The Illinois Lion Lioness Leo MD1 e-Magazine Lite Vol. 2 - Issue 5 November 2014
Chicago Youth Leo Club Members from Currie High School getting ready to collect Candy Day Money!
Illinois College of Optometry Omega Leos after their 2014-15 Club Officers Election
“Musical Chairs” was one of the games enjoyed by kids attending Waterman Lions Club’s annual End-of-Summer, Back-toSchool Picnic. Looks like those “old games” we remember are still fun for today’s youngsters.
From Council Chair Fred: I Am Looking Forward to November, Are You? Why you ask? Well its family time! Thanksgiving always brings my family together. It is nice to get together to share old memories while making new ones. We enjoy sharing the happenings in each other lives and families that have taken place since the last time we were together, to see how much the grandchildren have grown and changed. It is disappointing when one of our family members can’t be with us at our Thanksgiving dinner. We miss their presence and contribution to our conversations. However, before Thanksgiving, there is the MD1 Forum. This is another type of ‘family gathering’, not of the blood type, but of our Lions Family. The MD1 Forum is not only a great place to learn about our organization, but also to learn about the many members in our Lions Family. We should look forward to every opportunity that we have to get together as a family and share our experiences and ideas. We should appreciate the individual opinions of everyone as we do with our own personal family members. It is great to reminisce with the Lions we have grown to know. It’s exciting to meet and get to know new Lions and welcome them to our family! The break-out sessions are always informative and I did work for 17 hours – Friday evening, Saturday whole day and Sunday 1/2 a day. motivational. They generally give us insight on how to be better club officers. The sessions may also describe different district and state positions, such as Zone Chairs or District Governors, and also may cover International initiatives like the Club Excellence Process or the Ask1 program. You can learn a lot just from networking with fellow Lions attending these sessions and during lunch and breaks as well. It’s great to be able to talk and share with Lions from all over MD1 about club successes and difficulties. It seems that we all face the same issues but handle them differently. By discussing these things with others, you will hear many different possible solutions. You may also offer your ideas to someone else and before you know it, you’ve become friends! The MD1 Forum this year is Nov. 8th, at the Parke Regency in Bloomington-Normal, with registration at 8:30. I’ve signed up and hope you have as well! It would be a shame for you to not to be there to share your experiences with your Lions Family! As the old saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child”. It takes all of us in MD1 to raise a dedicated Lion. We are the village, and we are the child! We need each other to continue to grow. If you haven’t already signed up, please consider doing so. Your Lions Family is counting on you! Yours in Lionism, CC Fred Says: “Do The Right Thing” Editorial: 2014 Candy Day was really a God’s Blessing! Weather was so wonderful; I hope that all lions in Illinois had a wonderful time in their communities to collect Candy Day Collections. One thing I notice during every Candy Day is – all these posh car drivers who drive Cadillac, Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Volvo, BMW are always in a different world while driving or when they look at someone on the street collecting money for a worthy cause. They just look at you as if we are aliens come from Mars. They never give a smile or offer any donation. I totally failed to understand their attitude. However, people who drive ordinary cars are always courteous to us in offering donations and saying a few words of appreciation for what we do in our own time and our efforts in helping people in our communities.
