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Embodying the Spirit of St. Nicholas

03 Thursday Dec 2020

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2020 has, of course, been a year unlike any other. Previously, it had become difficult keeping track of time. We often found ourselves asking, “Is it March or August?” But now that the month of December has arrived, there is no doubt that the holiday season is upon us.

Although there is no snow on the ground, cities, have begun hanging festive lights, decorated trees have started appearing in picture windows and digital sales have taken over our newsfeeds. It has become incredibly clear that Christmas is not far ahead, but before we get to December 25, we have a few other special events to celebrate – including St. Nicholas Day, happening on Tuesday, December 6.

St. Nicholas Day is a common holiday in Europe, but, sadly, not as well known here in America, 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. After losing his parents at a young age, he used his extensive inheritance to help the less fortunate. His signature act was leaving gold coins in people’s shoes around the city. According to legend, he encouraged practicing compassion every day and actually became the model for Santa Claus himself.

On Monday night (or really anytime in December,) consider surprising your loved one by filling his or her stocking with small, unique gifts. Stocking stuffers can include ideas like artisan soaps, candy, jewelry, toys, memo notepads, keychains and more. For an extra special surprise, you can also provide a donation to their favorite charity made in their honor.

By choosing to make a gift to Lions Pride, you can help us work to continue improving the lives of people all around Wisconsin. Your gift will help to preserve, protect and provide for Lions Camp and all other WLF statewide projects – including eyeglass recycling, adult and children’s vision screening, diabetes education and more. If there is a project that is especially important to you or your loved one, simply designate the gift, and you can rest assured knowing that you’re helping the cause. Print the certificate and add it to a stocking for an inspiring gift that also gives back.

Together, we can all embody the spirit of St. Nicholas by remembering to include compassion and charity in our daily lives. Remember, it truly is the reason behind the season.

Happy Holidays from Lions Pride!

Celebrating National Camp Week

06 Thursday Feb 2020

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Photo Credit to Wisconsin Lions Camp

As we write this post, the thermometer reads 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the temperature is far from balmy, we can’t stop thinking about afternoon swimming, vibrant sunsets and gooey s’mores. We know that it may be a bit too early to think about camping in this part of the country, but that isn’t going to stop us from commemorating National Camp Week.

During the second week of February, the American Camp Association hosts the ACA National Conference and has put National Camp Week on the calendar. The ACA is a community of camp professionals who come together to exchange knowledge and expertise to ensure the quality of camp programming. The organization wholeheartedly believes that the camp experience is essential to every child’s growth and development.

Don’t be surprised if that sentiment sounds familiar. Lion Ray Hempel had similar feelings when founding the Wisconsin Lions Camp back in 1956. He personally believed that attending camp would give special children the resources, skills and experiences that would last them far beyond their childhoods. That’s why the American Camp Association and Wisconsin Lions Camp are a seamless fit.

We may not be traveling to San Diego to attend this year’s conference, but we too are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 2020 camping season. Each year, approximately 1,300 special campers with vision, hearing, intellectual disabilities or autism and Type 1 and 2 Diabetes visit Rosholt for a safe and memorable experience at the Wisconsin Lions Camp.

Each camper has the opportunity for a comprehensive outdoor program, which includes (but is certainly not limited to) participating in overnight camping, learning about protecting the environment, canoeing, hiking, swimming, sailing and kayaking. The overarching goals of Lions Camp are to assist each camper in developing self-confidence, interdependence, social skills, outdoor recreational skills and environmental awareness. But above all, we want them to have fun and come back again.

Last year, we were proud to help send 150 children to the Wisconsin Lions Camp with the help of our generous supporters. Will you help us send them again in 2020? Consider donating to Lions Pride Endowment Fund, to help us carry on the beloved summer tradition in perpetuity. We cannot thank you enough for your continued support.

Sending you warm, summer thoughts during National Camp Week!

Fun Facts about Elvis

08 Thursday Aug 2019

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This week, we’re thinking about a famous musical artist; let’s see if you can guess the musician based on a few word associations. Ready? Jet black hair, blue suede shoes and record sales. If you guessed Elvis, you’re right!

Tomorrow marks the start of Elvis Week. Each August, fans gather at Graceland to celebrate the music, movies and legacy of Elvis Presley. For the next eight days, music lovers will enjoy concerts, panel discussions, dances, a candlelight vigil and other traditional events dedicated to the King of Rock n’ Roll.

