Governor‘s Comments...

Where did the time go? It seems that every time I turn around it is time to write another newsletter. It is hard to believe that this is month eleven of the Lions Year. In less than two weeks it will be time for the State Convention. In another month it will be time to travel to Hong Kong for the International Convention and wrap up my year as your District Governor. Then it will be time to settle down and enjoy a moment or two of peace. RIGHT!

In Hapeville, we as Lions will decide on the person who will represent us as International Director. Previously the plan was to select our candidate this year and to run next year in New Orleans. But International has asked us to run this year instead. That means our candidate may take office in Hong Kong. It is my plan to campaign for whoever the candidate may be in Hong Kong. I am urging the clubs to be present at the State Convention and for the delegates to vote for the Lion of their choice to serve as International Director.

On Saturday, May 14th, there will be the 4th and last District Cabinet Meeting to be held at Holton’s Seafood Restaurant in Midway. Please make plans to attend. This will not be a long boring meeting. This will be an opportunity to Celebrate our Successes and acknowledge the hard work of many Lions in District 18-B. It will be a time to see just how much we have grown through the year, to witness the dedication we all have in serving others and to recommit ourselves to a new year of service.

The membership reports this month have caused many mixed feelings for me. The expected cancellation of Rincon Savannah River Charter became official in April. This was an expected loss of 8 more members at a time when we could not afford it. But the loss of those 8 members really occurred over a year ago when the International Board of Directors issued a statement that said any club with less than 10 members would lose their charter at the end of that Lions year. Because of this statement, the members believed they could not build up their membership in time so they decided to give up. And despite numerous phone calls from many Lions and many letters, we were not able to convince them to return to Lionism. But even with those losses there are successes that we should talk about. We should be encouraged when we welcome each new member in to our organization. Thanks to the Statesboro Noon Lions Club, they started our first Club Branch and now they are converting that club branch into our first Campus Club. The paperwork has been filled out and mailed in. The club is already listed on the WMMR web site, which means the paperwork has been processed. Hopefully I will have more information on the Charter Night soon. It has been a race with another District to see who will charter the first Campus Club in Georgia. I believe we filed first with International therefore District 18-B and again the Best and we are also the first in Campus Clubs.

DG Rick.

Alamo– Reports filed online with activities reported by email. Club spent $100 on community Betterment and worked 50 hours for the community.

Baxley– Reports filed timely by mail. Club worked 33 hours on club administration. And 205 hours on community projects. The club spent $2,558 on local eyeglasses during the year. Average attendance is 12.

Bellville– Reports received by mail on time. Club worked 82 hours on club administration and 40 hours on community projects. Club spent $205 for local eyeglasses and $92 for the community. The club collected used eyeglasses and cell phones for the Lighthouse. They contributed $100 to LCIF, $170 to GLASB, $200 to the Lighthouse, and $200 to GLCB. Club sent copy of newsletter to DG.

Blackshear– Reports received timely by mail. Average attendance is 12. Club spent $200 for local eyeglasses and sent $150 to GLASB, $25 to GLCB.

Bloomingdale– Reports received by mail. Dropped 1 member, no other activities reported.

Brantley County– MMR report received timely by mail. No activities reported.

Claxton– Reports emailed on time. Average attendance is 6. Worked 10 hours on club administration. Spent $75 on local eyeglasses.

Clinch County– MMR received by mail on time. Club provided eye exams and glasses for 5 people.

Cobbtown– Reports received timely. Senior Citizen Fish Fry was a success, now working on Cobbtown citizen of the year.

Collins– Activities report filed online. Club worked 8 hours on club administration and 220 hours on community projects. Club sent $15 to LCIF and $100 for White Cane.

Douglas– Club filed reports timely online. Club worked 90 hours on club administration and 520 hours on community projects. Average attendance is 58. They spent $2,992 on local eyeglasses. Raised $2,545 for White Cane. They have 11 members who qualify for Golden Chain and have applied for 5 State Awards. They are working on sponsoring a Leo club and have received approval from a local school to begin. They have found a sponsor at the school. They have 2 new members this month with 14 new members this Lions year. This club’s membership now stands at 83.

Folkston– Reports filed timely online. Club worked 10 hours on club administration and 300 hours on community betterment. Club raised $320 for White Cane and also contributed $50 to the Camp and GLASB&YA. They had 1 item in local newspaper.

