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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!

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Eyeglass Recycling Month

12 Thursday Apr 2018

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It seems that in just about every household, you’ll likely find a pair of eyeglasses that areLERC no longer being used as prescriptions change annually, and styles are always evolving. If you have a pair of glasses lying around, there’s no better time to get a jumpstart on spring-cleaning by donating your lenses.

On January 30, 2018, Governor Scott Walker declared April as Eyeglass Recycling Month in Wisconsin. Since the 1950s, Wisconsin Lions have been collecting and donating used glasses. It was until 1994 that a matching grant from Lions Club International Foundation helped establish the Eyeglass Recycling Center right here in Rosholt. Our ERC is one of 17 such facilities found worldwide.

Approximately 800,000 used glasses are received each year. Upon arrival, each pair is visually inspected and cleaned; the prescription is then read with specialized equipment and categorized, packaged, labeled, sorted, boxed and put into inventory.

The available inventory is approximately 125,000 pair of glasses, which are provided to Vision Mission projects to developing countries. Some mission groups included Lions, of course, but there are many others out there including vision professionals.

The need for eyeglasses is more significant than you might think. Millions of people around the world need glasses to see clearly, but many developing countries lack the resources to manufacture quality lenses. People are known to walk miles to get their eyeglasses so you can rest assured that your pair can make a difference.

If you’d like to donate your eyeglasses, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

  • The most useable glasses are those with intact frames and undamaged lenses.
  • Cases are not mandatory but can be useful to avoid damage during transit.
  • Sunglasses are also received and can be beneficial for people living in hot climates.
  • Children’s glasses are always desirable.

Eyeglasses that you wish to donate can be dropped off in Lions Collection boxes. To find a collection box near you, please contact your local Lions Club. Eyeglasses can also be mailed directly to the Eyeglass Recycling Center:

WILERC
3834 County Rd A
Rosholt, WI 54473

Use the month of April as an opportunity to connect with friends and family to see if they also have unused glasses available. You might be surprised to see how many pairs you can collect with only a bit of effort.

Whereas, Wisconsin Lions strive to make a difference in the lives of people in need throughout the world; now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, that the legislature hereby proclaims April 2018 as Wisconsin Eyeglass Recycling Month.

Lions Pride encourages working together to change the lives of people all over the world, one pair at a time. Happy Eyeglass Recycling Month!

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.

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!

The Father of Wisconsin Lions Camp

15 Thursday Jun 2017

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Roll out the barbecue – it’s time to celebrate Dad!

Lion Ray Hempel

Sunday marks the day to honor the men in our lives with a day dedicated just to him. With Father’s Day right around the corner, we thought it would be the perfect excuse to honor an exceptional man in the Wisconsin Lions community – Ray Hempel, the father and originator of Wisconsin Lions Camp.

You may have already heard this story a time or two, but it’s one that we think can always be retold. The year was 1952; Lion Ray Hempel was visiting with two 12-year old boys at an area hospital. He asked them if they had ever attended a camp. One boy replied, “Blind kids can’t go to outdoor camp and stuff like that.”

Others may have just acknowledged the response, apologized and changed the subject, but Lion Ray was not that man. Instead, he took those words to heart and began visualizing a camp that would provide an outdoor experience for those two boys and others like them.

His background in Lions and Boy Scouts, as well as his love of camping told him exactly what he needed to do. He needed to persuade the Wisconsin Lions to start a camp for blind children.

A few years later, Lion Ray and the Poy Sippi Lions petitioned the District Governors for a permanent camp location at the 1955 Wisconsin State Convention. At the 1956 convention, a 240-acre property was purchased in Rosholt, and the Wisconsin Lions Camp was born. Lion Ray served as the first camp director and was proud to be an integral part of its development

Today, the camp has expanded to serve even more children with special needs, including vision and hearing impairments, mild cognitive disabilities and Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, all at no cost to their families.

With the first week of summer camp starting on Monday, we think there’s no better time to reflect on the man who started it all. Who knew a chance comment would lead to such big change. Since its inception Lions Camp has offered the week of a lifetime to nearly 70,000 campers. There’s no question in our minds that Ray Hempel was the epitome of a Wisconsin Lion.

Happy Father’s Day from Lions Pride!

2017 Council of Governors Orientation Weekend

01 Thursday Jun 2017

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June has arrived! The trees are blooming, the birds WI Lions Campare singing and winter feels like nothing more than a cold, distant memory.

While we may only be halfway through the year of 2017, the 2016-2016 Lionistic Year is coming to a close; that means it’s time for our current Council of Governors to start handing the reigns to our the DGEs. Saturday marks the first full weekend of the summer at Lions Camp. The DGEs will be gearing up for their new roles at this weekend’s orientation.

