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."

 

We Must Find and Develop New Leaders

October 04, 2021  /  Guest User

October 2021 - Lions Magazine 

    Let’s remember our motto “We Serve”.

cc bob 2021.jpg

     Well here we are three months into this new Lions year and Lions are starting to get acclimated to new positions and new leaders.

     I feel that MD36 is extremely lucky this year to have this team in place. These District Governors have hit the ground running, amid all the turmoil and continuous pitfalls of COVID, and are once again embracing in-person visits with their constituents.

     Currently numbers in our multiple district are on the negative side as a whole but one District, R, is at a positive and kudos are in order for District Governor Lynn Coon and his leadership team.  As for leadership, there have been some trainings offered but one I would like to highlight is one of our premier opportunities that only comes around every two years and it is happening this Lions year. I am talking about the Northwest Lions Leadership Institute. Plans are to hold the event in April 2022. Organizers of this event have tentatively chosen April 9 and 10, but this can change. The main thing to remember is that it is happening so get those up and coming leaders ready to attend.

     As for service, all of the clubs in MD36 perform service every day and as we progress through the re-opening of our state we will continue to see more opportunities arise for Lions to aid in.

     I would like to now reiterate the goals that I set for this year that I provided to many at the Council of Governors meeting in August. Please don’t run them through the SMART Goal test because I am sure they will fail because some are very philosophical.

     First, I wanted to assist the multiple district in emerging from the COVID age and re-establishing in-person meetings. I think we have begun to accomplish that to a certain degree with our gathering in Rockaway in August and we will continue to make these meetings in-person and work toward an in-person MD convention in May.

     Second, I want to address an almost forgotten piece of the membership puzzle and that is retention.  One of my goals is to see the number of Lions leaving decreased this year. How do we accomplish this? By working together as a team (GAT) to determine why the majority of Lions are leaving and then make changes to our individual and collective policies and procedures to stop the mass exodus.

     The third goal I have is to increase the awareness of Lions throughout our communities and states. This goes back to the old adage of the largest service in the world but the best kept secret.  How do we get out of this enigma?  By promoting any and all events we do as Lions.  Our multiple district has a public relation manual that is available for anyone to use and we also have a MD Public Relations committee with representatives from each district who are more than willing to help with promotion of Lions.

     Fourth, I would like to be able to eradicate the blinders, barriers and territorial borders that we have established over the years. We must remember and embrace our Lions Clubs International motto “We Serve”.  This doesn’t say that only Bob from the Myrtle Creek Lions serves.  We have to be willing to work together and do away with the old school ground mentality of “if I don’t get my way I’m going to take my ball and go home”.  We have to work as one to continue to further our cause and to survive in this current environment.  If we are willing and able to do this I see great things on the horizon for our multiple district.

     Finally, I would like each and every one of us to look for leaders in our clubs. We are severely lacking in new leaders in our multiple district. If you look at our current list of MD committee chairs and the officers and committee chairs of each district you will see a number of vacancies, especially in cabinet positions, and a lot of familiar names filling positions for another term.

     We must find and develop new leaders and the only way to do that is to ask someone or allow someone who asks to take on a role. So what if they make mistakes or do it differently, we all have!

     These are a few of my goals for this year.

Yours in Lionism, Council Chair Bob Chaney

“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