District 1A Governor's Newsletter. Lions & Leo's Monthly e-Magazine for the Month of December 2023.

District Governor News DECEMBER 2023

By Tom Elsey

Introduction I started the month attending District 1-M’s Convention in Urbana, IL and attending the 19th Anniversary and Annual Presentation of Officers in Niles, IL Barb and I enjoyed attending both events and seeing so many great Lions.

On the 11th we held our second Cabinet meeting for the District, and it was well attended by our hard working leaders of the District, and we heard about all the great things that are happening in District 1-A. On the 19th, we were able to attend the Charter Night for the Chicago Healthcare Alliance. They were fortunate to be able to have 3rd International Vice President Mark S. Lyon from Brookfield, Connecticut. He Inducted the 76 members of the club and gave an inspiriting Keynote speech to all.

Congratulations to our newest club in 1-A and keep up the excellent work you do for your communities and causes.

It was a pleasure to attend the Governor’s Night, Installation of Club Officers

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and Induction of New Members during November.

It is an honor to celebrate with the great clubs in our district. If you club would like to schedule a governor’s visit, please contact me to see if I have a specific date available on my schedule. If I do not have a date available, we can also offer the 1st or 2nd Vice District Governors as another choice.

I was also able to attend NW Area 2, SW Area 4 and SE Area 6 Region meetings during November. I am so appreciative of all the great service projects the clubs are providing their communities or causes. Keep up the great work!

I would like to give a friendly reminder to all clubs to remember to pay their dues to Lions International, the District and State Dues, we are fast approaching financial suspension of too many clubs by Lions International, so make sure all dues are paid! and to report all the great service projects that your clubs are doing in your communities. If you have already done this, I thank you. Please reach out if you have not received a dues statement or if you do not know how to report service projects.

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Travels of the Governor/District Events November 2023 3 - Willow Springs Lions Club – Las Vegas Night 3 – 4 – District 1-M Convention (Governor Amy Hill) 4 – Fil-USA – 19th Anniversary and Annual Presentation of Officers 11 – 2nd Cabinet Meeting 15 – Willow Springs Lions Governor’s Night 17 – Chicago Mabuhay Lions Club Governor’s Night 19 – Chicago Healthcare Alliance Lions Club Charter Night 20 – Northwest Area – 2 Region Meeting 21 – Tinley Park Christmas Service Project 29 – SW Area 4 – Region Meeting 30 – Southeast Area 6 – Region Meeting December 2023 1-2 – Council of Governors Meeting, Springfield, IL 4 – Westchester Lions Club Meeting 9 – Chicago Windy City Lions Club. Drinks With Santa, Teaser’s, 7123 W Higgins Ave, Chicago, IL 10 – District Christmas Party – Great Escape Restaurant, Schiller Park, IL 17 – Stuffed Love Wrapping Event, Farmers Insurance, 3300 W. 63rd St, Chicago, IL 29 – Chicago Jose Rizal Lions Club Governors Night

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District Goals It is always good to be able to review goals and programs for the coming year, so I am including some of the information I shared with you in prior articles this year! As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Mission 1.5 Mission 1.5 is the drive to reach 1.5 million members world-wide, so we can better meet the growing needs of our communities and serve more people than ever before. We have committed the next four years to reaching this historic Lions Clubs membership goal.

Patti Hill’s Theme/Program President Hill’s programs and initiatives will focus on four key priorities for Lions International that are critical to our mission of service.

1. Creating a greener, cleaner environment 2. Sharing our stories with the world 3. Reaching our full potential as Lions and leaders 4. Supporting our global foundation, LCIF Changing the World Changing the world is a journey. There is no middle and no end. There is only a beginning—and it starts with us. It happens through the many small choices and acts of kindness we make every day. Together, the sum of our efforts makes the world a better place, one life, one relationship and one community at a time.

President Hill’s programs and initiatives will focus on four key priorities for Lions International that are critical to our mission of service.

1 - Create a greener, cleaner environment

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Protecting and improving our environment is a fantastic way to engage with our communities. By helping to protect and restore our natural resources, we can change the world. Let’s act boldly and let us act now.

2 - Share your story with the world Developing great marketing skills can help you tell the world who you are and what you do. Social media and local media, and online and offline marketing give you new ways to tell your stories. Shine a light on your club and invite your community to be a part of the change as Lions and Leos.

