Governor‘s Comments...

Due to technical difficulties District Governor Lew’s comments and club reports are not available.

As we begin a new calendar year, we are also on the home stretch of the Lion’s year. Clubs have rested over the holidays and are now eager to work on the ambitious projects and service activities that will help the communities and the charities we support. Also it is time to think about supporting the district at the annual District Convention. As previously reported the convention will be at Hinesville and is a comfortable drive from anywhere in the district. Your participation in the convention also shows the state and Lions International that you are proud to be a Lion and it gives DG Lew bragging rights when he visits other district conventions.

 At the annual District Convention there will be elections to the leadership positions in the district. First and foremost is the election of our District Governor. This is a privilege should not be taken for granted and we may lose that privilege soon if we fail to increase our membership numbers to above 1250. Second is the election of Vice District Governor. In every sense it is just as important of an decision as it prepares the Lion for the role as District Governor. At this time there is a candidate for District Governor and Vice District Governor.

Also, we will elect for a two year term a Vice President for the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind. This is our voice for the Camp’s Activities and a spokesperson to the District to help raise the much needed support for this worthy project of the Georgia Lions. At this time I have not heard of a candidate for this office. Nominations from the clubs must be postmarked no later than 30 days prior to the convention.

Also the District will have the opportunity to endorse a candidate for State Lion Tamer from District 18-B. The position of State Lion Tamer is a State Wide Election held during the State Convention each year. The duties of the Lion Tamer are; Chairing the State Uniform Committee, make available Lions Merchandise at Conventions and other meetings. This is a working position. This position had been filled by a hard working and dedicated Lion from Thomson, Lion Curly Bross, PDG. Lion Curly recently tendered his resignation as his health was preventing him from fulfilling his duties. The State Lion Tamer position is being handled by State Historian Olin Newby and PDG James Webb.

Also in the coming month, we will have the Winter Board of Directors Meetings of the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind and Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation. The Camp will meet in Warner Robins at the Holiday Inn (478) 923-8871 on February 4-5. Rooms are $50 + Tax, you must use the code CFB when reserving your room. There will be a Saturday Evening Dinner hosted by the Centerville Lions Club. Cost is $7.00, advance registration is needed. Contact Camp Secretary, Lion Doy Barks at (478)923-5649 or by email at [email protected]. Deadline is February 2. Hotel rooms must be reserved by January 27. Additional information is available on the web at http://glcb.org

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

GEORGIA LIONS’ CAMP FOR THE BLIND, INC.

Committee members are urged to attend—others are very welcome.

Saturday, February 4, 2006

8:30 - 5:00 COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS Antebellum Room

1:00 – 2:25 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Robins Room

1:00 – 1:55 FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE Restaurant

1:30 – 2:25 CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS Room 128

2:00 – 2:55 PR & PROMOTIONS Restaurant

2:30 – 3:55 BUILDING & GROUNDS Robins Room

2:30 – 3:30 FINANCE COMMITTEE Room 128

3:00 – 4:00 POLICY COMMITTEE Restaurant

3:30 – 4:15 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Room 128

4:00 – 5:00 PERSONNEL COMMITTEE Robins Room

4:00 – 5:00 AWARDS COMMITTEE Restaurant

4:15 – 5:00 NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE Room 128

(The Lounge is available for any committee needing to begin meeting if the preceding meeting is running over time.)

7:00 p.m. Dinner $7.00 ( Please make check payable to GA Lions Camp.)

Centerville Clubhouse – 612 North Houston Lake Road

(A map to the clubhouse is at the Motel Front Desk)

Note: If you have ever attended this dinner, you know the clubhouse does fill up. So register early.

This is a FUN filled time— learning experience. Fellowship. I’ll be there.

Sunday, February 5, 2006

8:30 a.m. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING Robins Room

11:00 a.m. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING Antebellum Room

The Georgia Lions Lighthouse will hold its Winter Directors Meeting on February 17-19 at the Macon State College in the Continuing Education Building. Macon State is located at I-475 and US Highway 80 in Macon. The hotel for the weekend is the Holiday Inn Macon West. A special room rate of $59 is available which includes a complimentary hot breakfast. Reservations for this rate must be made by February 2 and you must indicate you are with the Georgia Lions Lighthouse.

There will be a special Saturday Evening Southern Buffet Dinner at “Willow on Fifth”. The cost is $15 which covers Dinner, Beverage, Tax and Tip. Space is limited, please RSVP to Becky Aliffi at (404) 325-3630 or email [email protected]. There will be a hospitality room at the Holiday Inn from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. in the Peach Room.

