A Message from your Governor

   The International Association of Lions Clubs

        Patrick Mitchell

                  District Governor, District 20-S

    New York 2008-2009

       33 Namkee Road

    Blue Point, NY 11715

Dear Lions, Lioness and Leos,

          It is with excitement and pride that I approach this year as District Governor for District 20-S. We will be engaging in multiple initiatives in my year as District Governor which will hopefully bring us together to continue to serve those in need here in Suffolk County and throughout the world.

          The District Golf outing is scheduled for Monday August 4 at the Long Island National Golf Club in Riverhead, NY. CS/T Selena Mitchell is the Chairperson.  This year we are honoring PDG Andy Viola of the Farmingville-Holtsville Lions Club.  As many of you know Lion Andy has been a Lion for 25 years and  has served as District Chairperson of the Leos Program as well as the Vision Screening Chair for District 20-S.  Furthermore, Lion Andy is the Director of the District 20-S Diabetes Wellness Center located at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital. We will be having auctions, raffles and other fun activities that day.  If you cannot be there in the morning to golf, we would like you to consider the Dinner Option, which starts at 5pm.  Please join us and the other Lions of District 20-S in celebrating Lion Andy’s many years of service to District 20-S.

          Our first Cabinet meeting will be on August 11 at the South Shore Restaurant at on Route 112 in Patchogue.  At this meeting, we will be outlining our goals for the year and giving Cabinet officers and Committee Chairpersons an opportunity to speak about what they hope to accomplish this year.  This and future cabinets meeting during my year as Governor will be interactive in that I recognize that our success hinges on my ability to give the members of our district the tools necessary to be successful.  We will learn from one another in a forum where communication is the key to a sharing of ideas that will foster successful experiences.

          Increasing membership will be a major goal of our district this year.  Our MERL team was able to start a new club utilizing Certified Guiding Lions to promote the canvassing approach in Sayville.  We anticipate a Charter Ceremony in August.  We will continue to canvass other communities in our district and we would ask that more Lions volunteer to assist us in forming new clubs.

In closing, please be advised that the District Newsletter will be functioning on a monthly basis staring in July.  I would like you to send to information on upcoming events or other things of importance to our Newsletter Editor Colleen Mannix at lionnwsltreditor@aol.com.  You can also contact me at pfm225@optonline.net or call me at 631-363-6412.

                                                  Yours in Lionism,

                                                 District Governor

 Patrick Mitchell