We the Lions! Fellow lions: You joined a local group of service-minded men and women who volunteer to support your community every day. You’ll also become a member of Lions Clubs International –a respected international organization, a leader in your local community, and a friend to people in need. Whenever a Lions club gets together, problems get smaller. And communities get better. That's because we help where help is needed – in our own communities and around the world – with unmatched integrity and energy. Our 46,000 clubs and 1.4+ million members make us the world's largest service club organization. We're also one of the most effective. Our members do whatever is needed to help their local communities. Everywhere we work, we make friends. With children who need eyeglasses, with seniors who don’t have enough to eat and with people we may never meet. Our Mission Statement : To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs. Our Vision Statement: To be the global leader in community and humanitarian service.
In 1917, Melvin Jones, a 38-year-old Chicago business leader, told members of his local business club they should reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world. Jones' group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed. After contacting similar groups around the United States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the "Association of Lions Clubs," and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objects and a code of ethics were approved. Within three years, Lions became an international organization. Since then, we've earned high marks for both integrity and transparency. We're a wellrun organization with a steady vision, a clear mission, and a long – and proud – history. Melvin Jones asked a simple and world-changing question – what if people put their talents to work improving their communities? Almost 100 years later, Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization, with 1.35 million members in more than 46,000 clubs and countless stories of Lions acting on the same simple idea: let's improve our communities. Just three years after our founding, Lions became international when we established the first club in Canada. Mexico followed in 1927. In the 1950s and 1960s international growth accelerated, with new clubs in Europe, Asia and Africa.
District 1A Governor’s Monthly e-Newsletter
Helen Keller addressed the Lions Clubs International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA, and challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." Since then, we have worked tirelessly to aid the blind and visually impaired. The ideal of an international organization is exemplified by our enduring relationship with the United Nations. We were one of the first nongovernmental organizations invited to assist in the drafting of the United Nations Charter and have supported the work of the UN ever since. In the late 1950s, we created the Leo Program to provide the youth of the world with an opportunity for personal development through volunteering. There are approximately 144,000 Leos and 5,700 Leo clubs in more than 140 countries worldwide. Lions Clubs International Foundation assists Lions with global and large-scale local humanitarian projects. Through our Foundation, Lions meet the needs of their local and global communities. Through SightFirst, Lions are restoring sight and preventing blindness on a global scale. Launched in 1990, Lions have raised more than $346 million for this initiative. SightFirst targets the major causes of blindness: cataract, trachoma, river blindness, childhood blindness, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Lions Clubs International extends our mission of service every day – in local communities, in all corners of the globe. The needs are great and our services broad, including sight, health, youth, elderly, the environment and disaster relief. Our international network has grown to include over 200 countries and geographic areas. Aren’t you proud to be a lion in District 1A where it all began in 1917? -Pat Duda, District 1A Governor Pduda0614@yahoo.com
Plan to attend the Lions of Illinois MD-1 Forum Saturday, November 18, 2017 | 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. President Abraham Lincoln Hotel On Saturday, November 18, Lions from across the state will gather at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield for the annual Lions of Illinois MD-1 Forum. There will be numerous sessions available throughout the day that will help all Lions increase their knowledge base and gain valuable information. It is also a great time to network, catch up with Lion friends from around the state, and expand your Lions network. The cost for the Forum is $25.00 per Lion. Completed registration forms (found in this newsletter) and the registration fee must be received by November 3rd. Reservations for lodging (at the rate of $99.00 per night plus tax) can be made by calling the Abraham Lincoln Hotel at 217-544-8800 before October 27th. Stay tuned for even more information. We hope to see you there!!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
The Forest Kala Sampath & Chicago Filipino American Lions Clubs Presents:
Melvin Jones Birthday Party! On January 14, 2018 Four Points Hotel Sheraton, O’Hare, Schiller Park
Invited Guest: Chancellor Bob Corlew, Chairman Lions Clubs International Foundation.
