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April 2007
(Click Here for Newsletter Archives)
Becky's Bits
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Dear Fellow Lions:
This past month has really been busy. We are preparing for the District Convention that will be held in Longview on May 4th and 5th. By now each of you should have received a letter with registration information, schedule of events and ad information. You may have noticed that there are two deadline dates listed for early registration forms. The correct deadline for early registration is Monday, April 23rd not the 15th. Please make this correction, before making copies and passing them out to your club members. We will have a necrology service at 11:00 a.m. in honor of all our beloved Lions that have passed away since March of last year.
This month I received a resignation from Lion Bill Hogan who was running for Vice District Governor. Lion Bill will be getting married at the end of the month and will be moving to DeRitter, LA to start a new life with his new bride Edie. It has been a pleasure getting to know Lion Bill over the past few years. I for one was looking forward to seeing him serve as Governor of our District. I know that he would have made a wonderful Governor and one day he will. We never know where life's road will take us, but I know that the Lions of DeRitter will be getting an outstanding Lion, who is dedicated to our motto "WE SERVE". His move will be our loss, but will be their gain. We wish Lions Bill and Edie all the best and hope to see them at the District Convention in May. Thanks for all that you have done, we will miss you!
With the resignation of Lion Bill Hogan running for VDG, that has left the door open for us to look for others to fill that spot. I called several Lions and PDGs to let them know what was going on and asked a few PDGs to make calls to fellow Lions they knew that would be interested in serving. A special called PDG meeting was held on Saturday, March 24th, were it was announced that two Lions have stepped forward to run for Vice District Governor. They are Lion John Samples from the Tyler Lions Club and Lion Traci Francis from the Judson Lions Club. You will find their resolutions elsewhere in this newsletter. These two names will appear on the ballot at the District Convention.
We are also needing Lions to serve as Director of East Texas Lions Eye Bank If you would like to submit your name for the East Texas Lions Eye Bank, please contact Lion Wanda Mitchell. She can also answer any questions that you might have regarding what the Eye bank does and what would be expected of you as Director. Nominations from the floor at the District Convention will be accepted for these positions.
In closing, I ask that you make a commitment to attend the Convention this year. Once again we are working hard to offer a couple of special seminars for you and your new members. I have known our Guest Speaker, Past International Director Rick Myers for many years. He and his wife Marsha will be here to share some of their stories as Lions and their experiences in Lionism. We want to give them a warm Texas welcome, so let's all turn out and show our support to them for making time out of their busy schedule to be our guest that weekend.
We will be trying something new during the Model luncheon on Saturday. We will be announcing the winners of our Youth Contest as the program. It is not to late to get your Youth involved in our Youth Contest. We have the Outstanding Youth Contest, Diabetic Essay Contest, and Speech Contest. We will be having our Queens Contest on Saturday afternoon with the winners being announced at our banquet Saturday evening. If you have any questions regarding these contest, contact Lion Leon VanAlstine. Hurry, Deadline is now Monday, April 16th.
Yours In Lionism,
DG Becky
Special Points of Interest:
At a recent meeting, the Judson Lions Club has once again accepted the challenge of truly becoming "Knights of The Blind". The Club approved to become a Model Club for CSFII. Committing to be a Model Club they will raise $16,000 over the next five years, which breaks down to be $400 per member. The Judson Lions Club is the first is the District to become a Model Club, but hopes that other clubs in the district will step up and also accept the challenge of helping our organization fight preventable and curable blindness. To learn more about Campaign SightFirst II and the SightFirst program, visit www.Lions-CSFII.org.
From The Desk Of VDG Jim Merritt
Hello Fellow Lions:
March was a very busy month with the MERLO Team conference March 9th & 10th, and the Lions Leadership Training was March 10th & 11th in Austin. In addition to these activities, District 2X2 Lions have been out WORKING and ESTABLISHING new clubs! Wow! I am so proud to be a part of this District with such outstanding Lions.
As a result of much visiting face to face & planning, we have another new club with 30 members at this time, in Waskom, Texas. Who would have thought so much could be accomplished in such a short time. Lions working together brought this club together in a matter of days. Communities want service clubs like Lions and it takes hard work to get them set up but it can be accomplished!!
There are a couple of items that also need to be mentioned. The deadline for applications to Lions Camp summer program is almost here. We have a contract for a 40 passenger bus to transport campers. Surely there are that many kids who want/need to go to this camp in June, 2007. This is another need that can be filled by asking a school nurse,
A special education teacher, or perhaps a pediatrician/physician's assistant would be able to help find these worthy kids for you. Kids are our future and it is our calling to help them. Your club's monies go for this specific charity. Will you and your club participate in asking someone??? Or decide "to let someone else do it".
Secondly, we need sponsors for a hole for the golf tournament to be held in Kerrville in August. We have 2 worthy Lions and we would encourage you to honor
Them – Lion Garvis Gilbert and also Lion Clyde Bowling. Please contact Jack Wakin or your club president and they can help you get going with this important honor.
I'm looking forward to seeing you soon. Thank you for all you do to serve your community and club.
