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Lions Pride 2019 Annual Meeting

18 Thursday Jul 2019

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Screen Shot 2019-07-17 at 6.04.27 AMHappy (Lionistic) New Year! We’re not sure how it happened, but July has arrived once more. If you’re familiar with Lions Club International, you know that they finish out the organization’s fiscal year with the International Convention. Lions Pride follows a similar tradition by also hosting an important event. Our annual meeting will take place this Friday, July 20, at the Lions Pride Office. The meeting starts at 1:30 pm.

Our board members are stationed all over the state; they get together four times a year but do not usually have the chance to meet with the general public. Annual meetings are an incredible opportunity to talk with members outside of the organization about the current financial standing of Lions Pride.

The annual meeting will directly follow the third board meeting of the year. The agenda will include a discussion of the year’s activities, fundraising efforts and overall financial position. We’ll also hear a statement from LPEF President Sam Kochel and have the chance to thank our donors in person.

If you already have plans and are unable to attend, you can still request a copy of the annual report, which will be available next week. You can send your request for an electronic or printed version (please note supplies are limited) by emailing us at prideoffice@lionspride.org.

As we continue to prepare for this week’s meeting, we can’t help but look back on the previous year with fond memories. It was another year filled with success and gratitude. We feel fortunate to be able to work with such a generous group of people. Thank you for helping us carry out our mission to preserve, provide and protect for the Wisconsin Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects. We know there are lots of outstanding organizations out there to support, and we feel so grateful that you continue to choose ours.

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102nd Lions Clubs International Convention

04 Thursday Jul 2019

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man riding horse monument

Photo by julie aagaard on Pexels.com

We’re going to start listing a series of distinguishing features about a city; see if you can guess the location. Ready? This place has a Mediterranean climate, originated back in 400 BC and is known as the fashion capital of the world. If you guessed Milan, you are correct! By this tomorrow, men and women from all over the globe will begin gathering in the second largest city in Italy for the 102nd Lions Club International Convention.

The event will officially start on Friday with convention registration and self-guided tours of the exhibition hall, followed by the District Governor-elect Celebration Banquet.

On Saturday morning, the fun will begin with the International Parade. This year’s parade backdrop will take place down Corso Venezia, and feature centuries-old cathedrals and other historical landmarks. The Business Session will start at 3 pm local time and the evening will wrap up with the International Show, “That’s Italia!” presented by the Lions of Italy.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday will be filled with plenary sessions, certification and voting as well as various seminars. See the entire event schedule here.

Throughout the convention, Lions are invited to team up with other club members from around the globe to participate in special service projects. Lions will be visiting La Nostra Famiglia Hospital, Opera Cardinal Ferrari, Monte Stella Park and more. See all the available service projects.

If you are attending the convention, we hope that you will also find some time to explore the area. Milan is rooted in history and home to dozens of high-end shops, top of the world restaurants and several noteworthy attractions. If you want to look outside of Milan, cities like Florence, Rome and Venice are just a high-speed train ride away.

As you are packing, please consider including items to support the Lions New Voices Initiatives and Milan communities in need. The group will be collecting men’s and women’s underwear, men’s undershirts, men’s and women’s socks and unopened feminine hygiene products. Please note the club will be only donating new items and all sizes are needed. A collection bin will be available in the Exhibit Hall during the convention.

There’s no better place to make new friends and reunite with acquaintances than by attending the Lions Club International Convention. Everyone has at least one thing in common, a passion to serve. All attendees have the opportunity to learn about other club and district projects while also making lasting connections.

Will you be attending the convention? If so, what are you most looking forward to seeing? Be sure to tell us in the comments below.

Lions Pride would like to wish safe travels to all of our convention-attending friends. We hope you have a fantastic trip to Milan. Ciao!

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.

 

LCICon: 2018 Las Vegas

28 Thursday Jun 2018

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LCICon

Time flies when you’re having fun! By this time tomorrow, thousands of Lions will be inLas Vegas preparing for the 101st Annual Lions Club International Convention. It seems like only yesterday that we were gathered in Chicago for the centennial celebration.

