OCTOBER 2019 OREGON LION

Creating Harmony Through Service

     Our Lions year is now in full activity mode around the Multiple District! I have heard of a number of meaningful service projects that are planned or are already in action.

     PID Ed Gear has shared the details of the completion of Heartfelt House in Springfield, at the PeaceHealth Riverbend Hospital campus, to provide compassionate service to families who have loved ones hospitalized for serious illness. Our MD 36 Lions and Lions Clubs International Foundation are a part of the financial foundation for this amazing service project – one that will continue helping families as long as it stands (to quote PID Ed).

     October is designated as Vision Month by Lions Clubs International. Think about the many ways that your club has contributed to the vision needs of your communities in our Multiple District:

·        School screening with our SPOT cameras in schools across the Multiple District, with an amazing 176,005 students screened in 2018-2019 under the guidance of the Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation.

·        Community vision clinics, like the amazing day in Rockaway in April where the Rockaway Lions and OLSHF staff helped Pacific University graduate optometry students and Casey Eye Institute physicians screen 70 plus folks in need of the vision service – and resulted in some miraculous vision restoration through surgery at Devers Memorial Eye Clinic.

·        Free vision exams and eyeglasses provided to community members by Lions Clubs, using the services of 57 vision providers in the LEAP (Lions Eyeglass Assistance Program) lab network – 2,187 pairs of eyeglasses built in 2018-2019, and the program is on track to serve even more folks in this current Lions year.

·        The Patient Care program at OLSHF, which provides needed surgeries and treatments for folks referred by our Lions Clubs. In 2018-2019, 122 patients with vision issues were served. New technologies in specialized care are offered to our Lions referrals through the partnership with Devers Memorial Eye Clinic.

·        The Mission Cataract Program, which partners OLSHF with 30 plus ophthalmologists who provide free cataract surgeries for Lions Club patient referrals. Twelve patients received this sight saving surgery in 2018-2019 and surgeries will continue as patients are partnered with ophthalmologists.

·        White Cane Day is coming up on October 15, an opportunity to take awareness of assistance to programs for those with low vision and blindness out into our communities.

     Ask yourself, as a Lion, this question: Where would these folks have had their vision needs met, if not for our club service? Thank you for your individual volunteering hours and thank you to your Lions Club for your group efforts at serving our communities.  

SEPTEMBER 2019 ISSUE

Creating Harmony Through Service

     Stories.  Humankind has used the method of stories to record history – oral history – down through the ages.  How many of you remember hearing stories of your families from parents or grandparents?  How many of you enjoyed reading books as a child that told stories of people beginning a new life away from family and friends (think of Laura Ingalls Wilder) – written history?

     Immediate Past President and chair of LCIF Gundrun Ygnvadottir shared her thoughts about the importance of storytelling in a communication this summer. “Storytelling is ever-important for our Foundation.  It is how Lions – and non-Lions – understand the importance of both doing and giving.  Storytelling moves us to take action.  Hearing the heartwarming story of a child seeing clearly for the first time in their life is what makes us want to be a part of it all”.

     Lions of MD 36, let’s be storytellers!  An article describing a new Multiple District project was included In the July/August Oregon Lion Magazine, on page 10.  The four District Governors would like each of you to write a story describing your “Aha” moment, the time when you became a Lion in your heart.  Each of these stories will be gathered by the District Governors, shared within the Districts and all of the stories will be included in a printed book. (Please read the article for the details).

     Let’s use this opportunity to let each other, and the wider audience who will purchase this book of stories, understand through our words what it means to support our youth, give vision to those who can’t see their world clearly, provide needed food for a family, and more.  Our words will become a part of the written history of Lions.

     And – a possible surprise for MD 36 Lions! PIP Gudrun may be our International representative to the MD 36 convention, to be held May 15 and 16, 2020 at Seven Feathers in Canyonville!  PIP Gudrun, as Chair of LCIF, is asking clubs to support LCIF through awarding the Melvin Jones Fellow award to an increased number of club members this year.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful for PIP Gudrun, or another International Director, to award those Melvin Jones Fellows in person at our convention?  Awards can be to a new recipient and can also be Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow awards.  Can we set a goal of 50 MJF awards for PIP Gudrun to present in person?  Of course we can – if every club awards one MJF, we’ll far surpass that goal!  Details about this project will follow very soon.

     Our Lions year is off to a strong start; stories of service are being created all over our MD.  Let’s continue to keep our clubs vital and active in our communities and invite new members to join in the stories of Lions service!

July/August 2019

Welcome to a new year of Lions service, membership growth, new methods of communication and great times of fellowship!  Our four District Governors have returned from Milan and the International Convention, eager to put into action their plans for the year.  Clubs are enjoying summer community service activities, fellowship at BBQ and picnic events, and gearing up for the coming months of working together in service projects.

     The District Governors and I chose the theme of “Creating Harmony Through Service” as our MD36 focus for this Lions year.  As citizens of the world, I think that it’s important to remind ourselves that there are really things that we owe to each other.  Are we really islands unto ourselves?  Or are we all a part of the world civilization?

     Our Immediate Past International President, Gudrun Yngvadottir, explained her understanding of service in this way: “What I love about service is that it knows no gender, no color, no religion.  And we are truly stronger as an organization, and as clubs, when we have a diverse mix of experiences contributing to the energy and ideas that make Lions so great.”

     As Lions, we have the opportunity to work in our communities and inspire others to join us as we serve.  The energy of an active service project is contagious!  Let your communities know the benefits of becoming a Lion and joining in on a future of helping others to realize a better life.

     To again quote PIP Gudrun: “Because being a Lion is not about being a man or a woman.  It’s about being a human being.  And the more caring men and women we have working together for good, the better chance we have of truly changing the world.”

     So, Lions, get your plans in place and head out into your communities to create harmony through doing service for others!

JUNE 2019 ISSUE

SOARING BEYOND THE HORIZON AS “WE SERVE”

As I write this final article as Council Chair, I think about all of the Lions I have been in contact with throughout this year and marvel at the character strengths and life skills     I have observed. The list below show characteristics that make good dedicated Lions, and I am proud to be in that group.

Compassion for others suffering and the motivation to relieve that suffering.

Communication in receiving, and sharing information. Talking or writing, and listening or reading clearly, and respecting different opinions.

Courage to do something difficult even when there's risk. Lions are courageous people who do and say what they think is right despite opposition.

Curiosity as we see a strong desire to learn or know something.  Lions seek answers to their questions for the sake of gaining knowledge. They actively seek out challenges and new experiences to broaden their horizons.

Empathy as they put themselves in someone else's shoes and understand the feelings and perspective of another person.  

Gratitude for the good things that happen in their lives and taking the time to express appreciation and return kindness, leading to a stronger sense of well-being.

Humility as a learned character strength of not regarding themselves as more special or better than others.

Integrity to tell the truth and act in a sincere way, consistent, trustworthy and ethical. Lions treat people equally and take responsibility for their own feelings and actions. 

Perseverance to keep doing something in spite of obstacles. Lions are people who persevere, show steadfastness in doing something despite how hard it is or how long it takes to reach the goal.

Self-control to be able to appropriately manage thoughts, feelings, and impulses. Lions pay attention to their emotions and feelings

Teamwork in working respectfully and effectively with a group and doing their share. Many basic character strengths, such as communication, self-control, and humility, support a person's ability to work on a team. Teamwork is more than getting along with people. The key to being a good team player is the ability to put a group's needs above your own.

While we all don’t show all of these characteristics outwardly, they are there and they show up to those “We Serve”