Tag Archives: donors

The Lions Pride 2018 Annual Meeting

19 Thursday Jul 2018

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Happy New Year! No, you’re not experiencing déjà vu, and we’re not losing our minds! If Annual Reportyou are familiar with Lions, you know that July is the official start of the Lionistic New Year. Each year, Lions Club International finishes off the year with the international convention. Lions Pride has a similar tradition by hosting the organization’s annual meeting.

The board meets four times annually to discuss financial activity, upcoming events and the organization as a whole. But this Friday, July 20, is a bit different because, after the regularly scheduled board meeting, Lions Pride will hold the annual meeting, in which everyone is invited – donors, volunteers and advocates. At this meeting, the board will have the chance to speak directly to the general public on the organization’s current standing.

During the meeting, we will be discussing the 2017-2018 activities, fundraising efforts, donors and donations as well as the overall organization standing. We’ll also hear from our President Sam Kochel and get the opportunity to thank our donors in person. And, if we’re lucky, we may even get to treat ourselves to a couple of Geri’s famous chocolate chip cookies.

If you are able to attend, please notify the Pride Staff by calling 715-677-7000. If you aren’t able to make it to tomorrow’s meeting, the annual report will be available online early next week. If you’d like to receive an electronic or paper copy (supplies are limited), you can request one by emailing us at prideoffice@lionspride.org.

As we diligently prepare for the annual meeting, we can’t help but take a trip down Memory Lane. The 2017-2018 Lionistic Year was another exceptional one filled with achievement and gratitude. We feel so lucky to have the opportunity to work with such an amazing group of people and never tire of saying “thank you.” We truly appreciate your continued support.

We’re excited about celebrating the year’s successes while brainstorming new ideas for the year ahead. We hope you’ll consider joining us. See you then!

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The 11th Annual Lions Pride Shoot

07 Thursday Jun 2018

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Ready, aim, fire! We know it’s hard to believe, but we are only days away from thisTichigan Lions week’s 11th Annual Pride Shoot, happening once again at Milford Hills Hunt Club in Johnson Creek.

Sporting clays shooting is often called “golf with a shotgun,” but unlike golf, shooting sporting clays is as fun for beginners as it is for seasoned experts (we’re sure golfers would agree!)

Our sporting clays fundraiser is our most popular event that takes place on the second weekend in June. Both Lions and non-Lions come together to enjoy a day on the course in the beautiful rolling hills of Southern Wisconsin to support Lions Pride.

The day consists of an early breakfast followed by a challenging 22-round course with games and door prizes. After shooters have finished the course, they celebrate with beer, auction and delicious supper. The Pride Shoot is one of the most, unique and successful fundraisers that takes place for our organization.

Although we still have a lot of work ahead of us, we are eagerly anticipating Saturday’s arrival. We are always reminded of Dewey’s spirit, but it’s even more present this time of year as he so looked forward to the annual shoot. We feel we have a personal responsibility to make the upcoming event even more rewarding than the last.

We’d like to thank all of our donors, sponsors and volunteers for all of your support – both leading up to, during and after the shoot. We know firsthand that it takes a village to create and implement a successful event, and the Pride Shoot would not be what it is without all of your help.

See you Saturday!

 

Annual Nonprofit Audits

01 Thursday Mar 2018

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We are officially 48 days away from Tax Day. If you haven’t done so already, you have Nonprofit Auditlikely gathered all of your W-2s, 1099-MISCs and other taxes documents, and have made plans to meet with your accountant or sit down and file your 2017 taxes. Everyone seems to have Uncle Sam and their finances on their mind. Lions Pride is no exception – but we’re not filing taxes; instead, we’re completing our annual audit.

For some reason, the word ‘audit’ has an amazing way of sparking apprehension or fear in people. While an audit may seem like a punishment for individuals, they are actually a standard procedure for nonprofit organizations. An audit simply refers to an independent review of an organization’s financial books.

An independent audit is an examination of the financial records, accounts, business transactions, accounting practices, and internal controls of a charitable nonprofit by an independent auditor. “Independent” refers to the fact that the auditor/CPA is not an employee of the organization but rather is retained through a contract for services. For the last five years, we have contracted with Schenk SC to conduct our audit.

