Tag Archives: community

Involve a Veteran this Memorial Day

24 Thursday May 2018

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If we were to ask you what the most patriotic month of the year is, how would youBoy salutes flags at Memorial Day display in a small town respond? You’d probably say July; it’s a no-brainer. But what about the second most patriotic month? We’d say May.

This month, we’ve already celebrated Armed Forces Day on May 19, and Memorial Day is right around the corner. Veterans gave a major sacrifice when they chose to enlist, but often, their eagerness to make a difference does not end when they complete their term. Many look to get involved at a local level, which could make Lions the perfect fit.

Veterans have so much to offer to any organization. They have a strong sense of dedication and commitment, have a keen sense of leadership and know precisely what it means to be a part of a team. That’s why LCI created the Involve a Veteran Program. From now until June 30, 2018, qualifying veterans have the chance to join a Lions club with an entrance or charter fee waiver. Eligible veterans include Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard personnel as well as the Canadian Armed Forces who retired or were honorably-discharged from their service. National Guard and Reserve personnel who were called to active duty are also eligible.

When inviting veterans to join your Lions Club, consider trying one of these simple recruiting ideas:

  • Drop off brochures at your local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) clubs. You might be surprised to learn how many chapters exist in our state!
  • Exhibit at a local Veteran community event. Be sure to check out the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs Events page and watch your local newspaper.
  • Use the press release template to attract local media attention.
  • Take the opportunity to thank Veterans on your social media pages. Memorial Day would be an excellent day to express your gratitude for their service – you never know who might stumble across your post.
  • Start a new project and invite Veterans to join in on the fun.

It’s not too late! Join the over 700 clubs that have taken advantage of the Involve a Veteran program and give veterans the opportunity to continue serving, as a Lion.

The Lions Pride Office will be closed on Monday, May 28, to honor those who bravely served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice. We’d like to wish you all a fun, safe holiday weekend!

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Plan a Tree Planting Project

26 Thursday Apr 2018

Posted by in Holidays, News, Special Events

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“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” –ChineseTrees proverb

As the long living species on Earth, trees have an amazing ability to connect to the past, present and future, while also providing a whole slew of environmental and health benefits. Here in Wisconsin, many of us are lucky enough to be surrounded by trees of all shapes and sizes, but that doesn’t mean we should sit back and idle.

Tomorrow marks the observance of Arbor Day, and while the ground may still be a bit too frozen to physically plant a tree, there’s no better time to make plans for a club tree planting project.

As part of the Lions organization, we understand that every tree planted is part of a broader scale effort by members all over the world to make a significant impact on the environment. According to the European Environment Agency, one mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen in exchange. Read more interesting tree facts from the Arbor Day Foundation.

Before creating your tree planting project, consider the following preparations from LCIF:

  • Evaluate your community’s needs – is there an area where new trees may be more beneficial over others?
  • Work with a local forestry or agriculture department to identify the most appropriate tree species for the local environment.
  • Partner with other local groups or organizations to leverage resources and expertise.
  • Outline a plan that includes procedures, materials needed and expenses.
  • Submit your plan and budget to your club, district or multiple district for approval.

Once your plan is approved, the fun can begin:

  • Request Lion volunteers for the project committee.
  • Obtain approvals or permit for your project, if necessary.
  • Create marketing materials such as a flyer, press release or social media post to promote the event – be sure to include protective clothing recommendations for volunteers!
  • Invite the local media to observe or take part in the project.
  • Remember, if your Lions Club participates, you will fulfill complete the Environment portion of the Centennial Service Challenge.

There’s no need to worry about rushing to complete your tree planting project. Some experts even say that planting in the fall can have its advantages. No matter when you decide to plant trees, remember that you are making an important contribution to both present day life as well as future generations.

Happy Arbor Day from Lions Pride!

It’s Girl Scout Cookie Season!

