Tag Archives: staff

Sunsetting the Lions Pride Campaign and Blog

01 Thursday Jul 2021

Posted by in Conventions, Fundraising, Giving Tips, Holidays, Lions Camp, News, Special Events

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It may be hard to believe, but today’s post marks #400, and the first time it will be written in the first person. The Lions Pride Blog was first started back in September 2013 after I sat next to two smiling faces at a women’s business luncheon. I was still working a full-time job but trying to make it on my own as an independent consultant. I was nervous, but Denise and Geri immediately put me at ease. As you may have guessed, the three of us hit it off and Lions Pride soon became my first client (outside of family). The Lions Pride Blog was born just a few weeks later.

Each Thursday for nearly 8 years (apart from missing one after the early arrival of my son in December 2020), we have published a blog post about many different topics like holidays, conventions, special events, fun facts and more. They didn’t always seem to directly apply, but we always wanted to make sure it tied back to Lions Pride.

If you’re a follower of the blog, you likely already know the origin story of Lions Pride, but here’s a Cliff Notes version, just in case. After serving in leadership roles within the Lions Organization, Dewey Carl identified an unmet need. He recognized that expenses for Lions Camp and all WLF projects had increased substantially, but the ever-important annual Lions Club Donations were not keeping up. By that time, he knew that many Wisconsin residents came to rely on these programs, so an additional financial source was crucial to keep them running.

He decided to establish a donor-directed endowment fund, which was approved by the Lions of Wisconsin in May 2005. Since that time, the Lions Pride Board and Staff have been working tirelessly to preserve, protect and provide for Lions Camp and all statewide projects.

You might recall that back in October, 2019, Lions Pride announced a goal to unite efforts and reach $10 million for the endowment fund by the 2021 State Convention. By attaining this milestone, we would be able to provide more than $300,000 a year in perpetuity to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation in support of Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects and sunset the campaign.

I am excited to announce that Lions Pride has reached that milestone.

This goal would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Dewey Carl, Geri Schlender, the board and staff, or the giving hearts of donors and supporters. It truly was a team effort and an accomplishment that we can be proud to share.

We now have the funds to financially assist the Wisconsin Lions Foundation indefinitely. How often can you make such a statement?

Because we have officially crossed the threshold, the organization will be changing, starting with the staff. One of the largest changes is the retirement of Executive Director, Geri Schlender. She has been with Lions Pride since the start and now will be able to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Please join me in congratulating Geri as she enters the next phase of her life, to be filled with travel, relaxation and fun. The organization was so incredibly lucky to have you at the helm.

The structure of the organization will also be going through some changes, which are still being ironed out by the Lions Pride Board. But since we have reached our goal, we will no longer be actively seeking donations from clubs and will begin decreasing monthly expenses, which means this 400th post will also be the last.

The last eight years have flown by in the blink of an eye, and I cannot tell you honored I feel to have had the opportunity to learn and grow with Lions Pride. The organization has shown me just how important it is to improve the lives of others. Service never goes out of style.

Thank you so much for your continued support, and for reading the Lions Pride Blog!

– Katy Bailey

Lucky 13: The Lions Pride Annual Shoot

10 Thursday Jun 2021

Posted by in Fundraising, News, Special Events

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To those who consider themselves to be superstitious, the number 13 is a less than ideal number. It’s often associated with Friday the 13th, black cats and non-existent hotel floors. But, after the year we all just endured, we could not be more excited to celebrate the 13th Annual Lions Pride Shoot, Deja Vue Redo.

Apart from 2020, we’ve held the Lions Pride Shoot at Milford Hills in Johnson Creek for the past 12 years. If you’re new to the sport, you may be interested in learning that sporting clays simulates actual hunting situations in the field and are enjoyed by people of all ages. In fact, more than 3 million people a year shoot sporting clays either competitively or recreationally. Sporting clays is both fun and challenging as well as one of the fastest-growing sports in America. It is a unique sport that provides instant gratification and brings out one’s competitive nature.  