We know that it is likely too late to book a last-minute trip to Memphis, so we’ll celebrate Elvis right here in Wisconsin with a list of fun facts:

  1. In 1954, just before getting famous, the King auditioned for a role in a gospel quartet band but was rejected.
  2. Although he is often associated with Memphis, Elvis grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi.
  3. Despite the fact he wanted a bike for his 11th birthday, he received a guitar.
  4. Elvis recorded over 600 songs but didn’t actually write any of them.
  5. A total of 15 songs contain the word, “blue” in the title.
  6. He never toured outside North America; in fact, Elvis only played five concerts outside the United States during a three-day tour in Canada.
  7. It took him 31 attempts to record “Hound Dog.”
  8. Elvis’ infamous black hair was dyed. Rumor has it that he first started using shoe polish to modify the color.
  9. At the age of 18, he paid $4 to record his first album, which he gave as a gift to his mother.
  10. He was drafted in the Army in 1957 and served in Germany until 1960.
  11. During his time in the military, Elvis became very interested in karate. He was awarded a black belt, just before returning home.
  12. When he died in 1977, there were approximately 177 impersonators. Today, there is an estimated 250,000.

Elvis certainly lived an exciting life. Do you know of any fun facts that we missed? Share with us in the comments below.

Happy Elvis Week from Lions Pride!

The History of Mother’s Day

09 Thursday May 2019

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Think back to your last online shopping experience. Do you happen to recall any ads that you saw? We obviously can’t know for sure, but more than likely you saw something related to flowers, chocolates or other gifts, which can only mean Mother’s Day is upon us. To help commemorate the upcoming holiday, we thought we’d go through a quick history lesson. Without further ado, let’s get started!

The first celebrations of mothers go back to ancient Greece. Festivals were held to honor the mother goddesses known as Rhea and Cybele. The most modern version of the holiday was known as “Mothering Sunday,” in which adult children were encouraged to attend mass at their hometown church, then spend the day with mom. The custom eventually faded in popularity until merging with today’s holiday.

The celebration that we know today was created by Anna Jarvis. Her mother, Ann Jarvis, cared for wounded soldiers during the Civil War and became a community activist. As a child, Anna heard her mother say a prayer, hoping that one day there would be a Memorial Day for mothers to honor their good deeds. After Ann passed, Anna became making plans for the official holiday.

On the second anniversary of her mother’s death in 1905, Anna held a special church service in her honor. After a successful event, she took part in a fierce letter-writing campaign, in which she worked to persuade newspapers and politicians to add the holiday to the national calendar. By 1912, many states, towns and churches were already observing Mother’s Day as an annual holiday. Finally, in 1914, Woodrow Wilson officially recognized the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day.

Today, children all over the world shower their mothers with gifts, but the original idea was to simply spend the day together. Anna hoped that families would be able to attend church in the morning and visit in the afternoon. Gifts didn’t come until later on, and much to her dismay.

This Sunday, rather spending a lot of time and energy on finding the perfect flower arrangement or extravagant box of chocolates for mom, consider giving her a more thoughtful gift, the gift of quality time. Ask her how she would like to spend the day and shower her with attention. We can guarantee that a day together will be the ultimate gift.

Happy Mother’s Day from Lions Pride!

Celebrate National Spouses Day

24 Thursday Jan 2019

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If we were to you to name your favorite person, who would you say? You would likely

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respond with the name of our spouse. But when was the last time you expressed your gratitude for their presence?

Life is busy. We all need to find a way to balance jobs, (grand)children and other responsibilities, it can be easy to take life partners for granted. Fortunately, there is an unofficial holiday to help you celebrate your spouse this weekend.

National Spouses Day occurs annually on January 26, and that gives us all an extraordinary opportunity to express our love for our spouses. We’ve together a list of ideas to honor your partner in crime:

  1. Spend time togetherThe days may sometimes feel long, but there’s no denying that weeks and months can go by quickly. If it’s been a while since you’ve spent some quality time together, there’s no better time than the present. Plan an activity this weekend that is centered around your spouse. Make a reservation at their favorite restaurant, go see the newest movie or take a road trip. Remember, time spent together is time well spent.
  2. Take on a few of their usual tasksThere are always jobs on the To Do List that no one ever enjoys completing. (We’re looking at you, dirty laundry!) Surprise your spouse by taking on a couple of their least favorite chores like shoveling the walkway, putting away the dishes or taking out the garbage. They may only take a few moments for your complete but offer extra time for your spouse to relax.
  3. Honor them with a giftDoes your sweetie have an organization that he or she cares deeply for? If so, consider giving a gift in their honor! Donations are the lifeblood of any nonprofit organization, so a gift of any size will help them keep moving forward in their mission. Click here for a Lions Pride memorial/honorarium form.