3 - Reach your service potential People want to be a part of something that matters. So set service goals that push your capacity and create opportunities for even more impact with new members. Find ways to ensure your club is inclusive and welcoming to all.

4 - Empower even greater good Our foundation empowers us to do so much more than we can do alone.

LCIF enables us to think big and undertake projects that can truly change the world. So, support LCIF, and let LCIF support you.

BE THE CHANGE…….Believe in Yourself To change the world, we first must believe change is possible.

Here are some key steps that can help you face the challenges ahead.

Be brave.

In the causes you tackle and in the work that you do, don’t shy away from something that may seem too difficult. You’re up to the task and other Lions are here to support you. So, take that bold first step.

Invest in the future.

We all have a reason to invest in the future, and young people may be uniquely positioned to help us create change. We are better able to deal 5 District 1A Monthly e-Newsletter

with the issues facing our communities when they are at the table with us.

Let’s invite the next generation of global leaders to serve with us as Lions.

Collaborate.

We do our best work as a team. Work with community leaders, other service organizations, and each other to address the biggest problems facing your communities. Collaboration makes change happen faster.

Lead the way.

Lions and Leos lead by example. We show the world what is possible when people care about their communities and when kindness is the goal. Lead the way, and others will join you.

District Goals Recognition Program As part of the Build A Vision Session in February, an important request of the participants was the need to consider implementing a recognition program within our district. It will include what types of achievements to consider for these awards, this will include such areas as individual and club, membership, service and leadership, and monthly, quarterly, yearly, etc. This is in addition of the Club Excellence Award (19 awarded in 2021-2022, Gail Anton’s year) and in (2022-2023, Tony Zartler year there were twelve clubs earning the Club Excellence Award). It is a great program, and we need to continue encouraging program involvement by our clubs. If your club would like to consider trying to get the Club Excellence Award, please reach out to your Zone Chairperson. To qualify for the Club Excellence Award, clubs must meet specific requirements in four categories: Membership, Service, Leadership & Organizational Excellence, and Marketing.

More information is located on the LCI Website: https://www.lionsclubs.org/en/resources-for-members/resourcecenter/club-excellence-awards 6 District 1A Monthly e-Newsletter

Membership As I am writing this newsletter article, our District is +128 so far for the current year. For the month of November 2023, District 1-A added 31 new members and dropped 9 members for a net increase in our membership of 22.

Let’s see what District 1-A can accomplish for the coming year.

New Clubs Over the last five years, our district has averaged two new clubs per year and lost an average of one club A goal of three clubs is possible.

GMA for Clubs Ready to move your club in a dynamic new direction using the Global Membership Approach? Then start planning for your success with the Global Membership Approach. This process can help you attract new members, overcome challenges, and develop new goals and strategies.

The process is built on four steps designed to not only to grow your club, but also to inspire new ideas, engage your members — and improve retention — and empower current and potential club leaders.

You can start by taking the Global Membership Approach Course as well as the SWOT Analysis Course available in Lions Learning Center.

More information is available from the GAT Team and your Zone Chairpersons!

Service This year’s goal is to increase the number of clubs reporting service in MyLion or the new software once available to 75% of our clubs. We are currently reporting service by 33% of our clubs. Two reasons this is so important to Lions. Reporting it on MyLion allows our International organization to create more accurate reports to share with our global partners that generously donate to LCIF funding and allow us to serve more 7 District 1A Monthly e-Newsletter

people in need. When those partners don’t see everything, we do, it might limit the amount of money we can get.

The second part of reporting service is to make sure we share it on social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter, web pages and sharing our service projects with others in our communities hopefully will inspire others to join in our service endeavors.

LCIF Our District has been generous to LCIF, and I am sure we will continue to do so. Now more than ever, the need for funding is necessary and will likely continue to increase.

This year’s goal is to increase individual donations to LCIF by 25% and Club donations by 20%.

Barb and I would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, or Ramadan (whenever you celebrate) and Happy New Year and hope all will be able to take some time out and spend time with our families. We also know many dedicated lions will be helping those less fortunate during the holiday season with meal preparations, donations to food banks, delivering food baskets to others in our communities in need. However, you chose to celebrate or help, thank you for the service you provide. We Serve!

Stay safe, I am looking forward to seeing everyone during 2024.this year.

Yours in Service, Tom Elsey 1-A District Governor

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GMA /GMT Coordinator: PID Dan O’Reilly November 2023

Global Membership Approach October marked 28 consecutive months of positive membership for our District. In October we added 45 members while only dropping 18. We had 21 Clubs add members, with 25 dropping members this year. The results are 15 clubs showing growth with 17 clubs showing losses.

