I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I would like to congratulate DG Elect Leon Pryor and the Fall Convention Committee for putting together a great convention this year. The feedback I have received has been very positive. Unfortunately, we were not able to elect an incoming 2 nd VDG at the convention. If there is a Lion out there that would like to be a please contact PCC Martha Butler or our District L team and we can have you on your way to becoming a District Governor. I hope by now your club has a Share the Warmth project in mind for December 8 th. We are urging clubs to take on a project that involves collecting and donating items that will help the needy stay warm. These items can either be for kids that might not have a good coat or hats and gloves to stay warm on the cold winter days that are coming. The homeless in your area can benefit greatly by receiving collected items. From what I have heard, socks are one of the most requested items of the homeless. Lions will have to get the word out about what they are doing by any means possible. It would be a great opportunity for the club to get non- Lions involved also. We have been informed by the employees at Camp Dogwood that there are a couple of big projects that need to be undertaken at Camp Dogwood very soon!!!!!!! Unfortunately, some of the buildings at the camp are needing repairs or replaced. Those repairs or replacements will be expensive, so we need to get busy selling Camp Dogwood Raffle tickets! Some of you may not have heard about all of the grants that have been given to the state of North Carolina by LCIF. So far this year North Carolina has received $220,000 dollars in grants from LCIF. That is far more than we send to them!!!! Camp Dogwood in District L has received $100,000 in a grant and the rest is helping those on the coast. These grants are on top of the several grants we got a couple of years ago. So please if possible, think about supporting LCIF this year when making club and personal donations. You can find all the information you need to donate to LCIF on the new LCI web page at www.lionsclubs.org
THE CONVENTION FOR THIS YEAR IS IN THE BOOKS!!!!! After months of planning, I think with the help of the Lord, we had a great group to come together once a month on Sunday to plan this convention. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Here who was on the committee District Governor Alan Lake 1 st Vice District Governor Leon Pryor, Chairperson Secretary Will Hicks, PDG Treasurer Curtis Erickson, PDG Ad sales/program book layout Debbie Hicks, PDG Banner Ceremony George Suggs, PDG Decorations Lions Frances Coates and Deniece Ogle Fun Night Marti Hendry, PDG and Lion Jerry Huffstetler Flag Ceremony Max Bumgardner, PDG Promotions Booths Lion Cecelia Evans Protocol Johnny Berry, PDG Registration Lion Bill Barnwell Tail Twister Breakfast Joe Silvers, PDG Special Guests Gifts Paulette Gasperson, PCC Peace Poster Lion Keith Kelly Logistics George Suggs, PDG Sergeant at Arms Lion Larry Laughter A big thank you to my secretary Will Hicks, PDG who did a great job of minutes and preparing for meetings. We raised $50000 in the auction and $60000 in ads (just kidding), we did raise $5000 at the tail twister auction and $6000 in ads was raised. Our follow-up meeting will be January 6 th at the J&S Airport at 2:00. Everyone comes with suggestions for next years convention. If you want to eat come early. Thanks to everyone who voted for me as District Governor. I will work hard to make District L the best. My next training session will be at Camp Dogwood in December. In February I head to St. Charles, Ill near Chicago. Then it is off to Milan at the end of June for my final training and to be sworn in as you District Governor for the new year. I am looking forward to it. I am looking forward to putting the fun back into the meetings we attend so that we can really appreciate the organization we volunteer to be a part of. Remember if we make mistakes don t point a finger just laugh and say will do better next time. On a final note for this half of 2018 we are looking for a 2 nd VDG. No one stepped up for the convention so when I return from the International Convention, we will have to hold a special election to select the individual. If you are not afraid of a little work and a whole bunch of fun, we need you. You will participate in various training sessions and mentoring from Past Governors and myself. DG Elect Leon But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
