The Illinois Lion, Lioness, Leo MD1 e-Magazine (Lite) Vol. 3 - Issue 14, May 2016
Elmhurst Lions Club Donated $4,000 to Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare Learning Center for Diabetes
District 1A Lions Kick-off Centennial Celebration at their Annual Convention
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From Council Chair:
I think we all can start that climb right here in Illinois. Thank you for your service, Lion Steve Anton Council Chairman santonlions@comcast.net
Editorial:
Welcome the month of May. Why you say? May is the signal that the District Conventions are over, the Districts have elected their new officers for the 2016-2017 Lions year and our year as the Council of Governors will soon be coming to a close, but we still have work to do. We have had a great year for membership in Illinois. Across the State we are at a + 72.
SEEDS OF NEW LEADERSHIP Just the nature’s way in the month of May seeds start growing in our yards and gardens to produce vegetables and flowers to beautify our neighborhoods and to savor fresh vegetables from our gardens in the future months.
When was the last time our multiple has had a plus in membership? A ‘Thank You’ to the Governors, the members of the GMT and GLT and to all the Lions that used the “ASK ONE” approach.
Our clubs, zones, districts and International will be sowing these seeds in the garden of Lionism. New seeds of leadership will grow and bring new enthusiasm, projects, fundraisers with lots of fun and frolic with new ideas, new goals and bring new charisma to celebrate our Centennial Celebrations in the Birth Place of Lionism – Chicago, yes Chicago!
The last Convention, our State Convention, is just around the corner, May 20-22, 2016. It is being held at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield and the registration form is in this newsletter and also available on the State Website.
Entire world of lionism will be looking at us how we celebrate our 100 years of pride and what we plan for the next 100 years of our magnetic future. Lions are leaders in community service, helping the needy and quick responders to any natural disaster in this world.
Your Convention Chairperson, Lion Sharon Peska, has been hard at work putting together a circus themed convention. Lion Sharon is relying on all of us to come to Springfield and enjoy the weekend, attend as many of the seminars and activities as you can and finally get to meet our Lions Clubs International incoming President Bob Corlew and our First Lady, Lion Dianne Corlew from Milton, Tennessee. Lions Bob and Dianne are no strangers to Illinois, having been the visiting Director to several of our past District Conventions.
As I write this editorial, we are 1,410,052 members worldwide – only humanitarian association in this world to reach this number. We are very proud of our membership growth. Now we need more members in North America to keep our strength in Lionism as world leaders. Shrinkage in membership in North America doesn’t make us look good as Lions World Leaders. Let us build our clubs and let us bring new lions clubs where there are none. These communities are missing Lions activities; especially the less fortunate.
Your attendance and input at the convention will help the committee to plan even bigger and better things in the future. After all, we are about to enter into our Centennial Celebration and enter the next 100 years of Service. To follow with the theme of Lions Bob and Dianne, “More Mountains to Climb”, 2
Lions are recognized by UN as the #1 humanitarian association of the world. Our clubs in our communities take any challenge they have to fulfill the need. Lions who started Leader Dogs, White Cane and played a major role in establishing state and federal laws on visually impaired people.
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP CORNER: Jama Wahl This is the last in a series of articles based on Blueprint for Club Success (DA-STPBG EN 5/15). This document is available to download from the LCI website.
Lions are just volunteers who spend their money and personal time to serve unselfishly. They are the leaders in their communities and also they lead where they work. Lionism grooms leadership skills in them to be a team leader, organizer, care taker and fun raiser.
LCI provides great tools to assist clubs in reaching their highest potential. This ten-page document is filled with ways for clubs to plan for success. This guide suggests four areas for clubs to consider.
May is the bad month for many Lions clubs in the world as many clubs decide to drop their members due to non-payment of dues or not attending regular meetings. This should be changed – we are care takers of the needy and how we cannot take care of our own members to remain in our clubs? Now LCI is not demanding members to attend meetings regularly. Members do not have to attend regular meetings without fail. We need members support for our programs, events and fund raisers. If members can do this without attending meetings regularly where is the loss? Let us support these members to remain as Lions in our clubs.
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Assessing your club’s status Establishing your goals Developing your blueprint Putting your blueprint into action
In this final article we are going to consider putting your club’s blueprint into action, which is found on page 4 of the document. Following the assessing of your club’s status, establishing and prioritizing club goals, and developing the club’s blueprint, the final step is putting the blueprint into action. A document such as this is only valuable if it is used to provide direction for your club. Implementation is key to success.
Time to give more importance to cyber activities, emails and social media. Only through this Lions will grow further and come together when personal presences mandate them to have projects, events, fundraisers accomplished with flying colors.
As noted on page 4, be sure to share your blueprint with all club members so that they are aware of what the club wants to achieve. They also need to know their role in achieving club goals. By remaining committed to your plan and taking consistent action, the club will move closer to your goals.