In recent years, even my dog started using cell phone; and this one reason for many just to ignore us who ask for donations. I felt it was a real joke when I see one driver acting like speaking on a cell and the cell wasn’t lit; he was just acting like using cell phone – just to avoid me. I felt extremely happy when some people not only donated good amount of money, also they thanked me for what am I doing as a volunteer of a service organization. Some thanked me for giving many needy people eyeglasses, scholarships, sending for Visually Impaired Camps. This is the only reason why I worked 17 hours on the street going back and forth when stop light lit green. Even though I like green lights while driving; however, I hate green lights especially when I am on the street on Candy Days! Only reason is – many people search their wallets to give me some bills and boom there goes the green light and the green money which I suppose to get from them. For Candy Day we need to sacrifice our personal time and the satisfaction is when you come home and start counting the money:
I collected $672 in 17 hours - an average of $39.53. Not a bad earning on the street! Friday and Saturday were good and Sunday was very poor. Can you imagine how much money Lions of Illinois Foundation will get if all Lions work hard? Of course there are hundreds of reasons we have no enthusiasm to do so; however, as good Lions nothing is impossible and we can do it with Lionistic Spirit. May God bless all those who worked hard past Candy Days. -PDG Austin D’Souza, Ph.D., Editor
Are You Thankful? I’m not sure when you will be reading this, but Halloween might be just around the corner or already in your rear view mirror. For most people Halloween is a time for fun, definitely for the kids. We grownups are either thinking how cute the little kids are or how creative some of the older kids can be. All of that candy just about 3 weeks after Candy Day. The arrival of November means the start of the holiday season. The stores sure think so. Thanksgiving Day is a month away and you can find Christmas decorations in stores everywhere and for a number of weeks already. Thanksgiving Day is only a month away. Are you thankful for something? Most of us would have little trouble identifying several things for which we are thankful. There are, however, at least a few people in our communities that have very little, if anything, to be thankful about. That is when Lions clubs start their Food Basket programs all over Illinois. We do it for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Some clubs do it for both. The overall intent is to be of service by brightening one of our favorite holidays for those in need. Think about: “Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.” It’s what we do. So what’s this have to do with membership? Has your club been successful in recruiting new members since July 1st or earlier? Having new members is great! What to do with them can be a problem for some clubs. I have heard a number of Lions make a comment similar to: I joined the Lions in (i.e. November, 2001) and became a Lion in (i.e. April, 2003). There is no ritual in that statement. They took the oath and wore the vest and lapel pin for a while before they actually became a Lion. They enjoyed the camaraderie of membership in the beginning and then something changed. They were involved in a service project or other activity and saw, first-hand, what being a Lion is all about. Their perspective changed. The “hook” of Lionism was set.
If your club “does” Food Baskets, be sure that your new members are involved. Let them be the ones that carry that basket to the front door. Their “hook” might be set at that moment. Another idea: if you have a potential member who has yet to commit to membership, get them involved in your Food Basket program. Let them carry the basket to the front door. Let them see that little face or two peeking out from behind the adult recipient. The commitment might become a lot easier to make. Their “hook” might be set before they become a member. Recruiting new members is something we should do all year. Once we get them we should set them on the path of being active. That activity could very well set their “hook”. Once set, they should be active members for a number of years. -Lion Paul Gergolla, PDG MD-1 GMT Coordinator Phone: 630-858-8073 Email: lionpg1@aol.com
On November 8th at the Parke Regency in Normal, Lions from all around MD1 will converge for the MD1 Lions Leadership Forum. Will you be there? Have you sent in your registration? The clock is ticking….Don’t miss this annual opportunity to be rejuvenated, revitalized, and refreshed with that Lions’ spirit!
Before I write many of the newsletter articles submitted for MD1, I typically surf the Lions Clubs International website at www.lionsclubs.org for an innovative service idea or the latest membership or leadership suggestion. The Club Excellence Award jumped off the computer screen today! If you have not read about the Club Excellence Award and the many supports provided by LCI for clubs to meet the expectations for this prestigious award, now is the time to check it out!! Does your club have what it takes to claim the Club Excellence Award? I’ll bet you do! Please read on… Club Excellence Award “Strengthen The Pride” The Club Excellence Award has provided clubs with guidance and goals that expand their service and strengthen the effectiveness of club management. It is more than an award…it Strengthens the Pride by building stronger clubs and stronger communities! Qualifying clubs will receive a Club Excellence Award pin for the club president and a handsome banner patch. Elements of Excellence 1. Service – Complete three service projects Humanitarian service, whether in your local community or globally, is what Lions are all about. Your club may have existing projects that have become a tradition, or perhaps you are ready to try something new, either way, when your club has completed three service projects, your club has fulfilled the service requirement for the Club Excellence Award! Ideas to consider! Global Service Action Campaigns - Four global campaigns focus on youth, vision, hunger and the environment. This link provides project ideas,
planning guides, press releases and call to action materials.
refresh and refocus your club to increase participation and activity.
While participating in the campaigns, you may wish to consider providing assistance to children in need by donating basic necessities such as food and clothing, conducting vision screenings, doing repairs at a children’s shelter or implementing a Reading Action Program project such as reading to children or providing children with new books.
