Comments by

Vice District Governor

Earl Jackson, PhD
Sorry I missed you in last month's newsletter. I had quite a bit of traveling to do throughout the United States which kept me out of West Virginia. In spite of my travels I was able to attend and enjoy my speaking engagement on October 7th at the Barboursville Lions Club. Thank you PDG Lion Roger and Lion Bernie for the invitation. Also, my wife and I would like to thank you for the November 1st learning experience and process of making apple butter. Thanks also go out to the Barboursville Lions Club for the warm hospitality extended to us.
 
On October 9th and 10th, my wife and I had an educational trip to Leader Dog headquarters in Rochester, Michigan. We got a chance to tour their facilities as well as meet their officers. I have educational materials from Leader Dog, including a video disc if anyone would like ot borrow it for viewing. I also have materials from their program which I will be willing to share if any club or individual is interested. I will be visiting Pilot Dog facility in December. Any information and materials I receive, I will make available to anyone who is interested.
 
I was happy and pleased to participate in the Clendenin Lions Club 80th anniversary celebration. I was elated to present a Leonard Jarrett to the club's president's mother, Lion Connie Sanders. Congratulations Lion Connie - keep up your everyday Lions work. Way to go Clendenin Lions Club. Hope to see you in another 80 years.
 
I was taking a break while driving near Missouri and I decide to check my email messages. I had received a message from Lion John Pinkerman within the last minute asking if anyone was interested in a license plate (Lions Club plate). Believing I didn't have a chance I replied that I would take it. Within a few minutes I received confirmation that I did have a Lions Club plate coming my way. You too can have a plate, just contact Lion John Pinkerman or PDG Bill Griffith.
 
I enjoyed my time at MD-29I District Governor Trish Fall Conference in Harpers Ferry. I got to meet new Lions and nicely aged Lions. I really enjoyed myself. Congratulations DG Trish on a job well-done.
 
Congratulations DG Herb on MD-29O Fall Conference's success in South Charleston. Again, thank you all for your support of DG Herb in making his Fall Conference a success. Thank you for coming out to the VDG luncheon. Especially those from my club, KCLC; Zone Chair Lion Jim and Club President, Lion Scott. It was great spending time with you all, I wish I could list everyone's name. Look forward to talking to you in next month's newsletter. Go Lionism!
 
November schedule for VDG:
 
1 - Barboursville Club - Apple Butter Stir
 
3 - Spencer Lions Club - Visitation
 
7-9 - 29N Fall Conference
 
8 - Sight Foundation Meeting
 
11 - Cedar Grove
 
18 - South Charleston Lions Club
 
21-23 - KCLC Art & Craft Show

 
Comments by

Past District Governor

Lion George Woodrum

Lions Eye Screening

The Putnam County Lions Club would like the thank the following people and clubs for their help in screening the six grade classes at the Putnam County four middle schools. The participating Lions Clubs were Hurricane, Scott-Teays, Hometown and Winfield. As usual the nurses and volunteers from the middle schools also helped. In three days, the Lions with the help of the County nurses were able to screen 610 students from the county four middle schools. Out of the 610 students approximately 20% were asked to see their family doctor. The Lions of Putnam County with the help of the school nurses have been screening the eyes of our county six graders for the past twenty years. This is only one of the many services provided by Lions around the world. Right here in West Virginia thousands upon thousands of dollars have been spent to help West Virginians in need.

For more information about the Lions Clubs in Putnam County contact the following Lions:

Hurricane Lion Ben Newhouse 562-5869,

Scott-Teays Lion Larry Frye 757-8101,

Hometown, Lion George Woodrum 586-3614,

Winfield, Lion Danny Seibert 586-3732

 
 

Comments by

Lion Gary L. Watson

District 29-O IT Chair

 
If your club has upcoming events or activities that you would like to advertise on the District 29-O web page ( http://lionsmd29-o.org ) please send information and/or pictures concerning them to me at garylwatson@comcast.net. Also, any comments you may have concerning "Lionism" will be happily displayed on this page. HELP me make our web page informative and interesting by submitting information of interest to other Lions. If your club does not yet have a web page and you would like one, contact me and I will be happy to get you started.
 