Yours in Lionism,
VDG Jim Merritt
District Charities
Thank you to all the clubs who have previously paid their 100% to our District Charities. We are very close to being 100% in all the District Charities.
While I know that funds are tight in most clubs, I am asking that you look at making an effort before the end of June to be 100% to all of the District Charities. This is a once a year donation that your club makes to organizations. This is above any dues that you pay to them. In some cases, this is how these organization function, is by our 100% donations. Below I have listed each organization along with the amount they ask us to donate per member. Can you find it in your budget to make these donations? I hope so. I hope that this is the year that every club in our district will be 100% to each of our District Charities. For more information, please contact, Governor Becky Whitenack, 903-758-5058 or by email bcbeckyw@aol.com.
- Texas Lions Camp $10
- Lions Club International Foundation $1
- Leader Dog for the Blind $2
- East Texas Eye Bank $1
- Lions World Services for the Blind $2
- Texas Lions Foundation $2
- Texas Eye Glass Recycling Center $2
Total is $20 per member. These funds can be taken from your Activity/Project Account
District 2-X2 New Members
Virgil Melton, Jr - Canton
Darius VanHoy - Canton
Audra Smith - Edgewood
Ricky LaPrade - Edgewood
Jason Jones - Emory
Philip Alexander - Emory
Misty Powers - Henderson
Jimmy Everitt, Jr. - Marshall
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Gloria Byrd - Mar-Tex
Kacee McNiel - Mt Pleasant
John Waldon - Mt Pleasant
James Marshall - Pittsburg
Margaret Shaw - Wake Village
Gene Bass - Yantis Lake Fork
Mary Bass - Yantis Lake Fork
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Stop the Shipping
Collect your eye glasses and bring them to the District Convention in Longview on May 4-5.
Let's build a pile of eyeglasses. Don't ship your eyeglasses off, save them and bring them to the Convention. IPDG Leon Van Alstine will collect them and put them in the District Trailer and take them to Midland for you.
Anyone interested in having his/her name or a Club name put on the trailer, needs to see IPDG Leon. The cost is $100.00 for a club and $60.00 for an individual Lion to put his/her name on the trailer.
Time To Elect New Officers
Now is the time to elect new officers and report them to Lions Club International as well as the District. The PU101 forms are due April 15th.
Please send your forms into Lions Club International. It states to send a copy to the District Governor, but to save time it really needs to go to the Vice District Governor Jim Merritt so that he can prepare his District Directory for next year.
If you submit your monthly MMR forms on-line you will be able to fill your PU101's on-line as well. They will not (or we have been told) be sending out these forms to clubs who submit their monthly MMR's on-line. As Governor and Vice District Governor, we can go on-line and pull both the MMR's and the PU101's off at anytime.
WARNING TO LATE CLUBS: If you are late electing officers and submitting your PU101's, you will be getting calls asking you to do this as soon as possible. This is very important to the operation of not only your club, but to the District and to International. Calling clubs about their reports (especially monthly) is not something the Governor and/or officers of this district like to do. Please do your part now, before April 15th.
For Your Information
Dear Members of District 2-X2:
It has been brought to my attention that the following manner should be addressed since PDG Joan Houser stated during the October Cabinet meeting, she was resigning from her club and by doing so would also mean she was no longer a member of the District. This is a copy of the emails that took place on Friday, February 23, 2007.
I hope by doing this, this will put an end to this issue, both at the District level and Club level. We as Lions have too much to do in our communities to continue with open politics of ones club.
Dear Lion President Trey:
It has come to my attention that I need to let you and the Tyler Lions Club know I am "un-resigning" my call to you saying that I was dropping out of Lions.
I know from talking to Lion Amanda that the first thing she did when she took over the Secretary's job she checked the International MMR and my name had not been dropped.
So please accept this as my "un-resigning" that telephone call to you. I am very glad that I am still a member of the Tyler Lions Club and if the Board will have me back I would be glad to help Lion Amanda.
PDG Lion Joan Houser
Joan,
We will certainly consider this at our board meeting. I had never considered you dropped because you were still on the MMR and paid up through 12/31/06. The only change was that Lion Amanda took over the office of secretary. I am glad you are back and I appreciate the experience and dedication you bring to our club. Thank you for all you do and especially for the help you have given me this year.
In Lionism,
Lion Trey
Yours in Lionism,
Becky Whitenack,
District Governor
Lions Reach Half Of CSFII Goal Of US $150 Million
Oak Brook, IL (USA) March 19, 2007 - Lions surpassed a major campaign benchmark by reaching more than US$75 million raised, half of their Campaign SightFirst II (CSFII) minimum goal of US$150 million to fight preventable blindness around the world.
"We have many millions of dollars still to raise, but reaching this half-way point is very encouraging and exciting for the thousands of Lions raising funds," said Dr. Tae-Sup Lee, Past International President and CSFII Chairperson. "Lions have always risen to the challenge and are prepared to continue their global leadership in the fight against blindness."
