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International Program of the 2008-2009
Miracles Through Service
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I’ll never forget September 11th. And I will always remember September 12th and
the many days following. We all know what happened on September 11, 2001. But it’s
what occurred afterward that left an equally strong impression. Every day, for months,
Lions staffed the central warehouse in New York that housed the supplies for the
recovery efforts at Ground Zero. Seven days a week, Lions were there to ensure the
best possible outcome from an awful tragedy. The service offered immediately following
September 11th, in New York, Washington and elsewhere, developed into a long-range
plan to help families of victims. Multitudes of Lions made certain that families
could pay their bills. They did
home repairs and drove family members to doctor
visits. They coordinated bereavement retreats. They supported job counseling and
mentoring of children. These were ordinary acts of kindness. These tasks are what
Lions do. But they amounted to miracles through service. People who carried heavy
burdens found their loads lighter and their step easier. Lions changed lives for
the better. Who were these Lions? They were regular Lions who responded to a dire
need. In my travels, I’ve sometimes been asked who exactly are Lions. Well, without
wanting to sound too boastful, let me say that Lions are everyday heroes. We go
about our service, greatly enriching the lives of others without much glory or attention.
So it is with Lions elsewhere, day after day, year after year. Our miracles through
service fill the gaps in our communities. We play the role of everyday heroes. We
help those with vision loss adjust to their condition. We provide hearing aids to
those that need them. We give youths life skills through Lions Quest. We equip hospitals,
build schools and support vocational training for those with disabilities. Quietly
and without much fanfare, we make our communities much better places to live and
raise families. During my presidential year, I will celebrate Lions for performing
miracles through service and for being everyday heroes. This is not about self-congratulation.
Instead, it’s a way to further our service. I want to celebrate Lions’ community
service, renew pride in what it means to be a Lion and tell the world at large about
what we do to build a better tomorrow. Taking pride in what we do will give us more
energy and motivation to continue our great works and increase our service. We are
on a journey together in the Lion year of 2008-2009. Let’s walk smartly with our
heads high and hearts proud. Let’s tell our story—to each other, to other Lions
clubs and districts and to the rest of the world, who don’t yet quite know what
it is we do and how well we do it. It’s probably true that most Lions—and the public—automatically
associate Lions with our work on behalf of the blind. That’s great. But let’s usher
in the day that upon seeing a Lion people also say, “There’s an everyday hero. There’s
someone who makes a difference” Remember, even the smallest act of kindness can
make a huge impact.
Albert F. Brandel, President
The International Association of Lions Clubs.
Our members make it
possible for us to create miracles through service
Membership is the lifeblood of
any organization and Lions Clubs International is
no exception. A strong growing membership provides the manpower to provide continued
community and world service for which the Lions are known. It sparks new energy
into the local club and provides for the outstanding financial support, which allows
Lions Clubs International to be the top NGO in the world. Unfortunately, membership
gains have been inconsistent. With the successful completion of Campaign SightFirst
II and the increased public awareness that came with it, 2008-09 has the potential
to be another period of increased membership – a first step in our effort to restore
our membership levels in order to meet the increasing needs of our communities.
Through new initiatives like the Family Membership Program, and the increase in
the number of women joining Lions Clubs, we are beginning to see our membership
numbers once again start to climb. That does not mean we should sit back and assume
all is well. We must continue toward building membership and the placement of a
structure that can provide continuity and consistency from year to year. In the
past, annual membership programs have demonstrated that international programs driven
by LCI leadership can have a positive impact on membership. Such annual programs,
however, suffered from continuity constraints. It often takes three years or more
for an initiative to take hold and be embraced at the club level. A structure that
will provide a consistent message, with continuity of the individuals delivering
the message, could be the difference in keeping the membership numbers moving in
a positive direction.
It is time for LCI to make changes in its approach to an international membership
growth.
