Governor‘s Comments...

Our Lions history began 87 years ago when Melvin Jones asked a simple question that caused many people to start thinking about doing something to help others in need. Over the years, many others have helped to shape and define who we are. We become Knights for the Blind in 1925 in response to the challenge that Helen Keller gave us. I reprinted her speech recently to remind us just what we are doing for our community.

Each one of our Lions charities have been started by Lions who had a dream or a vision to help others. In 1939, several Lions in Michigan saw a need when they needed a guide dog for a blind person. They found out that the Seeing Eye Foundation was not able to help them because they had a backlog of applicants. These Lions decided that they could train their own dog to be a guide dog for the blind. This was the beginning of Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Michigan. Over the years the program has grown and now serves most of the states in the US and many other countries with the finest Guide Dogs available. The program came to Georgia in 1978 when a Michigan Lion moved to Savannah, Georgia. Lion PDG Larry Winters soon began to promote the services of Leader Dog and the charity was soon recognized as an official charity of the Lions of Georgia. I remember when Lion Larry would speak about Leader Dog. He always spoke enthusiastically about Leader Dog and about the many people that regained independence because of their Leader Dog. Lion Larry served Leader Dogs as a Trustee for many years until he passed away recently at the age of 94.

The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation was started in 1949 because of one Lion who realized that there was times when certain people needed more help than a single club could support. It was reasoned that if clubs would pool their resources that people with serious eye problems could be helped. Lion Tom Bingham who was blinded in a hunting accident took charge in seeing his dream of the Lighthouse come to reality. Today because of Lion Tom’s dedication, tens of thousands of Georgians have benefited from the service of Lions since 1949.

In 1972 the Waycross Okefenokee Lions Club began to see the need to provide recreational opportunities for blind children. Under the leadership of Lion Dr. C. M. Blanton, PDG, the club offered a one week summer camp for a number of blind children. Because of this success and the involvement of other clubs. The idea was presented to the State of Georgia where Governor Jimmy Carter (PCC and member of the Plains Lions Club) worked out a plan where land from Laura S. Walker State Park would granted by contract to the Lions of Georgia. This is the beginning of the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind which was founded in 1976.

An important part of our success is in remembering how and where we began. We need to remember the purpose and the reasons why we serve. We do not serve simply to better ourselves. But we serve to make it better for others who need that helping hand particularly when they are down.

It is important that all of us know where Lionism started and what services our charities perform. We need to pass this information to all of our newer members so they will know our history. Clubs need to remember their history and pass it on as well. Today we might not think of the importance of what we are doing. But if we do not record our history, how do we remember what successes that we have?

DG Rick

Alamo– MMR filed late. No activities reported.

Alma– Reports filed online. Club worked 31 hours on club administration and 12 hours on community betterment.

Baxley– Reports received on time. 14 hours worked on club administration. Average attendance is 13. Club is sponsoring Peace Poster Contest.

Bellville– (3) Reports received on time. 1 new member. 78 hours worked on club administration. 0 points awarded for average attendance. Secretary reported percentage rather than members present. Club collected 24 pairs of eyeglasses and held fundraiser for Send a Kid to Camp Day. $100 to the Camp. Club also set up a soup and sandwich tent to feed the refugees from the Florida Hurricanes. Club worked 150 hours on Community Betterment.

Blackshear– Reports received on time. Average attendance is 12 out of 19. Club displayed flags on Labor Day and 9/11.

Bloomingdale– (18) Club Reports received timely. Club worked 60 hours on Club Administration and preparation for hosting a zone meeting. All 11 members were in attendance at the zone meeting with good attendance from other clubs in zone. VDG Lew gave program on Lions Quest. Club had 1 media item.

Brantley County– No reports received.

Brunswick Gateway– Activities report emailed on time. Spent $1,485 on purchase of eyeglasses. Paid Dues.

Bulloch– No reports received.

Claxton– No reports received.

Clinch County– MMR received on time. No activities reported.