22 Thursday Feb 2018

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We have to be honest. The winter weather has gotten us down this week. Although the temperatures have remained fair, the icy roads are making us feel as though the warm, summer months will arrive. That’s when we were to see a timely announcement – the return of Girl Scout Cookie Weekend.

Last month, Girl Scouts of the USA kicked off their 101st year of selling cookies. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is one of the most successful programs in any organization. Over 1 million Girls Scouts participate in selling cookies to benefit their troop. Scouts can show off their G.I.R.L. (Go-Getter, Innovator, Risk-Taker, Leader) Spirit by selling cookies to help power amazing experiences all year-round. All of the net revenue stays within the local area to benefit the girls and their councils.

This year, troops were happy to welcome the return of the Girl Scout S’mores Cookie, the most popular flavor to launch in the past century. In 2017, GSUSA debuted two versions of the cookie – a crème covered crispy graham cracker cookie dipped in chocolate, and a chocolate marshmallow filled graham cracker sandwich cookie decorated with designs honoring Girl Scouts’ Outdoor Badges.

With the new cookie arrival, bakers have gotten creative in the kitchen by whipping up new delicious recipes. We’re excited to try the S’more Campfire Cupcakes, created by Little Brownie Bakers, which will help put us in the camping spirit – even if there is still snow on the ground. Of course, we’ve also craving old favorites like Thin Mints and Tagalongs.

Now to answer a question that is often asked this time of year, “How I can purchase Girl Scout Cookies if I don’t know any Girl Scouts?” This year, it’s easier than ever to stock up on your favorite do-good cookie. Simply visit the Cookie Locator to find a location near you. As we mentioned, this weekend (February 23 – 25) is National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend, so troops all over the country are hosting exciting events. If you’d rather than stay in, there is also an online portal available.

No matter how you choose to enjoy your cookies, dipping them in a glass of milk or using them as a key ingredient in a new recipe, you can rest easy knowing that your purchase is helping young girls develop lifetime, leadership skills.

Have you or will you purchase Girl Scouts some time in 2018? What cookie is your favorite? The Pride Staff favors the Thin Mints.

Happy Girl Scout Cookie Weekend!

The 2018 Worldwide Week of Service

11 Thursday Jan 2018

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Around the world, nearly 800 million people go to bed hungry each night. We Save the Date WWSunderstand that sometimes thinking globally can make it difficult to comprehend so let’s bring it a little closer to home. In Wisconsin alone, an estimated 633,170 people struggle with hunger – and of those individuals, 219,280 of them are children. This month, let’s join together to eliminate hunger around the globe, by starting in our own communities with the Worldwide Week of Service.

You may be thinking, ‘ how can we eliminate hunger in just a week’s span?’ That’s a good question. The truth is we can’t. While the official week of service only lasts until Sunday, January 14, Lions Club International has set a goal to serve 200 million people by the year 2021, which means now is the perfect time to start planning your next service project.

Here are some tips to get you start the planning process:

  1. Plan your project – choose a project that impacts hunger in your community. Many associate food pantries with hunger solutions; while they are a great resource, there are several other options out there. Consider a few of these ideas that complement food pantries:

    – Create the blueprints for a community garden
    – Distribute food baskets to those in need
    – Work with other organizations to organize a food drive
    – Start or support a weekend school backpack program
    – Raise funds to pay off overdue reduced lunch bills at your school

  2. Promote your project

The secret to a successful project is lots of promotions. Look to local news outlets, social media, banners, yard signs and other avenues to get the word out. Don’t be afraid to get creative! Often times, creativity is what makes events stand out from the crowd.

  1. Report your project

Be sure to submit your project to your MyLCI Service Activity Report when your project is complete. All service projects will help Lions Club International meet new levels of service in the Centennial Challenge.

Regardless of how you and your club choose to fight hunger, know that your efforts have a significant impact on your community. Together, we can all work to eliminate hunger, one project at a time.

