PRESIDENTS REPORT

17 June 2008

Past District Governors (LIONs Ed, Sherry, Clayton and Barbara), fellow LIONS, and guests; thank you for coming this evening.  I hope you are enjoying yourself.

In trying to decide what to report this evening, I reviewed past presentations – and decided NOT to tell you all the good your efforts have served in great detail.  You already have been told and know it from newsletters and reports.  I will say our monies have gone to wonderful causes – some represented by your table gifts.  Instead I want to “review” the four goals mentioned last year at this time, and report what we’ve done with them.

Our first goal: CHANGE COURSE.  To this end, we had a TREMENDOUS response (over 66%) to the August survey.  It was most obvious members wanted change – from meeting location to more service and different fundraising techniques.  We’ve changed our meeting sites (dinner and board meeting) and expanded more into our own service area.  Commencing in July, our club structure will change as committees decrease and specific functions fall under individual Vice-Presidential areas.  Our Constitution and By-Laws will be updated to reflect the changes.   We’ve gotten involved with many more LIONS Clubs in Zone C, at Sight & Hearing Van functions (hosting it twice ourselves), Chesapeake Care Free Clinic and the Chesapeake Conference for the Homeless.  We’ve worked seven or eight months at the Recycling Center, sometimes more than once a month – readying thousands of glasses for the needy.  Another trip is planned on the 24^th.  (Please see LION Vera if you’re able to go.) Seven of our members are certified to conduct blood sugar screening throughout the District, and we’re in the process of teaming with a Church health ministry team to spread our wings beyond the Sight & Hearing Van.

Our second goal: COMMUNICATION.  Although we didn’t get back to a newsletter every month, we did improve over last year, and our newsletter has been praised by DG Chet as one of the most interesting and informative in the district and took first place in the District Newsletter contest.  (I hope you were able to see the plaque on the table as you were socializing.)  We’ve used the internet to pass information quickly – be it sad news concerning members or reminders of meetings and developing meeting agendas.  We’ve reached the public via our website, thanks to LION Terrie and Shane Roddy.  Several times I’ve received request for information or aid via westernbranchlions.org.  Thanks to Barbara Brown,  whom you’ve met earlier, we’ve new flyers, our newsletters continued when LION Terrie couldn’t get to them, all members received a Club Constitution and other notices have gone out, such as the survey.  She’s even done very fast turn arounds when we were “fighting the calendar” to meet deadlines to get information out to you.  Our phones have been busy with reminders of meetings and events and LION Tiny’s used a lot of return address labels sending thoughtful cards to our LIONS or their family members.

Third: ACTIVE Membership.  I need not say much here!  You’re it! Our four new members each jumped in with both feet and are helping raise Club spirit and energy. We’re looking forward to Lyla Laning doing the same, after her induction next month.  We may not have been able to conduct our large Spring Fundraiser; and we got rained out of a lot of our Fall Fundraiser; but, we’ve had very successful pancake breakfast fundraisers, a great turnout to work the Michelob Ultra; Members have supported Campaign Sight First II;  we’ve had Traveling Leo’s almost every month (and came in 10^th place in the District – receiving a patch); and, we’ve handed out our club flyers at church bazaars and other public events. Again, we’ve had tremendous participation at the Eyeglass Recycling Center – plus turnout at every zone, region and district meeting, not to mention State, International and the USA/Canada Forum.  You have represented us well.  Just last week we completed “our room” at the HER Shelter.  Seeing the eyes of the family that moved in less than 15 minutes later was worth every ounce of effort any of us expended on that project.   I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the support we’ve had from the District and Zone.  They have helped us a great deal.  DG Chet has afforded us the opportunity for our ad hoc Disaster Committee; Chaired by LION Pat, to get assistance to Suffolk families in need who have suffered greatly from recent tornado’s.   $1500 has already been used.  This will continue.

That’s all without mentioning the record numbers of preschoolers screened this year, and our upcoming yard sale.  Active? Oh, yes!  We have been VERY ACTIVE – thanks to YOU.

Our final goal: ENJOY!  I have (honestly)!  I hope you have.   As I said in the newsletter “It’s been one

h--- of a ride!”  Thank you, each and every one of you, including our “support team members” for all you’ve done this LION’s Year.  Keep it up in 2008-2009 and Western Branch LIONS Club will continue to be a shining star in District 24D.  I leave you in great hands with a tremendous Board at the helm.  It’s been my pleasure and honour to serve as your President.   LION Peg