November 2018, what a busy month for Lionism!! Lion Paulette and I visited with the Andrews Lions Club, where they had 5 new members inducted into Lionism; they also had 2 more prospective members at that meeting. Way to go Andrews Lions Club!! We attended 2 Fall Convention Planning Meetings. We spent the weekend in Aberdeen, attending the State Council Meetings on Saturday and the NCLI Meeting on Sunday. NCLI Chaplain John Owen held an Honor Veterans Sunday service that was enjoyed by all. The following weekend was spent attending the District Fall Convention. Under the leadership of 1 st VDG Leon and his committee we enjoyed a great Fall Convention. The guest speaker, International Director Patricia Vannett and her husband Kevin, from Mandan, North Dakota, updated all Lions present on the International Association activities and gave a great motivational talk at the District Governors Banquet on Saturday night. Thanks to all Lions Clubs and individual Lions that bought or sold ads for the convention. I believe the ad sales were the most we have had in several years. Thanks to the Mountain Home Lions Club and everyone that contributed to the Hospitality Room, food was great and plentiful. I do not have any club visits scheduled for December, but if your club needs a program, please give me a call. I sincerely hope everyone had a thankful Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for, not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day. Lion Paulette and I wish each and every one a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY AND PROSPO- RUS NEW YEAR!! As previously stated, I am available most any time to assist your club, if needed. There is a lot of work to be done and the more Lions we have, the easier it will be so continue to grow your membership and retain your current members, Keep them busy!! Thanks for all you do for Lionism. PDG Larry, 2 nd VDG
Marjorie McCune Memorial Center Governor s Newsletter Administrator s Report the holidays are in full swing! Halloween was our largest ever with over 350 visitors. Our contest winners were Med Techs Shannon, the Prettiest as a bunny; Med Tech Arica as a cow, the Funniest; Med Tech Elizabeth as a zipper face, so Scary, and Kim Bradley, Assistant Food Service Supervisor, as a chicken. Each winner received $50. The Volunteer Day led by Lion Jim Edgar, PDG, was a wonderful success and the volunteer shoppers captured some great Christmas gifts for residents at Belk s Charity Days. There is very little that compares to Christmas in the McCune Community. We are planning on providing a beautiful Christmas for the 74 people that live in our community. Shopping has begun and Lion Clubs are already scheduling parties at the center. Chase Lions What an exceptional Club! The Chase Lions joined us for supper, a program and a tour. We met with some of their new members and some of our old friends that have visited us for years. Sand Hill Lions and Haw Creek Lions We are looking forward to visits from the Sand Hill Lions and Haw Creek Lions and the many other Clubs that will join in the festivities; making for a great Christmas! Zone 5 Meeting was held at the McCune Center with Encompass speaking to a group of approximately 40 people about Diabetes. It was an honor to be a part of the presentation on this very important topic. My gratitude to Lion Governor Alan Lake for the opportunity. Christmas at the McCune Center- Please remember our residents for Christmas. We will have gifts for everyone and the only way we can accomplish a Merry Christmas for all is with you! These wonderful Clubs, family members and staff are truly appreciated by the Center as they spread Christmas joy to our residents. They are Canton Lions, Davidson River Lions, Davis Family, Burnam Family, Clodfelter Family, Smith Family, Candler Lions, Haw Creek Lions, Gorges Family, Webb Family, Hutchins Family, Greater Asheville Lions, Weaverville Lions, Pisgah Forest Lions, Long View Lions. Pulliam Family, Lakewood Baptist Church & Granite Falls Lions. This is an exciting start of $1910.00!! We need $3,700. Please help us to provide all of our residents with a Christmas gift. 11 th Annual Thanksgiving Banquet Thank you for being a part of this wonderful event. We had over 200 guests and the food was sensational. Lion President Max Bumgardner, Governor Alan Lake, Gary Ridenour, VIP Bus Driver and a brand new Valley Springs Lion, and Bobby McIntosh, President of the Resident Council; were the illustrious judges and our potluck winners are our very own Katie Faber, Administrative Assistant; Karen Collins, family member; Lynn Webb, family member; and Kim Rice, Housekeeping Supervisor. The fellowship was heartwarming and our dietary staff knocked it out with scrumptious food!
