Communication Is The Key To Keeping Members Interested

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” ― Tagore (Nobel Prize in Literature 1913)

“We Serve.” How many times have we proudly said that as Lions? But due to COVID, we are not able to do as many service projects as we would like. That does not mean we should do nothing.

Several clubs in the district are still providing service to their communities. It may require creativity to accomplish this. Collecting eyeglasses so they can be cleaned and calibrated at the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center and then distributed to those in need is still a major activity for many clubs. Scholarships are being handed out by several clubs. Roadside cleanups continue. The Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation is devising ways to continue doing school vision screenings that will comply with the latest social distancing guidelines.

Fundraisers can also happen. A flower basket fundraiser was held by the Dallas Lions Club. Community calendar sales are being handled by phone by the Elkton Lions Club. Raffles are being held by several clubs. The Salem West Lions Club made cotton candy to sell at a local event.

Communication is the key to keeping members interested and willing to remain a Lion. A survey of district clubs revealed that most clubs are holding off meeting until after Labor Day. While there will always be those who will resist participating in online virtual meetings, there are ways to keep club members informed about what is happening in their areas. Want to meet in person? Look for a public park that allows socially distanced attendance in a picnic areas. That will be an option as long as the weather holds. Club presidents and/or secretaries should consider putting out a newsletter. I’ve received several that are outstanding.

The district convention is currently scheduled for February 13 in Florence. We are playing it by ear right now, hoping that the COVID guidelines will allow us to hold our convention. We are tentatively scheduling forum speakers right now, fingers crossed.

Again, remember our motto: “Forward! Upward! Onward!” Please try to share this motto by continuing to meet as best you can, performing service activities and doing some fundraising in a COVID-safe manner. Share your successes by letting me know what you’ve accomplished. I’m available to attend in-person meetings or virtual meetings, so please keep in touch!

Stay Positive and Get Creative

July/August 2020

Forward!

Upward!

Onward!

When I selected my motto for the 2020-2021 year, it was a different time, pre-virus, Lions getting together at meetings and performing community service projects.  Everyone was enthusiastic and full of plans for the coming year, spreading the “Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion” slogan around the state and around the world.

Now, times have changed, at least as far as meeting in person.  Virtual meetings have pretty much become the new reality.  And clubs are learning to adapt to new technology and devise creative ways to continue service in their communities.

Forward!  We must continue to move forward and keep our clubs active.  If you have not tried virtual meetings and need help getting started with them, please contact me.  We already have several Zoom and GoToMeeting gurus in our district who will be happy to help you set up your account.  If you have not participated in a virtual meeting, please consider it.  It’s a good way to keep in touch with your fellow Lions and can be a social event (cocktail hours are popular) as well as a business meeting. 

Upward!  Due to the virus, LCI anticipates membership will drop 20% this coming year.  The North American Membership Initiative (NAMI) is already underway in several districts to address the continuous drop in membership in the U.S. and Canada.  We will have to work even harder to raise (or at least steady) our membership numbers this year.  Consider forming branch clubs in your community, which only require five members to start.  Consider establishing a Leos club.  They are prime targets for virtual meetings as most youth have been doing that for quite a while.  When the stay-at-home orders are lifted, consider having a membership drive in your area.  There are lots of tools and Lions available to help you.  Just ask.

Onward!  Service projects are continuing, even though we are limited as far as getting out in the community.  This is a prime time to be creative.  Read the Lions magazine and various Lion Facebook pages for ideas.  Several clubs in our district are still doing service projects, though some may be on a limited scale.  Two projects you might consider are Trek’s Bags for Benches, which helps alleviate our plastic problem and provides a visible example of Lions at work.  Building a Buddy Bench for your local schools is also a viable option.  You can research both of these projects on the internet or contact me for more information.

Kai-Fu Lee, CEO of Sinovation Ventures, stated: “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.”

As we start our new Lions year, stay positive and get creative.  We won’t just fade away . . . that’s not the Lions style!