For the next two days, the auditors will examine our bank reconciliations, selected restricted donations and grant letters. They will also review physical assets, journals, ledgers and board minutes. After the review, the auditors will then issue a formal opinion about the accuracy of all financial reports, and provide recommendations to continue improving our financial management.

Here at Lions Pride, we know that an annual audit is an essential part of a check-and-balance system to guarantee all finances are in order and allows the LPEF Board of Directors to be confident LPEF staff is following proper accounting practices. The audit also demonstrates our commitment to financial transparency, which donors have come to expect from our organization.

Trust is one of the most critical components of a nonprofit-donor relationship. The annual audit is just one more way Lions Pride works to build that trust by ensuring all donations are properly managed and secured so we can continue to preserve, protect and provide for Wisconsin Lions Camp and all WLF projects. We thank you for your continued support.

Our Role as Santa

21 Thursday Dec 2017

Posted by in Giving Tips, Holidays, Lions Camp, Special Events

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Let’s play a game. Imagine you are six years old and it is December 21, 19XX (you fill in Magic Santathe blank), can you remember how you felt this time of year? Let’s see if our description matches your imagination: you knew that Christmas was only days away, so you were on your best behavior because Santa was watching. As December 25 crept closer and closer, you could hardly contain your excitement. Soon enough, Christmas Eve would arrive. You would put out some milk and cookies, brush your teeth and get to bed quickly – only to spend the night watching the clock. You just couldn’t wait for Christmas Day.

Sadly, as adults, the magic of Christmas seems to fade a little more each year. Santa no longer represents a symbol of joy and the celebration just becomes a season of more obligations. Fortunately, the magic does begin to reappear as we have children of our own, but then our roles change from excited child to excited parent. We also spend December 24 making preparations and barely sleeping because we are too anxious to watch our children eagerly open their gifts. We have come to discover a different kind of magic – the magic of giving. But again the cycle continues as our children grow, and the sense of wonder begins to disappear.

Luckily, as supporters of Lions Pride, we are in somewhat of a unique position. All supporters of Lions Pride get to play the part of Santa all year round. How? By giving children from all over the state of Wisconsin the gift of experience. In 2017, over 150 special children were given the opportunity to have the week of their lives out in the woods with kids just like them. They were able to sleep in cabins, roast marshmallows, learn archery, swim laps in Lions Lake and enjoy everything nature has to offer. Of course, they were also able to develop self-confidence, interdependence, social skills and outdoor recreational skills – all at no cost to their families.

The gift may not be beautifully wrapped under a bright, full tree, but we know in our hearts that it’s a gift that keeps on giving all year long. And none of these accomplishments would be possible without the help of you. Our donors are the lifeblood of our organization and we never tire of saying thank you for your support. Although our biological children may be grown, we look forward to playing Santa for many years to come. Thank you for helping us carry out our mission to preserve, provide and protect Lions Camp and all other WLF statewide projects.

The Lions Pride office will be closed the week of December 25, to celebrate Christmas with our families. Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas!

A 2017 Thanksgiving Message from Lions Pride

23 Thursday Nov 2017

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Today is a day to give thanks. Thanksgiving is one of our favorites times of the year Pumpkinsbecause it allows us a chance to reflect on all of life’s blessings. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, we had some time to think about all that we’re thankful for here at Lions Pride. In 2017, we’ve been able to help financially support the Wisconsin Lions Camp and all WLF projects, which resulted in opportunities to:

  • Send over 150 Wisconsin children to Lions Camp this summer where they were able to learn lifelong skills that will serve them well beyond their childhoods. Campers were able able to explore various outdoor activities, build lasting friendships and enjoy being kids in a fun, safe environment.
  • Collect eyeglasses that were recycled and shared with people in need from all around the world.
  • Screen the eyes of thousands of children from all around the state from ages 6 months to teenage. With early detection, we’re able to help preserve and protect a child’s gift of sight.
  • Provide local communities with diabetes education. As you likely already know, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people aged 20 to 74, as well as a significant cause of other serious health complications. Our primary goal is to help reduce the number of blindness cases through education, early detection and treatment.

None of these accomplishments would be possible without the generous support of our donors. We would not be “Today’s help, tomorrow’s hope” without you. We are so thankful to have you support us in our mission. We never grow tired of saying “thank you.”

