Governor‘s Comments...

Share Success through
New Membership

                         It is hard to believe that we are in the fifth month of this Lions year. It is also that time of year when we begin to experience the change of seasons. The long Summer heat is now but a memory. We are busy with various club activities now that the weather is favorable. Soon we will be in the holiday season as we prepare for Thanksgiving, the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons and then New Year.

At the time of writing this article I have completed visits to 39 clubs. Most of these clubs have a genuine spirit of Lionism. They are the ones who are eager to share their success with anyone who is willing to listen. Talk excitedly about their projects. There are also some clubs who are concerned about various issues, among those issues are membership. This month marks the fifteenth anniversary of my induction into Lionism. Just a few facts about 1989. When I joined the Port City Lions Club there were about 35 members in the club. There were three Past District Governors in the club along with a future District Governor (not me). In District 18-B there were about 1600 members. Women members was a new idea that had not had time to develop.

Even in 1989, the handwriting was plain for everyone to see, without members, how can we continue serving our communities? There were those dire predictions. We often seek members to fill our clubs without really explaining why they should be Lions. Year after year, new members would be introduced into Lionism. Each year a greater number leave either from lack of interest, discouragement, illness, or death. Each year we gain a bit of experience in our Lionistic work. Also each year we are a year older and a year slower than we were.

Now return to the present, most of our clubs are older, smaller and we are looking still for new members. My club now has 21 members, our district has about 1250 members. My club now has two Past District Governors with three more who have passed on. Our message is still the same after over 80 years of service. Lions are the Knights of the Blind. Our motto, “We Serve,” tells the world of our dedication and commitment to our communities. It is up to each one of us to reach out and touch someone. Reach out to tell the Lions story to someone who has time available for community service. Someone who really needs to undergo a life changing experience by becoming a Lion. As Lions we need to be aware of the kind of service we perform in the community and aware of the service our charities perform.

Each year as I work on White Cane day. People stop by and ask, what are you collecting for and why? I give them a few minutes of my time as I explain that the Lions help those with Vision and Hearing difficulties around the world. That Lions have founded over 3 out of 5 of all the vision research centers and hospitals in the world. Our own Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation has saved the sight of many hundreds maybe thousands of Georgians. Our Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind has enabled countless visually impaired children experience independence through summer camp and mobility restored through guide dogs from Leader Dogs for the Blind and Southeast Guide Dogs. I belong to a dynamic and active club. We meet in a local restaurant twice a month where we discuss new and innovative ways to help those in need and visitors are always welcome.

As Lions we should always make visitors welcome. Impress them with the services we offer. Inspire them to service by example of your service. Do not give them the impression that they are simply a number in a book somewhere. Provide the knowledge they need to become a Lion. Allow them to become involved in the club but do not over whelm them. Make an effort to listen to their ideas. But above all keep fun in all of your activities.

DG Rick

Rick’s Travels

Alamo– Reports mailed on time. No activities reported.

Alma– Reports filed on-line. Lion Danny Turner has been selected as secretary. Will catch up next month on activities. Former secretary and husband had a job transfer to North Georgia.

Baxley– 2 members attended District Rally.

Bellville– (3) 2 members along with club banner attended District Rally. Reports mailed on time. Worked 32 hours on club administration and 46 hours on community betterment projects. Sent DG copy of newsletter. Spent $105 for local eyeglasses.

Blackshear– No reports received.

Bloomingdale– (20) No reports received.

Brantley County– Reports mailed on time. No activities reported.

Brunswick Gateway– Reports mailed on time. Bought a television for local nursing home. Spent $635 for local eyeglasses.

Bulloch– 4 members attended District Rally.

Claxton– No reports received.

Clinch County– No reports received.

Cobbtown– Reports mailed on time. Conducted Pancake Supper, donated to Miss Tattnall Pageant.

Collins– (12) No reports received.

Darien– Reports mailed on time. Club worked 149 hours on club administration, average attendance is 12. Club spent $68 on Local eyeglasses. Sent $50 each to the Camp and Lighthouse.

Douglas– (1) 1 member attended District Rally. Reports filed online. Club worked over 1300 hours on Community Service projects and their Big Buck fundraiser. They raised over $20,000 on this project. They are involved in a blood drive challenge with the local Rotary club.

Folkston– (5) 9 members attended District Rally (Highest % participation). Reports filed on-line. Worked 10 hours on club administration and 418 hours on community projects. Delivered 97 pairs of eyeglasses to Lighthouse. Attended Camp/Lighthouse weekend.