The fun starts on Friday afternoon at 4 pm with initial Council Chair Training presented by CC Shawn Redington, IPID Karla Harris and PID Mark Hintzmann. Immediately following, the elected officials will receive a camp tour and meal from the WLF Directors. The night ends with WLF orientation history and current project overview.

On Saturday, the District Governor Elects will learn about the training at the International Convention and receive more information about the several projects happening within Wisconsin Lions. They will hear from Lions Club International Foundation, the Global Members Team, Wisconsin Lions Eyebank and, of course, Lions Pride.

The day will then wrap up with the council meeting schedule, locations, format and committee action items. The next two days are going to move quickly for the incoming Governors and will begin to prepare them for the year ahead.

Lions Pride is looking forward to seeing all of the District Governor Elects this weekend, and sharing our message about Pride. We’d like to wish all of the new DGEs a nice weekend; we know you are going to be great in your new roles!

Goodbye Summer, Hello School Year

08 Thursday Sep 2016

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September has made its way back again. The cooler weather has reappeared right on schedule; the sunset has become noticeably sooner and the kids are already finishing up their second week of school. It’s always a little sad when we to bid summer adieu, but we thought this would be an excellent opportunity to look back and appreciate the busy season we had.

We started out June with our largest fundraisers of the year, the Annual Sporting Clays Shoot at Milford Hills. This shoot was our 9th event, and we were able to break last year’s record by $6. Thank you to all of our shooters and volunteers.

At the end of the month, our Executive Director Geri Schlender took a trip around the globe and joined Lions from all over the world in Fukuoka, Japan, to participate in the 2016 Lion’s Club International Convention. It’s hard to believe, but next year we will celebrate 100 years of Lions!

In July, we had two more large events nearly back to back. On the 13th, we were able to visit with the Friendship 100 Riders from Fond du Lac. For the past seven years, motorcyclists from the area raise funds to take the scenic route to Rosholt to experience Lions Camp during its peak season. To date, they have donated nearly $28,000. Thank you to all of the Friendship 100 participants; we really appreciate your continued support.

Only two days later, we hosted the annual Lions Pride meeting to discuss the activities of 2015-2016 before entering a new Lionistic Year.

Then last month, we were able to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Lions Camp with an open house. Visitors had the opportunity to come see the camp, enjoy a pontoon or wagon ride and talk with staff.

There was so much to enjoy in Summer 2016, including the open windows of our office. One of the simplest joys is listening to the usual hustle and bustle of Lions Camp. This year, 150 children were able to enjoy Mother Nature at her finest – thanks to all of our supporters.

It’s true what they say; all good things must come to an end, right? But one of the best parts about our Wisconsin weather is the fact that we have all four definitive seasons, and we know summer will be back again next year.

From all of us at Lions Pride, we wish you a happy new school year, and thank you for another great summer!

Upcoming DGE and WLF Director Orientation

02 Thursday Jun 2016

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The Wisconsin Lions Camp will be alive with activity WLF Orientationthis weekend. Although the first few weeks are still fairly quiet during June, that is not the case this weekend! On Friday, District Governor Elects will make their way to Rosholt for their last training session before they are off to Japan for the International Convention.

On Saturday, the group will grow even larger with the arrival of eight new WLF Directors, who will join the other WLF directors as they begin their training and orientation.

The weekend will focus on preparing every new Governor and WLF Director with the tools and knowledge to ensure for success in the new Lionistic Year. They will each learn about their new role and how they can help serve in the New Year.

The Lions Pride staff is delighted to participate in the orientation process by extending the knowledge of new officers about the Lions Pride Endowment Fund. Executive Director Geri Schlender is excited to share the message about our organization. She’ll discuss the mission of our endowment fund and how the quote, “Blind kids can’t go to outdoor camps and stuff like that” changed everything.

It’s hard to believe that we are almost to the end of another Lionistic Year. On behalf of the entire staff, we’d like to thank the current District Governors and WLF Board Members for their hard work and dedication to Wisconsin Lions over the course of the past 11 months. We’d also like to extend a warm, early welcome to the new officers. We look forward to partnering with this outstanding group in the year ahead.

(More) Fun Ways to Celebrate the Christmas Season

17 Thursday Dec 2015

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In our most recent blog post, we talked about all of the fun Christmas

Enchanted Forest

Photo Credit to WAOW

happenings taking place around the state of Wisconsin. Did you participate in any? If not, you’re in luck! The fun actually continues right up until December 25.