Garden City– Reports received timely by mail. 1 new member. Club sent $100 to the Lighthouse in Memory of Lion William “Bill” Loadholt. 3 in attendance at zone meeting.

Golden Isles– Reports timely online. Average attendance is 15. Had 2 media items published.

Hinesville– Reports filed timely by email. Club worked300 hours on community projects. Spent $84 for local eyeglasses, $2,000 to Lighthouse and $100 to the Camp. Had 2 members qualify for Golden Chain Award and has applied for 3 State Awards. They also sponsored 2 new members.

Jacksonville–  Reports filed online. Club worked 6 hours on club administration. Collected used eyeglasses. Average attendance is 16. Spent $60 on community betterment. They are planning a yard sale for May.

Jekyll Island– Received MMR by mail, no activities reported.

Jesup– Reports timely online. Club worked 10 hours on club administration. Average attendance is 10. Club spent $70 on local eyeglasses, $50 to Leader Dog, $50 to LCIF, $200 to Lighthouse, and $50 to the Camp.

Liberty Coastal– Reports received timely by mail. Club hosted zone meeting in March. Provided eyeglasses to local student.

Lyons– Reports filed timely by mail. Club worked 26 hours on club administration and 48 hours on community projects. Average attendance is 17. 1 new member and 1 member drop. Club spent $60 on local eyeglasses and sent $150 to Leader Dog, $75 to RFB&D, $150 to LCIF, $200 to Lighthouse and $200 to the Camp. Club participated in production of “Tales of the Altamaha” sponsored by the Lyons Better Hometown Program.

McRae– Reports received timely by email. Average attendance is 7. Club worked 12 hours on club administration.

Metter– Reports received timely by mail. Club worked 5 hours on club administration and 7 hours on community projects. Spent $65 on local eyeglasses and $100 on community projects.

Milan– Reports received timely by mail. Average attendance is 13.

Odum–  Reports received timely by mail. Club worked 232 hours on community projects.

Port Wentworth– Reports received by mail timely. Club hosted Zone Meeting, lost 1 member to death.

Rincon–  Reports filed timely by email. In March the club presented their adopted family with a $500 credit voucher to Wal-mart to be used for clothing.

Rincon Noon– Reports filed online. Club worked 20 hours on club administration. Average attendance is 7. Club sent $150 to GLASB&Y and $1,618 to the Lighthouse. Club spent $60 on community projects.

Savannah– Reports filed timely by fax. Club spent $2,000 on local eyeglasses and $1,000 to the Lighthouse. The club partnered with Savannah Chatham South to sell $1,200 of Brooms and Mops on Earth Day.

Savannah Hostess City– Reports received by mail on time. This club maintains 100% attendance. Community Service hours are 146 and Lions Services are 132 hours. $850 was spent for community betterment.

Savannah Port City– Reports timely online. Club worked 40 hours on club administration and 125 hours on community service. DG while on business in VA visited the Richmond Battlefield Park Lions Club and exchanged ideas. The Lions in VA also conduct White Cane Days in April.

Statesboro Noon– Reports submitted timely online. Club worked 94 hours on club administration and 176 hours on community projects. Club submitted paperwork to sponsor the 1st Campus Club in Georgia with 22 members. 3 members attended the Southeastern Lions Leadership Institute in North Carolina. The club raised $750 for White Cane in 1 day. Worked Relay for Life breakfast in partnership with Kiwanis Club, feeding 200 people full breakfast for free.

Vidalia– Reports filed timely by mail. Club worked 8 hours on club administration. Average attendance is 11. Club spent $89 on local eyeglasses and sent $600 to Leader Dog and LCIF, also sent $2,000 to the Camp.

Waycross– Reports timely by email. Average attendance is 19. 5 articles in local newspaper. Club held 39th Annual Academic Honor Society Banquet with 26 students inducted into Waycross Lions Club Honor Society. They collected used eyeglasses and sent $220 to Lighthouse and $220 for White Cane.

Waycross Okefenokee– Reports received timely by mail. Club has contributed over the year $1,535 for local eyeglasses. They collected used eyeglasses and hearing aids. They had 2 items in the local newspaper.