Saturday, February 18th

MACON STATE COLLEGE

CONTINUING EDUCATION BUILDING

8:30 - 11:00 Executive Committee 106

9:00 - 5:00 Lion Tamer’s Room 105

10:00 - 10:55 Building & Grounds 103

10:00 - 10:55 Technology Committee 104

10:00 - 10:55 Public Relations Auditorium

11:00 - 11:55 Children’s Eye Care Auditorium

11:00 - 11:55 Const & Bylaws 103

11:00 - 11:55 Fundraising 104

11:00 - 11:55 Sight Committee 102

12:00 - 1:00 LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

1:00 - 1:55 Nom. & Elections 102

1:00 - 2:55 Trust Investment Auditorium

1:00 - 1:55 Hearing Committee 103

1:00 - 1:55 GLASB 104

2:00 - 2:55 Long Range Planning 102

2:00 - 2:55 White Cane 103

2:00 - 2:55 Public Support 104

3:00 - 3:55 Award Study Auditorium

3:00 - 4:55 TMD Club 103

3:00 - 3:55 Finance 104

3:00 - 3:55 Personnel 102

4:00 - 4:55 Exec. Committee 102

W/ Committee Chairs

4:00 - 4:55 Pin Traders 105

5:00-6:00 PDG Association Auditorium

Sunday, February 19th

MACON STATE COLLEGE

CONTINUING EDUCATION BUILDING

8:30 - 10:00 Executive Committee 102

Tentatively scheduled

11:00 - 1:00 Board of Directors Meeting  (Auditorium)

Please join us as we honor past  Lighthouse Presidents for their legacy of leadership. Please note: All Saturday Lighthouse meetings and the Sunday Board of Directors meeting will be held at Macon State College in the Continuing Education Building..

Please double check at the Lighthouse Display table to verify your meeting location.

DG Lew’s Schedule

Club Anniversaries

The following clubs have anniversaries for January. These dates are according to LCI records.

Camp for the Blind

Y’all should have received a postcard from me with a reminder that all truck raffle ticket sales (money & ticket stubs) need to be turned into me by February 1^st.  Camp winter meeting will be held in Warner Robins on February 4 & 5^th and that is the weekend of the drawing.

The past several years this has been a great fund raiser for our camp and I would like to thank all of you for your untiring efforts to assist with this.

Another very easy way to help our camp is through the Century Club. Funds contributed to the Century Club become part of the Georgia Lion’s Camp Facility Expansion Fund.  Gifts and/or donations to this fund assures the continued expansion of the Camp’s facilities.  With the addition of the new office/nursing building the camp will need all the furnishing.  You join the Century Club simply by making a contribution of as little as $100 per year.  Camp has different levels.

Bronze Key Holder…………………$100 Donation per year

Silver Key Holder…………………..$250 Donation per year

Gold Key Holder……………………$500 Donation per year

Diamond Key Holder……………….$1000 Donation per year

(Contributions are tax deductible)

Let’s say you picked a bronze key, that’s only “.27 cents” per day.  I would like to see each lions club and each lion join this worthy way of supporting our camp.  Bottom-line, if all 47 lions clubs joined that is $4,700, and if 1250 lions joined, that is $125,000 into our camp every year, and “all for .27 cents per day”!

I have a special request if you have a love for the outdoors and children, as you all are aware I’m not running for a second term as vice president of our camp.  Qualifications are:  must be a lion or lioness in good standing and be elected from within your district.  You must have served a full term as a regular director/officer or as a region/zone chair and a associate director of the camp.  Please step forward and get involved with our beautiful camp.

I’m always available for a program; call me 964-4518 or [email protected] .

Jerry

IPDG Honored

Our own, IPDG, Rick Mizell was honored recently with a letter from International President Ashok Mehta. The letter was in recognition of the extension activities within District 18-B for the year 2004-05 resulting in the chartering of the Georgia Southern University Campus Lions Club. Lion Mizell received a Governor’s Extension Award Pin. The letter states “that there are now more than 46,000 Lions clubs in more than 193 nations and geographical areas. Each was organized because a Lion cared enough to give his or her time and energy to extend the service potential of Lions Clubs. The growth of Lionism depends entirely upon the responsibility of Lions club members to bring other service-minded people together to work in behalf of humanity. It is this dedication, which increases our effectiveness in our communities and enriches the lives of people everywhere.”

 Peace Poster Kits On Sale

Peace Poster Kits for the 2006-07 contest, “Celebrate Peace,” go on sale January 15. Purchase your club’s kit to sponsor the contest at a local school or youth group. It is an opportunity to partner together and to focus on peace and international understanding among people of the world. Kits are available from Club Supplies Sales online or call Club Supplies Sales at (630) 571-5466 or 1-800-710-7822 (U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada only).

LCIF OKs US$3.3 Million in Grants

The LCIF Board of Trustees approved US$3.3 million in November for Lions’ projects. The 81 projects will enable Lions worldwide to preserve sight and assist the blind, promote health, counter disability, nurture youth, serve the elderly and otherwise address vital humanitarian needs.