Garden City– Reports mailed on time. Average attendance is 10. Sent $100 to LCIF.

Golden Isles– (10)Reports filed on-line. New Secretary, Tommy Jenkins Club submitted back reports. Club has spent over $2000 on eyeglasses and worked 500 hours on community betterment projects.

Hazlehurst–  No reports received.

Hinesville– (9) 6 members and 1 guest along with club banner attended District Rally.

Jacksonville–  (17) Reports filed on-line. Club worked 10 hours on club administration and 240 hours on community betterment projects. Club hosted an celebration of service on November 1 honoring Lion Charles Jones with a Melvin Jones Fellowship. The meeting was attended by over 100 Lions and Guests from the club and surrounding area.

Jekyll Island– Reports mailed on time. No activities reported.

Jesup– (18) 3 members attended District Rally. Had 2 articles published. Tailtwister Lion Wayne Ates presented an inspiring uplifting message at the District Rally.

Kingsland– No reports received.

Liberty Coastal– No reports received.

Lyons– (16) 1 member along with club banner attended District Rally.

McRae– Reports filed by e-mail. Worked 5 hours on club administration. Average attendance is 11.

Metter– Reports received on time. 5 hours worked on club administration. Average attendance is 6 out of 9 members. Club spent $300 on eyeglasses.

Milan– (15) Reports mailed on time. Club worked 25 hours on club administration and 32 hours on community betterment projects. Average attendance is 23.

Odum– (8) No reports received.

Patterson–  No reports received.

Pembroke– 1 member attended District Rally.

Port Wentworth– Reports mailed on time. Average attendance is 12. Club is participating in Coastal Cleanup Day.

Reidsville– 2 members attended District Rally.

Richmond Hill–  No reports received.

Rincon– No reports received.

Rincon Noon– No reports received.

Rincon Savannah River– Club has been placed on Status Quo by LCI.

Savannah– (6) 1 member attended District Rally. Reports faxed to DG. Worked over 200 hours on Club Administration and 485 hours on community betterment projects. Average attendance is 32. $675 was spent on local eyeglasses. Held joint new member orientation with Wilmington Island.

Savannah Chatham South– (19) Reports filed on-line. Worked 9 hours on club administration, average attendance is 10.

Savannah Hostess City– (13) 3 members attended District Rally.

Savannah Port City– (4) 5 members along with club banner attended District Rally. Reports filed on-line. Worked 17 hours on club administration and 176 hours on community betterment. Sent $25 to Leader Dog, $194 to LCIF for Disaster Relief, $54 to Lighthouse/White Cane. Delivered 286 pairs of eyeglasses, 8 lenses, 146 cases to the Lighthouse. $25 to the Camp. Attended Camp/Lighthouse weekend.

Springfield– No reports received.

Statesboro Noon– (2) 2 members attended District Rally. Reports filed on-line. The work this club accomplishes is simply incredible. This club knows the meaning of success. They spent 5 days working at the Ogeechee Fair. They have done eye screenings, blood pressure checks and stroke assessments. Hosted Author Lion Pam Mueller to speak at local school and club meeting. They are monthly contributors to all Lions charities.

Vidalia– Reports mailed on time. Worked 5 hours on club administration. Spent $1561 on local eyeglasses. $49.00 on Community Betterment.

Waycross– 2 members attended District Rally. Reports filed by e-mail. Average attendance is 17. Club worked 20 hours on community projects.

Waycross Okefenokee– (7) 3 members attended District Rally. Club served as host for the District Rally and provided the Supper that evening. Average attendance at meetings is 35. Contributed $1500 to the Camp. Sent used eyeglasses to the Lighthouse and attended the Camp/Lighthouse weekend.

Wilmington Island– (14) Reports mailed on time. Sent DG copy of newsletter. Club held a joint meeting with Savannah Lions, program was on new member orientation. Participated at a Woman’s Health Fair at Wal-Mart.

Woodbine– (11) 2 members attended District Rally. Reports submitted on-line. Worked 26 hours on club administration and 42 hours on community betterment projects. Spent $259 on local eyeglasses, $1,000 to LCIF and Lighthouse. 2 Directors attended Camp/Lighthouse Weekend.

Club Secretaries are reminded to send in the Membership and Activities reports on time. It is important that we recognize the accomplishments of each club in this newsletter. Club Presidents please encourage your members to report their community activities to the club secretary.