One month down in our 2nd quarter our membership growth is still strong.

Lions. keep striving to add members to strengthen your clubs, enabling more hands to help serve those in need in your community. Replace your loss members with fresh energetic members who want to help your communities and continue to grow.

We welcome two new Leo Clubs to our District. Chicago Heights added the South Cook Leo Club, and the Chicago Windy City added the Payton Leo Club. Please support these clubs when you can, they are the future.

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This month we had three Membership Champions that I would like to recognize, Lion Ann Teano from the Chicago Nurses for Diabetes Lions Club, Lion Lea Agaton from Chicago Healthcare Alliance Lions Club, and The Chicago Global Lions Clubs. These three Lions Clubs are excelling in their growth to move our District Membership growth.

We have 12 clubs representing 177 members at Risk of Financial Suspension. Clubs Leaders, check your statements to make sure your club’s financial obligations are current. Just log into your MYLCI account to see if your paid up to date…

Join me and except the challenge of Mission 1.5

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• A growing membership is vital to our clubs, our service and our communities. Because the more we grow, the more we can give.

• That’s why we’re launching MISSION 1.5.

• MISSION 1.5 is our drive to reach 1.5 million members by 2027, so we can better meet the growing needs of our communities and serve more people than ever before.

• It will require the commitment of every Lion to reach our MISSION 1.5 goal.

• We need to grow our clubs. And start new ones.

• So, I ask you to invite a new member. And ask the Lions in your club to invite a new member.

• Help your club and district leaders implement their plans to grow.

• Our communities are depending on us, so we need to make a real commitment to growing our membership. MISSION Membership Development & Club Rebuilding: Join us as we celebrate the Chartering of our newest club to District 1-A; “The Chicago Healthcare Alliance Lions Club., November 19th! (Special Guest 3rd International Vice President Mark Lyon) .---------------------------------------------------------------------------------GST Coordinator: Lion Maryanne O’Reilly November 2023 I’m grateful to all the clubs that are entering their service in MYLion. I would like to encourage all the clubs in District 1A to enter their activities as well.

Let’s keep our reporting numbers going up!

What activities should be entered in MYLion? MYLion entries should include Service Projects, Meetings, Fundraisers and Donations for your club, District and Multiple District activities. Making regular entries in MYLion ensures that you don’t miss an activity. Please remember to go back into completely report your activity so your club gets credit.

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As I regularly watch the activities reported in MYLion, I am inspired by the wide variety of Service Projects and Signature Activities. I see some interesting activities taking place in the next couple months.

Please remember to send your event flyers with cabinet secretary Lion Brenda at lionbrendablock@gmail.com by Noon on Tuesdays. She will share your flyer on Wednesday with the district.

Celebrate your service. We take pride in the unique expressions of kindness found in each of our local clubs across the world. When we share our stories and report our impact, we unify our organization, inspire our communities, and capture the attention of a global audience.

Celebration elevates the experience and impact of service.

We invite your club to participate in our District1A Celebrate Service Challenge. Your club will receive one raffle ticket for each current Celebration of Service activity reported on MYLion. At the conclusion of our Lion Year 2023 -2024, we will draw two clubs to each receive $50.

Don’t wait until the fourth Thursday in November, to sit with family and friends to give thanks.

Make everyday a day of thanksgiving.

“Celebrate Service” Lion Maryanne GAT - Service

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Please report your service regularly and help surpass the District Goal of 75% of the clubs reporting…

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LCIF COORDINATOR: District 1-A PID Dan O’Reilly One of our Goals for our District is to increase participation of Individual giving by Lions. The club excellence award for clubs this year requires that a club donates at least $5.00 per member to the foundation. Not a great feat for most clubs. 20 members at $5.00 = $100.00. We have clubs giving far more than that each year. But you must start somewhere. Any individual donation by a Lion also counts as a club donation. Also new this year, Presidential LCIF Supporter Recognition.

At LCIF, to honor your commitment and support, we are thrilled to introduce the Presidential LCIF Supporter program. This initiative aims to recognize and celebrate individuals who have contributed with heart and soul, making a significant impact on our mission.

By participating in the annual program, you become an integral part of our honored supporters. Melvin Jones Fellowship (MJF) credits will be earned based on the one-time donation amount you provide. Your generosity not only earns you welldeserved recognition but also helps us make a lasting difference in the lives of those in need.

