Lions Clubs of Multiple District 36, Oregon and Northern California

We Serve

Eugene, OR USA

541-484-0452

Lions of Oregon & Northern California are a part of an international network of 1.4 million men and women in 200 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world. Lions are best known for working to end preventable blindness, the giving of eyeglasses and hearing aids for the needy and local service projects.

 

Mission Statement of Lions Clubs International:

 

"To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation."

 

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June 14, 2021  /  Guest User

JUNE 2021 - LIONS MAGAZINE

     Well, we’ve finally made it to the end of this year and it’s been a rough ride – what with COVID and wildfires. 

DG Linda Stent pic.png

     The response to the wildfire disasters was unbelievable.  The Santiam and Holiday Farm fires were devastating but District R Lions were there to help with volunteers, supplies, and donations.

     We obtained an LCIF disaster grant for $10,000, which was spread around to the fire areas.  We set up an account with our District Treasurer so people had a place to send financial donations.  

     As a result of the response we received throughout the District, the four District Governors recognized the need for better disaster response and proposed setting up an Oregon Lions Disaster Recovery Foundation.  Donations would be tax-deductible for individuals and businesses and would also make us eligible to receive grants from larger grant organizations. To take advantage of that requires us to have a 501(C)(3) foundation.  Many clubs in the District have 501(C)(3) foundations and are well aware of the benefits of having this type of foundation.  If you attended the 36-R convention, you heard opinions from various levels of Lions leadership that in the future it will be necessary to have advance planning so we can be prepared when the next big disaster (think Cascadia) happens. 

     The other major events, of course, were COVID and the lack of in-person meetings and service projects.  This continues to be a problem and there’s no telling when it will end.  We obtained an LCIF grant for $10,000 for COVID relief and we contacted County Emergency Managers about how to best disperse this grant money, which was to purchase personal protective equipment and share it among the counties.

     We wrapped up the year with our District convention.  It took several Lions working together to make this happen.  We had an International Director from Oklahoma who shared lots of LCI information.  We had eight breakout sessions about a variety of topics.  A big “Thank You” to the Convention Committee that put together a totally virtual convention.

     International President’s Certificates of Appreciation (the 4th highest award in Lions) were presented to Lion Karen Norton of the Eugene Downtown club, Lion 1VDGE Lynn Coon of the Junction City club, and Lion Ward Frederick of the Silverton club.  A special Club Excellence Award was presented to the Silverton Lions Club for their organization and support of the Santiam Fire field kitchen, where hundreds of evacuees, volunteers, and first responders were fed for over two months.

     By now, you should have new club officers in place.  Get all your club members involved.  Look for opportunities to recruit new members.  Get creative with service projects.  To club leadership: “Bring out the best in the team by challenging them with tough but achievable goals, encouraging them with sincerity and trust, motivating them with a compelling vision and listening to them with empathy.”  -- Kai-Fu Lee, CEO of Sinovation Ventures

“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?”
— Helen Keller's Speech at 1925 International Convention Cedar Point, Ohio, USA June 30, 1925