Happy Planning from Lions Pride!

Go Green This Halloween Season

26 Thursday Oct 2017

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Typically, orange and black are the first colors that come to mind when you think about Carving Pumpkinthe spookiest day of the year. This Halloween; however, we’d like to throw in another word – green. As you likely already aware, in the upcoming months, we are going to see a massive increase in the amount of waste found in the United States. Let’s help minimize the harm on our planet (and keep more money in our pockets) by coming up with new ways to stay eco-friendly this Halloween.

  • Make your own decorations

Did you know that Halloween is the second biggest decorating holiday of the year? Consider reusing your old decorations or get crafty by making your own with recycled household items. Check out these 19 DIY ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

  • Use eco-friendly lights

Light up the path to your front door by using LED lights or solar-powered lamps for your trick-or-treaters. Rather than selecting Halloween lights that will only be used one time each year, you may want to consider investing in something more versatile. Studies have shown that solar garden lights, which could save you in the long-term, with a return on investment of 47 percent over the course of ten years. Wow!

  • Reuse your pumpkin

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Americans have created a demand for over 1 billion pounds of pumpkins each year. These pumpkins will likely get carved or used for traditional fall décor, and the get tossed. This year, don’t throw out ole Jack! After showing off your carved masterpiece, repurpose your pumpkin by using it in a new recipe. While carving pumpkins may not be as flavorful as sugar or pie pumpkins, they will still work for several recipes including vegetable stock, pumpkin puree and pumpkin lasagna. If you’d prefer not to eat your Jack o’ Lantern, there are always many other fun ways to enjoy your pumpkin.

  • Host a Costume Swap

While it may be a little too late to implement this idea, it may be one to consider in 2018. The National Retail Federation has found that the average American spends $74 each Halloween, nearly 36 percent of that total cost is spent on a costume. Rather than going out and buying a new costume each year, parents may find relief with a Halloween costume swap. The swap could be as simple as getting a few neighbors together or as large as a city-wide event – the opportunities are endless.

There’s no reason why you can’t have fun and be eco-friendly this Halloween. These are only a handful of ways to take control of your carbon footprint. How will you plan to protect Mother Nature? Let us know in the comments below.

Happy (Green) Halloween from Lions Pride!

Lions Pride Current Happenings (Early 2017 Addition)

09 Thursday Mar 2017

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“Change is the law of life.” 

Where has the time gone? It’s hard to Dewey Carlbelieve we are already well into the month of March. If you’ve been keeping up with us for the past six months, you know that our organization has gone through a lot of changes during this period.

The largest difference, of course, is the loss of our founder and chairperson, Dewey Carl, who passed away last August. While we still feel the obvious hole in our hearts, we continue to pick up the pieces and find new ways to honor his memory.

One of the tasks that has been on top of our To Do list for quite some time has been the review and updates of our website with current information. Each year, there are changes to the Board of Directors, but this was the first time it was updated without Dewey. It just didn’t feel right to remove him completely – after all, where would we be without his original vision? Instead, we just moved him to his own dedicated Tribute Page.

For all of you who only knew Dewey through Lions Pride you might be surprised to learn how involved he was outside of Lions. He was very involved in his community and church and sat on the Board of Directors for several organizations. In 2011, he was presented with the Outstanding Philanthropist Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Northeast Wisconsin. He truly was a Lion through and through.

Although LPEF has been shaken by our loss, our mission remains the same. Dewey’s voice and support started the campaign, and his indomitable spirit continues to inspire us to carry on as he would have wanted. Now more than ever, our words hold true. Lions Pride is dedicated to continuing our efforts to preserve, protect and provide for Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects, and hope that you will help us carry out Dewey’s vision.

Worldwide Week of Service to Fight Hunger

12 Thursday Jan 2017

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Did you know that each night nearly 800 million people lions-100th-anniversarygo to bed hungry? This month, Lions are on a mission to decrease that statistic. This January, Lions and Lionesses all over the globe are working together to eliminate hunger in their communities, and you can help, too!

