The District Governor Speaks
Fellow Lions,
I want to personally welcome each and every one of you to the 2011-2012 Lions year and into the District 45 Family. I am sure that each of you are busy already this summer and are planning for the rest of the year. I look forward to meeting each and every club as I make my visits. The past couple of months we have been busy with going to trainings, setting goals for our great District, visitations and Tropical Storm Irene.
Lions Julie and I attended the International training of District Governor’s and the 94th International Convention in Seattle, Washington. During that time we were able to meet and listen to International President Tam’s address about “My club, My Family” and message about his “I Believe” Campaign.
His campaign will include 6 parts to his International Theme:
1. Believe in Service and as part of his address he has set a goal of planting One million trees around the world as his Global Service Action Campaign.
2. Believe in Club Members. The strength of our organization lies within our clubs by promoting our clubs, Leos and family programs.
3. Believe in nurturing our future. Promote and expand our programs like Lions Quest and youth activities.
4. Believe in Leadership. Promote and communicate opportunities for leadership development.
5. Believe in Projecting our Image. Promote our service by using public relations.
6. Believe in Giving Back. Understanding LCIF programs and their impact on our Lives.
My personal theme is “Lionism Makes Dreams Come True” and that is signified by my use of the Dream Catcher. Just in our District alone we have made thousands of people’s dreams come true by helping them with eyeglasses, building ramps for the handicapped, providing needed children with a gift or two at Christmas or providing them with warm jackets, hats and gloves as well as helping those in need of food. For others it was a trip to see foliage for the senior’s that can’t get out by themselves, a hot meal or an educational scholarship to help them better themselves. I could go on and on about how the Lions of District 45 Make Dreams Come True.
My goals for my theme are similar to Incoming IP Tam’s.
1. Increase membership by using the +1 campaign. Clubs need to increase membership by 1 over the total of members as of July 1st, 2011.
2. To implement a community service project and then to promote your service through your local newspaper or outlet.
3. To promote the use of a club brochure to use as a tool to promote Local clubs and to spread the word and work of Lionism.
4. To encourage clubs to promote themselves in local newspapers, on the radio and on television stations. By using the District publicity chairman to help the clubs with contacts and with press releases.
5. Promote the use of Promotional Row at District cabinet meetings so all clubs in the District can share your idea and as a tool to come up with new ideas.
6. Promote Lion Interactions by listing events in the Sharing section of the “Communiqué” newsletter to help bolster club interactions.
7. To promote the use of the District survey and self evaluations to help the District, clubs and Lions to make changes as needed.
I also will be introducing changes to the Traveling Lion Contest to help promote it by allowing a club to recapture it once it has been captured from your club. Also by having a Club Brochure contest to promote the local clubs locally so as to spread the word and work of “Lionism” so we can change the old saying that we are the best kept secret. Let’s get the word out and make our clubs stronger than they are currently and continue to increase “Lionism” in the State of Vermont.
Again, Welcome to the District 45 Family and if we can be of assistance in any way feel free to contact any one of us by phone or email and through the website.
Yours in Lionism.
District Governor Steve Simpson
D45 Vermont