Governor‘s Comments...

Reflecting on our Dreams for a Better Tomorrow

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.   And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” I remember very clearly these words as they were spoken on TV back in 1968 when the Apollo 8 Space Craft was in orbit around the Moon. It must have been a tremendous effort that allowed humanity to make this dream of Space Travel come to reality.

Dreams have been a part of our human experience since our creation. Our dreams guide our ideas, they give us direction in life. They form our goals, they are our vision. Every part of our Lions Experience is based on the dreams of many people ever since 1917 when Melvin Jones had a vision of community service where like minded people could bring dreams to reality.

This month marks the end of the first half of this Lions year. As Lions we have accomplished and continue to accomplish the miracle of making dreams come true for many people around our communities and around the world. December also is the month when we celebrate the holidays with fellowship and remembrances. It is a time to reflect on the year that is coming to a close. It is also a time to renew our dreams for a better tomorrow.

It is important to remember during this holiday season is that need does not take a holiday. That there are those who are without hope in the world who are blind and cannot hear. It is important that we always remember those who are in need in our prayers.

As we begin the year 2005, we must remind ourselves of the commitments and dedication to service that Lions follow in order to serve the community. This is accomplished by having a positive attitude about everything. Let us be bold in our accomplishments. Now is the perfect time to invite a friend or simply someone you know to a Lion’s meeting. Spread the news of the service of Lions. Encourage inactive members to come to the meetings as well. Now is the time to make your dreams come true. And by making the dream of Lionism come true, you bring hope for many more than you know.

DG Rick

Rick’s Travels

Alamo– MMR received by mail. No Activities reported.

Alma– (10) Reports filed on-line. Club worked 25 hours on Club Administration and 906 hours on Community Projects including Big Buck Contest, 1st Annual Wildlife Expo and Display of Flags

Baxley– Reports received by mail. Club worked 18 hours on Club Administration and 85 hours on Community projects including display of flags. They also collected clothing for Battered women and children in Jesup.

Bellville– (4) Reports received by mail. Club worked 135 hours on Club Administration. Average attendance is 25. Sent $90 to LCIF and collected eyeglasses.

Blackshear– Reports received by mail. Club worked 70 hours on Club Administration. Also displayed flags and worked on several fundraisers, hours not reported.

Bloomingdale– (19) Reports received by mail. Club worked 15 hours on Club Administration and 45 hours on community Betterment. Club spent $65 on local eyeglasses and $100 to Homeless for Thanksgiving.

Brantley County–

Brunswick Gateway– Reports received by mail. Dropped 4 members, spent $635 on Local eyeglasses.

Bulloch– No Reports

Claxton– No Reports

Clinch County– Reports received by mail. Purchased eyeglasses and exams during month.

Cobbtown– No Reports

Collins– (14) No Reports

Darien– No Reports

Douglas– (1) Reports filed on-line. Average attendance is 58. Club worked 65 hours on Club Administration and 550 hours on Community Projects. Club spent $5016 on local eyeglasses. Added 1 new member. Club partnered with a group of 9th graders who developed a “Jeepers Peepers” project which collect eyeglasses. This project netted 250 pairs of eyeglasses. Club recognized 14 members who accumulated 460 years of membership starting with 20 years and going up to 55 years.

Folkston– (6) Reports filed on-line. Club worked 15 hours on Club Administration and 300 hours on community projects. Spent $180 for local eyeglasses. Sent $50 to Leader Dog. Club held program on DG Topic. Mr. Bill Pass of RFB&D spoke to club. Several teachers from Charlton County Schools attending. They have started a new project of collecting clothing and other items to send to our service personnel who are in hospitals. This project is in partnership with the Charlton County Public Schools.

Garden City– Reports received by mail. Club spent $260 on Local eyeglasses and sent $236 each to Lighthouse, Camp, and Leader Dog.

Golden Isles– (11) Reports filed on-line. Average attendance 17. Club worked 160 hours on Annual Steak Dinner/Raffle.

