From International

Dear Azilda Lions

LCIF is able to fulfill its mission of helping Lions serve worldwide through your support. In this message, I would like to update you on Campaign SightFirst II, grants awarded at the October Board Meeting, Lions World Sight Day, Melvin Jones Fellowships and new developments in Lions Quest.

Dedicated Lions have helped raise more than US$53 million to date for Campaign SightFirst II to continue our fight against preventable blindness. National and Multi-National Coordinators reported the fundraising goals of thousands of clubs around the world during Worldwide Report Day on October 11, and more than 20,000 clubs plan to raise US$64 million for CSFII this Lions year.

http://www.lions-csfii.org/live/content/index.shtml

http://www.lions-csfii.org/live/content/pdfs/wrd2_newsrelease_en.pdf

These goals leave more than US$35 million to be raised in Lions year 2007-2008 in order to reach CSFII's minimum goal of US$150 million and more than US$85 million to be raised in 2007-2008 if we are to reach our challenge goal of US$200 million. Please challenge your club to set and achieve its fundraising goal. We must succeed so that Lions can continue the SightFirst program. To date, SightFirst has funded vision projects that have protected and restored sight to more than 100 million individuals.

At the October Board Meeting, the LCIF Executive Committee approved 75 grants totaling US$3 million . Grants awarded will provide for international medical missions, expanding Lions Quest programs, equipping schools and hospitals, and constructing Habitat for Humanity Homes, to name a few. The full list of approved grants is available online .

http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lcif_gr_standard_recent.shtml

On October 12 Lions around the world marked Lions World Sight Day with sight-related activities such as eye screenings, cataract surgeries and vision awareness campaigns. LCIF and Lions Clubs International, in cooperation with Give the Gift of Sight Foundation, screened approximately 26,000 children and adults October 10-20 in Bamako , Mali . More than 2 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are blind and the rate of blindness is 10 times that of developing countries. Lions from Mali , through grant funding from LCIF, will arrange for additional care such as cataract surgery for those who need it at the African Institute for Tropical Ophthalmology (IOTA)-the premier eye hospital and training institute in West Africa .
http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lions_lcif_lwsd.shtml

The number of individuals to attain the Foundation's highest donor honor of Melvin Jones Fellow continues to grow each year. The Melvin Jones Fellowship is the backbone of LCIF, providing 70 percent of the foundation's revenue. A recognition of humanitarian work, a MJF is awarded to those who donate US$1,000 to LCIF or to people for whom a donation was made by others. Last year alone, 13,300 people became Melvin Jones Fellows and 7,076 individuals continued their support of the Foundation by becoming a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellows. Melvin Jones Fellows receive an attractive lapel pin, a plaque and a congratulatory letter. Consider recognizing a Lion in your club for their dedication or individual in the community for their humanitarian efforts by presenting him or her with a Melvin Jones Fellowship. The Fellowship can be attained through an installment payment plan, and donations to Campaign SightFirst II are eligible for MJF recognition.

http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lcif_don_melvin.shtml

Lions and LCIF are making a difference in the lives of youths through Lions Quest , a schools-based life-skills program for young people from kindergarten to 12th grade. More than 350,000 teachers have been trained in the program, which is currently taught in about 30 countries, and 11 million children have learned to make responsible decisions, communicate effectively and avoid drugs through Lions Quest. A new online training program with background information and tools for effectively implementing Lions Quest is now available to any Lion who is interested in learning more about Lions Quest. E-mail Shmir Corzine , Lions Quest Coordinator, for a log on ID and password to utilize the newly developed online training course.

http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lcif_gr_lions_quest.shtml
mailto:Shmir.Corzine@lionsclubs.org

I thank you for your continued support of the Foundation. Your support is integral to what we can accomplish together this year and in the future.

With a Passion to Serve,

Dr. Ashok Mehta
2006-2007 LCIF Chairperson

I would like to thank you for your support in helping us by organizing a Walk in your respective communities. It is time to confirm the details of all of the Walks for this spring and for the Lions Foundation to start working on promotion of this major national event. Without the support of Lions and volunteers across the country the Lions Foundation of Canada wouldn’t be able to help so many Canadians with medical and physical disabilities with a Dog Guide at no cost. Please note that this email is being copied to over 200 organizers and or people who have shown interest in organizing a Walk in their community.

We are currently updating marketing plans, projecting resources and ordering materials. PLEASE help us by responding to this email or by calling me at 1 800 768 3030 extension 241 to confirm your participation in organizing a Walk in your community. We would really appreciate your quick response so we can solidify our plans order enough materials for everyone so please contact me today. Our goal is to have everything sent out to the organizers February 1^st so we need to know how much to print and order now.

You will be happy to know that we are working on many new initiatives to help support your efforts and drive up participation, awareness and revenues collected. Changes to the donation forms, posters, organizers manuals, website, print releases, participant incentives, TV and radio PSA’s are being made.