Cobbtown– Reports received timely. Purchased 1 pair of eyeglasses, held Ladies Night.

Collins– (9) Reports received on time. Attendance at meetings average is 14 out of 15 members. Sent $100 to help with Hurricane Relief. Worked 306 hours on Community Betterment. Sent $50 to Leader Dog, $100 to the Lighthouse.

Darien– No reports received.

Douglas– (1) Reports received timely. This club has 84 members with an average attendance of 62 at meetings. They continue to provide eyeglasses to the community and are hard at work on their major fundraiser the “Big Buck” Contest. They are making arrangements to conduct vision screenings at the local middle school. DG Rick made his official visit in September.

Folkston– (6) Reports filed online. Worked 10 hours on Club Administration. Average attendance is 13. Spent $100 on Community projects and worked 300 hours. They are collecting used eyeglasses and sent $25 to the Camp.

Garden City– No reports received.

Golden Isles– (17) No reports received, club secretary promises reports soon.

Hazlehurst– No reports received.

Hinesville– (8) Reports emailed on time. 1 new member. Average attendance is 21 out of 34 members. 4 members and 1 guest attended zone meeting. Club worked over 200 hours on community betterment projects. Sponsored 1 Melvin Jones Fellow.

Jacksonville– (20) Filed reports online. Worked 200 hours on community betterment projects. Average attendance is 12. Attendance was lower than expected due to the arrival of Hurricane Ivan. The members continued their meeting even after they lost power. Had a special program on Outdoor Education.

Jekyll Island– Reports received on time. Dropped 1 member for non-attendance. Clubs are asked to contact non-active members to see why they are not coming to meetings. Why drop them especially if they are paying dues or supporting club activities. No activities were reported.

Jesup– (15) Reports filed online. Club worked 10 hours on administration and spent $769 on eyeglasses. Club hosted zone meeting with 5 members in attendance. Average attendance at meetings is 15 out of 23.

Kingsland– No reports received.

Liberty Coastal– Club reports received timely. Club purchased 2 pairs of eyeglasses. Club had a program on LCIF which was presented by PDG Lil.

Lyons– (14) Reported received timely. Worked 18 hours on Club Administration and 100 on Community Projects. The club placed flags for Labor Day and participated in Lyons Better Hometown BBQ Event. Held program on Camp.

McRae– Reports received timely. Average attendance at meetings is 12.

Metter– Reports received on time. % hours worked on club administration and 10 hours on community betterment projects. Average attendance is 7 out of 9 members. Club sent $100 to Leader Dog , Camp, and RFB&D, $200 to LCIF, $500 to Lighthouse.

Milan– (16) Reports received timely. 2 new members, great news. Average attendance at meetings is 14 out of 23.

Odum– (5) Club reports received timely. Club worked 20 hours on club administration and 177 hours working at local hospital and other community services.

Patterson– Reports received late. Club hosted a Grandparent Supper and a chicken supper for the community. Club dropped 3 members for non-attendance and non-payment of dues.

Pembroke– Reports faxed in timely. Worked 4 hours on club administration and 6 hours on community betterment. Average attendance is 15 out of 20. Sent $50 to LCIF and the Lighthouse.

Port Wentworth– MMR received on time. No activities reported.

Reidsville– No reports received.

Richmond Hill– No reports received.

Rincon– No reports received.

Rincon Noon– No reports received.

Rincon Savannah River– Club is inactive.

Savannah– (10) Reports faxed to DG timely. Club hosted DG in September. 0 points awarded because attendance not reported correctly. Club is working on obtaining Christmas Trees for their annual sale in November and December.

Savannah Chatham South– (19) Activities report filed online late. MMR report not submitted. Average attendance is 12 out of 21. $50 contribution to LCIF

Savannah Hostess City– (11) Reports mailed on time. Club average attendance is 12 out of 12. Club worked 230 hours on community and club projects.