Hazlehurst–  No Reports

Hinesville– (9) Reports submitted by email. Average attendance is 22. 1 new member. Sent DG Club Newsletter. Club worked 165 hours on Community Projects. Spent $40 on Local Eyeglasses. They sponsored 1 Melvin Jones Fellow. Held Memorial service for Lion Winston Walker III.

Jacksonville–  No Reports

Jekyll Island– MMR received by mail. No activities reported.

Jesup– (20) Reports filed on-line. Club worked 10 hours on Club Administration and spent $385 on local exams and Eyeglasses. They completed a raffle for a $300 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop/Outdoor World.

Kingsland– No Reports

Liberty Coastal– No Reports

Lyons– (16) Reports received by mail. Club worked 24 hours on Club Administration and 24 hours on Community Projects. Spent $59 on Local Eyeglasses and $100 for Community Projects. Club displayed flags.

McRae– Reports emailed. Worked 4 Hours on Club Administration and 40 hours on Community Projects including display of Flags. Average Attendance is 12. Spent $250 on local Eyeglasses.

Metter– MMR filed on-line, activities received by mail. Club worked 5 hours on club administration and 10 hours on community service. Club spent $100 on local eyeglasses.

Milan– (18) Reports received by mail. Club worked 5 hours on Club Administration. Average attendance is 18.

Odum– (7) Reports received by mail. Club worked 165 hours on Community projects and sent in 61 pairs of eyeglasses and 20 cases.

Patterson–  No Reports

Pembroke– No Reports

Port Wentworth– No Reports

Reidsville– No Reports

Richmond Hill–  No Reports

Rincon– Reports submitted by e-mail. DG discovered some past e-mails that were caught by anti-spam software. Points awarded on past activities. Club helped a victim of an auto accident. Club building is being used as a voting precinct.

Rincon Noon– No Reports

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

Savannah– (3) Reports faxed on time. Average Attendance is 30. Club worked 650 hours on community service including work by 15 Knight Rider Leos who are assisting in the annual Christmas Tree sale. Points awarded for sponsoring new Leo club.

Savannah Chatham South– (17) Reports filed on-line. Club worked 5 hours

on Club Administration. Average Attendance is 10. Club collected 390 pairs of eyeglasses, 325 lenses and 162 Eyeglass Cases. Club Officers did not read this newsletter to see when the Lighthouse meeting was and did not send these eyeglasses in. The DG delivered these eyeglasses to the Lighthouse for the club. Points awarded for sponsoring new Leo club.

Savannah Hostess City– (12) Activities report received by mail. Reported trouble accessing LCI WMMR site. Club worked 195 hours on community projects. Spent $128 on Community projects.

Savannah Port City– (5) Reports filed on-line. Club worked 14 hours on Club Administration and 105 hours Community Betterment. $1,000 sent to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. $200 to Leader Dog, $425 to LCIF, $100 to Emory. Points awarded for sponsoring new Leo club.

Springfield– Report filed on-line thru October. Average attendance is 12. Spent $456 on Community Betterment projects, $100 to Leader Dog, $712 to Lighthouse.

Statesboro Noon– (2) Reports Filed on-line. 1 New Member plus 1 re-instated member. Club worked 89 hours on Club Administration and 258 hours on Community Betterment projects. Club made monthly contributions to Leader Dog, RFB&D, LCIF, 2 LCIF Contributing Members, GALB&YA, Lighthouse and Camp. Had program on DG Topic. Bought 12 pairs of eyeglasses and 1 Hearing Aid.

Vidalia– Reports mailed. Average Attendance is 9. club spent $1561 on Local Eyeglasses, worked 49 hours on Community Projects.

Waycross– Report emailed on time. Average Attendance is 18. Collected 6 pairs of eyeglasses. Worked 91 hours on Community Betterment Projects including display of Flags, Election work and other community service. Had 1 media item published.