No matter how you choose to celebrate the unofficial holiday, just be sure to tell your better half how much they really mean to you.

Happy National Spouses Day from all of us at Lions Pride.

National Trivia Day: Lions Pride Edition

03 Thursday Jan 2019

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Are you interested in sharing and exchanging little-known facts? If so, then you’ll love tomorrow’s unofficial holiday, National Trivia Day.458432_10150689723660999_1376996678_o.jpg

Although the exact origin of Trivia Day is unknown, many people credit the game, Trivial Pursuit as the start. The creators of the game, Chris Haney and Scott Abbott, wanted to play Scrabble but were disappointed to learn several of their board games’ pieces had gone missing. Rather than dwell on their misfortune, they decided to create their own game. The concept of Trivial Pursuit was conceived in a matter of hours.

In honor of National Trivia Day, we’d thought we’d celebrate with fun facts inspired by our favorite WLF service projects:

  • The Wisconsin Lions Camp was the dream of which well-known Lion? Ray Hempel.
  • How large is the camp in acreage? 440.
  • What is the ratio of staff to campers? 1:6
  • How tall is the famous Totem Pole Na-Wak-Wa? 38 feet.
  • Louie the Lion, the guardian of the Wisconsin Lions Camp, is made out of what materials? Concrete and old gun barrels.
  • The Eyeglass Recycling Center in Rosholt is one of how many worldwide facilities? 18.
  • At any given point, how many pairs of eyeglasses are available at the ERC? 125,000.
  • How many Americans are affected by hearing loss? An estimated 48 million.
  • What percentage of a child’s learning is related to sight? 80%.
  • Vision problems affect one ins how many school-aged children? 4.
  • How many children are adequately screened for vision problems in the US? Less than 20%.

Finally, did you know that your donation to Lions Pride helps us to preserve, protect and provide for all of these projects and more? What’s more, you have the ability to designate your gift to the project of your choice.

Together, we have the opportunity to reach, touch and improve lives all over the state; and we are so appreciative of your continued support.

Happy National Trivia Day!

Diabetes Awareness Month

08 Thursday Nov 2018

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We have arrived at the eleventh month of the year. If we were to ask you, “What is the Strides Lions for Diabetes Awarenessfirst topic that comes to mind when you think about November?”; what would you say? More than likely, your response would include something related to Thanksgiving, football or fall, but there is one other topic that should come to mind – diabetes. November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and we think it’s time to spread the word about the growing epidemic.

Diabetes is a long-lasting disease that impacts how your body turns food into energy. According to the CDC, approximately 30.3 million American adults have diabetes, and 1 in 4 don’t even know that they have the disease. People with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes are at higher risk for other serious health complications including blindness, kidney problems, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, nerve damage and more. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for diabetes at this time, but it is treatable with healthy lifestyle changes.

Lions Club International adopted diabetes awareness at a long-term commitment back in 1984. The primary object was to reduce the number of new cases of blindness caused by diabetic retinopathy. Wisconsin Lions are always on a mission to actively support LCI’s efforts, but November is an excellent opportunity to reach an even larger audience. If you and your club are looking to make a difference in the world of diabetes awareness, here are a few project ideas, courtesy of Lions Club International:

  • Conduct a local diabetes screening – Partner with healthcare professionals to carry out the event. Organizations such as government health departments, universities, hospitals and private physicians will often agree to perform free of low-cost public screenings. Learn more about getting started.
  • Organize a Strides event in your community – A Strides event is a highly visible, family-oriented activity that combines fun with exercise. Events can include walking, dancing, cycling or running. Find out more about organizing one today.
  • Start planning a school or community garden – Spring may not be top of mind this time of year, but it’s never too early to start thinking about next season gardening. Having fruits and vegetables readily available is always a great way to encourage others to make healthy meal choices.
  • Provide your local library with an annual diabetes magazine subscription – You can find industry publications with subscriptions as low as $10 a year. Talk about an affordable way to reach all curious library visitors!
  • Create a support group for those affected with diabetes – A support group will give you a chance to educate and inform others while creating a safe space for families suffering.