Wilmington Island– Reports filed timely online. Club worked 38 hours on club administration and 24 hours on community projects. Average attendance is 14. Club sponsored an Easter Egg Hunt for St. Mary’s home. Club is celebrating their 30th Anniversary on May 19th.

Woodbine– Reported filed timely online. Club worked 22 hours on club administration and 425 hours on community projects including the Woodbine Crawfish Festival. Average attendance is 27. Club sent $1,000 each to Leader Dog, LCIF, and GLCB.

This years District Governor’s Points Contest is now history. Final evaluations are underway. There will be recognition of the accomplishments and achievements of the top 20 clubs in this district. Results will be announced at the District Luncheon on Saturday May 28 at the State Convention in Hapeville. Secretaries are reminded to continue to send their activity and MMR reports to DG Rick for the months of May and June. The activities reported will be included in upcoming newsletters and will receive points in next year’s District Governors Points Contest. Thank you for your participation in this program.

Activity Bonus Points

Clubs who induct 3 or more new members during the Lions year receive special points. The following clubs have met this requirement and have received bonus points; Baxley (3), Bellville (5), Cobbtown (3), Douglas (14), Hinesville (8), Jesup (4), Milan (6), Pembroke (3), Reidsville (3), Statesboro Noon (20), Waycross Okefenokee (3), Wilmington Island (3), Woodbine (3).

Bonus points was also available for clubs who made Quarterly or Monthly Contributions to Lions Charities. Statesboro Noon Lions Club made regular contributions to LCIF and the Lighthouse. They received a 50% bonus to the points for contributions to these charities.

1st Campus Club in Georgia is Ready

It is almost time to celebrate the Charter Night of a new Lions Club in District 18-B. Paperwork has been submitted for the first Campus Club in MD 18 and it is located in District 18-B. The Georgia Southern University Campus Club is now planning for its charter night celebration. More information about the charter night will be published in this newsletter and on the web at galions.org as it becomes available.

District Cabinet Meeting

District 18-B will hold the 4th Cabinet Meeting of the Lions Year at Holton’s Seafood Restaurant. It is located at the Midway Exit on I-95, exit 76. Traveling South on I-95, exit and turn Right on US 84 then an immediate Left into the Restaurant. Traveling North on I-95, exit and turn Left on US 84. Go over bridge and Holton’s will be on the left. The meeting is Saturday, May 14th at 2:00 pm. There will be a Dutch treat lunch before the meeting if you wish. The purpose of the meeting is to receive reports and discuss upcoming events at the state convention. There will be recognitions of Club and District Officers as well. 2005 Lions Towels will be available for purchase.

Clubs are reminded to bring Door Prizes.

Reminder to All Club Secretaries

July 15, 2005 is the deadline for receipt of the 2004-05 Annual Lions Club Activities Report (Form A-1) at International Headquarters. Form A-1 provides information about the amount of funds donated by Lions clubs and the number of hours donated to community service.

The 2003-04 form A-1 revealed that Lions on average donated the following:

$10,950 to charitable causes. This represents estimated worldwide contributions of $512,087,700 (based on 46,766 clubs as of 6/30/04).

1387 hours of volunteer service to the community. This represents an estimated 64 million volunteer service hours (based on 46,766 clubs as of 6/30/04).

Club secretaries are encouraged to submit the 2004-05 Activities Report online. For more information, e-mail [email protected]

Club Anniversaries for May

The following clubs have anniversaries this month according to LCI records.

Welcome New Members

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 April 2005 +8

Membership Loss for April 2005 -23

Net Change in Membership 18-B -15

CAMP FOR BLIND

Our second work weekend has been completed and the camp is really starting to look great!  Brenda and I cooked a full county breakfast to include “saw mill gravy” on Saturday morning for 34 lions and LEO’s from across the entire state.  From our district we had the following lions clubs represented:  Baxley, Bellville and Douglas.

A total of five windows (three in cafeteria serving area and two in one of the dorms) were replaced, window blinds replaced in cafeteria, electric lights installed under the restroom extension, inventory of maintenance building tools with peg board installed.  A group of LEO’s from Athens painted the covered wagon and also did some painting at the horse stables.  Arts & craft materials were inventoried.

Brenda and our Camp Executive Secretary Doy Barks, sewed curtains all day Friday and Saturday for the arts & crafts building and the cafeteria.  And you don’t have to ask who had to put them up either!!