Membership Satisfaction Guide – Are your club members satisfied? This guide has helpful tips for reaching your member’s expectations.
Planning Projects – There are many needs that are unique to your community. Discover them by utilizing the Community Needs Assessment or Making It Happen publications to rediscover the service your club can provide! 2. Donation to LCIF – Expand your club’s humanitarian reach! Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) provides Lions clubs with an opportunity to make a global impact. Grants support both local and global humanitarian initiatives that are too large for individual clubs or districts to undertake themselves. A donation, large or small, fulfills the donation requirement for the Excellence Award. Making a donation is easy. Visit the LCIF web-site to choose an area that your club would like to support and make a donation on-line. 3. Membership Development – Have a net increase of one member! Of course members are needed to support projects and events. To qualify for the Excellence Award, your club needs a net increase of only one member. Establish a Club Membership Development Plan to help your club reach new membership goals and utilize the tools below to help your club recruit members and keep them involved and engaged. Just Ask – Encourage your members to “just ask” by applying these simple but successful techniques for recruiting enthusiastic new members! The Club Excellence Process (CEP) – Helps your club reach its potential through exercises designed to
All new members must be offered timely and meaningful new member induction ceremonies and attend a new member orientation. A proven step to better member retention. 4. Communication – Complete any of the following! Keeping your members and the public aware of your activities increases participation and visibility. There are several tools available to assist your club, including a free web-site! Take advantage of any of these ideas, or develop your own strategies, to fulfill the requirement for the Excellence Award. e-clubhouse – Launch or maintain this free website (or one you designed on your own) to keep your members connected. Public Relations Guide – Apply the ideas provided in the guide to help your club get the recognition it deserves. The guide includes sample press releases, public service announcements and more. Brochures and materials – Promote membership and involvement by distributing professionally designed brochures and materials. Great for special occasions and community events. District Assistance – Contact your District Governor Team or Global Membership Team Coordinator for more information about local membership initiatives. 5. Leadership Development – Proper elections, attend officer training and attend zone meetings! To qualify for the award, all officer positions must be filled by qualified Lions in accordance with the constitution and by-laws. The club must also be represented during zone meetings and a majority of the club officers must have participated in a
leadership training program. The training could include training offered at a zone, district, multiple district or International event, courses offered online from the Lions Learning Center, participation in a Club Excellence Process (CEP) Workshop or completion of the Certified Guiding Lion course. Additional offerings are mentioned below. Establish a Club Leadership Development Plan to make sure your members take advantage of the training that is available. Lions Learning Center – The on-line resource offers vital information for developing personal leadership skills. Topics include managing others, achieving results, and excellence in communication. These courses can be applied to the Leadership Development requirement for the Club Excellence Award! Officer training – On-line officer training counts toward the award too! Officer specific training helps make serving as a club officer easier by demonstrating how club leaders can accomplish their tasks effectively. Zone Meetings – Quarterly zone meetings feature personal support and provide a forum for exchanging practical and locally adapted service and management ideas. Conventions – District, multiple district, and International events bring a new perspective from a broader range of Lions that add to the fun and fellowship that are natural to Lions. District Training – Be sure to contact your District Governor Team and your Global Leadership Team Coordinator to find out more about local events. 6. Club Activity – The club must meet regularly and submit the membership report, service activity report, and club officer report for the incoming year. Submitting these reports are easy thanks to the advancement of MyLCI. Utilize this advanced membership system to complete officer reports, membership reports and club activity reports.
7. Club Maintains Good Standing To fully participate in Lions activity, your club must be in good standing at the end of the fiscal year. To be in good standing the club cannot be in status quo and all International dues billings and new member entrance fees need to be paid in full. No more than US$50 in any other expense due to LCI can be outstanding beyond ninety (90) days. To check your club’s outstanding balance, go to online statements located on the LCI website. Instructions for making payments can also be found online. Next Step! Finish the above steps to excellence and you have reached the goals of the Excellence Award! Link to application (ctrl & click to open link)
The Centennial Service Challenge (CSC) is an initiative to celebrate Lions’ 100 years of service and challenge clubs to participate in all four Global Service Action Campaigns to benefit 100 million people by December 2017. As Lions have discussed the CSC, there have been questions about clubs completing the service activity report on MyLCI, which is the tool that monitors the collection of the data. This service activity report is a document that should be completed monthly by the club secretary. Per the LCI website The Service Activity Report is a feature within MyLCI that allows clubs to report service activities and measures the global impact Lions are making through service in their communities. The report application allows clubs to:
Keep a descriptive, searchable record of service activities Share photographs Enter service goals and track progress toward achieving them Search for activities (including photos and project descriptions) that are being shared by other clubs and districts worldwide
To assist club officers, and especially club secretaries, to accomplish this task, LCI has several resources. By clicking on this link, resources are made available. http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/membercenter/planning-projects/service-activityreport.php Resources The following materials were designed to introduce Lions to MyLCI and address common questions related to the service activity report.