This year, Lions will be meeting in the Entertainment Capital of the World – Las Vegas. The convention offers, hands down, the best setting to make new friends and reunite with acquaintances to talk about all things Lions. Attendees have the opportunity to learn about other club and district projects while also making personal, lifelong connections.

The event will begin tomorrow with registration and self-guided visits of the exhibitor hall and convention services, followed by the District Governors-Elect Celebration Banquet.

Attendees will hit the ground running on Saturday morning for the International Parade. Later that afternoon, convention visitors will have the option of participating in the business session and viewing the International Show, an exceptional performance by Cirque Dreams’ “Jungle Fantasy,” featuring jaw-dropping acrobatics, music and more.

On Sunday, attendees will be busy with the opening plenary session with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the returning Levi Krauss and Angelica Hale. The afternoon will fill up with certification and voting as well as afternoon seminars.

Monday will begin with the second plenary session with 43rd President of the United States George W. Bush, Michael Cavanaugh and One Voice Children’s Choir, followed by the Melvin Jones Luncheon. Seminars will again be held that afternoon, and the Lions Cirque Cabaret will close down the third day.

The International Convention will wrap up on Tuesday with the final plenary session featuring Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne Newton, in addition to the installation of the new International President and District Officers as well as the UN Flag Ceremony. See the entire list of events here.

We know that LCICon: 2018 will be another outstanding convention filled with education, inspiration and celebration. The annual convention is always a fantastic way to wrap up the Lionistic year and start preparing for the next.

Are you planning on attending the 101st Annual Lions Convention? If so, what is your favorite part? Be sure to tell us in the comments below.

From all of us at Lions Pride, we’d like to wish safe travels to all of our convention-attending friends. Enjoy Las Vegas!

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!

Happy Boss’s Day to Lion Sam

12 Thursday Oct 2017

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Monday is Boss’s Day – are you ready? Many employees from around the country will Sam Kochel pro temchoose to spend their day showing appreciation to their supervisors by surprising them with goodies, cards, flowers and more. To celebrate our own Boss’s Day, we’d like to recognize our boss, Sam Kochel, with a blog post written just for him so you can learn more about our fearless leader.

Lion Sam grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin, and eventually moved to Northfield, Minnesota. He graduated from St. Olaf College with a degree in economics. Later, he served in the US Army and was stationed in both Germany and Vietnam. After his service, he returned home to attend Luther Seminary in St. Paul.

He has been a part of the Lions Organization for several years. His Lions career includes service as a Past Council Chair, WLF Board Member and active member of the Rice Lake Lions. He and his wife Carolyn have also participated in eyeglass distribution missions to Mexico and Nicaragua. Before becoming President of the LPEF Board, he served as a board member and secretary.

Lion Sam had big shoes to fill after the recent passing of our chairman and founder, Dewey Carl. He has done an incredible job leading our Board of Directors forward so we can continue carrying out Dewey’s vision – to preserve, protect and provide for Lions Camp and all WLF projects. Lion Sam is always inspiring us to look for new way to support our cause. Read more about the Lions Pride story here.

We’d like to wish a “Happy Boss’s Day” to Lion Sam and all of the phenomenal leaders out there. Thanks for all that you do!

The 100th Anniversary International Convention

29 Thursday Jun 2017

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The countdown is on! It’s hard to believe, but the International Convention is only hoursChicago 100th away. The 100th Anniversary stopwatch started its count at 365 days but has now made its way down to one.

This year, more than 20,000 Lions from 120 countries will come together to celebrate the club’s 100th Anniversary. It should come as no surprise that the celebration would take place in Chicago, the birthplace of Lions.

The International Convention is the ideal location for Lions to network, learn and serve. The excitement begins tomorrow, June 30, at 9 am with self-guided visits to the exhibitor hall and convention services, followed by seminars and the DGE Celebration Banquet.

Attendees will be up and at ‘em on Saturday for the International Parade. Later that afternoon, convention visitors will have the option of participating in the business session and viewing the International Show, featuring “The Beach Boys”!

Sunday will fill up with the opening plenary session, certification and voting as well as afternoon seminars.

