Governor‘s Comments...

Many of you have just recently completed your White Cane Days.  I want to commend you of the great work you are doing for your community.  I would also like to remind you of the great opportunity to support your Lighthouse by going to and or participating in staffing booths at the upcoming Air Show in Marietta.  The air show will be held on April 29-30.  If you can work at one of the booths please let PDG James Ward or myself know.

I am sure that many of you by now have noticed the wonderful promotions for our Lions Club that appears in your Yellow Pages.  Thanks to the hard work of PDG Chris Barbieri and the generosity of the folks from The Yellow Pages, we have this excellent opportunity to perform one of the goals of our International President this year.  The Passion to Promote.  Capitalize on this opportunity to attract and grow new membership.  We really need it.  This was the first month in about four months that our membership has declined.  It is important that we all push hard to recover from the transitional status that we find our self in.

I would like to challenge you all to came and be a part of our fourth and final cabinet meeting prior to the State Convention.  The cabinet meeting will be on May 7 at 2:00 in the afternoon in Lyons, Georgia.  Watch your mail for all of the instructions on how to get there.  We have plans for a great day and will be conducting new officer training.  If you want to make your year a success come and learn how and share with us your recipe for success as we plan together for our future. 

Your Governor and Lion Cindy have been specially blessed in the last month.  We are now grandparents.  My daughter and her husband John had an 8 lb. 13 oz. baby boy on March 31.  Mom and “Logan” and both doing well.  Father is still recovering from the rigors of childbirth complicated by sleep deprivation. 

Hope you all had a safe and enjoyable Easter. 

 DG Lew

Alma– MMR received by mail on time.  Club spent 50 hours on community betterment.

Baxley – Reports received timely by mail.  Club spent 40 hours on Club Administration and 50 hours on community betterment.  Spent $1558 on local eyeglasses and $1600 on community activities.  Make $1000 contribution to Leader dog and Southeast Guide Dog, $500 to FFB&D, $500 to Blind Foundation and $500 to LCIF.  Collected $1500 for white cane and made a donation of $1000 to send a kid to camp.  Published 2 excellent articles in the local paper.

Bellville– Reports received by mail. Sent DG Newsletter.  Club sent $50 to Send-a-kit-to-camp.  $605 Sponsorship for a student to the All State Band.  Club planning to prepare and serve breakfast for the Cancer Relay fro Life event on April 29^th.  The Chicken Bar-B-Que Dinner was a huge success clearing the club $2153.  Congratulations to Emily Groover who was elected President for 2006-2007.

Brantley County– MMR received by mail. No activity reported.

Claxton- Reports filed online.  Club spent 20 hours on club administration.  Average club attendance was 8.

Cobbtown– MMR received by mail. Club put on a Pancake Supper on March 7^th.  Club planning for the Senior Citizens Fish Fry on April 25^th.

Folkston –  Monthly reports filed online.  This month we were able to help two families with food and help bring one mother to the doctors and one of children to the dentist.  We also add one new member to the club.  We also send to the cancer society of Folkston $100.00

Garden City– MMR received by mail. No activities reported.

Golden Isles– Reports received timely on-line. Club worked 22 hours on community projects and 18 hours on Community betterment.  Club sent to $100 RFB&D.

Hinesville - Reports filed online. Average attendance is 32. Club worked 89 hours on club administration and 125 hours for community betterment.  First club to submit PU101.  Congratulations to Jesse Powell who was elected president for 2006-2007.

Lyons – Reports received timely by mail.  Club spent 32 hours on club administration.  Average club attendance is 19.

Metter– MMR received by mail. Club spent $100 for Eyeglass exams and $130 on Community Betterment.

Okefenokee – Report received by mail.  Club worked 400 hours on club administration.  Club also responsible for collecting $1260.08 for the Salvation Army through the Red Kettle program.  Club donated 114 eyeglasses, 153 lenses, 3 frames, 71 cases and 2 hearing aids to the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation.

Pembroke – Reports filed timely online.  Club spent 300 On Sight Services and $550 on Community Betterment.  Sent $175 to leaderdog, $175 to RFB&D and $150 to LCIF.  Sent 600 pair of glasses, 40 lenses 20 cases and 1 used hearing aid to the Lighthouse.  Sent $1050 to Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind for Send a Kit to Camp.