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

The day begins with an early lunch, followed by a challenging course with games and door prizes. After shooters have finished the course, they finish up their action-packed day by participating in a live auction, drinking ice cold beer and indulging in a delicious meal.

The Lions Pride Shoot may only be a one-day event, the staff has planning and preparing for months. Many small details go into the overall preparation of the fundraiser, including recruiting participants, finding sponsors, collecting both door prizes and auction items, coordinating all of the day’s events with the Milford Hills staff and recruiting volunteers to help create a successful event. We were disappointed to have to cancel last year’s event but cannot believe that we are now only days away.

As we continue to finish up the final details of the event, we’d like to give a special shoutout to our donors, sponsors, shooters and volunteers. We have first-hand experience that it takes a village of people to create a unique and enjoyable event. We look forward to being reunited in Milford Hills, we know that our 13th year will be the best one yet.. And as always, we cannot thank you enough for your endless support.

See you on Saturday!

Three Reasons Why We Love Our Supporters

11 Thursday Feb 2021

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Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, which gives us all an opportunity to tell our cherished loved ones how much they mean to us. For most of us, our favorite people may include our spouses, children, friends and community members, but if you’re a nonprofit organization, you have one more group to add to the mix – donors.

Here are three (of many reasons) why we love our supporters:

  1. Their kindness

You may likely already know that the Lions Pride staff is small but mighty, which means it’s not always easy to finish big tasks on our own. Whenever we are in need of additional support for stuffing mailers or working a fundraising event, we can always count on the kindness of Lions and our donors to come to the rescue.

  1. Their loyalty

The Lions Pride Endowment Fund was born in 2006 when it became clear that the rising costs of the camp operating expenses could no longer be maintained by Lions Club Donations alone. We feel so fortunate to say that many of our donors have been with us since the very beginning and others continue to stick with us, year after year, supporting us as we continue on our mission.

  1. Their warmth

Campers may only stay at Lions Camp during June, July and August, but it takes nine months of preparation to make sure they have the most memorable week of the summer. The weather may be downright cold outside, but we always have summer on our mind, thanks to the warm and giving hearts of our donors.

At Lions Pride, our mission is to preserve, protect and provide for Lions Camp and all other WLF statewide projects. None of this would be possible without the generous support of our donors. We feel so lucky to have the greatest donors out there. Thank you for your continued support.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Lions Pride!

A Leap (Year) of Faith

27 Thursday Feb 2020

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

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Wisconsin Lions Camp Leap of Faith

Photo Credit to Wisconsin Lions Camp

It’s that time again! If you’ve looked at a calendar sometime in the last month, you’ve probably noticed an extra day at the end of this one. Every four years, February gains an extra day as we ensure our calendar stays consistent with the planet’s rotation around the sun, most often known as a Leap Year.

This particular year feels especially symbolic to us as we take a leap of faith into the final phase of the Lions Pride Endowment Fund. But, before we get too ahead of ourselves, let’s take a look back at how our organization began.

It all started with one name that we hope is not new to you – Dewey Carl. Back in 1974, Dewey joined the Manawa Lions Club. From that point on, he became a dedicated member of the Lions Organization, holding numerous positions at the local, state and international level. From 1986 to 1987, Dewey served as the Wisconsin Lions Foundation President. He later served as the District Governor and Council Chair from 1990 to 1991.

During that time, he recognized an unmet need. Expenses for Lions Camp and all WLF projects had tremendously increased, but the ever-important annual Lions Club Donations were not keeping up. He knew that many Wisconsin residents came to rely on these programs, so an additional financial source was crucial to keep them running.

He began establishing a donor-directed endowment fund. Then, in May of 2005, the Lions of Wisconsin voted to approve the campaign at the State Convention (again, following a Leap Year.) Since that time, the Lions Pride Board and Staff have been working tirelessly to preserve, protect and provide for Lions Camp and all statewide projects.

