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."

 

TRADITION AND CHANGE: BOTH HAVE VALUE AND A PLACE AS WE EVALUATE THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES

December 23, 2023  /  Leah Malcolm

Our New Year of Service

     Happy New Year Lions of MD-36!  I love this time of year as our clubs begin their new year of service.  The two simple words of our motto, “We Serve” drive the actions of 2,796 Lions statewide as we strive to serve the needs of our individual communities and support our statewide and international efforts as well.  Will your club perform traditional service projects or will you look for new and innovative projects to adopt this year?  Or will your club have a combination of both, the traditional and the new?  Tradition and change; both have value and a place as we evaluate the needs of our communities and decide how we can best serve.

     And speaking of service, many Lions across the state participated in holiday service projects, enhancing this special time of the year in their respective communities. Projects ranged from photos with Santa, to food and toy drives to stuffing Christmas stockings for delivery to care centers and more.  In addition, the teambuilding required for designing floats for holiday parades, preparing food for celebrations and activities such as hosting a Movie Night and a Christmas bazar that ran for weeks brought club members together and increased club collegiality through service.

     As we head into the New Year, remember that statewide service projects are once again on tap for our multiple district.  These collegial efforts, which cross District borders, bring Lions across the state together in a common effort to serve.  Thanks to our GST team and especially GST Chair PCC Sharon Rollins for organizing this effort.  The next project will involve hunger awareness and will be held in February.  Stay tuned for more information on this project.

No longer “the best kept secret”

     For years Lions International has been encouraging clubs to share what they are doing for their communities with their communities.  Urging us to no longer be “the best kept secret”, Lions have headed the call and are now getting the word out through their local newspapers, on social media and on websites.  Some clubs have a marketing manager and are actively involved in this effort.

     If your club excels at marketing and you have gained members due to your marketing efforts, Lions International has a contest for you.  The contest is called the Lions International Marketing Award and your club could win $2,000 dollars as well as a trophy and certificates for all members.  Applications are due February 1st, but there is still time to enter if your club has been actively involved in this type of effort.

     Go to the Lions International website and search “The Lions International Marketing Award” to review contest rules and download the application.  Your project must have started on or after July 1, 2023.  The project can be a service project, fundraiser, social media campaign or marketing campaign but it must have a membership recruitment element.  You will need to explain what marketing materials you used as well as the number of members or prospective members gained through this effort.  Good luck.  I hope some of you will consider applying.

The countdown has begun

     In just a little over a month it will be time for our first district convention.  District R will hold its convention on February 3rd in Springfield at the Holiday Inn Express with the other districts following suit in March and April.  Then our 100th state convention will be held in Bandon on May 17th and 18th.  Our centennial convention will be very special with new events and special speakers.  One of the benefits of attending convention is getting to interact with Lions from other areas of the district or state.  In addition, the exchange of information that takes place at convention, be it through session attendance or through the informal exchange with your fellow Lions, can be invaluable.  Registrations forms for District O and District R’s conventions can be found in this edition and are also posted on the MD-36 website.

                                                  2024 here we come

     Best wishes to you all as we head into our New Year of Lions service.  2024 here we come!

“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