The structure needs to be one that provides:
• Continuity with flexibility
• An international goal with area plans
• A new structure while including proven infrastructure
• Communication flow to districts and clubs and districts reporting back
With that, I’m proud to announce that the International Board of Directors has
approved the Lions Global Membership Team. The purpose of this team is to establish
a viable, long-term approach to growing membership through a formalized structure,
which provides continuity and consistency from one year to the next. The membership
team will consist of experienced Lions with strong membership growth experience
working with Council Chairpersons to utilize the MD MERL teams. Detailed information
is available on the association’s web site, www.lionsclubs.org.
Experience from Campaign SightFirst II demonstrates that acceptance by the District
Governor and the local leadership teams is essential for success. LCI must help
local clubs change to meet the needs of the new generations of Lions, provide new
marketing and PR tools to promote Lions and provide options for new club formation.
Above all, we must all emphasize service. There is no question that our service
activities bring in new members, and keeps our membership strong. More than ever,
the world needs heroes. When you put others above yourself, you become a hero. When
you elevate others – improving their quality of life – you become a miracle worker.
Our members make it happen. Our members are the reason Lions Clubs International
leads the way in community service – making miracles happen each and every day.
Rebuilding
Lives After Hurricane Katrina
Just a light puff of air made the toy rooster crow, leading to squeals of
delight from the children with disabilities. Older children and adults with disabilities
amused themselves by borrowing a beach wheelchair, a modified golf cart or special
tennis equipment and fishing reels. But the fun generated by the Technology Learning
Center at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast campus evaporated after
Hurricane Katrina roared through. The next roar heard was that of Lions. An LCIF
grant allowed the center to replace much of the destroyed equipment. “That equipment
is the core part of what we do because it’s the equipment that people with disabilities
need and can’t enjoy life without. It’s essential to the quality of life,” says
Sara Jackson, the center’s director. Lions helped people in the Gulf Coast in dozens
of ways after Katrina. Often partnering with LCIF, they helped purchase school buses
and school supplies, led eye screenings and distributed eyeglasses, and repaired
homes. The service was done both by local Lions, some of whom had seen their own
homes damaged, and Lions from elsewhere. Lions from the state of Washington packed
and sent 40,000 pounds of apples to Bayou La Batre, Alabama; Lions in Connecticut
drove several truckloads of relief supplies to the Gulf Coast; Lions from New Jersey
sent Christmas gifts for 1,500 schoolchildren to Lions in Alabama. One of the more
substantial recovery efforts involved Camp Wilkes in Biloxi, Mississippi. One of
the oldest youth recreational facilities on the Gulf Coast (it opened in 1938),
Camp Wilkes saw every one of its 31 buildings destroyed or damaged by a surge of
water. LCIF funded rebuilding of two cabins, the infirmary and a two-story support
building. Thirty Lions from Wisconsin traveled to the camp to assist the rebuilding;
Lions from Mississippi worked on several rebuilding projects at the camp. Getting
the camp operational again meant more than just providing recreation for youths:
the camp has agreed to host volunteers involved in rebuilding efforts. Lions involvement
in 9/11 and Katrina resulted in the formation of the Lions Alert Program.
Rescuing Children from Oblivion
Once a sleepy fishing port, Shenzhen has been one of the world’s fastest growing
cities since 1979. That’s when the Chinese government, mindful of the city’s proximity
to Hong Kong, designated it as a special economic zone and encouraged capitalism.
The growth has been so spectacular that “one high rise a day and one boulevard every
three days” became the city’s unofficial slogan. But the feverish economic growth
meant no additional resources and services for one of China’s fastest growing social
problems—until Lions came along. Nearly 1.8 million children in China have autism;
that number is rising by 20 percent a year. Children with autism are not accepted
in schoolsand their parents must teach them at home. Lion Dang He saw how a friend’s
child grappled with autism and resolved to help. “I’ve seen them struggle and there
was no
place they could get help,” he says. So the Xiang Mi Hu Lions Club established
an autism center in Shenzhen, the first in the city of 10 million. The Lions not
only financially support the center but also regularly visit the center. “We play
and the children get to know us. That’s the goal—to make play a natural interaction
for them,” says a Lion. The children there are learning to communicate through sign
language and pictures. Others are learning to speak. Children who once were denied
education and doomed to isolation are now discovering themselves and their talents.