We would especially like to express our appreciation to the President of the Waycross-Okefenokee Lions club (Robert Dixon) for assisting in appropriating a new ice machine for our camp at no cost.

“IMMEDIATE NEED”!

Our camp is in need of large quantities of white twin fitted/flat bed sheets, pillow cases, white towels and washcloths.  The camp also needs various over-the-counter medications (aspirin), bandages all sizes, rubber gloves, (large & X-large)

If any of our clubs in the District could help with these needs it would be greatly appreciated.

Jerry

Upcoming District Events

Each year the District at its last Cabinet Meeting conducts Incoming Officers Training for the Clubs. Each year the attendance at these training sessions have declined while the complaints from the same officers about the lack of training increase. For the past year, new ideas have been tried to limited success. The people who need the training the most are not attending. This year will be different, the District will be coming to you. This year we are starting the Georgia Lions University program in District 18-B. It will be held in four cities starting soon. Tentative cities are McRae, Jesup, Savannah, and Woodbine.

These University Days are open to all Lions however attendance for incoming club officers is a must. We will have available at the University the Healthy Club Tool Box. This will be a full day event with 4 modules from the Healthy Club Tool Box along with sessions on the duties of Club Presidents, Club Secretaries, Club Treasurers, and Zone Chairpersons. A box lunch will be served. Additional information will be published in the June issue of this newsletter.

Helen Keller Day

History

In 1971, the Board of Directors of Lions Clubs International declared that henceforth June 1 would be remembered as "Helen Keller Day." Lions around the world implement sight-related service projects on Helen Keller Day.

Helen Keller

Born Helen Adams Keller on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama, USA, the child developed a fever at 18 months of age.  Afterwards, Keller was blind, deaf, and mute.

At age six, teacher Anne Mansfield Sullivan of the Perkins School for the Blind was hired as Keller's teacher.  The 20-year-old taught Keller sign language and Braille. The story of the teacher and her pupil has been retold in William Gibson's play and film, "The Miracle Worker."

At age 10, Keller learned to speak.  Sarah Fuller of the Horace Mann School was her first speech teacher.

In 1898, Helen entered the Cambridge School for Young Ladies.  In the autumn of 1900, Keller entered Radcliffe College.  She earned a bachelor of arts degree cum laude in 1904.

Throughout the years, Sullivan remained at her student's side.  She formed letters into Keller's hand for comprehension of textbooks, college lectures, and conversation.

Keller's Personal Crusade

In 1915, Keller joined the first Board of Directors of the Permanent Blind Relief War Fund, later known as the American Braille Press.

In 1924, the young woman started the Helen Keller Endowment Fund.  In the same year, Keller joined the staff of the American Foundation for the Blind as a counselor on national and international relations.

On June 30, 1925, Keller addressed the Lions Clubs International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA.  She challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in this crusade against darkness." (Click here to view her entire speech.)  She said, "I am your opportunity.  I am knocking at your door."

In 1946, Keller became a counselor on international relations for the American Foundation for Overseas Blind (a sister organization to the American Foundation for the Blind).  She traveled to 35 countries.

A movie was made of Keller's life.  "Helen Keller in Her Story" received the "Oscar" award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for best feature-length documentary film in 1955.

Keller made her last major public appearance in Washington, D.C., USA, in 1961. She received the Lions Humanitarian Award for lifetime service.

Keller died on June 1, 1968 at age 87.  Her request to the Lions 43 years earlier inspired the international organization to adopt the Sight Conservation and Work with the Blind Program as a major service initiative.

In 1971, the Lions of Alabama dedicated the Helen Keller Memorial Park.  It is located on the grounds of Keller's birthplace which is known as Ivy Green.  Since the park's initial dedication, Lions from 37 countries have contributed gifts.  The focal point of the memorial is a bust of Keller with an engraved plaque which states, "I am your opportunity."

Wilmington Island Celebrates 30 years of Service

The Lions of District 18-B are cordially invited to the Wilmington Island Lions Club Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 7:00 P.M. in the social hall of Wilmington Island United Methodist Church, located at 195 Wilmington Island Road. There will be a modest donation of $10.00 each at the door. Please RSVP to Lion President Donald Pope at 912-897-2335 or email [email protected]. Guest Speaker will be PDG Jerry Kaiser of the Bellville Lions Club.

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