DISTRICT 14 L LIONS NEWS

Message from District Governor Bill Higgins

January 2013

Lion Amy Higgins, Editor amysunfire@earthlink.net

District Governor Bill Higgins dressed up as Santa again this year for the Bedford Lions Family Christmas Dinner. He is pictured with one of the club’s newest members, Tonya Clark, & her 10 day old grandson, Ayden.

Now that we have recovered from the hectic holiday season, it is time to get back to what Lions do best – We Serve! At the Higgins house, with the three little ones running around, we had a joyous Christmas season. We were fortunate to spend some time with friends and loved ones, including many Lions throughout the District. I hope that those Lions who were able to attend our District Christmas enjoyed themselves. We were proud to showcase some of Bedford’s local talent – Penny McIntyre and Deena Thompson of the Baby Boomers, as well as teenage singing star Samantha Press. It was an enjoyable afternoon and a good time was had by all.

On the business side of things, it looks like we have made some significant progress in our search for a District Governor for 2013-2014. Past District Governor Gerald Chapman has stepped forward in the spirit of service to accept the position of 1st Vice District Governor (pending approval steps set forth in policy, constitution and by-laws). Thank you, Gerald, for once again giving of yourself for the betterment of Lions. Lastly, I was proud to see that this month 11 clubs have posted their activities on the International Website! Keep up the great work.

In closing, I’d like to reflect on the words of Helen Keller: Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. Without question, Lionism serves a worthy purpose.

- District Governor Bill Higgins

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Message from 2nd VDG Anna…

Club Public Display Project

District Governor Bill Higgins is asking each club to create, update or improve their Lions public display. Over the years, many of our public displays have deteriorated due to weather, vandalism or neglect. Each club should take some time to look at your public display and consider sprucing it up! Send photos to District Governor Bill and we will put them in the newsletter!

15 Simple Service Ideas CHILDREN

• Make hygiene kits for children at an orphanage • Work with healthcare professionals to provide free immunizations • Make baby supply kits for newborns in need • Read to a child • Collect/donate coats for needy children • Donate toys to a local children’s hospital • Host an arts and crafts day at a local center or church • Organize a beep baseball tournament • Have a play day at an orphanage • Assemble school supplies • Host a music day at a local center or church • Repair furniture at a school • Provide snacks for children in childcare facilities • Volunteer at a camp serving children with special needs • Have children make cards and write letters for military personnel

Dear Lions and Lioness and Leos: I hope that every lion has had a blessed holiday with family and friends. Now as we start this New Year in Lionism we need to work extra hard to bring in new members. Membership has to be an ongoing assignment in our District so that we may replace the working hands that we lose. Give that neighbor or friend another nudge, let them know Lions care about them and that it is important they become Lions members. Now is a good time to work on the CEP program to evaluate your club to see were your club is strong and were help is needed. By doing the CEP program, healthy clubs will become stronger and small clubs may become larger. If you need help, contact our District GLT to get started. Always remember that we are a volunteer organization to help those in need and less fortunate. Yours in Lionism, Anna Clark