From the GLT A lot have been wondering about the MyLion app. Wish I could tell you all about it. But what I can tell you about is the redesign on the LCI Website. You may think it is just a pretty face but not so. The site is faster and in my opinion a little easier to navigate. Of course, if you don t get on there and play then you will not see or know the difference. It is not going away. As a matter of fact the day of getting paper from LCI is going away. All forms and brochures are on line. You can ask for hard copies but they will probably direct you to the website. So secretaries just spend some time browsing and finding out what it available. As of the writing of this missive the MyLion app is still not available on a PC. So if you don t have a smart phone hooked up to internet services then you will not be able to use it. The only reason that would be a problem is if they move all the reporting features to that system and secretaries would not have access to reporting membership and service projects. I don t see that happening. I am sure that it will be cross platform for a time before they take one away. Giving clubs and Lions time to learn and transition. We are six months into the Lions year and for most that is not enough time to learn a new system. We will see. But as soon as it is available an email will be sent out to all Lion Leadership giving you the opportunity to inform your officers and encourage them to get plugged in. 5 WAYS LIONSCLUBS.ORG CAN IMPROVE YOUR SERVICE Go to www.lionsclubs.org and find out more. It is up to you! The leadership of our organization depends on those dually elected from the club, district and international levels. Get on board and encourage our Lions to join in. Enjoy your holiday season. Send us your service projects for the holidays to put in the newsletter. I tend to think that the holidays are really when we can get out there and show what we do in the communities as Lions. When January rolls around it will be time to sit down and take a look at those goals. Have you met them. Are you still working towards them. Presidents it is time to have your committee go through and start thinking about the leadership for the new Lions year. It will be here before you know it. Be aware of the deadlines for your elections. Don t overlook your leadership. Make sure you look at your committees and see how effective they are. If they are effective blend in some new ideas. If the committee has not been effective then perhaps it is time to change up the leaders of those committees or streamline your committee list. The idea is to grow your club. Don t overwhelm new members but get them involved. Don t make New Lions Sue who has been a Lion for 30 days the next president of the club. It take a special person to do that. You will know but usually it is not a good idea. Try not to keep the same leadership in place. To determine if that is a good idea take a look at the club growth. Changing leadership annually may be a hassle but keeping it the same may also be a detriment. So leadership, sit down with your club, talk about it. Look at your club health and make the best choice for your club. Don t sit back and say well we have 30 members in our club we are doing good. We don t need to change. The average time a person spends in Lions Clubs is 10 years. So just like middle school and high school faces change often. Ten years is not a lot of time if you really think about it. Some clubs have a little down time during the holidays. It is a good time to think about things and come into the new year with 6 months to go to achieve goals and meet deadlines. Make sure you have a good transition plan and enjoy the rest of your term. July 1st will be here before you know it. Lion Debbie Hicks, PDG, GLT
ANDREWS LIONS CLUB LION SHELBY O'NEAL Sponsor: LION EU- GENE CRAIG CANDLER LIONS CLUB LION ROGER CALDWELL Sponsor: LION BOB POORE, LION JOHN SUTTON Sponsor: LION ROGER METCALF ETOWAH LIONS CLUB LION EDWARD FRINDT Sponsor: LION SUSAN FERNANDEZ HENDERSONVILLE LIONS CLUB- DEBBIE R. BELL Sponsor: REBECCA MCCALL, LION CHRIS ENGLISH Sponsor: LION DALE ZIMMER RUTHERFORDTON LIONS CLUB LION MONTE VEGA Sponsor: LION KARL TRUMPLER Bob Timberlake authentic art, Mountain Flurries, raffle has begun. A stunning, original Bob Timberlake original matted and in a classic, rustic frame is being raffled off. Tickets now available! Invite all of the Lion s in our District to take a chance on winning this beautiful work of art. Only $10 per ticket or 3 tickets for $20!!!! All proceeds go to Brighter Vision. Contact Lion Frances Coates, administrator@mccunecenter.org, 828-669-8452 McCune Center or 828-582- 6573 cell phone for tickets. Www.nclions31l.org the members section is password protected. That is where you will find the directory. Most of the forms are outside this area and downloadable.