The Lions know they can do only so much on their own, so they are working toward
having the children accepted in schools. They hope to match the city’s astounding
economic progress with an equally remarkable rise in social services.
Filling Millions of
Empty Plates
South Africans overturned apartheid and established democracy but the economy is
a work in progress. Hunger is a major problem in South Africa. As many as 60 per cent of the nation’s 18 million children live in poverty. The lack of food results
in health problems and developmental delays. Lions in District 410-A in South Africa are alleviating the hunger problem to a heroic degree. “The Lions Food Project provides
food for nearly 60,000 people each day,” says Past District Governor Viv Grater.
“We supply food to schools, orphanages, soup kitchens, senior homes, shelters and
many organizations and clinics that assist people with HIV and TB.” Lions in District
410-A have distributed food for 38 years. They currently provide 20 million meals
a year. Every day—365 days a year—Lions pick up food that is safe and edible but
that is no longer being sold at Pick 'n Pay stores. “Since we have no refrigeration
or storage facilities, each day we have to sort, pack and deliver the food that
would otherwise go to waste,” says Stuart McPherson of the Newlands Lions Club.
“We pick up food in six light delivery vehicles from 56 stores and distribute it
to more than 300 organizations. The demand for food far outweighs the supply but
we spread what we get to as many people as possible.” At soup kitchens in poor communities
such as Egoli, children and elderly adults begin lining up as the smell of food
starts wafting from the small kitchen run by a resident. Everyday Lion heroes bring
vegetables, including potatoes and tomatoes, and other ingredients to be made into
soup. The soup is served along with rice and rolls. Around 300 people in this area
of makeshift homes enjoy a hearty meal thanks to Lions.Nobel Peace Prize winner
and retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu serves as the patron of the food project. “When
someone is weeping, God would like to wipe away the tears from their eyes,” he once
said, “but cannot unless you, you, and you are the means. God smiles through the
tears because he has such fantastic partners—you, the Lions.”
Sharing MiraclesWith
Others
Since the founding of public relations as a discipline, practitioners
have intuitively believed in the power of positive unpaid media to affect the cycle
of awareness, knowledge, interest and intent that is
needed to achieve behavioral
goals. We’ve all heard the old adage “if a tree falls in the forest, and no one
is around to hear it, does it still make a sound?” Similarly, what good is the most
provocative message if no one hears it? So why is it important for us to share our
story with others? Needs continue to escalate around the world. In order to continue
to meet those needs, it is important that we grow our membership. To do that, we
must increase public awareness of the Lions Clubs International brand – who we REALLY
are, what we REALLY do, and what we REALLY stand for. In other words, the message
of “We Serve.” It’s time we, as Lions, share with others how we have been “throwing
something back” for 90 years, by serving others. And it is vital that clubs tell
their story on the local level. It’s always wonderful to see Lions Clubs featured
on CNN and other national/ international news outlets. But surveys consistently
show that people get their news by way of local news outlets, because they are most
concerned with what is happening in their respective community. For more information
on how you can make an impact through public relations, go to www.lionsclubs.org.
Awards Reflect Importance of Teamwork Some awards have been modified or created
this Lion year to incorporate International President Brandel’s emphasis on teamwork.
The awards are intertwined to a certain extent, meaning a Lion can earn the award
if other Lions in related leadership positions excel as well. District Governors
can earn the District Governor Excellence Award if, among other criteria, at least
50 percent of region or zone chairpersons earn the Region/Zone Chairperson Excellence
Award. (The District Governor Excellence Award was formerly called the 100% District
Governor Award.) A new award, the Region/Zone Chairperson Excellence Award has among
its criteria a requirement that 50 percent of club presidents in the region/zone
achieve the Club President Excellence Award. The applications for the District Governor
Excellence Award, Region Chairperson Excellence Award, Zone Chairperson Excellence
Award, and the Club President Excellence Award are on the web site of Lions Clubs
International.