Video: Introduction to MyLCI Video: Using the MyLCI website Service Activity Report Frequently Asked Questions Why Use MyLCI? Report Your Service Activity via MyLCI
For technical assistance, Lions may contact the MyLCI Support Center by phone at (630)468-6900 or by Email.
guide dog but couldn’t successfully get one. In true Lions fashion, they decided to fill the need themselves contacting a local dog breeder and asked if he could not only supply the dogs but also conduct the training. That’s where it all began with the first graduating class of 4 in 1938. On the Horizon for the Next 75 Years of Leader Dog Capital Campaign will focus on redesigning the current kennel to accommodate raising a quieter, calmer dog in an up to date facility. Improvements include: 1. A renovated training and kennel area with spacious and open housing villages. 2. An expanded puppy area that is better suited for the health and socialization of puppies. 3. An enhanced lobby with a veterinary waiting room, adult dog intake, retail space and puppy area viewing room for the general public.
There is no question that Lions can reach the goal of 100 million people served by December 2017. However the key is reporting these activities appropriately. We need all Lions and Leo Clubs to report their service activities monthly. Let’s use the tools provided and make this happen!! -Lion Jama Wahl, MD1 GLT Chairperson
4. A centralized veterinary clinic
Leader Dogs for the Blind Kennel Development Campaign Seventy-five years ago, three Uptown Detroit Lions knew a visually impaired colleague who wanted a
5. Room for our dedicated campus volunteers and space for them to interact with our dogs throughout the kennel to ensure that our dogs receive adequate enrichment time. 6. A new intake area for our Host Families bringing breeding dogs and litters of puppies to Leader Dog.
7. A new breeding area to support our growing breeding colony and ensure that we have enough Leader Dogs to meet demand. Leader Dog just broke ground August 3, 2014. More information
will be coming your way! Main part of entrance, reception area, kennel and Veterinary Clinic is Gone.
this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for all your help and support you have given your Lions of Illinois Foundation. We have come a long way in 40 years and I look forward to seeing what the next 40 years will bring to the Blind and Deaf communities in Illinois. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our previous Executive Director, Van Stone for all of his hard work and expertise in bringing our Foundation to where it is today. As we move forward, the first step in this journey is Candy Day 2014. We all know how to do Candy day. We all know when our designated day is in Illinois, the second Friday in October. Each and every lions club should be working right now to make sure that Candy Day 2014 is a huge success. This can be obtained by starting your underwriting campaign to the local business and establishments in your communities. As well as getting all the necessary approvals from your villages and local establishments to stand on the street corners and in front of those local establishments. As most of you know now, we had to make a change to the