We Can Overcome Obstacles

     It’s now March, normally the middle of the time for District Conventions, the elections for District Administrations, the incoming District Governor, First Vice Governor and Second Vice Governor all being chosen, the new Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Trustees for each Districts elected, and the usual awards ceremonies designating the honors received by deserving Lions for their service in Lionism.  However, since Covid–19 took center stage the normal was thrown out the window.  In-person Conventions replaced by fully media generated ones, or at best with modified in-person and zoom generated experiences will be the normal for this year and perhaps years to come.  The advantages for Zoom type meetings is lower costs, less travel and the ability often to serve with more members being present for learning.  The real disadvantage – the actual loss of being there – lack of ambiance of presence.  What we have experienced in the past may no longer the present and future.  Whatever the mix, we need to embrace the possibilities and make better use of technology with all its uses!

     Now two thirds of our COG year has passed.  Some clubs have embraced the technology of meeting via our computers, phone and tablets.  We’ve even continued service projects as well, although with fewer participants and perhaps less money raised and subsequent less given to various causes.  My own club has somewhat embraced meeting every two weeks with zoom, but our service has essentially gone by the wayside.  We did substitute the lack of doing our traditional Old Fashioned 4th of July Fireworks with a blast our 2020 New Year’s Eve presentation, but no parking cars at the County Fair or Harvest Fest, no Western Antique Automobile and Aeroplane Fly In cooking, and many other opportunities to meet, greet and do things in person.  The need to fund-raise and donate is ever more important and the needs ultimately greater!  Luck was with us in budgeting as we did not spend all of our previous year’s Administrative account.  So we could meet most of what our club saw as annual obligations – so we are spending down the rest of what we have saved.  We will be looking and searching for opportunities to replenish that account with fewer members involved and greater emphasis on efficiency.

     Now is the time as well for all clubs to search for new members, personally interview those past Lions who have dropped out the past two or so years, and actually honestly evaluate where we are as viable Lions Clubs.  We can overcome obstacles put in place when we collectively determine how to overcome them.  Find out why we’ve dropped members, determine how we can recruit new Lions and how each of us get involved in both this recruitment process as well as recognize those who have ‘done the job’ for Lions everywhere in the past.  With determination as well as reality thinking, these problems can be overcome.  Do not use the pandemic as an excuse – let’s collectively get to work with recruiting to truly make our communities great places to live, work and play.  It is up to us, the time is now, and the possibilities for success are actually almost endless.

     My challenge to District leaders – let us as well evaluate where we have been as well as where we want to go.  Fill up those cabinet positions with Lions willing and trained to get the job done.  Create those training programs that will give opportunities for new and varied leadership, look at the unrepresented Lions and ask why they may not have stepped up.  Make opportunities for new members, new leaders and new Lions – it is imperative and necessary that we change what we are doing now and in the past, as with fewer members we can no longer do what we have been doing.  Our successes can be endless if we just do some possibility thinking and action.  It is up to us – individually and collectively.  So – JUST DO IT!   ‘Til next month – I remain your humble servant leader.