“The most important Lion is the individual Lion member. The big picture is about
the people we serve, and the Lions who
serve them.” Al Brandel
ThreeWays to Strengthen
Lions’ Service Mission
International President Brandel’s theme of Miracles Through Service
and the role of Lions as Everyday Heroes will be emphasized on his visits to clubs
and districts, in his written messages to Lions and through the materials and events
coordinated by Lions Clubs International including THE LION Magazine, LCI’s Web
site and seminars/ conferences. He also encourages every club to incorporate his
theme in their newsletters, Web sites, press releases and even banners and posters.
Feel free to appropriately borrow ideas and materials from LCI. Renewing pride in
being a Lion starts with a full awareness of Lions’ activities. And from pride will
come greater retention and stronger, more heartfelt recruitment efforts. To help
spread the message of Miracles Through Service and Everyday Heroes and to simply
strengthen Lions clubs, President Brandel also is emphasizing three objectives:
teamwork, humanitarian services, and expanded advocacy/fundraising.
Teamwork
Maybe in yesteryear, when life was slower and technology and communications were
relatively primitive, the go-it-alone mentality worked. But today Lions need to
work in teams. In short, we need to plan together—to develop achievable, prudent,
highly focused goals---and then to work together to realize those goals. Many hands
make light work, as the saying goes. Lions’ service is not modest; it’s ambitious
and far-reaching, whether it’s related to sight, hearing, youth, the elderly or
another concern. Consequently, the planning, teamwork and marshaling of resources
should be commensurate to our ambitious service aims. Bringing Lions together in
teams—at the club level, among several clubs and at the district level—helps avoid
unnecessary duplication of resources. In addition, it enables Lions with special
talents or access to resources to be more widely available to other Lions and the
communities we serve. The defining structural aspect of Lions will remain the local
club. Clubs always will have their own special activities and fundraisers. But clubs
can’t operate exclusively as separate entities. For the greater good of greater
service, they need to be more integrated into more widespread Lions’ initiatives.
District governors will have the ability to delegate some of their club visitations
to vice district governors, for example. Districts also will be encouraged to consider
adopting a second vice district governor position if local circumstances suggest
it. Lions are old hands at teamwork, of course. So this objective is not a radical
shift in culture but instead a fuller embrace of traditional practices.
Humanitarian Service (Hands-on!)
Go ahead—pick a descriptive phrase. Lions are workers bees. We’re in the frontlines.
We’re in the trenches. We roll up our sleeves. We’re not afraid to get our hands
dirty. We do service, whether it’s running a vision testing machine, making sandwiches
for disaster victims or driving an elderly person to a doctor’s appointment. Lions
sincerely believe that no act of kindness is too small. So in 2008-2009 Lions are
urged to increase their handson service. They should especially focus on Lions Alert
(emergency response planning – a great way to partner with local governments), Lions
Quest (a schools-based life skills program), Leo clubs and other direct-impact programs.
A Lion who gives his or her time and talent to others is a donor
whose gift is priceless.
Expanded Advocacy/Fundraising
Last year Lions Clubs International Foundation was named as the
best non-governmental organization worldwide, according to London-based Financial
Times. LCIF came in first for its execution of programs, accountability and other
factors. Lions enjoy highly productive relationships with many highly regarded partners:
The Carter Center, Habitat for Humanity, Lenscrafters, Special Olympics, Eli Lilly,
Johnson and Johnson, the National Eye Institute, the U.S. State Department and others.
LCI does not go it alone. It leverages its reputation and resources to form
partnerships in order to further its service goals. Under the leadership of International President
Brandel in 2008-2009, and the assistance and dedication of Lions around the world,
LCI will deepen its ties with current partners and form new relationships. Lions
will be able to utilize the expertise, funds and resources of our partners, and
thereby expand the scope and reach of our service.
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