August 2010 Comments
It is so hard to believe that one month into my year of being District Governor is over, but what a fun month it was. After returning from Sydney, Australia on July 3rd, I hit the ground running with my first official visit to the Barboursville Lions Club,
As many of you are aware, our president’s theme is "A Beacon of Hope" with a campaign of four different service projects for this year—August is "Engaging our Youth". This is a perfect month for you to engage your youth in your area in some of your service projects, visit children’s home or anything that you think would show engaging with our youths in Lionism. Be A "BEACON OF HOPE" to those that are in need of our help.
Beginning August 1 and going through November 30, I am promoting women’s membership. There will be a contest in our district as to which club can recruit and install women. The club and the zone chairperson of that zone will receive an award.
Expanded service equals expanded members, with HEART AND HANDS, we make a difference. Be a "BEACON OF HOPE" to those that are in need of our help.
July 2010 Comments
What an honor to be elected District Governor of 29-O, Lions of West Virginia. Little did I know, when I joined the Lesage Lions Club in March of 1998, I would be coming home from Sydney, Australia, to begin my year of serving the Lions in my district. I have had the fortune to have traveled to many Lions International conventions around the country and seen how the Lions of the world take pride in belonging to the worlds’ largest and most active service club organization.
As I asked Lions of 29-O to serve on my cabinet, I looked for
individuals who had the same passion for Lionism that I have, and I believe that
I have found those who practice our motto of “We Serve”.
Together, with
Heart and
Hands, we make a difference, and I am most proud to
serve as your next District Governor.
In the upcoming months, along with my cabinet, we will endeavor to provide leadership in our district and strive to be available and helpful to each of our clubs; however, I will need your help. Our district membership is below the 1,250 that Lions Clubs International says we need to be in order to be a district in good standing. We may, or may not, reach that number by June 30, 2011, but I know we will work hard to strengthen our clubs and strive to get closer to becoming a credited district.
In addition to working with clubs to gain new members along with the addition of new Lions Clubs, I want to encourage our district to seek out and ask more women to join our organization. With nearly 1,000 members in 29-O, only 25% are ladies. I encourage each Lion to ask their spouse to join us, thereby, giving us many more Heart and Hands to carry out our mission. I would also encourage each club to extend invitations to the younger generation. The main reason we don’t have younger members is that we don’t ask them. I know that there are many who would like to be part of us but it seems that we don’t think they would have the time to join. I personally will try to recruit more ladies and younger members this year and challenge each Lion in 29-O to do the same.
If you have not requested an official visit, please email me at Kris.A.Pinkerman@wv.gov or call me at 304-638-4096.