Savannah Port City– (4) Reports filed online. Club worked 9 hours on Club Administration. Average attendance is 7 out of 21. Several members on vacation and out at work. 1 new member. $25 memorial contribution was sent to Leader Dog in memory of PDG Larry Winters and $25 to the Camp in memory of PDG R. C. Cunningham. Club collected $12.00 in pennies to be sent to the Lighthouse for White Cane. 1 member attended the USA/Canada Forum in Reno.

Springfield– No reports received.

Statesboro Noon– (2) This is a dynamic and growing club with 3 new members this month. Since May this club has gone from 23 to 47 members. Club hosted the DG during September. Club worked 79 hours on club administration and 268 hours on club projects and community betterment. Club spent $75.00 on eyeglasses and $125.00 on community projects. They provided 12 pairs of new eyeglasses. Club placed radio ads that ran on numerous occasions promoting the Lions Camp Truck Raffle & Hot Dog Event. Ran notices in newspaper for club meetings and DG visit. 1 member transported a truck load of supplies to Florida after Hurricane Jeanne. Club contributed $35 each to Leader Dog, RFB&D, LCIF, GLB&YA, Lighthouse. Also $100 towards a Melvin Jones Fellowship.

Vidalia- No reports received.

Waycross– Reports emailed on time. Average attendance is 17 out of 31. Collected 40 pairs of eyeglasses. Sold brooms and mops. Sold flag contracts. Worked 25 hours on club projects and community betterment.

Waycross Okefenokee– (7) Reports received on time. This is an hard working club. Average attendance at meetings is 35. Had 5 articles in the local newspaper. Sent DG copy of club newsletter.

Wilmington Island– (13) Reports filed online. Held a used eyeglass and hearing aid roundup at several locations in community. Had public service announcements on radio and TV. They collected 572 pairs of eyeglasses along with 343 lenses, 231 cases and 5 hearing aids. They sponsored a Send A Kid to Camp Day raising $250. Club hosted the DG on Sept 21.

Woodbine– (12) Reports filed online. Worked 18 hours on club administration and 53 hours on community betterment. Awarded 0 points for average attendance. Secretary did not read rules of contest. Club sent $500 to Red Cross for Hurricane Relief.

Our Fall District Rally is an occasion for the whole family. It will be at the Camp for the Blind, Waycross, Georgia on Saturday October 23. There will be a Cabinet Meeting at 3:00 p.m. Clubs are encouraged to bring a door prize for each person attending to the meeting. There will be a tasty Bar-be-que dinner at 6:00 p.m. that is being provided by the Waycross Okefenokee Lions Club. Advanced registration is needed to get an accurate count of attendees for the cooks to prepare the food. Cost for registrants is $8.00 each; at the door the cost is $10.00 each. Please indicate to DG Rick by October 19, the number who will be attending the supper. Please call 912 925-9782 or by fax 912 961-1011 or email [email protected] or [email protected].

There will be special entertainment following the supper. Lion Wayne Ates of the Jesup Lions Club will entertain us with his comical stories. Lion Wayne entertained us in Savannah last June during the state convention. This will be entertainment for all ages.

Lion Wayne will have his CD’s and books on hand after the program. Please spread word on this night of entertainment to all Lions and bring guests too. Special recognition will be presented to the clubs with the highest percentage of members present.

Please note that all activities will be at the Activities building at the Camp.

To My Fellow Lions,

After Hurricane Frances devastated the Port St. Lucie area in Florida, Lions handed out vouchers for food and clothing redeemable at WalMart. Residents had little food because their power was out, and their possessions were ruined by days of rain, which poured in after the high winds tore their roofs off. The vouchers were made possible by an LCIF Emergency Grant.

"The voucher program works very well," says 35-D District Governor Doris Hollins. "The TV stations went into the community and interviewed the residents and most told them, 'The Lions are the only people who give us something in our hands so we can go shop and get medicine, food and clothing.'"