-PDG Austin D’Souza, Ph.D. ILStateEditor@gmail.com
If club members feel connected to the club’s humanitarian service projects, it is likely the club will be a healthy, vibrant part of your community. It is also critical to evaluate your plan on a regular basis. As circumstances change, your plan may require revision. The creation of the initial 3
Blueprint is just the beginning. Keep it alive and relevant by measuring progress and gathering feedback from club members on a routine basis. This is how you will realize your desired results. Set aside designated time at your club and/or board meeting to review progress. Make the blueprint a working document making changes and adaptations as needed.
of May is upon us with June being just around the corner. That means there are only two months left in the current Lion Year. How will your club finish this year? You have two months left in which to generate any funds that may be needed to complete this year’s charitable giving. Maybe those funds will be applied to something at the beginning of next year. That could include sponsoring one or more campers to Camp Lions. Giving a kid who is vision impaired or blind, or hearing impaired or deaf, a week filled with all of those summer camp activities is a great thing to do. If your club does that, please try to participate in their Open House to actually see the kids and all of the fun they are having. If not Camp Lions, perhaps you are looking to provide eyeglasses or hearing aids to someone who needs them who can’t afford them. Maybe it’s some other worthwhile activity.
In addition, to achieve success, it is vital that subsequent club officer teams assess needs, measure progress, and update the blueprint at least annually. The questions originally considered related to the four key dimensions of club operations, service, leadership development and membership, will serve as a guide in the evaluation process. Your Blueprint for a Stronger Club provides a road map to achieving greater levels of value in terms of the community and in terms of member satisfaction. These simple steps provide a practical approach to enhance what is working, phase out what no longer works, and implement new initiatives. By creating a well-rounded Blueprint for a Stronger Club, committing club members to its implementation, regularly revisiting the plan, and assessing needs and refining action steps, your club can achieve both its short and long term goals.
You should have already elected your officers for next year. Do you want to do those officers a favor? Holding orderly business meeting is something that might come to mind. Something else could be raising more money next year than you did this year, is another. There is something else you could do to make raising more money a little easier for them. That would be finishing this year with more members than you had at the beginning of the year. Doing that would place your club in the position of having more hands, not only at fundraisers, but also at service projects. If you finish the year with a net gain in members and meet the other criteria, your club could qualify for the Club Excellence Award for this year. Check with your district’s GMT Coordinator or your District Governor. They have copies of the application. Compare the criteria with your club’s record for this year. Is you are one or two items short of qualifying, you have two months in which to check off those last few items. Go for it!
The tools to support strong club growth, leadership, and service are available. Let’s use them to make our clubs the best they can be! -Jama Wahl, MD1 GLT Coordinator
GLOBAL MEMBERSHIP CORNER: We’re in the Home Stretch! The “Home Stretch” is usually a term that is applied to various sports events. It normally means that we are getting close to the end of the game. That expression can also be applied to Lions. We are in the Home Stretch. The month
Even though the current year may be winding down, there is still time in which to accomplish a lot. Complete that last fundraiser. Get some new members. Finish this year with a BANG! The 4
members of your club will feel great and next year’s officers should appreciate your efforts.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help or just ask questions. A question never asked remains one unanswered.
Lion Paul Gergolla, PDG MD-1 GMT Coordinator Phone: 630-858-8073 Email: lionpg1@aol.com
Lion Jim Kiser State Alert Chair LionJImKiser@gmail.com 630-660-7944
State Alert Corner:
2016 MD1 FALL RALLY To kick
Now that the warm weather is finally here, sort of, we need to prepare for our outside activities. The children will soon be out of school and everyone will be ready for summer. Along with this time of year is the possibility of nasty storms. Spring has been good to us so far but one never knows what Mother Nature will bring our way.
off the 2017 International Convention in Chicago the Lions of Illinois will be hosting a MD1 Fall Rally on October 22, 2016 at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria, Illinois. This international centennial convention promises to be the best and biggest celebration of service the world has ever seen. And, the Lions of Illinois will be the hosts!
We have mentioned many times now about developing that plan in case those nasty storms do hit us. How is your club coming along with a plan? Do you have a plan for your household? MD-1 is doing a good job with clubs getting some type of plan together. However, with all the clubs we have in MD-1, more need to step up.
Lions attending the Fall Rally will have the chance to meet then President Chancellor Bob Corlew and Lion Dianne. Informational sessions will be held to highlight volunteering opportunities for Lions at the International Convention. Educational sessions will be held on Lions history, Retention, and much more.
Greetings May Readers of 2016,
A new opportunity for clubs is the Lions Expo: Lions Gone Wild for Service. Clubs will be able to share information with other Lions about their favorite service projects as well as their most successful fundraising projects that support that service. Clubs and agencies providing service will receive their tables free of charge. Vendors will be asked for a $20.00 fee to participate in the Expo.