To date, the Lions Pride Endowment Fund has raised over $8.5 million to further the mission. Now, we are looking to unite our efforts to reach $10 million by the 2021 State Convention. Attaining this goal will provide more than $300,000 a year in perpetuity to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation in support of Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects, sunsetting the campaign.

Lion Dewey showed us that there is nothing more important than working to improve the lives of others. His spirit lives on as we progress towards our end goal. With your continued support, we can raise the last $1.5 million to financially assist the Wisconsin Lions Foundation indefinitely. We hope you’ll consider including Lions Pride in your annual giving by making your donation today.

It’s been a wild ride, and we feel so fortunate to have our donors by our side. We cannot adequately express our gratitude for what your support has meant to us over the years. Let’s work together to achieve this milestone.

 

Wisconsin Lions Camp Summer 2019

30 Thursday May 2019

Posted by in Lions Camp, News, Special Events

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Lions Lake

Photo Credit to Wisconsin Lions Camp

It’s time to start packing your bags because kickoff to camp begins now! The summer staff has now reported for duty, and we are only 10 days away from the start of the 2019 camping season. Each year, nearly 1300 special campers with vision, hearing, intellectual disabilities and Type 1 and Type II Diabetes travel to Rosholt, Wisconsin, for a week of camaraderie, adventure and fun.

See the 2019 schedule below:

Block One

June 9 – June 14                     Adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired

June 16 – June 21                   Children with Type 1 & 11 Diabetes

June 23 – June 28                   Children with Type 1 & 11 Diabetes

June 30 – July 5                       Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism

July 7 – July 12                        Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism

July 14 – July 20                      No campers at camp; staff transition week

July 18 – July 19                      All staff teambuilding & training

Block Two

July 21 – July 26                      Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

July 28 – August 2                   Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

August 4 – August 9                Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired

August 11 – August 15            Adults 18-25 with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism (by invitation only)

August 19 – August 23            Adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

The Wisconsin Lions Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association. The property is 440 acres in size and includes a 45-acre private lake, which is the center of several camping activities. During the summer months, Lions Camp employs approximately 48 counselors, so the camp can maintain a staff to camper ratio of 1:6.

The goals of Lions Camp are to assist each camper in development of self-confidence, interdependence, social skills, outdoor recreational skills and environmental awareness, but most importantly, to provide the space for the child to have a fun, safe and memorable experience. Wisconsin Lions Camp is proud to give special children the resources, skills and knowledge that will serve them long beyond their childhoods.

Many people may be surprised to learn that when the camp was first debuted, it was funded primarily by Lions Club donations. Sadly, in the last decade or so, expenses for Lions Camp and all other WLF statewide projects have increased exponentially. Annual club contributions remain essential but now account for less than half of all yearly WLF operating expenses. Combatting rising costs was actually the primary reason for the creation of our organization. Read the entire story here.

Today, Lions Pride is proud to support the Wisconsin Lions Camp maintain and expand their operations. We work alongside generous Lions and non-Lions alike as it is the power of individual and organization gift commitments that will preserve the projects of WLF for current and future generations.  Last year interest earned from your donations covered the cost of one week of camp.

To all of our donors, we’d like to express our sincere gratitude. Like all of the campers, we too look forward to the start of summer. We feel so lucky to have the opportunity to help create positive change in our world and couldn’t do it without your ongoing support. Thank you for allowing us to continue on in our mission to preserve, protect and provide for Wisconsin Lions Camp and all statewide WLF projects.

Leader Dogs Canine Development Center Progress

21 Thursday Jul 2016

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One of the great highlights of 1st Vice District Governors is traveling to the Leader Dogs Campus in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The 1st Vice Governors and their spouses have the opportunity to learn more about the organization itself, explore the service areas, meet the trainers and see the canines in action.

Last year, Leader Dog was knee-deep in their Canine Development Center Renovation. A portion of the old kennel was demolished, and everything was getting cleared to prepare for the initial groundbreaking, which took place in August 2014.