Comments by

Vice District Governor

Lion Earl Jackson, PhD

 

August so far has been a busy month. I met with the Kanawha City Lions Club to share information with them on the CSFII and WSF. It was with great pleasure that I visited the Big Coal River Whitesville Lions Club for their ‘Charter Night’. Thanks go out to Lion Scott Neely and Lion Betty for making me feel welcome when I was a guest speaker at the Southridge Pacesetters Lions Club.

 

This month I was able to have our first MERL team meeting, thank you team members. Our next meeting will be held at the Fall Conference in October. It will be held after the cabinet meeting.  Please stay as only by the help of us all shall we grow and make District 2-0 stronger.

 

I look forward to representing our district in Lewisburg on August 23rd. Thank you Lion DG Herb. 

 

Any club wishing to have me come speak, please contact me at (304) 925-4514 or email me. I look forward to serving the district as VDG and working with all of you.

 

 

Your, VDG

Lion E. Jackson

 
 

Comments by

Lion Gary L. Watson

District 29-O IT Chair

Lesage Lions Club Membership Chair

Volunteering

Appalachians have historically been highly independent and quick to help their friends, neighbors, and family. This is probably due to the inaccessibility of the region and the hard living conditions experienced by all in years past. In more modern times, West Virginians have always been the first to volunteer in national emergencies. It appears times are changing.

The Associated Press reports that recent studies indicate that volunteerism nationally declined in 2007 for the second year in a row to 26.7%. West Virginia was ranked 37th with a volunteerism rate of 25.7%. This could be due to the average age of our citizenry and the low average income of our populous, but excuses are of no help. It’s time that we reverse this trend, and the "LIONS", the largest service organization in the world, is the perfect mechanism to accomplish this.

As a Lion you should provide the leadership necessary to determine your communities’ pressing needs and to provide the service necessary to resolve the community problems. Start with recruiting the members of your Lions Club. Is your Lions Club robust enough to handle the problem? If not, you have two alternatives: 1. Sell the need for members of your community to volunteer, preferably by joining the Lions, and 2. Approach other Lions Clubs in your area or District to join with you in "Serving".

Don't think short term, think to the future. It can be discouraging if you only consider today, but if you establish a vision for the future and stay focused you can accomplish most things. It is time that we quit looking to others to solve problems, and realize that we can only control our own actions. Make your actions count, and synchronize them with other Lions to multiply your effectiveness through synergism. Together you can do more.

Always keep in mind the need to increase the number of volunteers to address community needs. Don't be discouraged by the 25.7% rate reported in West Virginia. That percentage tells you that 1 out of every 4 people volunteer. Does your Lions Club have 1 of every 4 members of the community as a Lion? It appears to me, that a large group of potential recruits is waiting for you to invite them to “JOIN THE LIONS".

 

Selling Your Club

Every productive Lions club has six basic characteristics. The more firmly these qualities are embedded into the club’s operating structure, the more success and growth the club enjoys. These six qualities—as they exist in your club—can become your most effective selling tools.

1) A major service activity that involves every member of the club and has a significant, positive impact on its intended population.

2) A major fundraising project in which the community can participate and in which it can contribute.

3) A strong public relations program that provides a continuous, consistent line of communication among all the members of your club and between the club and the community.

4) Well-organized, interesting, informative and productive club meetings.

5) A feeling of teamwork, cooperation and cohesiveness between club members.

6) A strong membership growth, development and retention program that provides immediate orientation and involvement of club members, and continues to nurture their development throughout their years of service.

If your club has weaknesses in any of these areas, it is an essential for the appropriate chairperson to work on strengthening the club. A productive, effective club that is visible in the community and is meeting its service goals will practically sell itself to new members. Clubs with weak areas may be able to attract some new members, but their rates of retention are low.

(Note: This “Selling Your Club” is an excerpt from the “Club Membership Chair Guide” located on LCI web page.)