VETERANS JOIN FREE

Dear Lion,   On behalf of International President Barry Palmer, I am pleased to share with you that Lions Clubs International's Board of Directors has approved a special pilot program to waive the charter or entrance fee for U.S. Veterans of all ages.     The Involve a U.S. Veteran program is being offered only in the United States. The program waives the charter or entrance fee for any qualifying veteran who joins a new or existing Lions club between July 1st, 2013 and June 30th, 2015.   Eligible veterans include retired U.S. military personnel or honorably-discharged members of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard Services, Marines, National Guard, Navy or Reserves.  Those currently serving in the National Guard or Reserves are also eligible.  Lions Clubs International will provide an entrance fee waiver of $25 ($30 for charter members) to the first 5,000 qualified U.S. veterans that join a local Lions club.   Veterans have made so many great contributions and sacrificed so much to serve our country.  As service members are honorably discharged from the military, let's offer them an opportunity to get involved in their communities.     Click below to learn more about this special program.  You'll find a program fact sheet, promotional flyer, certification form and a sample press release you can use to promote this program in your community's news outlets.   Veterans Day is November 11th, just two weeks from today.  Make plans now to reach out to veterans in your community and offer them the opportunity to make a difference and change lives as Lions.   Sincerely,   Peter Lynch Senior Executive Administrator Lions Clubs International   Lions Clubs International & LCIF | 300 W. 22nd St. | Oak Brook, IL | 60523 | USA

2013 CANDY DAY A SWEET SUCCESS

LIONS CANDY DAY A SWEET SUCCESS

Freeport Lions Club collected Candy Day donations for visually- and hearing-impaired people in front of Cub Foods, ShopKo, and Sullivan’s Foods on October 4 and 5, 2013. Candy Day Chairman, Terry Anderson, said the combination of good weather and special retail sales at the participating stores helped draw the public, and achieved a record total donations compared to each of the last 10 years.

Lions volunteering and taking turns at each of the three locations during the 2-day collection period were Terry Anderson, Brian Burke, Roland Caruso, Rick Eastman, Kevin Grande, Bert Kersten, Rich Montgomery, Troy Pettis, Paul Rampenthal, Joe Serafini, Rebecca Shriver, Dave Snyders, Paul Tormohlen, Darla VanBuskirk and Dennis Zimmerman.

In addition, thirteen Freeport High School Student Council volunteers gave their time freely. Thanks to all.

 (Left) Freeport High School Student Council members, Madison Kielsmeier and Grace Berchtold, left, help Lions collect donations at Cub Foods.  

  

(Right) Student Council members Hannah Mekelska and Tiffany Hoops helped collect donations at Sullivan’s Foods.

(Left) Lion, Dennis Zimmerman is resupplied with candy by Candy Day Chairman, Terry Anderson in front of the Shopko department store.  

 

 

 

 

(Right) Lions Paul Tormohlen and Troy Pettis greeted shoppers and collected donations in front of Sullivan’s Foods.

  

Lion, Brian Burke, gives donator Teresa Toomsen a hug in front of Cub Foods as she leaves with her groceries and takes time to drop some money in the donation jar.

  

Lions Rich Montgomery and Lion Rick Eastman greeted shoppers in front of Cub Foods and Shopko, respectively.

 

A big “thank you” to Cub Foods, Shopko and Sullivan’s Foods for again allowing our organization to collect our 2013 Candy Days donations on their property for a worthy cause.

Twin News From Kathmandu

Global Interests
 - by Lion R. Montgomery
As many of you know by now, the Freeport, Illinois, Lions Club and Kathmandu-Gliese Lions Club, Nepal, became "twins" recently, sharing cultural gifts and interests as well as their common interest in the world-wide services overseen by Lions International. Almost everyone knows that Lions help people with low vision and hearing problems including blindness and deafness. But community services such as diabetes screening, clean drinking water for villages to promote good health, and computer donations to promote literacy are just a couple of other examples of the expansion of Lionism, caring for the quality of life of our fellow humans. Whether its a roof that needs finishing, a floor that needs upgrading, or a wall or a bench in need of a fresh coat of paint, Lions are there to help.  

Following is a recent letter with accompanying photographs received from Lion Sunit Shrestha, Kathmandu-Gliese Lions Club, to Lion Richard Montgomery, 1st Vice President, Freeport IL Lions Club, in an ongoing exchange regarding their clubs' activities:
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Dear Lion Richard,

I would like to heartily present our club activities with you and your club. We built a roof at temple and continued construction of remaining parts of the floor and paint on wall. Then, we had financially contributed to community school for making extra class rooms. That day we had distributed food, cloth and stationary materials for the underprivileged students at school.  These are the kind of services we finished together with Lions Club of Butterworth (Host) Malaysia and VISTAGE ASIA (Business Group) Malaysia.

The Lions members and non-lions members’ (Business Group) team were coming to Nepal and visited with our club in the field. We were showing to our project fields and made formal presentations with school and committee of the temple. We also exchanged some token of love and gave Appreciation Letter to Lions Club of Butterworth (Host) Malaysia for making those wonderful happenings in our community with VISTAGE ASIA.

Both of these teams were led by respected Lion Khay Chai Hong PMCC of Multiple District 308 who accepted our invitation, and our Multiple District 325 was represented by respected Lion Ram Bhandari Chettri PMJF, PMCC. So, those programs were very historical events for the Nepal to co-operate with Lions club and non-lions from outside for the community services in Nepal. It was our great achievement to gather International Lions Club and Business Group for social purpose together. Hence, we had not any boundary to do social services in National and International community at LIONISM. It was our small example to show possibilities to participated Non Lions in the services. So, we believe and we can serve together anywhere and everywhere.

By the way, here I have attached some photographs of the “Lions International Children Project” and “International Joint Venture Programs” which had done from our Lions Club of Kathmandu Gliese.  It was our great pleasure to present our club report to you. We will run some other programs in future and we continuously distribute computers at community schools too.  I am sure, you should share this information with your club members and present to your board meeting. I hope I will receive feedback from your side about it soon. Thank you so much.

Best Regards,

Lion Sunit Shrestha

International Relationship Chairperson
Lions Club of Kathmandu Gliese
Kathmandu, Nepal