Dr. Lee said he and many Lions are looking ahead to their next benchmark, US$90 million raised by Lions Clubs International's 90th anniversary this July. "With each week, more and more Lions clubs are rallying around Campaign SightFirst II, and we anticipate meeting our next campaign target that is now just a few months away."
According to Dr. Lee, personal gifts from Lions and "Model Clubs" have and will continue to be the two major Lions' sources of fund raising. Gifts from public and governmental sources are also being sought and accepted through the campaign.
Charter Nights Announced
Linden Lions Club - Charter Night May 19th, Guest Speaker: PID Mike Butler
Guiding Lions: Lion Jackie Bowling and PDG Van Hawes
Sponsoring Lions Club: Mineloa Lions Club
Waskom Lions Club - Charter Night June 16th, Guest Speaker: PID Marshall Cooper
Guiding Lions: PDG Leon VanAlstine and Lion Robert Wood
Sponsoring Club: Marshall Noon Lions Club
Tyler Rose City Hispanic Lions Club - Charter Night Friday, June 1st, Guest Speaker: TBD
Guiding Lions: PDG Joan Houser and Lion Tony Pena
Sponsoring Lions Club: Tyler Lions Club
Attention Club Secretaries
PU101's are due this month, April 15th. Please get them to International and a copy to VDG Jim Merritt. The copy that goes to the Governor can just be send to him.
Lion Jim needs this information as soon as possible so that he can have the correct information so he can get his District Directory together. International needs this information so they can assign passwords to officers of the club for on-line reporting.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Cabinet Secretary, Lion Brian Whitenack, 903-758-5058 or email lionbrian7@aol.com.
New Clubs Need Help Getting Started
With the start of a new club there are many expenses that occur in the first several months of getting started. They need everything from Flags, Gong and gavel to name-badges, secretary records just to name a few. We are asking for your help in the following areas listed below.
(1) If you would like to purchase items from the Lions Catalog, please contact the guiding Lion before items are purchased so they can keep record of what is being purchased. Lion Jackie Bowling, PDG Joan Houser or PDG Leon VanAlstine will have a "wish list" of items for you to choose from.
(2) Checks/donations will be accepted at each of the charter nights to help with the purchase of items.
(3) Items for auctions are being accepted to help make their charter night a huge success.
(4) Come to each charter night to welcome these new Lions into District 2-X2.
NOMINATING
PDG Carol French - Chairman
Lion Trey Casper
Lion Steve Higginbotham
CREDENTIALS
Governor Becky Whitenack, Chairman
PDG Brain Whitenack
Lion Drew Seidel
Lion Nancy Van Alstine
Lion Louise Smith
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RESOLUTIONS
Lion Patricia Guy
Lion Jackie Childress
Lion Robert Owens
Lion Lynn Nacol
Lion Paul Ellinger
ELECTIONS
Lion Sharon Ellis
Lion Mike Pendleton
Lion Robert Wood
PDG Bill Hurst
PDG Joan Houser
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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Lion Mike Pendleton
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS
Lion Warren Proctor
TAIL TWISTER
Lion Bill Hogan
Lion Billy Cabbiness
DISTRICT CONVENTION CHAIRMAN
PDG Brian Whitenack and Lion James Cammack
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CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
PDG Smokey Stevens - Chairman
Lion Lynn Burton
Lion Dan Sadler
Lion Wayne Mosley
PDG Gid Terry
RULES COMMITTEE
Lion Wanda Mitchell - Chairman
Lion Marlene Pendleton
Lion Andy Reese
Lion Scott Bagley
Lion Frank Edwards
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District Calendar Of Events
April 7 - Nash and Wake Village Bucket Shake, 10:00-2:00, Intersection of Kings Hwy and Hwy 82
April 7 - New Boston Trades Day
April 14 – Chapel Hill Hamburger Supper, 4:00-8:00 pm, Chapel Hill VFD
April 15 - Deadline for Queen's Contest
April 15 - Deadlines for submitting PU101, (2007-2008 Club Officers report)
April 15 - Deadline for reserving your room for the District Convention
April 21 - Edgewood Bike Tour
April 24 - Region 1 Zone 1 Meeting, Smokey Joe's Restaurant in Nash, 6:30 pm
April 27-28 - Linden Wild Flowers Trails
May 4-5 - District Convention in Longview, Exhibit Building;
May 5 - District 2-X2 Annual PDG Garvis Gilbert Texas Lions Camp Walk A Thon
May 19 - Charter Night for Lindale Lions Club
June 10 - Texas Lions Camp
June 7-9 - State Convention, Arlington, TX.
June 16 - Charter Night, for Waskom Lion Club
June 16 & 23 - Club Officers Training School – Mt. Pleasant
July 22-August 3 - Diabetic Camp
Have your events listed here by emailing Lion April McCright at aprilm128@aol.com
The Governor's Calendar
April 3 - Grand Saline
April 5 - Mt. Pleasant
April 10 - Quitman
April 11 - Hughes Springs
April 12 – Yantis
April 18 - Atlanta
April 19 - Bogata
April 23 - Tatum ?
April 26 - Linden
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