GREETINGS OF THE SEASON TO ALL LIONS WHO DEVOTE SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME TO HELPING THE NEEDY OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD.

IT’S SIX MONTHS ALREADY AND TIME FOR EVALUATING OUR PROGRESS TOWARD

THE DISTRICT’S MULTIPLE GOALS OF SIGNIFICANT INVOLVEMENT BY OUR MEMBERS IN SAVING THE SIGHT OF MILLIONS IN NEED, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING AN ACTIVE PROGRAM OF MEMBERSHIP EXTENSION AND RETENTION.

THIS YEAR’S THEME OF ACCEPTING THE “CHALLENGE TO CHANGE “ WAS ENDORSED BY THE DISTRICT’S CABINET.

AS YOU WILL READ ELSEWHERE, OUR SIGHTFIRST II CAMPAIGN, AFTER A SLOW START, HAS ACCELERATED. WE HAVE MADE AN ENORMOUS JUMP IN MODEL CLUBS PARTICIPATION AND GOOD PROGRESS IN THE NUMBER OF CLUBS, WHO HAVE MADE DONATIONS. WE’RE JUST 15 CLUBS SHY OF BEING A 100% DISTRICT. THIS GOAL IS DEFINITELY ATTAINABLE.

OUR SECOND GOAL OF MEMBERSHIP RETENTION AND EXTENSION IS ONE THAT NEEDS MORE EFFORT FROM ALL LIONS. A TEAM HAS BEEN CHOSEN, AS YOU WILL READ LATER. IT IS WILLING AND ABLE TO NOT JUST “TALK THE TALK, BUT IT WILL WALK THE WALK! “ BUT THE TEAM CANNOT DO IT ALONE, IT NEEDS EACH AND EVERYONE OF US TO GET INVOLVED.

WE NEED TO SHOW OUR BRAND !.. HOW CAN WE EXPECT TO GAIN MEMBERSHIP UNLESS PEOPLE KNOW WHO AND

WHAT WE DO? EVERY LION SHOULD DEMONSTRATE PRIDE BY ADVERTISING EVERYDAY WITH A LIONS DECAL ON EVERY CAR, A LIONS SIGN IN EVERY LION STORE, ETC.

EVERY MERCHANT WHO ASSISTS A CLUB SHOULD RECEIVE A LIONS COMMENDATION LETTER THAT COULD BE PLACED IN A LOCATION WHERE THE PUBLIC COULD VIEW IT. WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE IN OUR EFFORT EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR. CALL UPON YOUR DISTRICT’S TEAM FOR IDEAS. THAT’S WHY IT’S THERE!

WE CAN’T BE CAVALIER ABOUT THIS. District MEMBERSHIP LOSS CAN NO LONGER BE IGNORED.

IN THE 1980’S 20-s HAD 3000 MEMBERS AND 70 CLUBS. TODAY WE HAVE LESS THAN 1500 MEMBERS AND 48 CLUBS. DRIP DRIP DRIP! THE LIONS GLASS IS HALF EMPTY!

CLUBS LARGE AND SMALL NEED TO HAVE MORE JOINT MEETINGS AND WORK TOGETHER ON PROJECTS.

IF WE ARE GOING TO MEET THE “CHALLENGE TO CHANGE” THEN WE MUST, AT THE VERY LEAST, JOIN HANDS AND ACCEPT THE CONCEPT OF SYNERGY. TWO OR MORE CLUBS COOPERATING ON A LARGE PROJECT CAN ACCOMPLISH MORE THAN SINGLE CLUBS WORKING ALONE.

AS YOUR GOVERNOR, I AM ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST YOUR CLUB, WHENEVER YOU NEED ME. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

YOURS IN CONTINUING SERVICE TO LIONISM.