When you get in your car for some week end escapes, don’t forget to do some simple checks on your vehicle. Does your spare tire have air in it? Some new cars don’t even have a spare tire. Do you know what you will do if you get a flat? If you carry some traveling supplies in case you break down, check them out so they are fresh. If you don’t, consider putting some things you may need in your vehicle for such an emergency. If you created a to-go bag for your home, it may be a
These are exciting times for the Lions of Illinois and the Lions of the world. Don’t miss the opportunity to participate and show the world what your club does TO SERVE!
good time to check it for quality items also. Sure don’t want something to happen, grab your bag and the stuff inside is no good anymore. Never hurts to prepare.
Questions: contact Jama Wahl, MD1 GLT Coordinator, 815-822-3014 or
jamawahl@yahoo.com
I hope to see you at the MD-1 Convention in Springfield and hear about the good things you are doing. 5
The Illinois Lion, Lioness, Leo MD1 Convention e-Magazine Vol. 3 - Issue 13, May 2016
MD1 Convention Guests: LCI First Vice President Chancellor Bob Corlew and Lion Dianne Corlew 6
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COME, MEET MD1 STATE CONVENTION GUESTS: LCI FIRST VICE PRESIDENT CHANCELLOR BOB CORLEW AND LION DIANNE CORLEW 15
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SUPPORT YOUR FOUNDATION:
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Hello MD-1, Please join us at the MD-1 State Convention to learn more about the Kid Sight vision program. V.O.I.C.E.S., “Volunteer Organization Involved in Charitable Expressions of Service” is the Charitable Arm of District 1-A and will be hosting this session along with providing free vision screenings to children ages 6 months to 6 years. In addition, 1 st Vice President, Lion Bob Corlew and Lion Dianne will also be participating in this screening.
We are very excited to have Tammy Johnson a representative from the plusoptix Company that has partnered with the Kid Sight program to do an informal seminar about the program and equipment. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn more about this program.
In addition, we have invited all the Districts in the state to bring their cameras that are being used in their District, to help with the screenings. MD-1 currently has 12 cameras in operation around the state with more on order. We hope to have a group picture to showcase all of our cameras in the state.
PDG Jerry Curry and PDG Steve Frankenstein and the Springfield Noon Lions Club from District 1-M have joined forces to get the word out to the local community about this program and invite them to attend. Please join us if you live in the Springfield area and would like to have your child screened (ages 6 months to 6 years of age).
Date: Saturday May 21 Time: 2:00pm – 4:00 pm Location: President Abraham Lincoln Hotel --- Freeport room (2nd Floor)
If you have any questions please contact, Lion Gail Anton ZC at anton173@comast.net or 708 514-4825
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The Abe Lincoln Hotel in Springfield, IL, site of the: 2016 State Convention May 20th through May 22nd, 2016 SAVE THE DATE and plan on joining us for some: FUN, FELLOWSHIP & FULFILLMENT! More to come next month! Rates for Convention = $99 + tax per night! RECENT REVIEWS for the ABE LINCOLN: “One of the best hotels ever!” We just returned from our stay in Springfield. We thoroughly enjoyed staying at this hotel. The staff was very friendly, the beds were extremely comfortable, and the location was perfect for visiting all of the historic Lincoln sites. We ate in the hotel restaurant three times during our stay. My husband said it was the best burger he ever had! I had the prime rib and it was excellent. Our server was Sean - very friendly and very prompt to attend to our every need! “Possibly the best hotel in town” I am in Springfield often and this is my favorite hotel. Clean, well-appointed, comfortable rooms. One deficit is the walls are thin and you can hear every word, sneeze and flush. Great breakfast buffet includes made to order omelette.
Room service menu is quite limited and not the best, but it's good enough if you're exhausted or don't feel like venturing out of your room. There's always a conference or other activity so rooms book up, you'll need a reservation. Front desk staff could be friendlier, but otherwise good “One of the best hotels ever!” We just returned from our stay in Springfield. We thoroughly enjoyed staying at this hotel. The staff was very friendly, the beds were extremely comfortable, and the location was perfect for visiting all of the historic Lincoln sites. We ate in the hotel restaurant three times during our stay. My husband said it was the best burger he ever had! I had the prime rib and it was excellent. Our server was Sean - very friendly and very prompt to attend to our every need!
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SOME OF THE TOP THINGS TO DO in SPRINGFIELD:
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum Lincoln Home National Historic Site Dana-Thomas House, a Frank Lloyd Wright ‘Hidden Treasure’ Lincoln Tomb & War Memorials Lincoln Memorial Gardens Lions of IL State Convention COME EARLY OR STAY AFTER THE CONVENTION AND ENJOY ALL SPRINGFIELD HAS TO OFFER!
MD1 State Convention e-Magazine Edited 26 & Published by PDG Austin D’Souza for Lions, Lionesses and Leos of Illinois. e-Mail Address: ILStateEditor@gmail.com Mail your articles, pictures and news items to above e-mail address.