District 1A Governor’s Monthly e-Newsletter
District 1A Governor’s Monthly e-Newsletter
District 1A Governor’s Monthly e-Newsletter
District 1A Governor’s Monthly e-Newsletter
Vision First Eye Clinic For Needy CPS Students What: Volunteer Opportunity!!!!!!!!! Help address 1000 CPS Students Vision Correction Needs
When? – October 16, 2017 through October 20, 2017
Where: CPS’s Garfield Park Office 2651 W. Washington Blvd, Chicago IL. 60612 For more information o.r to Sign up to help, Contact Lion Mike Smigielski @708-839-5178 Or E-Mail LionMikeSmig@aol.com
Sponsored by
will become good citizens in our communities.
One Sight, District 1-A Lions, Chicago Community in School, Chicago Public Schools and United For Sight Be a Volunteer and help kids save their sight so that they District 1A Governor’s Monthly e-Newsletter
District 1A Governor’s Monthly e-Newsletter
Governor Pat Duda would like for all District 1A Clubs to review the below information and if they are interested in sending someone to the FDI, there is an application included in the email below: Copy & Paste for Application:ďƒ http://www.lionsclubs.org/resources/all/pdfs/fdiatlanta.pdf?utm_source=RealMagnet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6802%20FDI%20Atla nta%20Solicitation%20letter%20EN
District 1A Governor’s Monthly e-Newsletter
Lion Bill Prucha No More! It is with heartfelt sadness that I must inform you that we have lost a truly remarkable Lion that was dedicated to his club, our district and the pin trading association. Lion Bill Prucha from the Thornton Lions Club passed away yesterday, September 30, 2017. Many of you will remember Lion Bill as our Pin Man (he designed and ordered many of the Governor’s, Convention and State pins) and he was also a main part of the Bloody Mary Tradition at our District Convention. Lion Bill will be missed by many! A memorial service will be held for Lion Bill on Friday, October 6, 2017. Elmwood Chapel 11200 S. Ewing Ave. Chicago, IL 60617 773-731-2749 for the chapel, or 773-908-9740 for Funeral Director Jim A Lions service is being planned at 7:00 pm at the chapel. If you are able to attend to pay your respects and remember Lion Bill, please be at the chapel by 6:30 pm so we may enter as a group. Anyone wishing to make a donation in Lion Bill’s name, can make it to Lions Clubs International Foundation – Disaster Relief Fund. Thank You, and may Lion Bill RIP. Lion Brenda Block Cabinet Secretary – 1A
District 1A Governor’s Monthly e-Newsletter
District 1A Governor’s Monthly e-Newsletter
CLUB SECRETARIES!!!! SEND YOUR CLUB ACTIVITIES PICTURES AND NEWS TO: ILStateEditor@gmail.com to publish on MD1 Monthly e-Magazine. ALSO REPORT YOUR ALL SERVICE ACTIVITIES ON MyLCI TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR YOUR SERVICE HOURS, AMOUNT YOUR CLUB SPENT AND THE MONIES YOU COLLECTED FOR HUMANITARIAN SERVICES. PLACE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS FOR EACH SERVIE HOURS YOU REPORT. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION TO GET CREDIT FOR TOTAL MANHOURS AND MONIES. THIS REPORT WILL HELP LCIF TO RECEIVE GRANTS FROM OTHER HUMANITARIAN ASSOCIATIONS.
Upcoming Events: October 15 – Candy Day October 21 – Nite at the Races November 4 – MD1 Leadership Forum December 10 – District Christmas Party January 27 – 1A Mid Year Forum February 24 – 1A District Bowling March 23-25 – 1A Convention May 18-20 – MD1 State Convention June 10 – Governor’s Installation June 29-July 3 – International Convention in Las Vegas
HELP WHICHEVER WAY YOU CAN TO THE HURRICANE VICTIMS OF TEXAS, FLORIDA AND PUERTO RICO WHO LOST EVERYTHING THEY HAD. MONERARY DONATIONS ARE MOST WELCOME WHICH YOU CAN SEND TO LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
District 1A Governor’s Monthly e-Newsletter District 1A Governor’s Monthly e-Newsletter Edited & Published by Dr. Austin D’Souza, PDG, for Lions and Leos of District 1A. e-Mail Address: govaustin@gmail.com Mail your articles, pictures and news items to above e-mail address.