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August 2007
(Click Here for Newsletter Archives)
From the Desk of
District Governor Jim Merritt
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HELLO FELLOW LIONS!!!
I have just returned from the Council of Governors Meeting in Kerrville and we all visited the Lions Children's Camp. What a pleasure it is to visit the Camp! Please make that effort to go and see just exactly why we are always working to make the Camp better.
Lion Linda and I have just returned from the Leader Dog School in Rochester, Michigan. We had a tour of their excellent facilities and will be sharing some helpful information. Also, if you have access to a computer, you can go on line to www.leaderdog.org, and you can also see the benefits of this worthy charity.
Since we returned from the convention in Chicago, I have been "on the road again"... and have had a chance to visit with some great Lion Clubs and Lion friends. I'm amazed at all the good things that are going on in your communities – led by Lions, of course. Thank you for your hospitality!!
I do have some sad news to report, however. I must mention the passing of two honorable Lions from our Club in Edgewood. Lion Leon Slaughter had been ill for several months and passed away the first of this month. Then Lion Neal Brooks who was Charter President for the Edgewood Lions Club passed away on August 6th. These Lions devoted countless hours to others and they will be greatly missed in our District. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families.
Secretaries please file your reports early so we can forward on to International. We must emphasize the importance of getting these reports into International on time. If you are having a problem filing on line, just give me a call and we will help – remember we need the report by the 5th of the month. Since our Cabinet meeting is August 18th and our newsletter goes out on the 20th of the month, we will be including additional information you will need in the newsletter.
I'm looking forward to seeing you soon – call me or email me anytime!
Governor Jim
Governor Jim and Leader Dogs for the Blind
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Governor Jim and Lion Linda recently visited the Leader Dog School for the Blind Rochester, Michigan. Gov. Jim and Lion Linda were able to experience the training process with a Leader Dog. The trainer informed Gov. Jim that he was a natural.
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Quips and Quotes
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The Question is: Can a Club President generate feelings of fairness. How can we as Club Officers be reasonably sure that the way we act or what we say will be regarded fair? There may be no absolute guarantees, there are some safeguards. We need to use or try them; they work.
- How well do I treat people from whom I gain nothing.
- Am I transparent to others?
- Do I role-play based on the person(s) I'm with?
- Am I the same person when I'm not in the spotlight as I am when I'm alone?
- Do I quickly admit wrongdoing without being pressed to do it?
- Do I put other people ahead of my personal agenda?
- Do I have unchanging standards for moral decisions, or do circumstances determine my choices?
- Do I make difficult decisions, even when they have a personal cost attached to them?
- When I have something to say about people, Do I talk to them or about them.
- Am I accountable to at least one other person for what I think, say, and do?
Often when a member makes an "uncalled for remark" he or she is searching for and expecting a response. Your response may give him exactly what he wants - President and peer attention. You may also give the attention that he or she wants, by telling them that you will speak to them privately after the meeting.
Don't forget Lion President, you are the leader. Your members expect you to lead. Have a good year.
Our Campers Need Your Help
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Support our campers in District 2X2 by helping us make a supply box for their needs.
For only $27.50, your club can help purchase needed supplies that will insure that our kids arrive at camp and go home from camp comfortably. The needed supplies will be kept in a box and will be handed down to all new Camp Directors for future use.
Included in the box will be a large, velour beach towel with our Lion emblem. The towels are 30"X60" and can be personalized with your club's name.
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By purchasing a large quantity of these towels, we can sell them for $27.50. This also enables the children to snuggle up on the bus trips, and they can use them when they are swimming at camp.
We really need your club's help with this project. The kids that go to Texas Lions Camp deserve the very best from us.
Please send your club's check for $27.50 per towel (make payable to District 2-X2) to Lion Linda Merritt, P.O. Box 472, Nash, TX 75569.
District Charities
This year all District Charity donations will be sent to District Governor Jim Merritt or Cabinet Secretary Lion Nancy VanAlstine instead of the individual Chairpersons. From there the donations will be sent to Cabinet Treasurer Drew Seidel.
A convenience for club treasurers is that one check can by made covering all charities. Include a record of each charity paid and the amount for each charity with the check. Clubs will receive recognition for being 100% to the charities paid.
Remember to send charity checks in one envelop to DG Jim Merritt, P.O. Box 59, Nash, TX 75569 or Lion Nancy VanAlstine , 6645 U.S. Hwy 59 North, Marshall, TX 75670.
As a reminder the following is a list of charities and donation amounts to be considered 100%:
- Texas Lions Camp- $10.00 per member
- Lions Club International Foundation- $1.00 per member
- Leader Dog for the Blind- $2.00 per member
- East Texas Eye Bank- $1.00 per member
- Lions World Service for the Blind- $2.00 per member
- Texas Lions Foundation- $2.00 per member
- Texas Eye Glass Recycling Center- $2.00 per member.
Peace Poster Contest
The 2007-2008 Peace Poster Contest theme is "Peace Around the World". All clubs wishing to participate need to order a Peace Poster kit from Club Supplies Sales Department of Lions International by October 1, 2007. Students ages 11, 12, and 13 by November 15th are eligible to participate.
All club entries are due by November 15th. Send entries to Lion Sandy Sandberg, 132 Amy, Longview, TX 75605.