In the wake of the recent hurricanes, LCIF has provided 17 Emergency Grants to districts in Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania as well as to districts in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The $10,000 or $5,000 Emergency Grants enable local Lions to respond to immediate needs and supplement the volunteer service Lions do following disasters.

Lions in the areas devastated by the hurricanes or flooding want other Lions to know they've responded to the disaster and appreciate the support through the emergency grants. "The devastation here has been unbelievable. A little creek in Lisbon became a flash flood of water that wiped out homes and roadways," says 13-D District Governor Verna Williams of Bristolville, Ohio. "The Lisbon Lions were the first on the scene, helping people with food and shelter. We need to spread the word about Lionism."

Lions who wish to contribute to an LCIF fund for those affected by the storms can send a check to LCIF at 300 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, IL 60523. Make the check payable to LCIF with a notation that the donation is for the U.S. Hurricane Relief Fund 2004 or the Caribbean Hurricane Relief Fund 2004. (Because the donation is for a specific fund, these donations are not eligible for Melvin Jones Fellowship recognition or a Contributing Membership.)

The large number of disasters this year, both in the United States and elsewhere, has resulted in a far larger number of Emergency Grants this year so far. Since July 1, LCIF has made 87 Emergency Grants for $745,000, compared to 155 Emergency Grants for $1,150,00 for the entire 2003-2004 fiscal year.

Lions who wish to help replenish the Emergency Grants fund can send a check to LCIF at the same address as above or make an online donation.

http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lions_lcif_donatecreditcard.shtml

Donations to replenish our Emergency Resources are eligible for Melvin Jones

Fellowship recognition or a Contributing Membership.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tae Sup Lee

During the months of July and August, LCI reports that District 18-B has added 10 new members and has dropped 46 members. This places us in a net loss of 36 members. With our overall membership at 1246.

Please remember that we must carefully consider our clubs and our district when we think about dropping members. We must exhaust all options of saving those members before we decide to drop them from membership. There are some good tips elsewhere in this newsletter on retention.

The District Goal this year is to grow membership by 2%. That is not a large number but we need to reverse this trend. That means we need to add 36 members to break even and 26 to make our goal. We can achieve that goal if we ask that question, as often as we can. “Can you serve your community by becoming a Lion?”

As many of you are aware, the constitution of Lions Clubs International sets the requirements of each District. In order for a District to operate properly, there has to be at least 35 clubs and 1250 members. If a district falls below ether minimum for a period of two years that district is declared in transition. If we do not feel that having enough members in the District is important and we fail to keep our membership above 1250, in two years we will lose our right to elect our district governor. The person who is selected by LCI to serve as district governor will have to pay more of his or her expenses out of pocket. Eventually we will have to redraw the district lines with the reduction of the total number of districts in the state. With the future district Governor overseeing more clubs over a larger district. These are the plain facts. All Lions are urged to do their part in building Lionism by “Each one ask One” to a Lions Club meeting.

1. Lions Club requests an organizational kit from LCI.

2. Lions need to communicate with the public their intentions of sponsoring a Leo Club.

3. Begin recruiting potential members to charter a Club.

4. Hold an informational meeting. Can be held at school assembly, community gathering, or invite some youth that have shown interest in the club. There may need to be another informational meeting to gather more potential Leo members. If some of the youth show real interest, you may hand out a membership application with a return time to be handed into a Leo Advisor. Once enough applications are handed in, an organizational meeting should take place.

5. Organizational Meeting: the purpose of this meeting is to conduct the business necessary to accumulate the information needed to fill out the Leo Club Organization Report and submit it to LCI.

After you receive the materials from LCI (Certificate of Organization, 20 membership kits, etc.), then is the time for the Lions and Leos to plan their Organizational Night. This is a special evening for the newly sponsored Leo Club and the sponsoring Lions Club.

Once we have held the Organizational Night for the newly formed Leo Club, the time has come to see this Club is successful and functions as a Leo Club should. The main player in this process of building the Leo Club will be the Leo Club Advisor.