Waycross Okefenokee– (8) Reports mailed on time. Average Attendance is 35. Club has a new web site at http://WaycrossOkefenokeeGA.lionwap.org Club collected eyeglasses and hearing aids also sent $20 to LCIF.

Wilmington Island– (15) Reports filed on-line. Average Attendance is 15. Club worked 68 hours on Club Administration and 24 hours on Community Projects. Club conducted a Broom Fair. Sent DG copy of newsletter.

Woodbine– (13) Reports filed on-line. Club Worked 24 hours on Club Administration and 62 hours on Community Betterment Projects. Club spent $65 on Local Eyeglasses and $375 on Community Projects.

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.

For the first half of this Lions year, the top 20 clubs in the points standing have been listed. To these clubs I congratulate them on their record keeping and success in service. To the other clubs, I ask those secretaries to make an additional effort to report the activities of your club. During the second half of the year I will not report the top twenty clubs as an incentive for all clubs to strive to be the best in the district and claim bragging rights for next year.

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.

Welcome New Members

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 November 2004 +3

Membership Loss for November 2004 -9

Net Change in Membership 18-B -6

Monthly MMRs

Clubs are reminded to file their Monthly Membership Reports to LCI and DG Rick each month. According to LCI records the following clubs have not filed in the past 60 days. Club Presidents are urged to work with their club Secretaries to see that these reports are filed on time. The date following the club is the last report received.

Bulloch, 8/04, Claxton, 7/04, Glennville, 6/04, Hazlehurst, 4/04, Liberty Coastal, 9/04, Lyons, 9/04, Richmond Hill, 7/04.

Club Stats

Below are the membership stats per club from June thru November with size of club ranking and percentage change in membership. Clubs are urged to consider a membership campaign in 2005. Wilmington Island has a novel approach to attracting new members. The club pays the Initiation fee for any new member that joins before the end of the Lion’s year.

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

Millions of Americans are at risk of losing their eyesight to glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the United States. At higher risk for developing glaucoma are African-Americans over age 40, everyone over age 60, and people with a family history of the disease. During Glaucoma Awareness Month in January, community leaders and health professionals are encouraged to provide sight-saving information to those who are at higher risk. The National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the Federal government’s National Institutes of Health, offers a variety of resources and materials that Lions clubs can use to plan and conduct successful campaign activities.

Register Now for Lions Day with the UN

On March 11, 2005, join other Lions from around the world at the 2005 Lions Day with the United Nations. This year commemorates the 60th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter. On that historic day in 1945, Lions were present and a longstanding partnership with the UN began.

Clubs Participating in Eyeglass Collection

Local businesses and community facilities have generously provided space for Lions eyeglass collection boxes. Please maintain the boxes your club has distributed by emptying your collection boxes regularly. Please be sure that these businesses and community facilities have current contact information for the Lion responsible for tending the collection boxes.

Thank the businesses for their support and periodically let them know of your club’s collection totals and what happens to the collected eyeglasses. Order Lions Recycle for Sight collection boxes, item G1174DS, online from Club Supplies Sales.

Peace Poster Contest

Give Peace a Chance

November 15 was the deadline for clubs to submit their choice for the best Peace Poster. This year’s theme was “Give Peace a Chance.” There were three clubs that participated in this year’s contest. Congratulations to Baxley, Hinesville and Waycross Okefenokee for their dedication and support to their communities. Also many thanks to the area youth who demonstrated their artistic talents. After discussion with the Peace Poster Committee and the District Governor. The following awards are announced; 1st place, Waycross Okefenokee Lions Club, Artist Teagan Thomas, Ware County Middle School. This entry has been forwarded to the State for consideration in the MD18 Peace Poster Competition. The winner of the state will then be considered on the International competition.

Honorable Mention, Hinesville Lions Club, Artist Brittney Wheale, Lewis Frasier Middle School. Baxley Lions Club, Artist Angela Hutcheson, Appling County Middle School.

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

Previous Newsletters