Monday will begin with the second plenary session, followed by the Melvin Jones Luncheon. Seminars will again be held that afternoon, and none other than legendary “Chicago” will close the house down.

The International Convention will wrap up on Tuesday with the final plenary session, which will include the installation of the new International President and District Officers, honoring the Humanitarian Award recipient and the UN Flag Ceremony. See the entire list of events here.

Since the convention ends on July 4, visitors have a rare opportunity to celebrate Independence Day in one of America’s greatest cities. And you’ll be glad to know that McCormick Place is less than five miles away from the Navy Pier, where the hottest fireplace display takes place. Keep in mind; however, that there may be a 100,000-person capacity, but seating does fill up hours before the 9:30 pm show.

We’re looking forward to another great convention, filled with education, fun and celebration. We’re excited to see what the next 100 years bring.

From all of us at Lions Pride, we’d like to wish safe travels to all of our convention-attending friends. See you in Chicago!

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb? We Don’t Think So.

02 Thursday Mar 2017

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march-in-like-a-lion

Wow, another month has come and gone, and the most unpredictable time of the year has officially arrived. As we write, the all-too-familiar white fluffy snow continues to fall, adding to our fresh piles. It looks like March is coming in like a lion so it will go out like a lamb, right?

As we all know, there is no shortage of catchy weather sayings:

“Red in the morning, sailor’s warning. Red at night, sailor’s delight.”
“Doors and drawers stick before a rain.”
“The sharper the blast, the sooner ‘tis past.”
“If spiders are many and spinning their webs. The spell will soon be dry.
“When your joints all start to ache, rainy weather is at stake.”

But are there are any truths to these sayings?

You may be surprised to learn that all of the listed folklores are true, except – you guessed it – our lion and lamb saying. Read through more true weather folklores.

We have all experienced Marches that began with wild snowstorms and ended with blue, clear skies, but there are no scientific facts that provide evidence to this being a valid claim. Of course, we can hope that March starts off cloudy and snowy, and then ends with warmth and sun, but the key word is hope. Sadly, this particular lion saying appears to be more of a rhyme than a weather predictor.

Fortunately, we can quickly come up with a lion saying that we know for a fact to be true. “Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.” Each year, Lions like you are making a difference in their communities all over the globe, and we have proof!

LCIF recently released their 2015-2016 Annual Report, where they announced that they received over $39.4 million in generous donations. The foundation then awarded 453 grants totaling over $45.2 million to support the work of Lions around the world. These grants made a positive impact on the lives of more than 44 million people. Now, that’s what we’d like to call making a difference!

On second thought, “In like a lion… out like a lamb” is obviously a false claim because Lions come in Lions, and come out like Lions, everyday of the year (regardless of the month.) From all of us at Lions Pride, thank you for all that you do and keep up the good work!

Thank a Veteran with an Invitation to Serve

03 Thursday Nov 2016

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We know that we’re a bit early, but veterans-dayVeteran’s Day is right around the corner. In only one short week, we will be celebrating our veterans on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of the year.

According to the US Census Bureau, there are over 21 million living veterans in the United States. On Veteran’s Day, we all get a chance to thank these heroes for their service, but as Lions, we have an opportunity to go one step further. We can show our appreciation by inviting them to serve with our clubs and reconnect with their communities.

In July 2013, Lions Club International introduced the Involve a Veteran Program. From now until June 30, 2017, qualifying veterans will receive waived entrance and chartered fees when they join a Lions Club. Eligible veterans include all branches of the US military – Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard personnel who are retired or honorably discharged. The National Guard and Reserve personnel who were called to active duty for other training are also eligible. Learn more about the program.

You can invite Veterans to your club with these simple recruiting tips:

  • Exhibit at a Veteran community event. (Now you can see why this post is a little early.)
  • Invite veterans to help serve at one of your club’s community projects.
  • Leave club brochures at your local VFW. There are over 30 locations in Wisconsin alone; find a location near you.
  • Honor veterans on your club’s social media accounts.
  • Start a new club branch with Veteran members.

This Veteran’s Day, join the 700 clubs that have taken advantage of this program and given veterans the chance to continue serving as a Lion.

Happy Veteran’s Day from all of us at Lions Pride!

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!