Hope Is Eternal
Believe it or not – the end of the year is here already! Seems like yesterday we had the start of a new Lions Year, with its promises of great things to come. Even though we had already suffered the indignity of not being able to meet in person – Covid had its fangs already set with forced Zoom-type meetings, and lessened activities at the club and regional levels, we never thought that it would last for over a year. Presently it appears that some lessening of pandemic rules may allow for in-person training, meetings, fundraising and activities. Let us all hope it does come to pass that most will have been vaccinated soon, that masks will not be necessary, that things will open for all, and that we will once again have some semblance of normalcy!
The last issue of the year will be a summary of happenings, both highlights and downers for the state of Lionism in MD36. Saying that masks, distance and awaiting vaccines are an integral part of the “new normal” we hope that things will allow for better ways for us to meet the needs of our communities and its people. The ability to meet in person or via a hybrid method, that fundraising will again help us meet the myriad needs we know that exist, and that the calendar of events will again be met with pomp and circumstance, making us all busy and happier than we’ve been for the past several years.
Hope remains eternal, but reality must be reflected and then purged! We as a Multiple District continue to lose too many Lions through dropping out. This must stop! The loss of more than 350 Lions does not allow us to truly serve the needs of our communities, state or world! Dollars donated are as well lessened with fewer fundraising opportunities taken. Even at the local club level we seem to have more open offices going unfilled or repeat office holders – some serving upwards of 5 or more consecutive years in the same office. This is wrong as members with less years of experience are being thwarted from accessing leadership or becoming qualified to do so.
District level events must be evaluated, addressed and solved. For many districts there are openings in governance level offices – first and second vice district governors not being elected at conventions, regional and zone offices going either unfilled or those appointed not getting the job done. Cabinet meetings often have few members in attendance or some with no reports given or presented. Some of these by request of the District Governor! Come on – get real – look at the duties for each Governor, Cabinet member, Club Officer, etc. Renew yourselves, first perhaps by re-acquainting yourselves with your obligations and fulfilling them.
Conventions via Zoom only save the need to travel, stay over-night and plan meals! It is cheaper, but at what loss – seeing each other, the ambiance of being there in-person, seeing those friends more than once per year, and essentially doing those esoteric things that Conventions are made for. Zoom becomes a poor second! We need to once again have the District and Multiple District Conventions where we meet, greet, do business and have fun being Lions of one mind, social animals with WE SERVE as the prime motto!
In summation – this has been a very difficult year – pandemic and other issues that split us instead of bringing us together. Faults lie in each of us via failure to properly communicate needs and furthering Lionistic ideals. Hope is eternal – may those governing in 2021-2022 come to grips with what is needed, work together, gain membership and the camaraderie of efforts Multiple District wide. I leave the year as Council Chair disappointed by actions and lack thereof, of some working to lessen what we could have done, and how the future has to change for the positive. Clubs – have meetings, do your activities, make your reports and re-engage yourselves in WE SERVE – making our communities better places to live work and play!