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ATTENTION ALL LIONS

Your Global Leadership Team is developing the training schedule for the remainder of the 2012-2013 Lion’s year. Look for dates in the coming editions of the newsletter. We need your help in participating in Certified Guiding Lions Training, Club Officer Training, and Mentoring. Keep your eyes open for the dates. What has your club been doing to improve Leadership and Membership? Do you know that there are hundreds of examples on the LCI site that you can use to help your club? Here are two ideas. If they don’t fit something that your club does, alter the plan a bit and make it fit. Give it a try. What do you have to lose? Who knows you may find that it works and your club is the better for trying. Event/Project Type: Lions Training Event/Project Name: Membership Recruitment Training Goals: To train Lions to be able to recruit new members to develop and charter new clubs, to rebuild existing clubs, and to do "cold call" recruiting. Description/Results: On a warm summer evening 14 Lions from 8 different clubs participated in the 2 hour training that was offered for the first time. The training included three separate parts: (1) How to recruit members and charter a new club, (2) How to build existing clubs, and (3) How to recruit at public events and public places. The training will be repeated in other parts of the district since other Lions wanted to attend, but could not due to conflicts. What do you think?? This could be the theme for a combined Zone meeting. Event/Project Type: Recruiting Event/Project Name: Membership Recruitment Goals: To increase the general membership of the Club Description/Results: Since May 2010, Smithfield Lions Club has increased its membership by a whopping 50%. At the time, Smithfield had 16 members. Its sole remaining Charter Member recruited his wife, stepson and his wife to join the club. After that, the club recruited someone who had volunteered to provide DJ services at the club's monthly classic car Cruz In shows. Through hard work that took about a year to complete, Smithfield launched a LEO club in the town's high school. As of September 2012, the LEO club now boasts 40 members and is still rapidly growing. In June of 2012, Smithfield recruited the LEO club's sponsor, teacher Aaron Hill to join. And in November, Smithfield made local history when it inducted its youngest members ever since its founding in 1977, by swearing in two former LEO club members, both freshmen at Old Dominion University. Sean is 18 and Rachel is 19. Adding 8 new members in two years is rapid growth. What can other clubs learn from this? Networking with the local community, as well as reaching the youth of the area through LEO clubs, are excellent resources for recruitment. They are also the best ways to reach members at young ages, that will likely result in a lifetime of Lions membership spanning decades to come. Would this work at your club?? You won’t know unless you try. Need Help, Call or e-mail PDG Larry Edwards, 814 943-6310, ledwards@reliancebank.com or PDG Norm Burdge 814 448-2463, nburdge@atlanticbb.net. We want to assist your club with any Leadership or Membership issues. Please call on us.

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Newswire Announcing the 2013-2014 Peace Poster Theme It’s a new year and time for a new Peace Poster Contest theme. The theme for the 2013-2014

contest is "Our World, Our Future." Work with your club to sponsor the contest in local schools or

youth groups to help make this world a more peaceful place. Contest kits will go on sale on

January 15 from Club Supplies. Learn more about the contest, including how to order a kit. Also,

learn about the Lions International Essay Contest for students who are visually impaired.

International Convention: Plan Your Holiday in Hamburg There are many sights to see at the next international convention in Hamburg, Germany. Capture

the local flavor with a specialized harbor tour. Visit the historic fishing village of Blankenese.

Discover your family history at the Ballin Stadt Emigration Museum. Take a Magical History Tour

and retrace the steps of the Fab Four. The hardest decision will be deciding what to do each day!

All tours are escorted by an expert guide and offered at special discounted rates for Lions and their

families. Start planning today by visiting our Local Tours page. Find out more about the International

Convention, Registration, Airline Discounts and Pre or Post Convention Tours.

Enter the 2012-2013 Environmental Photo Contest The Environmental Photo Contest (EPC) offers a chance for Lions across the globe to share their

commitment to protecting, preserving and improving the environment by capturing the earth’s

natural beauty through photography. All multiple districts are encouraged to submit one photograph

for the international contest, which will be held during the 2013 International Convention in

Hamburg. January 15, 2013 is the suggested deadline for districts to submit one photo to the

multiple district. Visit the Environmental Photo Contest web page to find out how to enter and to

purchase a 2013 calendar.

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Interested in ordering state pins? Just complete this form & mail, with check, to the Lions State Office in Harrisburg. The pins will be mailed directly to you.

****************************************************************************** District Governor Bill Higgins received this Fast Start Cruising Speed Award from International President Wayne Madden because district 14L showed positive membership on October 31, 2012.

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Cabinet Christmas Party

District Governor Bill Higgins, Jr. Lions of PA 14L 228 S. Bedford Street Bedford, 15522

The Lions of 14L are now on Facebook and Twitter!!!

Check us out -- “like” us at PA Lions 14L and “follow” us

at PALions14L! We now have

124 Facebook “Likes”

DG Bill Higgins & family hosted this year’s Cabinet Christmas party at the Bedford Elks Country Club on Sunday, December 16th. 35 guests dined on hor d’hourves & an ice cream sundae bar while being entertained by The Baby Boomers. Samantha Press, a 14 year old vocal student from Bedford High School, then sang an ensemble of Christmas tunes.