February 2012 SPOTLIGHT ON: THE IMAGE OF A LION
W áàü và ZÉäxÜÇÉÜ ftçwç ftçwã v~ëá i xãñé Çà As of January 31 st I have visited 58 of the 76 Lions Clubs in District 5M8 and also visited a Lioness Club. Each club is so different, and has a membership of wonderful Lions. Since July 1, 2011, 93 new Lions have joined the greatest service organization in the world by joining 5M8 clubs. But the district has lost 120 members; why? What can be done? Contact Global Membership Team coordinator Past District Governor Linus Dingmann. He and his team would love to come discuss the retention concerns with your club. Leadership is a priority also. Good Leaders make good clubs. February is the month to begin seriously looking at club members. Your club probably has a vice president who will be elected 2012 2013 president. Look ahead to the future; who has shown the quality of leadership in your club? It might be the quiet Lion who watches and helps where needed. Many times a president, secretary, or treasurer tells me they have held the same office for years. Of course, they have. They have the experience and practice to do a wonderful job for your club and therefore keep getting elected. What if something unforeseen happens and he/she is no longer able to do the job? Is there a Lion who can step in at short notice? Past Club officers are a terrific resource to help a new officer. Reminder: The 2 nd step on the ladder to becoming District Governor is being a club president. (The 1st step is to become a Lion.) Global Leadership Team coordinator PDG Frank Leidenfrost and his team will help your club leaders be all that they can be. Contact them for advice/suggestions/ answers to your questions. Helen Keller: At a club visit, I was conversing with a Lion. I mentioned to her that I support the Leader Dogs for the Blind and the MN Lions Vision Foundation as my Governor s Philanthropies. I support them because they each deal with the visually impaired, which in my mind relates to Helen Keller. She asked me what Helen Keller had to do with the Lions. Excerpt from Helen Keller's Speech at 1925 International Convention Cedar Point, Ohio, USA June 30, 1925 The opportunity I bring to you, Lions, is this: Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness? I thank you." Helen Adams Keller (June 27, 1880 June 1, 1968) Page 2
THREE GENERATIONS Three generations in the Randall-Cushing Area Lions Club (RCALC). The newest member of the RCALC is Lion Tom Strack. His grandfather, Lion Leonard Drew is a charter member of the RCALC that just recently celebrated its 25 th anniversary. His father, Lion Tim Strack is the current President of the RCALC. 5M8 is so excited to add so many new Lions to help us SERVE our communities. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be a part of this hard working service organization. We look forward to work with you, side by side and strive make a difference in a community or world wide for a person in need. GREY EAGLE-BURTRUM LIONS CLUB Warren W. Baird Sponsor Carl Butler PIERZ LIONS CLUB Eric H. Hanneken Sponsor Kenneth F. Dahmen RANDALL CUSHING AREA L C LIONS CLUB Tom W. Strack ST. ROSA LIONS CLUB Tom A. Herdering Sponsor Dennis J. Ritter Page 3
VICE DISTRICT GOVERNOR DAVE THOMPSON Greeting Lions I believe that winter has finally arrived so, it has to be Minnesota. Mary and I just returned from Rochester where we attended the 5M1 Mid-Winter Convention. We had a very good time, and it is so great to meet and talk to Lions through out the Multiple. It was a great opportunity to listen to the various clubs in their District in regards to what they are doing in the way of fund raisers and other Lions functions. It is also very interesting to listen to and discuss the issues facing other clubs in regards to membership and retention. International Director Al Joe Picone delivered an excellent message on Lionism and the issues facing Lions International involving loss of Members and Clubs. The United States is very worried about losing the International Headquarters status with in Lions International, as a direct result of these issues. The issue at hand is that the membership numbers in the United States are dropping, while at the same time Lions Organizations around the world are gaining membership. We need to continue to look at these issues and try and come up with a solution, and we can only do that with the help of each and every Lion in the District. Your opinions and ideas all count, and without you, we can not make a difference. I will also be attending the 5M4 Convention in Alexandria on Saturday the 28 th. Of course, we hope to see each and every one of you the following weekend at the Mid-Winter on February 3-5, in St. Cloud. This is a great occasion to get out and meet and mingle with Lions from other Clubs and Districts. During these times you can exchange ideas and questions. It is in the course of this process that resolutions to issues are either resolved or on track to a resolution. Also remember to register for the Multiple Convention in Hinckley On April 27-29 th. Let s have a good showing from 5M8 as we are the hosting District. Best wishes and keep up the good work in Lionism. 1VDG Dave Thompson. Page 4
