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."

 

MARCH 2020 ISSUE

February 22, 2020  /  Guest User

Creating Harmony Through Service

     This week, I had fun taking a walk down memory lane with a friend. Many of you are of an age to remember a fun kids’ magazine called “Highlights” and that was what was shared. “Highlights” came once a month, and it was so much fun to read the articles and stories and do the puzzles – but the best was a cartoon called “Goofus and Gallant”. Goofus was a boy who just couldn’t get things right, whether by intent or accident; Gallant was, as the name implies, an always good kid who made the right choices.

Sharon Rollins.jpg

     Using the “Goofus and Gallant” idea, let’s think about our Lions clubs for a minute. If a club decides to ignore the fresh idea for a service project or fundraiser brought to it by a new member of a club, using the old adage “We’ve always done it our way”, that’s being Goofus. Inviting that new member to develop the fresh idea and involve those who are interested, Lions members yet or not, is being Gallant.

     Deciding that attracting new members to the club would change things just too much, so keeping the club in its staid and shrinking state, that’s being Goofus. Reaching out to the community through a needs assessment survey, finding a new and needed community project and asking folks to join together in that project while having fun together doing it, that’s being Gallant.  And how about exploring new methods of membership, such as a Cyber branch or whole new Cyber club? Even more like Gallant!

     Declining to offer a service requested by a community member, such as an eye exam and glasses or a hearing exam and hearing aid(s), because that person speaks a language that no one in your club understands, that’s being Goofus! Reaching out to a community contact with translation skills (such as OLSHF), and thus being able to help that community member with needs, that is really being like Gallant.

     As Lions, we’re living in communities that are ever more diverse – and all of our neighbors deserve the same attention and care when the need arises. I love to read the articles in the Oregon Lion submitted by clubs who want to share their outreach into their extended communities. Keep up the excellent work, Lions of MD 36!

We’re Lions and WE SERVE!

Council Chair Sharon

“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