The Leo Club Advisor is a member of the sponsoring Lions Club. In the school based Leo Club, the faculty advisor may not be a Lion but will be the liaison between the school and the Leo Club. The Leo Advisor will also meet with the Leo Club along with the faculty advisor. If the Club is community based, then the Lion Leo Advisor and other advisors (perhaps parents of a Leo member or

other Lions) will meet with the Leo Club. More important, the Leo Club Advisors must be model Lions who know and understand the Lion motto WE SERVE and have a concern for young people to develop into quality community citizens. To be a Leo Club Advisor and be effective in building the Leo Club, each Advisor must be:

1. An educator

2. A motivator

3. A council

4. A liaison

5. A humanitarian

It is extremely important that the Leo Club Advisor attend the regular Leo Club meetings. The advisor must see that the meetings are being conducted in an orderly fashion, and that the Leo Club President is effectively managing both Club and Board meetings.

The Leo Club Advisor must make sure that the Leo Club officers are knowledgeable of their positions. The advisor is at the meeting to observe and not run the meeting. The advisor is there to guide and direct, but not to actively participate. This allows the Leos to learn leadership skills by experiencing the opportunities of a Leo Club. There must be at least one advisor at all Leo activities, club meetings, board meetings, fundraisers, or service projects. It is the role of the advisor to provide the necessary leadership and guidance to the members of the Leo Club and its officers. To fill this important job the Leo Club advisor should:

1. Know what a Leo Club is and how it should operate.

2. Be able to motivate the Leo Club members.

3. Be a good listener.

4. Promote a good relationship between the Leos and sponsoring Lions.

5. Provide a good example by demonstrating good conduct.

6. Make sure Leo Club President and officers are carrying out their duties.

Now that we understand the importance of the Leo Club Advisor, there are other ways in which the sponsoring Lions Club can help build a successful Leo Club.

1. Lions Club pays organizational fee for sponsoring Leo Club. The fee is $100.00 U.S. dollars. This covers the cost for a Certificate of Organization, sponsor materials for the Lions Club, an officer kit for the new Leo Club, 20 new member kits with lapel pins and membership cards, and 20 Leo Club new member entrance fees. Any members over 20 will cost Lions Club $5.00 U.S.

dollars per member.

2. There is an annual levy fee assessed to the sponsoring Lions Club by LCI for the administrative support given the Leos. Fee is $90.00 U.S. dollars.

3. Other areas the Lions Club may be given the opportunity to help their Leo Club: Organizational (Charter) Night, club supplies, convention attendance (defraying costs for Leos to attend), club shirts, vests, etc., special needs as presented

1. Allowing the Leo Club to order needed supplies by using Lions Club account with LCI. The Leo Club has no account with LCI.

2. Because Leos are an activity of LCI, whenever they are involved in projects, fundraisers, or activities as a club, they are covered by LCI insurance.

A successful Leo Club will have a Lions Club that will give it encouragement to keep active with fundraisers and service projects alike. This could come in the form of activities involving both clubs working on a Leo project or a Lions project. Lion attendance at Leo fundraisers also shows support.

It’s that time of the year when club presidents and/or Past District Governors need to prepare nominations for this years “hall of fame” nominee’s. Applications must be submitted and received by the 5^th of December 2004 to be eligible for the nomination process. Each application must also have a $35 check accompany it made out to the Past District Governor’s association to cover the cost of the plaque. If your nomination is not picked for this year’s induction the check will be refunded.

Mail all complete materials to: Jerry Kaiser, PDG, President of 18-B’s Past District Governors Association at: 110 Rommel Avenue, Garden City, GA. 31408.

1. PURPOSE: The District 18-B Hall of Fame is established to recognize special Lions for their achievements and service to their Lions Club, the Lions of District 18-B, and the Lions of Georgia.

2. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

3. SELECTION PROCESS:

4. CHANGES TO THESE GUIDELINES: These guidelines may be amended by a majority vote of the active members of the PDGA present at the meeting where the vote is held. The proposed changes must be submitted to the PDGA membership at least thirty days prior to the meeting at which the vote is to be taken.

Imagine for a moment, you were working for a company that paid you when ever it seems beneficial to them. A little here, a little there. Imagine how could you pay your monthly bills, if you do not know when your next payday will arrive.

Now compare this to our giving to the Camp and the Lighthouse. Most of our clubs give generously to both the Lighthouse and the Camp. But the giving usually is in the spring when we are in a mad dash to see who scores the most points in the District Governor’s Points Contest. Right now there is a shortage of contributions at both charities. Because of this, they have to fall back to back up savings to provide services and pay bills. Clubs are asked to help the Camp and the Lighthouse with monthly or quarterly contributions. This will help tremendously if you do and your club will score additional points as well. (100% bonus for monthly and 50% for quarterly contributions).

Please consider supporting your Camp and Lighthouse with regular contributions.

Keeping Lions as active members of your club is very important. Some ideas to keep members involved are:

These ideas I borrowed from District A’s Handbook. Try one or two at your club meetings—make a difference and keep a member!
- PDG Lil Shurtleff District Retention Chairperson

The Fall Joint Meeting of the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation and Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind will be held in Warner Robbins, Georgia on Saturday October 30 and Sunday October 31. Saturday meetings will be held at the Holiday Inn, 2024 Watson Blvd. Room Reservations can be made by calling 478-923-8871. Room rates are $49.00 per night by reserving before Oct 22 using code LLC (Lions Lighthouse Camp)

Check in time in 2 P.M. and check out time is 12 noon unless otherwise requested.

Sunday meeting will be held at the Flint Membership Building, 1600 Elberta Road in Warner Robins at 11:00 A.M.. You can call the Barks cell phone 478-918-3227 if you cannot find it and they’ll direct you to the building. If you arrive early enough, there will be maps on the desk at the Holiday Inn.

Head west on I-16 to exit 24, turn left on Highway 96 West, turn on 247 in Bonaire and come North. Come straight up 247 several miles. You will pass the AF Museum of Aviation on the right and adjacent to Robins AF Base. Watch for a green sign at the intersection with Watson Blvd in Warner Robins at the Train Station in front of the base. Turn onto Watson Blvd and come straight for 2.4 miles to Houston Rd in the right lane. Walgreens and Checkers are on the corners. A green street sign hangs near the traffic light at the intersection. Turn right onto Houston and go to the 3rd traffic light in the left lane. Turn left onto Elberta Road (Lion Bob’s Chevron and Hardee’s are on the corners) and look ahead on the left. The fourth building is Flint and it has a big sign in front. Parking is in the rear and on the side. Come in the side or back doors. They will be clearly marked.

All Club Associate Directors for the Camp and the Lighthouse are urged to attend this weekend as you are the voice of your club to these charities we support. For additional Information about the Camp contact PDG Jerry Kaiser 912 964-4518 email [email protected] or the Lighthouse, contact PDG Jim Ward 912 764-3233 email [email protected]

The Wilmington Island Lions Club successfully completed their 2^nd Annual Eyeglass Roundup held over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Colorful collection cans, decorated with Lions Club logos and huge plastic eyeglasses, were placed in two local businesses that were guaranteed to be busy over the long weekend and citizens of the community were encouraged to drop off eyeglasses and hearing aids. The driving force behind the success of the event was publicity, publicity, publicity with notices placed in the newspaper, television, letters to community churches and flyers in local businesses. In spite of a pending hurricane and bad weather, the Club collected 572 pairs of eyeglasses, 343 lenses, 231 eyeglass cases and 5 hearing aids. “Not bad for a small club like ours in just 4 days,” says President, Donald Pope. Wilmington Island hopes the annual event will continue to grow each year.

Click here to sign up for e-mail notification of new Newsletter Issues

Previous Newsletters