members who are blind or visually impaired an important life-enhancing resource -- distance education from the internationally known Hadley School for the Blind. (With distance learning, one studies in the convenience of their home. Course materials arrive in the mail or via the Internet. The student consults with instructors via mail, e-mail, fax or, if in the US or Canada, toll-free telephone.) There is no cost to Lions to refer a student or to the student. Recent LCI Board action approved the Hadley School for the Blind as a resource under "Blindness Education" in the list of approved service programs of Lions Clubs International. Interested Lions should visit the Hadley School for the Blind Web site http://www.hadley-school.org/Web_Site/1_d_distance_education.asp , e-mail [email protected] or call 800-323-4238.

1) Show your pride. Encourage members to wear their Lions pin at all times.

2) Participate in community events. March in a parade, have a booth at a fair or participate in any visible community happening.

3) Display the logo at all club projects and events. The Lions logo is an instantly recognizable sign. Display it prominently on all promotional items for your club's events and have it visible on club projects, such as dedication plaques.

4) Create a 30-second "commercial": Enthusiastic members make the best spokespeople. Have each of your club members create a 30-second explanation of your club and what it does. When people inquire about Lions, they'll be ready to give a short talk that really sells the organization!

5) Invite community leaders to a special meeting: Introduce community and business leaders to your club and the positive contributions it makes.

November is Diabetic Awareness Month. It is not too late to have a project or a speaker on this growing health issue. Diabetes is on the rise among adults and youth. It is a silent killer, for it is not the diabetes that kills, but the related illnesses such as hypertension, heart attack, kidney failure, and neuropathy. For a program, contact 18Bs Diabetic Awareness Chair, Lion Trot Hurd, 1 Melinda Circle, Savannah, (912) 255-6033.

The Southeast Lions Leadership Seminar is scheduled for April 21-25, 2004, at Camp Dogwood, NC. This seminar is open to all Lions who have not served as vice district governor. Only 100 Lions will be accepted from four states so sign up early. For more information, contact PCC Beverly Roberts , 4748 Fulcher Road, Hephzibah, GA 30815, (706) 592-2982

At the February 28 cabinet meeting/district convention, 18B will elect a district governor, a vice district governor, and a vice president to the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind. All candidates must submit a letter certifying their qualifications and intent to seek office to the District Governor at least thirty days prior to the convention. Also, each home club must submit a letter of endorsement of the candidate to the district governor. The deadline for both letters this year is January 29.

Candidates for district governor must have served or be serving as vice district governor. Candidates for vice district governor shall: (1) be an active member in good standing of a Lions Club in good standing; (2) secure the endorsement of his/her club or a majority of clubs in 18B; (3) have served or will have served as president of a Lions Club for a full term or major portion thereof and a member of the Board of Directors of a Lions Club for no less than two additional years, as a zone or region chairman or cabinet secretary or cabinet treasurer for a full term, and none being concurrently.

Candidates for the position of vice president of the GLCB must be a Lion in good standing and have served at least one full term as a regular director/officer or as a region/zone chair and associate director of the Camp. Each vice president will be elected for a two-year term and will be eligible to succeed himself/herself for one additional consecutive term.

If you qualify, please consider the two open positions. I ask all past district governors to actively recruit a Lion to serve in one of the positions listed above. For more information, please contact the district governor or Lion M. P. Jones, the present vice president of the Camp.

One of the great things about being a Lion is our international character. WE belong to our local club and yet we are part of an organization active in 190 nations. The same holds true for LCIF. The foundation helps Lions improve their local communities and its major projects allow Lions to make an impact globally.

LCIF has released a current summary of its major projects. Reading this list will increase your pride in being a Lion. Our service improves the lives of millions worldwide.

One of our most successful major projects is the Opening Eyes program with Special Olympics. LCIF was an important part of the Special Olympics World Summer Games, the largest sports event in the world this year.

Local projects ranged from LCIF helping Lions clubs from Michigan and Mexico partner on a hearing aid initiative. Lions from England worked with LCIF to comfort hospice patients. LCIF supported Lions from Illinois to expand a low vision center. LCIF donations are up in 2003-2004 over the previous year.

Make changes on your calendar for two dates. The MD 18 Council meeting will be Saturday, January 31, 2004, in Warner Robins, GA. The winter Camp for the Blind meeting will be January 31 and February 1 in Warner Robins.

The Lions Club magazine is available on a CD if you are sight impaired. This is a service to member of the RB&D. Contact RB&D at 120 Florida Avenue, Athens, GA. Their phone is 706-549-1382.

All clubs of 18B were asked to appoint—and report—their associate directors to the proper agency. Your club should have appointed an Associate Director to the Lighthouse, an Associate Director to the Camp for the Blind, and an Associate Director to the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. Each appointee should be reported to the correct agency even if you are appointing the same person as last year. Please do so today.

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