New PowerPoints Available Online
The Lions Web site includes PowerPoints, available in all 11 languages of the Association, which help illustrate Lions programs. These presentations include:
- Adopted Service Program of Lions Clubs International (http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/co ntent/ppt/adopted_service_programs.ppt)
- International Relations (http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/ppt/ir_overview.ppt)
- Club Twinning (http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/ppt/twinning.ppt)
- Lions ALERT Program (http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/ppt/alert.ppt)
- Culture (http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/ppt/culture_community_projects.ppt)
- Seventh Annual Lions International Performance Festival (http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/ppt/2007_performance_festival.ppt)
- Environmental Photo Contest (http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/ppt/EPC_rules.ppt)
Adopted Service Programs of Lions Club International
There are seven official areas of Lions service. An explanation of these service areas appears in the online publication, Adopted Service Programs of Lions Clubs International (IAD 223) and in the online Adopted Service Programs of Lions Clubs International PowerPoint ((ppt/adopted_service_programs.ppt). To view these resources, log onto: www.lionsclubs.org. Click into "Other Programs," then "International Relations."
Get your Pins!
District and State pins are now available. The cost is $4.00 a piece or $7.00 for the pair. See Gov. Jim to purchase them.
Attention All Club Secretaries
Your Monthly Membership Report is due by the 10th of each month. Even if you have no activity, you must complete a report. You should also complete an Activity Report each month. If you do not know how to complete an Activity Report, come to the break out session at the cabinet meeting on August 18 or contact Lion Nancy VanAlstine at 903-938-1829.
Online Activity Report
In 2006-07, Lions clubs secretaries completed the Online Activity Report and shared the following information concerning club activities:
· The average Lions club donated US$13,568 to charitable causes. This represents an estimated worldwide total of US$605 million (based on 44,951 Lions clubs as of June 30, 2007).
· The average Lions club provided 719 volunteer service hours to the community. This represents an estimated worldwide total of 32 million volunteer service hours (based on 44,951 Lions clubs as of June 30, 2007).
Detailed information about 2006-07 Online Activity Report results appears on the Lions Web site. www.lionsclubs.org. Click into: "Other Programs." At the bottom of the page, click into the link that reads: "Online Activity Report results from 2006-07."
International Relations
October is Lions International Relations Month. United Nations Day is October 24. Encourage the Lions clubs in your area to celebrate the international aspect of our global organization by hosting an international day. Serve a variety of international foods. Invite ethnic dancers and musicians to perform. For more information on Lions International Relations Month, log onto the Lions Web site at: www.lionsclubs.org. Click into: "Other Programs," then "International Relations." A new Lions international relations PowerPoint is now available in this section of the Web site.
The 30th Annual Lions Day with the United Nations (UN) will be held on Friday, March 14, 2008 at UN Headquarters in New York, NY, USA. The daylong program features UN speakers, lunch with UN ambassadors, and a tour of the historic UN building prior to its renovation. The registration form is available on the Lions Web site at: www.lionsclubs.org. Click into: "Other Programs," then "International Relations."
International club twinning is a voluntary and mutual agreement of friendship between clubs in different countries. Lions or Leo clubs that enter into an official international club twinning agreement during 2007-08 can attend the first-ever Lions International Club Twinning Ceremony to occur during the 91st Lions International Convention in Bangkok, Thailand. For a list of clubs interested in becoming club twins, log onto the Lions Web site at: www.lionsclubs.org. Click into "Other Programs," then "International Relations." A new Lions international relations PowerPoint is now available in this section of the Web site
The online Lions Serving Humanity program provides a Web-based location for the exchange of volunteer services and material for emergency and non-emergency Lions projects. If your club can provide assistance or is in need of assistance, log onto the Lions Web site at: www.lionsclubs.org. Click into: "Other Programs," then "International Relations."
The Lions ALERT Program encourages Lions clubs to develop a plan of action in the event of a local emergency. To help prepare your community in the event of a: Level One emergency (affecting a few people), Level Two emergency (affecting a community) or Level Three emergency (affecting hundreds or thousands of people in a region), log onto www.lionsclubs.org. Click into: "Other Programs," then "International Relations." A new Lions international relations PowerPoint is now available in this section of the Web site.
Cultural and Environmental Programs
Culture Program A new Lions Culture PowerPoint is now available on the Lions Web site at: www.lionsclubs.org. Click into: "Other Programs," then "Cultural and Environmental."
The Lions Environmental Photo Contest is open to every Lions club. Submit a winning club-level photo illustrating the beauty of the local environment to the district contest. Multiple district entries will be displayed at the 91st Lions International Convention in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thirteen multiple district entries will appear in the 2009 Lions Environmental Photo Contest Calendar. For contest information, log onto the Lions Web site at: www.lionsclubs.org. Click into: "Other Programs," then "Cultural and Environmental." A new Lions Environmental Photo Contest PowerPoint is now available in this section of the Web site.
The winning photos from the 2006-07 Lions Environmental Photo Contest appear on the Lions Web site at: www.lionsclubs.org. Click into "Other Programs," then "Cultural and Environmental."
The Eighth Annual Lions International Performance Festival will be held June 23-27, 2008, during the 91st Annual Lions International Convention in Bangkok, Thailand. Talented Lions are encouraged to participate. Complete information appears on the Lions Web site at: www.lionsclubs.org. Click into: "Other Programs," then Cultural and Environmental." For festival details, e-mail: programs@lionsclubs.org.
To view the Seventh Annual Lions International Performance Festival held during the 90th Annual Lions International Convention held in Chicago, IL, USA, log onto the Lions Web site at: www.lionsclubs.org. Click into "Other Programs," then "Cultural and Environmental."
District Calendar Of Events
July 22-28 and July 29- August 4- Diabetic Camp
August 18- Cabinet Meeting, Mt. Pleasant, 9:00-2:00
August 28- Region 1 Zone 1 Meeting, Wake Village, 6:30, Smokey Joe's Restaurant in Nash
October 1- Deadline to purchase Peace Poster kit
November 15- Deadline to submit Peace Poster
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