There are multiple levels of recognition to honor donors based on their one-time donation amount that meets the eligibility criteria as noted in the levels of recognition. The levels are as follows: 13 District 1A Monthly e-Newsletter

Bronze Pin - US$50 to US$99.99 Silver Pin - US$100 to US$199.99 Gold Pin - US$200 and above Leo-Presidential LCIF Supporter - Minimum donation of US$20 Empower even Greater Good…

Magnifying Your Impact…

Our foundation empowers us to do so much more than we can do alone… LCIF enables us to think Big and undertake projects that Change the World…

So, support LCIF and let LCIF support you…

Use the QR code and donate today…

Know that LCIF allocates 100% of your donation to grants and program expenses, no administrative expenses…

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District 1-A Vision Coordinator: Lion Mike Smigielski November 2023 VSP Eyes of Hope Program

Lions, This program can really benefit your Lions Club. Lions using this program can get free eye exam and glasses for the people in your communities. First, their income needs to be twice that of poverty level or less. Which is approximately $19,000 with an addon for other family members of 9,500.

They cannot have other Vision insurance that provides for eye exams and eyeglasses. They can only use this program once a year.

Where to get Certificates?

I have certificates and they are easy to get from me. Because I must record the use of the VSP Certificates, I need the Lions Club representative to contact me with the following information: Persons Name Date of Birth Address Telephone Number I will then send the VSP Certificate to the Lions Club For them to present to the family or person. I want the Lions Club presenting to get the credit.

There are many optomitrists who accept this certificate. On the certificate is a phone number to call for an optomitrist close to the patient.

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For more information, please call me, Lion Mike Smigielski at 708-307-6357 or email – lionmikesmig@aol.com District 1-A Club News Chicago Mabuhay Centennial Lions Club -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

District 1A Annual Christmas Party, Sunday December 10, 2023, at The Great Escape, 9540 Irving Park Road, Schiller Park Road, Schiller Park.

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District 1-A Vision Coordinator: Lion Mike Smigielski November 2023 VSP Eyes of Hope Program Lions, This program can really benefit your Lions Club. Lions using this program can get free eye exam and glasses for the people in your communities. First, their income needs to be twice that of poverty level or less. Which is approximately $19,000 with an addon for other family members of 9,500.

They cannot have other Vision insurance that provides for eye exams and eyeglasses. They can only use this program once a year.

Where to get Certificates?

I have certificates and they are easy to get from me. Because I have to record the use of the VSP Certificates, I need the Lions Club representative to contact me with the following information: Persons Name Date of Birth Address Telephone Number I will then send the VSP Certificate to the Lions Club for them to present to the family or person. I want the Lions Club presenting to get the credit.

There are many optometrists who accept this certificate. On the certificate is a phone number to call for an optomitrist close to the patient.

For more information, please call me, Lion Mike Smigielski at 708-307-6357 or email – lionmikesmig@aol.com 18 District 1A Monthly e-Newsletter

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DISTRICT 1A CONVENTION MARCH 22nd TO

MARCH 24, 2024 MARK YOUR CALENDAR! FOR MORE INFORMATION,

SEE FORTHCOMING GOVERNOR’S NEWSLETTERS -Lion Dr. Austin Dsouza, Convention Chair -Lion Lourdes Mon, Co Chair 23 Governor’s News

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MD1 Council of Governor’s Holiday Celebration at the Double Tree Hotel in Springfield

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Chicago Healthcare Alliance Lions Club Charter Nite:

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It’s Holiday Season!

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Chicago Indo US Lions Club’s Gala Fundraiser and Business Networking Dinner Event Honors Humanitarian Excellence in the USA and India

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HI INDIA NEWS DESK CHICAGO, IL- The Chicago Indo US Lions Club is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of its

This exceptional event brought together professionals, philanthropists, and community

distinguished fundraiser and business networking gala dinner.

leaders for an evening of profound impact, collaboration, and celebration of humanitarian service in the United States and India.

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The gala dinner took place on Saturday, November 4th, at the prestigious Medstar Auditorium in Hillside, Illinois. It was an unforgettable convergence of networking, recognition, and community engagement, showcasing the Chicago Indo US Lions Club’s unwavering commitment to fostering meaningful relationships and catalyzing positive change within the community, transcending borders to impact lives in both the USA and India.