World Diabetes Day is Friday, November 15. There’s never been a better time to start planning a project to increase diabetes awareness. Already working on a large service project, or don’t think there’s enough time to get one started this month? You and your club can still help spread the word. When you support Lions Pride, you can designate your gift specifically for the WLF’s Diabetes Project – ensuring funding in perpetuity. Diabetes is no match to the power of Lions. Together, we can all work to inform and educate others to help prevent and control diabetes.

 

Non-Traditional Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

10 Thursday May 2018

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“All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my mother.” -Abraham LincolnFun

She wiped your tears when you were sad, provided the bandage when you scraped your knee and cared for you when you came home sick. Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13, but you how exactly do you say “thank you” to the person who brought you into this world and gave you the gift of life?

Rather than giving her the predictable presents that all moms have come to know and expect like flowers, cards and chocolate, we have a couple of out-of-the-box gift ideas that don’t require ribbons and bows. This Mother’s Day, consider giving her:

  • Time to relax: We all have responsibilities that we don’t necessarily enjoy completing, but doesn’t it seem like many of these duties often fall on mom’s plate? Whether your mother has plans to empty out the basement, mow the grass or give the house a thorough spring cleaning, help lighten her load by offering your hand.
  • A day filled with her favorite activities: If you were to ask anyone about their most prized possession, time would likely be the most frequent answer. There’s no denying that life can get busy. When was the last time, you spent quality time with your mom? Spend Sunday with the activity of her choice. She might enjoy going to church, tending the garden or simply spending the afternoon catching. If you both happen to already have plans for this Sunday, a raincheck is always an option!
  • The gift that keeps on giving: If mom has a special cause that she carries about, give a donation in her honor. Nonprofit organizations thrive on funding. If your mother is a Lions Pride support, consider giving an honorarium donation to help us continue to preserve, provide and protect the Wisconsin Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects. Learn more about memorial/honorarium donations.

This Sunday, show your gratitude for your mom with a present she won’t soon forget. Remember, the best gifts in life don’t always come in beautifully wrapped boxes; the best presents come from the heart.

Happy Mother’s Day from Lions Pride!

Eye Donor Awareness Month

22 Thursday Mar 2018

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When you think about the month of March, several topics probably come to mind. YouNatl Eye Donor Month may think about the first day of spring, St. Patrick’s Day and the start of baseball season, but did you know that March is also Eye Donor Awareness Month?

In 1983, President Reagan established the first National Eye Donor Month as a way to recognize its donors, celebrate the recipients and bring awareness to eye donation.

Approximately ten million people around the world are affected with corneal diseases that have resulted in blindness or other visual impairments. Corneal transplants have become one of the most frequently performed transplant procedures. According to the National Eye Institute, doctors perform approximately 40,000 corneal transplants each year.

Have you ever considered becoming an eye donor? Regardless of whether you have thought about donating in the past, or this is the first time you’ve carefully considered the idea, here are a few areas of to note that may help you make your decision:

There is just no substitute for human corneal tissue. If you have considered becoming an eye donor, you can rest assured knowing that your donation can make a world of difference for someone in need. Just think your gift could help restore someone’s vision, support the advanced treatment of blindness or other vision impairments – and beyond.

To get started, be sure to discuss your wishes with your loved ones, and thank you for your precious gift.

Happy Eye Donor Awareness Month from Lions Pride

The 8th Annual Friendship 100 Ride

06 Thursday Jul 2017

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Friendship 100 Riders

As you know, the Wisconsin Lions Camp gets special visitors all summer long, but in less than a week, we’ll be receiving a group of guests that won’t arrive in big, yellow buses – but rather roaring hogs!

We’re happy to announce that Open Road HD of Fond du Lac will be once again partnering with Lions Pride to hold the 8th Annual Friendship 100. The invitation-only ride was started back in 2009 and has raised over $30,000 for Lions Camp.

To participate, the riders raise a minimum donation of $100 before the event. Then together, the group takes a beautiful 100-mile ride from Fond du Lac to Rosholt. This year’s ride will be held on Wednesday, July 12.

After arriving, the riders will enjoy lunch at the recreation center, followed by a tour to experience the day in the life of a Wisconsin Lions Camper before making the trek home.

Year after year, we look forward to the Friendship 100. A unique part of our job is that we work with both Lions and non-Lions to support WLF projects, and there is nothing that we love more than taking part in activities that support the cause.

To all of the participating riders, we’d like to extend a special message for your continued support. Because of your generosity over the last eight years, you have guaranteed several camper spots in perpetuity, and we cannot say thank you enough for your support. See you soon!