Reidsville– MMR filed with LCI.  Club provided Eyeglasses Exams and Sight Services totaling $240.  Donated $200 to Campaign Sight First II.  Raised nearly $1400 during a street collection for our sight program.  Club planning their 2^nd annual Golf Tournament.  Club planning their 3^rd annual Wiregrass Festival for September 30^th.

Rincon Evening- MMR filed online.  Average attendance is 8.  Club is small but strong at heart.  Club sent 135 pair of glasses to the Lighthouse for re-distribution.  Club interviewed Matt Tamul, an Eagle Scout candidate, on his community project toward achieving his goal of Scouting’s highest rank.

Rincon– MMR filed with LCI .  Club worked 25 hours on club administration.  Average attendance is 12.

Savannah- Reports filed online.  Club worked 550 hours on Club Administration.  Provided $450 for Eyeglasses Exams and Sight Services.  Held a broom fair and sold $438 during the month.  We have made final plans to sell food at Earth Day in Savannah and hope to make a profit of at least $1000.

Statesboro Noon-   Report filed online.  Club spent 169 hours on club administration.  Spent $135 on Sight Services and $275 on Community Betterment.  Contributed $100 to Leader Dog.  Sent 530 Eyeglasses, 388 Lenses, 315 cases and 7 hearing aids along with 20 cell phones to the Lighthouse for recycling.  Planned and executed the 2^nd annual Trail Ride.  17 Lions members participated in the event which raised over $1200.oo for vision services locally.  Over 35 riders entered the event, Club members helped cook & serve our famous BBQ chicken dinner.  A program was given by PDG Jim Ward on the GA Lions Lighthouse to inspire the group for a joint White Cane Day with the Bulloch Lions & the GSU Lions.  Club continues to have two radio Public Service Announcements daily on two different local stations.

Wilmington Island – Reports filed online.  Club spent $100 on Community betterment. Donated $100 worth of canned goods to Wesley Community center food drive at Wilmington Island Methodist Church.

Woodbine – Reports received by mail.  PU101 filed.  Congratulations to James Proctor who was elected president for 2006-2007.

Waycross- Reports filed online.  Club spent 20 hours on Club Administration.  One article published in the local paper.

Club Anniversaries

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

Stroke Identification

STR OKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters... 

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the afternoon. Ingrid's husband called later saying that his wife had been taken to the hospital and passed away. She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some stroke victims don't die, they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE:

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within three hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke . . . totally. He said the trick was having a stroke recognized, diagnosed and then getting the patient medically cared for within three hours, which is tough. 

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
 
 Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions: 
 
  S *Ask the individual to SMILE.
  T *Ask the person to TALK, to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE.  
  (Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today)
  R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.   
   
 NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue . . . if the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke. 
 
 If he or she has trouble with any one of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. 

Georgia Lions Lighthouse

Have you heard that the Lighthouse is the official charity of the

Atlanta Air Show, April 29th and 30th at Dobbins Air Base?

We will be manning the concessions booth and will receive a percentage of the sales. We need your club to man a booth for

the day(s).

We will be publicly recognizing the clubs who have committed

to help us with this event in Sunday’s Board meeting. Please bring your sign up form to the meeting….Not able to attend the

meeting? Fax your registration form to 404-636-5549 by noon on Friday February 17th and we will make sure your club is recognized

as well!

The Facts on the Air Show:

·     Atlanta Air Show is at Dobbins Air Base in Marietta, GA.

·     Hours are 8am to 5pm

·     We will need to man 30 booths both Saturday and Sunday

·     Booths need 5-7 volunteers each, and we are asking clubs to take a booth for the day(s)

·     There will be door prizes for volunteers, a hospitality hut, and plenty of refreshments

·     Volunteers will receive a VIP parking pass and special entrance to the Air Base.

·     Call Becky Aliffi or Christina Lennon with any questions at 404-325-3630.