This spring our national date is June 3^rd after researching the best possible national date. We ask if at all possible to please plan your event on this date we can have between 150 - 200 communities doing their Walk on the same weekend to drive up media attention and participation.

Once again thank you so much for your quick response to this email and I look forward to hearing from you today.

Dog Guides Canada is currently in need of foster families to raise future Dog Guides. Foster families housetrain the puppies, teach them manners and basic obedience, and socialize them to things like offices, shopping malls and public transportation. Food is provided courtesy of Nestle Purina Pet Care, and veterinary care is covered at the Foundation’s clinics. Foster families must be available to attend puppy classes in Oakville and Breslau every 4-6 weeks throughout the one year commitment.

Greetings! I'm writing to you this month about exciting public relations tools available from LCI and about our new disaster preparedness initiative - the Lions Alert Program. These are two vital tools you can use to increase your club's visibility in the community.

First, the best source for generating positive PR in your community is to be sure your club's projects and accomplishments are covered in the local newspaper. But to do this effectively, your club should be using professionally-formatted press releases to make it easier for reporters to cover your story. LCI now has a range of press releases (found on the LCI website) that can help your club properly promote its events, service projects, fundraisers, and most importantly, its accomplishments in serving the community.

In addition to press releases, the LCI web site now also features the Lions News Network (LNN) where you can download a number of Lions Public Service Announcements, including the newest one featuring Former U.S. President -- and Lion -- Jimmy Carter promoting the accomplishments of SightFirst. I know you will be impressed and proud when you see these world-class PR and communication tools now available to your club.

Generating press coverage of your club's accomplishments is also important for our own needs as members. When Lions see their accomplishments in the local paper, they are proud about the positive image such stories create. And it also validates a Lion's primary reason for being part of this great organization of ours - to serve and to make a difference in the lives of others.

Now, the gift of service Lions provide to their community, and around the world, is never more visible then when we respond to disasters, whether it's a local fire or something as catastrophic as a large-sale tsunami or hurricane

This year, to further strengthen our ability to respond to disasters, the Lions Alert Program has been introduced. The program not only provides guidelines for how to develop a disaster response preparedness plan, but its companion web site allows clubs and districts to request assistance from, or offer assistance to, other Lions who are nearby or halfway across the world. This Lion-helping-Lion network is part of our new Lions Serving Humanity online database. I'm extremely excited about this new initiative and encourage you to learn about it.

Below are more links to on-line resources and important information for your club. I'll be writing you again next month, and in the meantime, please share with me your success stories with PR and any suggestions you have regarding the Lions Alert Program. I would enjoy hearing from you.

A new resource has been added to the Lions Web site, Lions News Network (LNN). From LNN you can view LQ (Lions new quarterly video magazine), video programs and public service announcements (PSAs). Lions can also order videos to present at a club meeting or community event and encourage local television stations to download PSAs for broadcast. A limited number of copies of LQ on DVD are available by request by contacting Public Relations. Submit interesting story ideas and photos (300 dpi) by e-mail for consideration.

As with any important endeavor, setting a goal will keep your club's campaign on track for success. Setting a goal for Campaign SightFirst II will also help your club achieve its greatest potential. Your group coordinator will contact you soon, if he/she has not already. .. 2006-2007 Lions clubs: don't forget to set your CSFII goal by Sept. 27!

Speak with your group coordinator about becoming a Model Club or use the link to download a MODEL CLUB CANDIDATE form.

Your club's participation as a Model Club will better the lives of thousands of individuals by protecting or even saving their sight through CAMPAIGN SIGHTFIRST II.

PUBLIC RELATIONS WEBSITE MATERIALS - The September edition of the e-newsletter is now available for distribution.

What is the condition of your community road sign? Consider purchasing a new road sign from Club Supplies. LCI is looking for the most creative Lions road sign. Send a digital picture of your highway sign to my attention; include in the e-mail a contact name, e-mail address, club number and club name.

The Family Unit Certification Form will be on-line in October. More information and materials on the Family Membership Program are available on-line

Our International President, Lion Jimmy (JR) Ross, is bringing this exciting new concept to Lionism.

Each Club exists to fulfill its purpose and its mission as determined by its members.

It is hoped that the Clubs will continue to accept Helen Keller’s challenge and financially support programs such as SightFirst II – to continue the fight to eradicate preventable blindness around the world.

And feel good about what they do; they will continue to be members. It will make recruiting and retaining easier.

Following Lion Jimmy’s concept, it is my intent to change the way the Cabinet meetings are conducted in order to better serve the Lions of A5.

Business matters will be discussed at a caucus meeting on Saturday, and voted on at the Sunday Cabinet meeting.

The geographical distribution of Cabinet meetings should offer every Lion the opportunity to attend at least one.

A definite change will be to allow sufficient time on the agenda for all attending Lions to address Cabinet under controlled time allocation.