PDG Vincent F. Bishop

My Fellow Lions,

            As we approach the ninth month of 2009-2010, let us pause and evaluate what we as Lions have accomplished.  How have we have helped our Club meet the goals established at the beginning of the year?  What are you doing to help your Club continue to strive forward for the rest of this year and accomplish all your Club wanted to do to help your community and improve the lives of others?  This last year the economy has been very tough.  It produced a lot of challenges for Clubs to meet their fund raising goals for their project accounts.  Many of our Clubs in the Multiple District have struggle to help people in their community in need of sight and hearing assistance that they have not been able to provide for themselves.  We keep trying to do our best under any circumstances because those who can benefit from our assistance need us.  Keep having fun and do your best.
            Our District Governor's are busy doing their best to work helping Clubs increase their membership.  We work hard at this because without members and new growth our organization we wouldn't last forever.  Remember the phrase. “What would our communities look like if Lion Clubs didn't exist?” We want continue to exist because it's such a warm feeling on the inside when we help others over come their challenges.  What a feeling it is when someone we have helped says, “I can see for the first time in a long time.“ It brings tears to our eyes.
            As I write this article, District G under the leadership of District Governor Gerald, are out forming several new Clubs in the north part of District G.  His team is doing a great job and working hard with lots of enthusiasm to make things happen.  We want people in those communities to take on our motto WE SERVE by wanting to take their dream and put it to work in their community.  Part of your dues to International are being spent right here in Oregon. Funding from LCI is being used for extension personnel to train our volunteers and help with putting in new Clubs.  We want to use every tool that Lions International has to help us to grow and retain our Lion members.
            By the time you get this, two of our four district conventions will have come and gone with two more to happen in the month of March.  It's a time to learn, meet long time friends and make new friends.  To applaud those Lions that are recognize for what they have done in helping Lions no matter where they are in life.  As always the support for our Foundation is always needed even more so now with the economy still in recovery and more people are without insurance to help their medical needs.  Keep our Foundation in your thoughts as we approach our remaining conventions when Clubs make their donations to support our Foundation.  Remember WE SERVE should always be our guiding thought as we do our Lions work.
            I thank all of you Lions for what you do and what you mean to our organization.

CC Vince