District Convention

Our District Convention is Friday February 25 and Saturday February 26 in Statesboro. Our special guest will be International Director Walter R. “Bud” Wahl, of Streator, Illinois. Please make plans now to attend. There will be very important business to take place at the convention. There will be elections of officers for the Lions year 2005-06. We will be electing a new District Governor, Vice District Governor and Vice President of the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation.

The qualifications are as follows:

Vice District Governor– Must have served as President of a Lions club, also served as Club Director for 2 years. District service, at least 1 year as Zone or Region Chairperson or Cabinet Secretary or Cabinet Treasurer. This should be a Lion in good standing who is willing to advance the cause of Lionism in the District and the State. This is a three year commitment that has many rewards.

Vice President- Same requirements as Vice District Governor and must have served as District Director to the Lighthouse for a majority of a three year term. This should be a Lion in good standing who is active in the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation and is willing to advance the cause of the Lighthouse in providing service to those in need. This term is for two years with a two term limitation.

Applicants must be nominated by their club or a majority of all other clubs. Nominations must be received by the District Governor before January 25 in order to be placed on the ballot. Voting will be by certified delegates of each club present at the convention. Clubs will be allotted 1 delegate for each 10 members or majority thereof. Past District Governors also have the right to vote and do not count in the number of delegates each club has. For additional information about voting procedures, contact Lion Jon Lichner, Credentials Chairperson or PDG Jerry Ney, Nominations and Elections Chairperson.

In Memoriam

Members Dropped

Code Explanation

1 Resigned in Good Standing

2 Dropped for non-payment of dues

3 Dropped for non-attendance

4 Dropped for non-attendance and non-payment of dues

5 Transferred in good standing

6 Moved (Dues unpaid)

8 Other

Membership Gain for October 2004   +8

Membership Loss for October 2004   -13

Net Change in Membership 18-B       -5

The Fine Art of Sharing
by Clement F. Kusiak,

President, The International Association of Lions Clubs

There are many ways we may share our success as Lions, many avenues to pursue in joining with others to share our visions for community betterment and service to people in need. For more than eight decades, the collective efforts of our membership have, indeed, resulted in such magnificent success that Lions Clubs International is recognized as not only the largest, but the most active service club organization in the world.

We share when clubs work as a team to plan and carry out service or fundraising projects, and we share the satisfaction in knowing that our efforts have benefited our communities or given hope and a sense of self-fulfillment to those who were sadly lacking these qualities of life. In this way we also share our ideals and visions with those we serve and they, in turn, show us how our work is making their futures brighter and more promising. In doing so, we learn from one another.

 It is important that we also join in partnerships with other community and professional leaders, men and women  who recognize the importance in giving of themselves in voluntary service. We will thus be able to expand our reach and be still more successful in our activities because we have engaged in this crucial level of sharing our commitment and our energy.

Invite public officials to your meetings and service projects in order to demonstrate the manner in which you are involved in the community. This act of sharing will help ensure greater support from individuals who are among the most influential in your area. As an added means to strengthen your Lions club, you should seriously consider inviting them to become members.

Share your successful ventures in community service with young people, those who will be the leaders – and, hopefully, the Lions of tomorrow. Whether they participate in a Leo club, International Youth Exchange, scouting, the Peace Poster Contest or other activity, they should understand how you have achieved success in service and what will eventually be expected of them as responsible citizens who fully realize the need for voluntary service.

It is important to note that Lions must continually make their achievements known, because only in this way will they garner the support from the general public that helps to guarantee still further success. And be certain to recognize both fellow Lions and men, women and young people in the community who were instrumental in helping bring about the successful completion of an activity. The official presentation of an award or just a simple and sincere “thank you” will, I assure you, be deeply appreciated. Sharing our success will not only reinforce pride in our membership, it will also convince other service-minded people to be a part of the good work we do.

This sharing is an ongoing process and not to be taken lightly. It needs to be honed into a fine art for it to have a positive effect on the operation of your club. There are now more than 46,000 Lions clubs in 193 countries and geographical areas, and each of these clubs has a story to tell, through which the members can share the success they have experienced over the years. Indeed, take the time to share the “We Serve” philosophy of Lions Clubs International and reflect upon how your own club is a distinct part of this humanitarian spirit.

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.

After Hurricane Frances devastated the Port St. Lucie area in Florida, Lions handed out vouchers for food and clothing redeemable at Wal-Mart. 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 or the Caribbean Hurricane Relief Fund. (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 LCIF’s Emergency Grants resources can send a check to LCIF at the same address as above or make an online donation. These donations are eligible for Melvin Jones Fellowship recognition or a Contributing Membership.

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.

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