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Do Something Grand on Grandparents Day

06 Thursday Sep 2018

Posted by in Holidays, News, Special Events

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man and child walking near bushes during daytime

Photo by freestocks.org on Pexels.com

Think back on your fond childhood memories; who was there? More than likely, you picture your mom, dad, siblings, cousins, and of course, grandparents. Sunday, September 9, is Grandparents Day and we think the holiday deserves a grand celebration.

Believe it or not, this observation was not created to simply sell cards and flowers. The holiday creator, Marian Lucille McQuade wanted Grandparents Day to be centered around a family, a day to connect the generations.

According to McQuade, National Grandparents Day has three general purposes:

  1. To honor grandparents
  2. To give grandparents an opportunity to show love to their children’s children
  3. To help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance that elders can offer

Regardless of your family role, we believe Grandparents Day is worth celebrating. We know what you’re thinking, another day to prepare for? Not exactly. You can do plenty of grand activities without a lot of effort. Read through a few fun ways to commemorate the occasion:

  • Spend the day with family

Of course, this may be the most obvious way to celebrate Grandparents Day, seeing as this was the reason behind the holiday. Consider putting together a small family reunion to gather the generations. Simply call or email family members and have everyone bring a dish to pass, so no one person has to spend the weekend in the kitchen.

  • Start building a family tree

What better way to celebrate family then by piecing together the puzzle of your family. Share special memories of those who have passed and talk about how family members’ lives have changed over the generations. Visit PBS to start building yours today.

  • Volunteer together

The families who volunteer together, stay together. As Lions, we believe that giving back is a responsibility for those of all ages. Show your family members the value of volunteering by working on a project together. Consider collecting garbage at the park, spending some time at the community kitchen or walking dogs at your local animal shelter. If your club is working on a large service project, think about inviting family members to join in.

  • Celebrate those who have left too soon

Unfortunately, not all of us are lucky enough to have living grandparents, but you can honor their memory by perusing through old pictures and photo albums. If you are active on Facebook, think about updating your profile picture to one with a grandparent and sharing your favorite memory with friends. We can ensure you will enjoy your walk down Memory Lane.

National Grandparents Day is the perfect holiday to honor legacy and gratitude to a grand generation. How will you celebrate?

Happy Grandparents Day from Lions Pride!

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Celebrate Earth Day Every Day

21 Thursday Apr 2016

Posted by in Fundraising, News, Special Events

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Wisconsin Lions Camp

Grab your party hat and a pair of work gloves because tomorrow is Mother Nature’s birthday! The 22nd of every April marks Earth Day, the chance for all of us to appreciate the world that we live in and rethink the way we treat our home.

We have a lot of admiration for organizations that are continuously celebrating the planet all year-round. We’ve seen many large organizations, such as General Mills and Starbucks; adopt more sustainable and eco-friendly business practices. As we were brainstorming green organizations, another organization also immediately came to mind; one that is a little more local and very close to our hearts, the Wisconsin Lions Camp.

As many of you already know the camp is situated on 440 acres of land centered around Lions Lake. The camp is home to hundreds of weekly campers throughout the summer months. During their week away, campers and staff spend a vast majority of their time outdoors so it should come as no surprise they have a great respect for Mother Nature.

In addition to assisting children with self-confidence and interdependence, the Wisconsin Lions Camp staff focuses on providing campers with a strong environmental awareness. The kids are encouraged to sign up for programs to learn more about certain areas of the environment. Activities include participating in nature hikes, learning about the many animals living in the forest by learning about tracks and taking part in water study. They also get to hear lots of nature’s stories and play animal trivia. The biggest takeaway for kids is to leave nature in better condition than what you found it in.

As individuals, we can learn a lot from Lions Camp by treating every day like Earth Day. Go green by implementing one (or more) of the Earth-friendly tips:

  1. Plant a tree. You’ve probably heard the saying, “The best day to plant a tree, the second best day is today.” Clean the air and provide oxygen for everyone to enjoy. Did you know that in one year an acre of mature trees can provide enough oxygen for 18 people?
  2. Go paperless. There are many ways for bills to be delivered. Save paper by exploring a paperless option.
  3. Walk to work or school. If it’s not possible to get from Point A to Point B with just your two feet, consider carpooling.
  4. Create a recycling plan for you and your family. Decrease the amount of waste in your household by devising a weekly plan. Check with your local municipality to learn what can and cannot be recycled.
  5. Invest in a refillable water bottle. Studies show that United States landfills are overflowing with over 2 million plastic water bottles. Help keep plastic out of landfills by refilling your own bottle.
  6. Organize a group cleanup day to keep your community looking its very best. With enough help, the work will be completed in no time at all.

P.S. You can make even more of an impact by planning environmental projects for your entire community!

At Lions Pride Endowment Fund, our job is to preserve, protect and provide for Lions Camp and all other WLF projects. We think those three words can also apply to our responsibility as conscious citizens.

Making small changes in our lifestyles can make a big difference to the world we live in. Let’s all work together to preserve, protect and provide for Mother Nature. Let’s all start celebrating Earth Day, every day!

 

Holidays Taking Place in December (Not Including Christmas)

03 Thursday Dec 2015

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It’s that time of the year Decemberagain! Lighted trees are showing up in picture windows, homes are being decorated from head to toe with lights and the spirit of giving is in the air. In Wisconsin, December has become synonymous with Christmas, when in fact, there are many religious and non-pagan holidays occurring. Let’s take a look at a few together:

Saturday, December 5, marks the first day of Hanukkah, also known as the “Festival of Lights.” This eight-day celebration commemorates the miracle that happened in the Jewish temple during a religious war. Temple candles only had enough oil to burn for one day, yet they continued to burn for eight. According to a 2014 population, there are 28,255 Jews in Wisconsin.

On Tuesday, December 8, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day, the day that Buddha achieved enlightenment. The Buddha was born as Siddharta Gautama, into a privileged household, but retreated into the woods at age 29 in search of answers related to his suffering of old age, sickness and death. He found enlightenment under a fig tree after 49 days of continuous meditation at the age of 35. Buddhists celebrate by meditating, studying the Dharma, chanting Sutras and performing acts of kindness.

You may be surprised to learn that there are 51 Buddhist temples located in Wisconsin!

On Saturday, December 12, Catholics of Mexican heritage typically celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus. The celebration commemorates the day St. Juan Diego encountered the Virgin Mary in 1531. Legend says that Mary appeared to Juan and told him to ask the bishop to build a church on Tepeyec Hill. The bishop agreed to the request if he could prove that the incidence was indeed a miracle. Juan returned to the location to find roses in a spot that had previously been cacti. A church was built in honor of the event.

Monday, December 22, marks the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This holiday celebrates the rebirth of the sun beginning of winter. In the early days, winter solstice traditions gave people optimism that sunny days were ahead, even during the coldest and darkest days. Over time, Christian leaders found ways to relate the holiday to Christmas. In multiple languages, people have traditionally compared the rebirth of the sun with the birth of the son of God. Many of our Christmas traditions including gift giving, wreaths and feasts can be traced back to winter solstice rituals.

Although the majority of us celebrate Christmas this year of the year, it’s important to remember that it’s not the only holiday happening. Do you know of any other special holidays taking place in December?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Lions Pride! Please consider Lions pride in your annual year end giving.