The Lions Pride office will be closed today and Friday to celebrate the holiday. We’d like to wish you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

 

Lions Pride Annual Meeting – July 2017

13 Thursday Jul 2017

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It’s that time again! This Friday, July 14, Lions Pride will host the 2017 Annual Meeting.

Annual Report

If you’re not already familiar with nonprofit organizations, you may not know that annual meetings are important events. While it may just seem like another meeting, this one is a bit different. Our board members meet four times a year, but they don’t always have a lot of opportunities to talk directly with the general public on the organization’s financial standing – that’s where the annual meeting comes into play.

The annual meeting will directly follow our third board meeting of the year at the Lions Pride Office. During the meeting, we will be discussing the 2016-2017 activities, fundraising efforts, donors and donations as well as the overall financial position. We’ll also hear from our President pro tem Sam Kochel and get the opportunity to thank our donors in person. After all, without you, Lions Pride wouldn’t be possible.

We’re looking forward to taking one last trip down the 2016-2017 Lionistic Year and celebrating the year’s successes while brainstorming new opportunities for the year ahead.

If you are unable to attend tomorrow’s meeting, the annual report will be available early next week. You can request an electronic or paper copy by emailing us at prideoffice@lionspride.org.

We’ve said it once, we’ve said it again and we’ll never get tired of saying “Thank you!” to all of our volunteers, donors and advocates for another phenomenal year. We are so appreciative of your continued support and can’t wait to see what lies ahead.

Lions Pride Presents Check to WLF

30 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by in Lions Camp, News, Special Events

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Thousands of people throughout Wisconsin haveSam Kochel pro tem supported the Lions free service programs by participating in local fundraisers and activities, but over the course of the last two decades, expenses for Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects have risen dramatically. Lions Pride was created to counteract these increasing costs by working to preserve, protect and provide for the future of Lions Camp and all WLF projects. Read the entire story here.

Each year Lions Pride makes two disbursements of funds to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation from the Lions Pride Endowment Fund based on the interest. The amounts are based on market values and ultimately determined by the LPEF Board of Directors.

Last week, we were happy to deliver our first gift of 2017. Our president pro tem, PCC Sam Kochel, presented a check for $40,000 to WLF President, Tom Mueller, at the March 25th WLF board meeting.

We are proud to report that all WLF projects received funds with this donation. The lions share was designated for Lions Camp, and the remainder went to the eyeglass recycling center, the hearing project, children & adult vision screening and diabetes education.

With this single donation, Lions Pride is providing 48 kids a week at Lions Camp this summer. Wow! We could not do it without our generous donors.

We will be making the second disbursement of additional funds in September. Consider donating to Lions Pride to help us create a sustainable future for the Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects. If there is a project that holds a special place in your heart, be sure to designate it! All designated donations are guaranteed to go towards the project of choice.

We can’t thank our donors enough for their continued support.

St. Nicholas Day and Lions Pride

01 Thursday Dec 2016

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Toned photo of three red Christmas socks hanging on fireplaceAlthough we don’t have any white, fluffy snow on the ground in Central Wisconsin, there is definitely no doubt in our minds that we have entered the holiday season. With the blockbuster shopping deal ads continuously showing on television and lighted trees slowly appearing in home windows, it has become clear that Christmas is not far away.

But before we arrive at Christmas, we have a few other special holidays to get to first, including St. Nicholas Day. On Tuesday night, children will hang out their stockings or leave out their shoes and wake to find what ole St. Nick has left for them. If they have behaved throughout the year, they can expect to find all sorts of goodies like candy, toys and other small gifts, and if they have misbehaved, they will likely find nothing but a lump of coal.

St. Nicholas Day is a very common holiday in Europe, but not as well known here in the United States, so it should come as no surprise that many of us use the names, Santa Claus and St. Nicholas interchangeably. But the truth is that these two characters have a lot of key differences between them.

Aside from the fact that St. Nicholas was an actual person who lived in the 4th Century, he also gave simple gifts to those in need. According to legend, he encouraged practicing compassion everyday and actually became the model for Santa Claus himself.

Here at Lions Pride, we love the idea of St. Nicholas Day because we can relate directly to his message. With the help of our generous donors and supporters, we have the opportunity to give special children the gift of the great outdoors.