One of the evening’s highlights was the heartwarming recognition of the President Volunteer Award recipients: Sunil Shah, Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, Neil Khot, Dr. Jay Trivedi, Anil Shah, Amreen Hussaini, and Ajeet Singh. These outstanding individuals were honored for their remarkable contributions to their respective communities, embodying the spirit of humanitarian service that knows no boundaries. Their work in the USA and India serves as an inspiration to all, emphasizing the global reach of compassionate action.

Each awardee, through their selfless

efforts, has made a significant impact, reminding us of the power of dedicated individuals working together for the betterment of society.

The gala dinner featured an exquisite banquet, electrifying live entertainment, and vibrant conversations. It served as an exemplary platform for professionals to cultivate invaluable connections and foster future collaborations and business opportunities while reinforcing the values of humanitarian service, not only in the local context but also in international humanitarian efforts.

Not only was the event a resounding success in terms of networking and recognition, but it also proved to be a triumph in fundraising.

The generous contributions from attendees and sponsors will significantly bolster various community initiatives and philanthropic projects championed by the Chicago Indo US Lions Club, expanding the scope of humanitarian service and making a difference in the lives of those in need, both in the USA and India.

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The entire team of the Chicago Indo US Lions Club extends heartfelt gratitude to all attendees, sponsors, and volunteers who were instrumental in making this event an absolute success. Your support and participation underscore our commitment to service and the continued development of our community, as well as our dedication to humanitarian service on a global scale.

The Chicago Indo US Lions Club is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating enduring positive change within the community through a combination of service and networking. With a passionate membership, the club actively engages in a diverse array of community service projects, fundraisers, and initiatives, both in India and the USA.

dedicated working team for their exceptional contributions. Trivedi is deeply grateful for your relentless efforts and unwavering commitment to the club’s objectives. She said, “The Chicago Indo US Lions Club will continue to inspire positive change and make a significant impact on the communities we serve.”

--------------------------------------Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes at the United Center ---------------------------------------

Founding Chairman Lion Dr. Ram Gajjela extends his heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the members, sponsors, and the entire working team for their unwavering support and dedication.

Founder President Hina Trivedi also expresses her sincere thanks to the members, sponsors, and the 47 Governor’s News

Collaborative Recycling Efforts By 300 USA Youth and Indo-US Lions Team

CHICAGO, IL- In an inspiring display 48 Governor’s News

of unity and consciousness,

environmental 300 young

on a remarkable recycling initiative.

This joint effort aimed to address the pressing issue of waste

individuals from various parts of the United States came together to collaborate with the Indo-US Lions HI INDIA NEWS DESK 49 Governor’s News

management while fostering teamwork and raising environmental awareness among the youth.

The project revolved around recycling, a crucial aspect of sustainable living.

Participants ranged in age from elementary school students to young adults, showcasing the diverse demographic of this remarkable endeavor.

The collaboration between American youth and the Indo-US Lions team brought a unique cultural blend to the project.

The 300 young participants were divided into smaller teams, each responsible for specific aspects of recycling. These teams were formed based on age groups and interests, ensuring that every participant could contribute effectively.

Numerous recycling stations were established at key locations, such as schools, parks, and community centers, to facilitate the collection and segregation of recyclable 50 Governor’s News

materials.

Each station was equipped with bins and educational materials to guide people on what could and couldn’t be recycled.

Education played a pivotal role in this initiative. Workshops and seminars were organized to educate both the participants and the community about the importance of recycling and its positive impact on the environment. Visual aids, presentations, and hands-on activities were used to make learning engaging and accessible to all.

The collaboration with the Indo-US Lions team brought an international

perspective to the project. Cultural exchanges and discussions allowed participants to gain a broader understanding of environmental issues and solutions across borders.

This recycling initiative has left a lasting impact on the community and participants alike. Plans are in place to make this an annual event, with hopes of expanding its reach and impact in subsequent years. It has set a powerful example of how young people can come together, transcend cultural boundaries, and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.

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SAVE THE DATE Raising the Stakes for Vision: Poker & Casino Night Thursday, February 29, 2024 Gibsons Steakhouse/Hugo’s Frog Bar 1024 North Rush Street | Chicago Doors open at 5:30 pm Cards Fly at 7:00 pm Registration information will be sent in fall 2023.

FOR QUESTIONS CONTACT: Karoline Kijowski karoline.kijowski@chicagolighthouse.org | (312) 447-3447 Karoline Kijowski Senior Manager, Special Events | Advancement Phone: 312.447.3447

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