This particular week is officially the Worldwide Week of Service Against Hunger. While it may be too late to complete a project, it’s never too late to start planning a new one.

In Wisconsin alone, approximately 1 in 8 people struggle with hunger. Fortunately, there are resources available to help including local food banks, reduced school lunch programs and various special events. If you and your club are looking for a new project to complete in the near future, consider taking part in the fight against hunger.

To get started:

  1. Decide upon and plan your projectHost a service project that impacts hunger in your community. Help stock food at your local pantry, bag school lunches or come up with an idea of your own. Invite other members of your community or another local service club to join in.
  2. Promote your projectPublicize your project with the help of social media, signs and banners, press releases and more. A successful project involves lots of promotion – don’t be afraid to get creative!
  3. Report your projectAfter your project is complete, be sure to submit your MyLCI Service Activity Report. All service projects are still being put towards the Centennial Service Challenge.

Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion! Let’s work together to end hunger in our communities. From all of us at Lions Pride, thank you for your ongoing service.

New Year, New Resolutions

29 Thursday Dec 2016

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Wow! Can you believe it? We’ve reached the final days of the year. 2016 is coming to an end, and by this time next week, we will only have written 3 out of 365 pages of our new chapter.

most-popular-resolutions

If you’re like many of us, you’ve likely already been thinking about all of the good memories that the last year holds and ideas for changes or improvements in the New Year. According to the University of Scranton, Journal of Clinical Psychology, approximately 45 percent of Americans usually make New Year’s Resolutions. And this year’s top resolution is to enjoy life to the fullest. (GO Banking Rates)

Although we love the idea of more Americans trying to make the most out of life, we think the resolution itself may be a little too generic to be attainable. If you recall, the best way to achieve any goal is to break it down into smaller manageable chunks, so we think it might be best to divvy up this particular resolution into smaller goals such as the following:

  • Exercising on a more regular basis

By adopting a healthy exercise routine, you have the opportunity to enjoy life to the fullest by extending it! We’re sure we don’t have to tell you all of the benefits, but the highlights include controlling your weight, preventing several health conditions and improving your mood.

  • Start a new hobby

“Having a hobby is not just a way to pass the time; it can also improve the quality of your life.” Although hobbies can sometimes be known as luxuries, they are actually a fantastic way to keep your mind active while giving you a break. (A break with purpose!) If you’re searching for a new hobby, browse through these 16 options that will improve your quality of life.

  • Give back to an organization that you care about

As you know, charitable giving can help reduce your tax burden, but there is also a slew of other benefits including more feelings of happiness, reducing stress and protecting local community programs. In our opinion, one of the greatest reasons for giving back is improved life satisfaction, which would also fit right into the New Year’s resolution to enjoy life to the fullest.

Although we’re sad to see 2016, we’re excited to see what the next year holds. What do you hope to accomplish in the New Year?

Whether you set a New Year’s resolution, or prefer to take unofficial steps to self-improvement, Lions Pride wishes you much success in 2017. Remember that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Happy New Year!

World Sight Day 2016

06 Thursday Oct 2016

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It’s time to open our eyes and really focus on the world around us. Help us celebrate World world-sight-day-2016Sight Day on October 13, 2016.

World Sight Day is a day for organizations all over the globe to shine light on preventable blindness. 2016 is the fourth year of the World Health Organization Action Plan; this year’s Call to Action is “Stronger Together.” This year, IAPB is encouraging all participants to focus on all the stakeholders who are essential to successful eye care delivery such as doctors, schools, donors and more. After all, we are stronger when we work together.

You may have already noticed that World Sight Day falls right in the middle of Lions Worldwide Week of Service – this is no coincidence! You and your club have an excellent opportunity to save sight in your community while also participating in the Centennial Service Challenge.