As you have likely already seen, childhood now is different than childhood at one time. With new and changing technology, children have a lot more entertainment options available such as video games, iPads and other electronic gadgets, they don’t have as much time to appreciate the beauty that lies right outside their front door.

Each summer, we’re proud to help bring children with special needs to Lions Camp to help show them the true value of Mother Nature. During their week away, they are able to camp, swim, hike, climb, kayak and enjoy outdoor living at its finest, all while building self-confidence, interdependence, social skills and environmental awareness that will help shape the rest of their childhood.

If you’re looking for a one of a kind gift this holiday season, consider making a donation in a loved ones name. (It could also make a great stocking stuffer!) You have the chance to cross a name off your shopping list and show a special child the joy of one of life’s simplest gifts – the wonders of nature at Wisconsin Lions Camp.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Take Your Daughter to Work Day & A Look Inside Lions Pride

28 Thursday Apr 2016

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Every year on the fourth Thursday of April, Lions Pride Boothparents across the United States celebrate Take Your Daughter to Work Day. Gloria Steinem created the event in 1993, to expand the career horizons of young girls. Today, Take Your Daughter to Work Day has evolved to “Take Our Children to Work Day” because women now make up half of the US workforce.

Since our kids are officially grown and have work of their own, we thought it would be fun to give our readers and supporters a look inside the daily operations of Lions Pride.

As you may already be familiar, our mission is to preserve, protect and provide. We are continuously looking for ways to help support WLF projects focusing on the Wisconsin Lions Camp, the eyeglass recycling center, diabetes education, early children’s vision screening and more. Donors have a unique opportunity when working with Lions Pride because they have the chance to voice exactly which projects they choose to support.

We just wrapped up our convention season. Throughout the past Lionistic year, we visited many different Lions Club districts around the state, educating them about our organization. We are now moving on to planning and preparing for our next fundraising event, the 9th Annual Sporting Clay Shoot, which will take place on June 11, 2016, at Milford Hills Hunt Club in Johnson Creek.

Although our daily schedule is a bit more unpredictable, we expect to be working alongside the Board of Directors, communicating with our donors, managing the budget, coordinating with the Wisconsin Lions Foundation, keeping up with administrative duties and more.

Typically, our organization consists of one full-time person and two part-time people; however, we are currently searching for a part-time office manager to help with the organization responsibilities. (If you know of someone who fits the job description, please let us know.)

As you can see, there’s never a dull moment around here! We feel so lucky to represent such an outstanding organization with an important message and filled with phenomenal supporters. What else do you want to know about Lions Pride?

Happy “Take Our Children to Work Day”!

To Receive Luck, You Must Give Luck!

17 Thursday Mar 2016

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We don’t have to tell you what day it is. You’ve likely already seen multiple shades of the Lucky Clovercolor green and may be daydreaming about enjoying a green beer this evening. There are many items that you know automatically symbolize St. Patrick’s Day, but have you ever wondered why you so often see the four-leaf clover on this day?

During the early days of Ireland, many believed that carrying a shamrock would provide the ability to see evil spirits, which was deemed as a lucky gift that helped the Irish escape in time. Four-leaf clovers presumed to offer magical protection and ward off bad luck.

The definition of the word, luck, means, “circumstances that lead to a favorable outcome.” The leaves of four-leaf clovers are known to stand for faith, hope, love, and luck. The term and understanding of luck ties to St. Patrick’s Day in a sense because St. Patrick often used a three-leaf clover to explain the Holy Trinity. Clovers became a popular symbol amongst the Irish and finding a four-leaf clover (or lucky clover) was a rare occurrence.

With all that being said; however, we must all understand that being lucky isn’t all about letting the universe take fate into its hands, but to also put in our own efforts and hope into our favorable outcomes.

We live in a world where we tend to forget how lucky we are to have the help of others, especially here in the United States. At Lions Pride, we feel like we have a four-leaf clover in our pocket every day of the year. We are so lucky to have the support of donors who understand that helping today will provide help for today and hope for tomorrow. Our extraordinary donors provide life-changing opportunities for individuals that create a ripple effect for continuous growth and selfless giving.

On this day, we wish you all of the luck of the Irish, but we hope you also remember to thank the donors who have made a difference in your life, and to continue the act of giving and kindness. One step in the right direction is all that it takes to make a positive impact.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!