The grants consist of:

· Fifty-six standard grants for US$2.4 million. Standard grants are matching grants for large-scale service projects that meet urgent humanitarian needs. Among the standard grants are US$73,273 for Lions in Minnesota, United States (District 5M-6), to equip the ophthalmology department at the University of Minnesota, US$75,000 for Lions of Brazil (District LD-4) to equip an intensive care unit at Tres Passos Hospital, US$33,364 for Lions in Japan (District 332-D) to equip an eye bank and school for the blind and US$35,246 for Lions in India (District 324-E3) to construct the Kaduthuruthy Lions Vocational Training School for the Disabled.

·  Sixteen Core 4 grants for US$706,124. Core 4 grants are for projects under one of four program areas: preserving sight, combating disability, promoting health and serving youth. Among the Core 4 grants are US$96,990 for Lions in Finland (Multiple District 107) to expand Lions-Quest, US$25,000 for Lions in Lithuania (District 131) to establish Lions-Quest and US$32,450 for Lions in China (District 381) to build 24 Lions-Habitat homes.

· Nine International Assistance Grants for US$209,000. International Assistance Grants (IAG) enable Lions from a developed nation to partner on a project with Lions in a lesser developed region. Among the IAG are US$30,000 for Lions in France (District 103-N) to support agricultural development in Niger, Senegal and Chad, US$15,000 for Lions in Japan (District 334-E) to provide emergency vehicles for the Philippines and US$20,000 for Lions in Michigan, United States (District 11-A2), to undertake a hearing aid mission to Mexico.

The latest round of grants increases LCIF’s total amount of grants to US$375 million since 1972. The LCIF Board of Trustees approves non-SightFirst grants three times a year.

 District Convention

Lions of District 18-B—you have less than a month to make your reservations for the 2006 District Convention to be held in Hinesville!

Packets were sent to every club president.  If you did not receive the information from your club, contact the convention chair, PDG Lil Shurtleff.

Our convention hotel is the Country Inn and Suites, 742 Stewart Way, 912-877-7777.  The convention rate is no longer available, but they may have rooms.  Our hospitality room will be at this hotel.

The cabinet meeting is Saturday, February 25, 2:30 pm, at the Army Education Center.  We will elect the 2006-07 District Governor, Vice District Governor, and the Vice President for the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind.  The banquet is 6:00 pm, Club Stewart.  Tickets are only $20 per person.   You will need a permit to enter the post.  The packet has a form that will make your entry 100% easier.

Make your reservations today!  For more information, contact PDG Lil at 912 876 8324 or [email protected].

Terry Graham

Terry Graham of NewCastle, Ontario, Canada, was elected to serve a two-year term as a director of The International Association of Lions Clubs at the association’s 88th International Convention held in Hong Kong, June 27-July 1, 2005.

Director Graham is a retired industrial mechanical millwright.

A member of the NewCastle Lions Club since 1991, Director Graham has held many offices within the association, including club secretary, club membership chair, club treasurer, club director, club president, district leadership chair, multiple district MERL chair, district LCIF chair, district treasurer and district governor.

In recognition of his service to the association he has received numerous awards, including the District Governor’s Appreciation Award, two International Certificates of Appreciation and an International Leadership Medal. He is also a Life Member of the Lions Foundation of Canada and a Melvin Jones Fellow.

In addition to his Lions activities, Director Graham is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Director Graham’s wife, Jean, is also a member of the NewCastle Lions Club.

New Members

Deceased Members

Dropped Members

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 December 2005 3

Membership Loss for December 2005 -6

Net Change in Membership 18-B -3

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that slowly damage the fine nerves that connect the eye to the brain. For most people this damage occurs when pressure in the eye is too high. When these nerves are damaged, vision loss may result. Glaucoma used to be defined as an increase of pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure), but research shows that damage can occur even when pressure is in a “normal” range.

Because glaucoma develops gradually and painlessly a person could have the disease for many years and not have any symptoms, even while damage occurs. For this reason glaucoma is sometimes referred to as the “sneak thief of sight”.

It is estimated that about 4.2 million Americans have glaucoma, but only half of those have been diagnosed. Vision lost to glaucoma cannot be restored and glaucoma cannot be prevented. However, if diagnosed and treated early, it can be controlled. For this reason health professionals recommend an eye exam every two years for people at risk.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States and the leading cause of blindness among African-Americans and Hispanics. Others at risk are people over 60, those with a family history of glaucoma, diabetics, and those who have a high degree of myopia, or near-sightedness.

An eye care professional makes a diagnosis of glaucoma after a comprehensive eye exam and while it can’t be cured, it can be treated. The most common treatments are usually prescription eye drops and medicines. In some cases, laser treatment or surgery may be needed.

 Facts About Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that slowly damage the fine nerves that connect the eye to the brain. For most people this damage occurs when pressure in the eye is too high. Damage to these nerves can eventually cause vision loss.

Glaucoma usually progresses without pain or other symptoms until some vision is lost.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of vision loss in the United States.

It is estimated that about 4.2 million Americans have glaucoma, but that only half of those have been diagnosed.

Early diagnosis, proper treatment and proper medication are the best defenses against vision loss.

Medicare covers an annual dilated eye exam for all people at high risk for glaucoma.

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