Let’s fast forward about 12 months and check in to see how construction is progressing; things are really taking shape! The Leader Dogs Team has entered the final phase of their renovation. The exterior of the building is nearly complete, and they have now moved to the interior of the east wing.

With any construction, there is going to be some sort of rearranging and the Leader Dogs reconstruction is no exception. For the past year, the staff and the dogs have been in temporary spaces, but it looks like their patience is going to be handsomely rewarded. Just this week, the newest Future Leader Dogs got to check out the new outdoor play area that Lions and Lionesses helped build.

The idea behind the project was to create the best possible environment to breed, train and care for the Leader Dogs and to better serve their clients. The plans for the Canine Development Center campaign began in August 2013. They still expect to complete their final phase in October 2016. To see their entire construction process, please visit their Flickr page.

From all of us at Lions Pride, we’d like to say, “Congratulations,” to the entire staff at Leader Dogs for the Blind. We know that getting through a reconstruction is a difficult task, but we are so excited to see what the future holds for your organization after completion. Keep up the great work!

Wisconsin Statewide Tornado Drill

16 Thursday Apr 2015

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Wisconsin Tornado Dane County 2014It’s never a bad idea to prepare for an emergency. After all, there is never an optimal time for one to take place! This week, April 13 – 17 is Wisconsin’s Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Each year, our state sees an average of 23 tornadoes. While this may seem low compared to the averages of Oklahoma and Texas, which see 52 and 126 tornadoes respectively, we still need to plan ahead.

This afternoon, a statewide tornado drill is planned. At 1 pm, the National Weather Service will issue a statewide mock tornado alert and at 1:45 pm, a statewide mock tornado warning will be issued. The majority of Wisconsin radio and television stations will be participating in the drills. It’s important to note that the drill will take place even if the sky is cloudy, dark or rainy, but will be postponed to tomorrow afternoon is actual severe weather occurs.

As summertime continues to make its way to the center stage, we thought it might be a good chance to review our own severe weather action procedure here at the Wisconsin Lions Camp. We know that there are always going to be a few “what if” thoughts for parents when their children leave for a week, but we hope they don’t have to worry about severe weather.

We’re serious about safety here at camp. We’re set up with an emergency weather radio (just like schools) so the staff is always aware if severe weather chooses to strike and can quickly take action to keep all of our campers safe.

We hope you’ll take some time this week to review your own family’s severe weather action plan. After all, there’s no such thing as being over-prepared!

Lions Camp Seasonal Staff Members Wanted

23 Friday Jan 2015

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It may be difficult to think ahead six months when there is snow on the ground, and Wisconsin Lions Campwe need to bundle up before heading outdoors, but it won’t be long until Lions Camp will be back in session!

The Wisconsin Lions Camp is the largest project supported by Lions Pride, so there’s no surprise to learn that we spend a majority of the year planning for summertime. We’d like to start out the year by helping our friends recruit staff members for the upcoming camping season.

A large, talented team is needed to make the camping season a success, which means we’re already on the lookout for our 2015 staff members. This year, the camp is in need of approximately 100 seasonal staff members, including:

  • 28 counselors
  • 14 program specialists
  • 4 unit directors
  • 4 nursing assistants
  • 2 office assistants
  • 2 Interpreters for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing
  • 15 kitchen staff
  • 24 healthcare staff

Candidates must be at least 18 years old and be willing to learn and train to work with children with special needs. They have a greater chance of being interviewed if they have experience working with special needs, have a certification in lifeguarding, first aid or other camp skills and are available for the majority of the summer. The program starts on May 27 and goes to August 14, 2014. Most of the staff is hired for the length of the season.

Know the right person for the job? Please refer them to the Applications section of the Wisconsin Lions Camp website. There are many resources available to help interested people learn more about the positions. The application is available online, but must be completed and mailed to the Lions Camp office.

Thank you in advance for helping us recruit the 2015 Wisconsin Lions Camp Staff. You can contact the Lions Pride office by emailing us at prideoffice@lionspride.org or calling us at 715-677-3000.