candy roll. Starting this year we have a new give away, a pouch that is filled with smiley sweet tarts opposed to the old mint and fruit candy rolls. With a huge success from Candy Day 2014 we will be fortunate enough to support our designated programs. These programs include but are not limited to, our Mobile Hearing Units, our Mobile Diabetic Unit, our Low Vison Program our Social Services Program, which supplies hearing aids to those in need, our signature program Camp Lions, and last but not least, all of the communities in Illinois. Best of luck, and have a phenomenal Candy Day 2014. -PDG Mario Gumino FROM MD1 ALERT CHAIR Greetings November Readers,
-Submitted by: Paul Lindstrom, PCC FROM THE DESK OF LIONS OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Lions, Lioness and Leos, As your New Executive Director I would like to take
Ah, Halloween has passed us by and soon it will be Thanksgiving. Each year someone volunteers or is given the job of the Thanksgiving feast. One of the first steps to planning the feast is putting together the shopping list so you don’t forget to buy something for the meal. When the day is here, all the ingredients are used to prepare your master-
piece. About an hour after the meal starts, it is over. Without that careful planning, the event would never be able to take place. Like many events, that rule remains the same, prepare. So here is the question, why is it when something bad happens, we are not prepared? Do we think it will never happen again? I challenge you while you are sitting around the table full of food with family and friends to strike up a conversation about Alert. See how the table talk ends up. You may find that they are more prepared than you think or not at all. Hoping for the first but knowing more likely it will be the second; we have a job ahead of us. We always want to keep those closest to us safe. It would be great to have all of our Clubs prepared but that cannot happen until our families are prepared. Let’s start small. Maybe after your family conversation, a few Christmas gift ideas will come to mind. Flashlights, first aid kit, a ready bag with checklists and supplies. We need to start somewhere. Have a great Thanksgiving and be safe traveling. -Lion Jim Kiser, MD1 Alert Chair LionJimKiser@gmail.com LIONS OF ILLINOIS ENDOWMENT FUND HONORARIUM DONATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 2014
IN HONOR OF
FROM
REASON
9/1/2014 GREENFIELD LC CHAPIN LC CLUBS 75TH ANNIVERSARY 9/13/2014 MICHAEL SARGENT SARA MAY 9/8/2014 PDG LG RED BENHART 9/22/2014 HESTER 9/24/2014
COMBS
PDG DON & KAREN ROBEY
9/8/2014
MIKE STARKO
9/8/2014
PDG ROBERT & SUE SUDBURY
9/8/2014
PCC MARLIN & SUE HIMELICK
9/9/2014
PDG RICK TONOZZI
9/10/2014
PDG'S JOHNNY & CAROL ANDERSON
9/10/2014 9/11/2014
LORAINE LC PDG JOHN & BETTY THIEN
9/22/2014 9/30/2014 LION JOYCE DAVIS
GILLESPIE LC PDG BOB & LINDA JILKE
9/30/2014
SUE CROSSON-KNUTSON
9/4/2014 ALPHONSE DYOKAS
WILLOW SPRINGS LIONESS CLUB
9/3/2014 WILFREDO GAPVZ
DUNDEE TOWNSHIP LC
9/16/2014 THOMAS GROVE 9/5/2014 DON HOOK
DIXON LIONESS CLUB BERNARD & DEBRA DOST
9/26/2014
JONATHAN & KAREN SWIRSLEY
9/22/2014 MELODY HULL
PEORIA HEIGHTS SUBURBAN LC
9/16/2014 LARRY KIRGAN 9/9/2014 DONALD LEWIS
MARISSA LC FOX RIVER GROVE LC