Club Officer Training: 6:30-9:00 P.M. each location TUESDAYS... April 10---Rocori High School, Cold Spring April 17--Pierz High School, Pierz April 24--East Central High School, Finlayson address WEDNESDAY...MAY 2--Staples/Motley High School, Staples More information will be received from 1st Vice District Governor Dave Thompson, PDG Frank Leidenfrost and the Global Leadership Team Greeting Lions Thank you for all you have done as Lions during 2011. Your actions and commitment to volunteerism has brought brighter days to those who otherwise would have little at this time of the year. I watched the Rose Bowl Parade and saw the many floats from different organizations and including Lions float with President Tam. The float was made with flowers and a dove surrounded with flags from different countries. It was an outstanding float. As one of the members of the GLT Team, we are working on the following : 1. Looking for identification of future Leaders 2. GLT Team- Have already trained the Zone Chairpersons 3. Establishing or improving club officers training 4. Developing a mentoring program at the district and club level One of GLT s purpose is to assist the District Governor. Yours in Lionism 2 nd VDG Donna Mae Landwehr Happy Valentine s Day Page 5
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LIONS PROGRAMS: Have you always wondered about something in the Lions organization that you have never gotten the answer to? If you have, please email it to District Governor Sandy Sandwick and she will try her best to get it answered for you. Email her at: ssandwick@scicable.net. DISTRICT 5M8 MEMBERSHIP Opening Balance Added Members Dropped Members Closing Balance Net Gain/Loss Worldwide Membership This Month (Jan 17) 3,051 4 4 3,051 0 1,369,528 This Year 3,071 92 112 3,051-20 OFFICIAL CALL. The district governor shall issue an official printed call for the annual district convention not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for holding the same, stating the place, day and hour thereof. Lions District 5M8 Mid-Winter Convention February 3, 4, 5, 2012 Kelly Inn, St. Cloud, Minnesota February 4, 7:30 A.M. Annual District 5M8 Foundation Meeting February 4, 8:00 A.M. Annual District 5M8 Business Meeting February 5, 9:30 A.M. Annual District 5M8 Business Meeting See, Serve, Smile in Lionism District 5M8 Governor Sandy Sandwick Page 6
SAUNTERING WITH DISTRICT GOVERNOR SANDY!!! February 3,4 & 5: 5M8 Mid-Winter Convention February 06, Hinckley Lions DG Visit February 13, Grey Eagle Burtrum DG Visit February 20, Browerville and Swanville Lions DG Visit February 27, Clarissa and Eagle Bend DG Visit March 12, Long Prairie DG Visit March 17, Council of Governors March 19, Kimball DG Visit March 20, Randall-Cushing, Little Elk Area DG Visit April 09, Isle and WISH DG Visit April 14, GMT/GLT meeting in St. Cloud April 17, Club Officer Training in Pierz April 18, Royalton and Sobieski DG Visit April 24, Club Officer Training in Sandstone East Central Schools April 27-29, MD5M Convention Hinckley May 2, Club Officers Training in Staples May 8, Cabinet Meeting in St. Cloud June 22-26, LCI Convention Busan, Korea IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ST. CLOUD METRO LIONS CLUB Cletus Jungels ST. JOSEPH LIONS CLUB Merl Gretsch PUBLISHERS CORNER: Winter in Minnesota you just never know what you are going to wake up to. It is kind of like life you just never know what is going to happen the next moment. So let s work with the PRESENT! Our PRESENT is to give back to those in need, make a better life for those less fortunate, and embrace and share what we have. We, the Lions, do that well, so let us pass this one and ask the person next to us to join in our PRESENT. You don t know what is going to happen tomorrow and the person next to you may be the one to help with tomorrow. When nothing is sure, everything is possible. Margaret Drabble See you all at the Mid-Winter Convention! Lion Donna Orstad orstadacres@dishmail.net Page 7
Friday: 5M8 MID WINTER CONVENTION SCHEDULE February 3, 4 & 5, 2012 11-AM-7PM Registration Open 1:30 PM-2PM Foundation Meeting University B 2:00 PM 5:00PM 5M8 Cabinet Meeting University B 7:30PM-9:00PM Opening/Necrology Ceremony Ballroom 9:00PM-10:00PM Registration Open Saturday: 6:30AM- 8:00AM Breakfast Poolside 7:00AM-11:30AM Registration Open 7:30AM-8:00AM District Foundation Meeting Ballroom 8:00AM-9:30AM Annual Business Meeting Ballroom 9:30AM-10:00AM Delegate Voting Poolside 9:30AM-11:30AM Hearing Screening Boardroom 9:30AM-11:30AM Information Center/Health Fair University B 9:30AM-10:30AM Diabetes Seminar Herberger Suite B 9:30AM-11:00AM Leader Dog Seminar Herberger Suite A 10:30AM-11:30AM ID Hintzman w/club Presidents Herberger Suite B 11:00AM-11:30AM ID Spouse meet-n-greet Herberger Suite A 12:00PM 1:30PM Lunch Ballroom 1:30PM-6:00PM Registration Open 1:30PM-3:30PM Hearing Screening Boardroom 1:30PM- 3:30PM Information Center/Health Fair University B 1:30PM-2:30PM Identity Theft Herberger Suite A 1:30PM-2:30PM LCIF Grant Writing Herberger Suite B 2:30PM-3:30PM Ask Your Pharmacist Herberger Suite A 2:30PM-3:30PM Integrated Health Herberger Suite B 4:00PM-5:30PM Catholic Church Services Herberger Suite A 4:00PM-5:30PM Protestant Church Services Herberger Suite B 5:30PM-7:00PM ID Reception Poolside 7:00PM-9:00PM Banquet Ballroom Sunday: 8:00AM-9:00AM Registration Open 8:30AM 9:30AM Business Meeting (if needed) Ballroom 8:30AM 9:30AM Parade of Green Hallway by Board room 9:30AM-12:00 Brunch Ballroom Pag
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THINGS TO DO IN 5M8 Page 12
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District Governor Sandy Sandwick PO Box 561 514 North Court Avenue Sandstone, MN 55072 5M8 LIONS EVENTS 2011-2012 2012 February 3-5: February 8: 5M8 Mid-Winter Convention Region 2, Zone 1 Zone Meeting at St. Michaels Church in Buckman February 10-11: Sobieski Lions Ride for Hearing February 12: February 25: April 27-29: June 13: June 22-26: October 09: Princeton Lions Ice Fishing Contest on Green Lake 1:30 to 4 pm Sobieski & Swanville Lions Annual Fishing Contest Multiple Convention at Grand Casino, Hinckley Duelm Area Lions Raffle & Pork Chop BBQ International Convention in Busan, Korea Mini Forum, Henry s, Foley, MN