Lions / clubs interested in helping

Contacting LH President

Jon Winters

Jon M. Winters, PDG, President

Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation

Work Cell: 706-833-0458

Home #: 706-592-9622

Or the Lighthouse

PU101 Reports

As of April 17th, the following clubs have filed their PU101’s on the LCI website. Many thanks to these clubs for reporting your officers for the next Lion’s Year. Golden Isles, Hinesville, Jacksonville, Pembroke, Reidsville, Rincon Noon, Savannah, Savannah Hostess City, Statesboro Noon, Waycross, and Woodbine.

Is your club listed above? If not, ask your secretary why the report has not been filed with LCI and DG Lew. It is very important if you want your club listed in the upcoming State Directory.

Effective Orientation: Essential to a Healthy Club

New Lions have joined your club, men and women eager to become involved in community service and to enjoy the fellowship as members of the world's largest service club organization. Their sponsors have explained the basics of the association, the activities of the club they are joining and what their responsibilities will be. Still, although this information is valuable, these individuals still are not aware of the magnitude of the structure and programs of their club and the association and the true extent of their participation. For this reason, an effective orientation is necessary, provided by members totally familiar with the objectives and workings of their own clubs and of Lions Clubs International.

This orientation should be conducted as soon as possible after induction. It doesn't matter if this orientation is provided for one or more new members; the format can be structured appropriately. What is crucial is that every new Lion becomes totally familiar with this opportunity to assume a leadership role in the community, and it is the responsibility of the club's leadership to ensure that this orientation is factual and inspiring.

International President Ashok Mehta is so convinced of the necessity for this manner of orientation that he has instituted precise strategies and new awards for participation. The president's strategy is for each district to organize a two-member Orientation Team, the goal of which is to meet with every club in the district to help prepare and implement a quality program of orientation. A second element in his overall plan to enhance membership and club strength is for each district governor to establish a Certified Guiding Lion Team for newly-organized clubs. Also consisting of two members, this team should be developed to assist each newly-established Lions club by providing guidance and training, thereby helping to ensure its success and viability as a force for voluntary service in the community.

Three Orientation Formats

Three specific formats have been outlined for Lions clubs to conduct their new member orientations. These orientations are highly interactive and, in addition to the trainers, can include the sponsors, membership chair and other interested club members. One can be selected which best meets the needs of the club and adapted, if required, to be most effective. The essential difference in these formats is the number of sessions and length of time devoted to each element of the subject matter.

Each of these orientation formats includes time for questions and answers and a short review to determine how well the participants have learned the material.

A detailed Orientation Guide is available on the LCI Web site or by contacting the Extension and Membership Division at Lions Clubs International. It contains a precise outline of the subjects covered in each session of the orientations along with a wealth of reference material and a workbook for the new member. These Orientation Guides are also included in each New Club Kit and Certified Guiding Lion Kit and are provided to district governors and council chairmen.

Although the outline for the orientation sessions are detailed in nature, it is important for the trainers to nonetheless personalize the presentations as much as possible. The more the material is relevant to local realities, the more effective each of the sessions will be.

The Orientation Refresher Series is designed to renew seasoned member's knowledge of your club and association. Additional resources at the LCI website are:

ME13B - Our Illustrious History

ME13C - Purpose, Ethics and You

ME13D - Your Club, Your District

ME13E - Your International Association

ME13F - Membership, Development, Extension and Leadership

For More Information:

Membership Operations Department- Phone: (630)571-5466, ext. 340 Fax: (630)571-1691 E-mail: [email protected]

Also check out The Lions Learning Center-Membership Orientation module for additional information.

Camp for the Blind:

Our new building at the camp is well under construction.  As Brenda and I drove into camp it was an amazing sight to be seen after such a wait over the years for this project to materialize.  The pad had been poured, the major iron was in place with the roof installed and several sides already up and installed.  Construction is right on schedule and by the time camp gears up again the major outer structure should be completed.

Brenda and I volunteered again this year to cook breakfast on Saturday morning for our first work weekend at the camp.  My “sawmill gravy” went over well again this year.

With the end of April approaching fast and that being the end of the year for our point contest there are several clubs within the district who still haven’t made a contribution to the camp.  I will be making some personal phone calls to these clubs and see if we can encourage them to make any kind of a donation.  It’s not too late and as always the camp can certainly used the funds.

Jerry

 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 March 2006 3

Membership Loss for March 2006 -3

Net Change in Membership 18-B   0

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