9/22/2014 GEORGE MARTUCCI ROSELLE LC 9/11/2014 CORAL MEYER TOM & JANE MARTIN 9/9/2014 JOE NAGLICH PDG JOHN & BETTY THIEN 9/10/2014
DON & JEAN PRESSLER
9/11/2014
MIKE & GERTIE
9/11/2014
JACK & HELEN MCMANEMY
9/11/2014
JOHN & JUDY
9/11/2014 9/11/2014 9/11/2014
PAT MODRUSIC JOHN SCHIEBER CATHY & ZACH MARSH
9/11/2014
RICH & HAZEL MODRUSIC
9/11/2014 9/11/2014 9/11/2014 9/11/2014
PRAZMA FAMILY DAN NAGLICH CAROLYN MILLER WORDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY DIST
9/22/2014
CATHERINE MODRUSIC
9/24/2014 9/3/2014 HARRY NEFF
EDWARDSVILLE LC FRANK & DARLENE DORFLER
9/26/2014 ROD PARRISH
KENT & VICKI ACKERMAN
MODRUSIC
MODRUSIC
ITASCA LIONS CLUB
OTTAWA LIONS CLUB CAROL MCCANN KOJIMA
9/26/2014
PDG KEN & ADA FRANZ
9/26/2014
PDG DICK & BARB BARK
9/29/2014
9/4/2014
PDG RICK & ROSE TONOZZI
9/3/2014 PDG FRANK CRAMER HIGHLAND LC 9/3/2014 PDG’S BILL MCKINNEY & LYDIA ELLIS
9/26/2014 9/26/2014
ALWOOD LC BOB & PEGGY BARTELS
9/26/2014
THE PLANNING CENTER, INC
9/26/2014
ADOLDO & DEBORAH ALEJO
9/26/2014
BILL & MARCIA
JACOBS
9/26/2014 9/26/2014
ELLIE & JOHN BETZLE MARK & SUE BUTTSCHAU
9/26/2014
JOAN & STEVE
CONRAD
9/26/2014
TC & JR
9/26/2014 9/26/2014
ANN CAMPAGNA JANET & STEVE
9/26/2014
KEN & CONNIE
9/26/2014
DIANN & JOHN CARRAN
9/26/2014
BARRY & LORRIE SNODGRASS
9/26/2014
PAUL & TONI CARLSON
9/26/2014
ROY & JAN GUSTAFSON
9/26/2014 9/26/2014
BYRON CARLSON CHUCK & LORI DHABALT
9/26/2014
DENNY & JEANNE BRODD
9/26/2014
MIKE & SHIRLEY BURNETT
9/26/2014
DAVE & PATSY CRIPPEN
9/26/2014 9/26/2014
DAVID SCHULTZ JAKE & ELLEN HARDERSEN
9/26/2014 9/26/2014 9/26/2014 9/26/2014
MARTY CRAPNELL MAE FRANKLIN JEANNINE FILLER MIKE & RUTH EINFELDT
9/26/2014
MATT & BETH ENGELMAN
9/26/2014
LLOYD & MARJORIE SCHILLINGER
9/26/2014 9/26/2014
DAVE & RITA GRIFFIN CHRIS & GARY GIBNEY
9/26/2014
MR. & MRS. GOODNIGHT
9/26/2014
MAGGIE & JASON ATKINSON
9/26/2014 9/26/2014
JEAN SAMPSON RICH & BETTY NIGHTINGALE
9/26/2014
STEPHANIE & TIM GARRITY
9/26/2014
JIM & DIANE WELBORN
9/26/2014 9/26/2014
DIANE KROLL STEVEN & MARJORIE JOST
9/26/2014 9/26/2014
OZZIE CARLSON RICK & JOYCE HEPNER
9/26/2014 9/26/2014 9/26/2014 9/26/2014 9/26/2014 9/26/2014
TIM & PATTY HUTH KATHY LOOMIS MITCH & SUSAN LEE HAROLD LARSON THOMAS MARTIN GARY & CAROL MCCORMICK
9/26/2014 9/26/2014 9/26/2014
RITA SPECHT BOB OSBORNE JOHN DEERE MASTER DATA TEAM
9/26/2014 9/26/2014
JERRY & JANE MEYER DOUG & JUDY NELSON
9/16/2014
RAYMOND VERDICK
9/26/2014 9/26/2014
PHILIP MYERS DENNIS & CATHY MORGAN
9/16/2014 9/24/2014 9/24/2014
CAROLYN WALLACE MICHAEL STARKO EDWARDSVILLE LC PDG JAMES WALLACE CAROL
9/26/2014
RAY & CINDY PARRISH
9/26/2014
PDG DICK & BARB BARK
9/26/2014 9/26/2014
TOM PETERS ZACH PRATT & FAMILY
9/26/2014
PDG JAMES HARBAUGH
9/26/2014
ROBERT & SUE SUDBURY
9/26/2014
DEBBIE & MARK SCHWIEBERT
9/26/2014 9/26/2014 9/26/2014
DAVID RUSSELL CHRISTINE RUGH LAURIE & DALE
9/26/2014 9/26/2014 9/26/2014
BRAD & LORI TILLOCK VICTORIA WINSOR GOLDMOHR GOLD COURSE
CHRISTOPHER WHITE
BRECKON
9/17/2014 RONALD READING KATHLEEN HOOK 9/26/2014 HELEN RIDENOUR PDG DICK & BARB BARK DIXON LIONESS CLUB
MCCANN KOJIMA
MD1 e-Magazine Lite Version SPRIET
Edited & Published by PDG Austin D’Souza, Ph.d. for Lions of Illinois. Send your articles, photographs with captions to ILStateEditor@gmail.com