 

December 18

The Altenburgh’s Christmas Extravaganza has become a tradition in Wausau. After last year’s sold out event, John Altenburgh is back at the Grand Theatre with friends, Janet Planet, Randy Sabien, Mitch Viegut, Chris O’Keefe and Otis McLennon. Don’t miss out on seeing this brand new Christmas program! Ticket prices range from $39 to $52.

Enjoy a self-guided tour of the elaborately decorated rooms of the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee. Kurt Eckroth and Megan Kell will perform Christmas music throughout the evening and light refreshments will be served. Ticket prices are $16 for adults and $9 for children at the door. Admission for children under 6 years old is tree. Tours will be happening on Friday night from 5 pm to 7 pm.

Celebrate the season with the music of Sawyer Brown at the Eau Clair Arts Center. This travelin’ band was founded back in 1981 and has played more than 4000 shows. After recently releasing their new album, the band shows us that the wheels are still turing and the road is wide open. The show begins at 7:30 pm and tickets range in price from $34 to $54.

December 19

Commemorate your German heritage in Dodgeville at their annual German Christmas Tree Lighting. The village brings in a 13-foot fir tree for a traditional tree lighting with real candles. Christmas carols will follow the light celebration and easy dances will be led around the tree. A potluck dinner begins at 6:30 pm.

Founded in 2012, the Play It Forward concert series was inspired by Bo Johnson, a young Sister Bay resident who passed away from leukemia. The 2015 concerts will focus on the light and warmth of the holiday season and feature local performers. The series benefits local, regional and international causes. Admission is free, but goodwill donations are encouraged.

Experience an old-fashioned Christmas at Heritage Hill State Historical Park from 12 pm to 6 pm. At the Spirit of Christmas Past, visitors will be able to participate in horse-drawn wagon rides, historic dancing, cooking and crafts. Plus, local musicians will be performing throughout the village during the day.

Month-Long Events

If you’re looking to admire beautifully decorated Christmas trees, look no further than Rosholt’s Enchanted Forest. Located only two and a half miles away from Lions Pride, the Enchanted Forest has entered its 21st year. There are over 50 trees on display in the Youth Exhibition building in the Portage County Fairgrounds. This weekend will be the last weekend to catch a glimpse of these awe-inspiring trees. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

It’s hard to believe that we are only a week away from Christmas. We understand that there is so much to get done in such a small window of time. It is our hope you included the Lions Pride Endowment Fund on your list. Please take some time to enjoy all Christmas and the New Year have to offer!

Lions Camp Totem Pole Dedication Event

18 Thursday Sep 2014

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New Lions Camp Totem PoleThere is a new face (actually seven new faces!) coming to the Wisconsin Lions Camp. On Saturday, the camp will be unveiling a new totem pole for the world to see.

Although totem poles are common elements in Native American customs, they are surprisingly also seen in several different cultures. Many different types of totem poles exist today.

  • Genealogy Poles are built in front of family’s homes to displays the owner’s group or social status.
  • Memorial Poles are created to honor a deceased member of a family or group.
  • Mortuary Poles are also carved in honor of the dead, but include a small compartment to hold the ashes.

Totem poles can represent stories or special events in a group’s history. Each figure on the pole shows traits and characteristics each group or story represents.

Click here to learn the characteristics of each animal that could be found on a totem pole.

Totem poles have played an important role at the Lions Camp over the years. SinceFourth Lions Camp Totem Pole 1965, the members of Lac du Flambeau Lions Club have created three totem poles specifically for the camp. The club spent countless hours of hard work designing and carving. The animals on the most recent totem pole represented courage, teamwork, merriment, intelligence, strength and dedication. It was called the Na-Wak-Wa, which means “meeting place for friends” because the Lions Club creators wanted all of the campers found the Wisconsin Lions Camp to be a place of friendship. Unfortunately, the pole surrendered to internal rot.

Under the leadership of Bill Herschauer, the club hired Master Carver and Fellow Lion, Pete Blazkowski, to create the fourth totem pole. On December 5, 2011, the Lac du Flambeau Band of the Ojibwa Nation donated a beautiful white pine, estimated to be about 234 years old, to replace the fallen totem. After nearly four years of hard work, we will be able to see the masterpiece Pete and the supporting members of the Lac du Flambeau club members have crafted.

Lions Camp Totem Pole Dedication EventJoin us for the dedication on Saturday, September 20, at the Wisconsin Lions Camp in Rosholt. The event will begin at 1pm. See you there!

Sources:

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-totems.html
http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-is-a-totem-pole/