We know, first-hand, that one of the biggest challenges of starting a service project is actually the decision of selecting which project to undertake. Below are a few project suggestion ideas from Lions Clubs International:

  1. Work with local eye care professionals to organize an eye health and safety presentation.
  2. Sponsor a Braille exhibit at your local library.
  3. Conduct vision and diabetes screenings for elderly persons at local residential living facilities.
  4. Provide local schools with assistive technology to help meet the needs of students who are blind or visually impaired.
  5. Organize a community “sight walk” to raise funds in support of Lions Pride or other organization.
  6. Arrange for a person with a guide dog to be a guest presenter at your club’s community event.
  7. Hold an educational event to promote diabetes awareness and related vision loss.
  8. Provide braille books to children and adults who are blind.
  9. Collect and send used eyeglasses to the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center.
  10. Organize a community self-help group for persons who are blind/visually impaired.

No matter how you choose to serve, know that you are making a huge difference to the sight of your community. Don’t forget to use the hashtag, #lions100, if posting your service projects to social media!

On behalf of all of us at Lions Pride, we’d like to wish you a successful Worldwide Week of Service!

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day

21 Thursday Apr 2016

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Wisconsin Lions Camp

Grab your party hat and a pair of work gloves because tomorrow is Mother Nature’s birthday! The 22nd of every April marks Earth Day, the chance for all of us to appreciate the world that we live in and rethink the way we treat our home.

We have a lot of admiration for organizations that are continuously celebrating the planet all year-round. We’ve seen many large organizations, such as General Mills and Starbucks; adopt more sustainable and eco-friendly business practices. As we were brainstorming green organizations, another organization also immediately came to mind; one that is a little more local and very close to our hearts, the Wisconsin Lions Camp.

As many of you already know the camp is situated on 440 acres of land centered around Lions Lake. The camp is home to hundreds of weekly campers throughout the summer months. During their week away, campers and staff spend a vast majority of their time outdoors so it should come as no surprise they have a great respect for Mother Nature.

In addition to assisting children with self-confidence and interdependence, the Wisconsin Lions Camp staff focuses on providing campers with a strong environmental awareness. The kids are encouraged to sign up for programs to learn more about certain areas of the environment. Activities include participating in nature hikes, learning about the many animals living in the forest by learning about tracks and taking part in water study. They also get to hear lots of nature’s stories and play animal trivia. The biggest takeaway for kids is to leave nature in better condition than what you found it in.

As individuals, we can learn a lot from Lions Camp by treating every day like Earth Day. Go green by implementing one (or more) of the Earth-friendly tips:

  1. Plant a tree. You’ve probably heard the saying, “The best day to plant a tree, the second best day is today.” Clean the air and provide oxygen for everyone to enjoy. Did you know that in one year an acre of mature trees can provide enough oxygen for 18 people?
  2. Go paperless. There are many ways for bills to be delivered. Save paper by exploring a paperless option.
  3. Walk to work or school. If it’s not possible to get from Point A to Point B with just your two feet, consider carpooling.
  4. Create a recycling plan for you and your family. Decrease the amount of waste in your household by devising a weekly plan. Check with your local municipality to learn what can and cannot be recycled.
  5. Invest in a refillable water bottle. Studies show that United States landfills are overflowing with over 2 million plastic water bottles. Help keep plastic out of landfills by refilling your own bottle.
  6. Organize a group cleanup day to keep your community looking its very best. With enough help, the work will be completed in no time at all.

P.S. You can make even more of an impact by planning environmental projects for your entire community!

At Lions Pride Endowment Fund, our job is to preserve, protect and provide for Lions Camp and all other WLF projects. We think those three words can also apply to our responsibility as conscious citizens.

Making small changes in our lifestyles can make a big difference to the world we live in. Let’s all work together to preserve, protect and provide for Mother Nature. Let’s all start celebrating Earth Day, every day!