Winter 2020Past Issues You Make The DifferenceGreetings, Lions. We often talk about the power of Lions working together in service. As an association of more than 48,000 clubs and 1.4 million members, Lions have the opportunity to make a big impact in the world. In Lion year 2019-2020, our clubs performed more than 820,000 service projects, helping 319 million people. And we did this by working together. However, today I want to talk about the power of the individual. In trying…more...Easy RidersThe Almaguin Highlands Lions in Ontario couldn’t hold their annual bike rodeo this year due to the coronavirus, but that didn’t stop them from creating a vibrant bicycle course to show kids of all ages how to hone their bike handling skills. more...Play Together, Stay TogetherJuurikkalahden Kiri (JUKI), the largest youth soccer club in Sotkamo, Finland, has joined with the Sotkamo Lions Club to organize a free weekly sports activity available to everyone – locals and tourists alike – to help families stay connected and increase physical fitness. With so much competing for our attention these days, it can be hard for families to find ways to be together that don’t involve a screen. But research shows that families who…more...Connecting the DotsIn Tennessee, a Norris Lions service project to make the walk to school a little nicer for elementary students turned into a joint project with the children and a celebration of art. It all began with the Norris Lions’ project to spruce up a tunnel in the town that connects the elementary school to the commons area. Many students use the tunnel to walk home after school, but the interior paint was peeling, and it…more...Super KidsLions in Germany believe life should have as many magical moments as possible. Those moments can help keep courage up and hope alive in difficult times. And that's exactly what the Braunschweig Lions Club wanted to do for a total of nine children at the Braunschweig Pediatric Cancer ward (K5). They launched the project "Our Superheroes" based on an idea by the Italian photographer and visual artist Josh Rossi. Rossi and his wife partnered with…more...Singapore: Lions Converge on the Lion CityJune 26 to 30, 2020 Singapore is a place unlike any other. An independent city-state in Southeast Asia that is home to nearly 6 million people, this tiny nation is a vibrant blend of Asian and European cultures that make it the ultimate melting pot. It’s this diversity that makes Singapore the perfect destination for the 103rd Lions Clubs International Convention. Lions epitomize the confluence of ideas that makes being a member of the world’s…more...Clearing Clouded Vision in VanuatuClerence has battled diabetes since she was a baby. Unable to afford medical care, she developed cataracts which seriously impaired her vision. She lives in the gorgeous archipelago nation of Vanuatu, home to lush rainforests, soft sand beaches, and surrounded by turquoise water; however, the 23-year-old woman could no longer see its beauty. In Clerence’s area of Vanuatu, healthcare resources are often unavailable or unaffordable. Without a diagnosis for many years—something that is all too…more...Club News - Jan 2020Members of the Portage Lions Club in Michigan drove to Ohio and delivered plastic pill bottles to Matthew 25: Ministries. Roughly 396 gallons of pill bottles collected by Lions in District 11-B2 were kept out of landfills. Florence Evening Lions Club President Whalon Hilley pinned the Lions badge on granddaughter Lion Natalie Shealy. As a child she accompanied him to meetings, fundraising events, and Lion activities. Shealy told her grandpa she wanted to be a…more...Anniversaries - Jan 2020JANUARY 2020 100 Years: Norman, Okla.; Lansing Host, Mich.; Detroit, Mich. 95 Years: Stratford, Ontario, CAN; Decatur, Texas Inc.; Victoria, Texas; West Chester, Pa.; Murphysboro, Ill. 90 Years: Washington, Kan.; Tremonton, Utah; Milton, W.V.; Marinette, Wis.; Red Cloud, Neb.; Indianola, Iowa; Trumann, Ark.; Hamilton, Mont.; Waverly, N.Y.; Jetmore, Kan. 85 Years: Gaston, Ind.; Buena Vista, Ga.; Toronto Beaches, Ontario, CAN; Dunkirk, Ind.; Washington Island, Wis. 80 Years: Georgetown, Ill.; Humboldt, Tenn.; Alchua, Fla.; Wahiawa, Hawaii;…more...Your Best Lion Year Ever2020 - 2021 Being a Lion isn’t only about serving; it’s also about having fun. With new clubs popping up, and old clubs taking a new look at how they Lion, there are all kinds of ways to design a fun and productive year of service. Here’s your guide to your best Lion year ever. 2020 JUNE JUNE 26-30 Hob nob with Lions from all over the world Singapore hosts the 103rd International Convention, which…more...Kindness Mattered To The Man In The Bow TieA tribute to International First Vice President Judge Haynes Townsend In the fall of 2019, the video team at Lions Clubs International headquarters sat down with First Vice President Judge Haynes Townsend to begin capturing footage for his presidential videos. We interviewed the Judge, his family, and those who knew him well. On December 17, 2019, VP Townsend passed away unexpectedly. What follows is a portrait of the man as was recorded by his family,…more...Pride in the ValleyA black sheep leads the quest to make sure everyone is all right. Joyce Bergshoeff is a fast talker. Open and warm, the 48-year-old nurse and mother of three gushes the way proud mothers often do when describing their children. Growing up, her eldest child was “brilliant, very outgoing, a concert cellist.” It is the present tense that is trickier. Sometimes Bergshoeff forgets and uses “she” when talking about Elizabeth, who is transgender and prefers…more...This Old HouseWhen this young couple’s dream home wasn’t safe for their son, Lions stepped in – and brought their tool belts. Jay and Veronika McHugh had hundreds of people living around them but knew none of them. Their busy city life in Ottawa, Ontario, left them longing for a tighter knit community where they could own a home, raise a family, and know their neighbors. With “sheer ignorant ambition,” says Jay, they decided to buy and…more...A Heartfelt Gift to Families in NeedIn the summer of 2019, the doors to Heartfelt House opened in Springfield, Oregon, offering affordable lodging to out-of-town families of patients at the newly constructed PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. Among the more than 600 donors who contributed from US$10 to US$1 million are Lions. More than 20 Lions clubs in Oregon, along with LCIF, contributed US$220,000 to the Heartfelt House, and Lion Ed Gear – who reached out to clubs throughout…more...By the Numbers - Jan 2020“The look on the neighboring Lions club members’ faces when they realized this snowmobile was the one from their pond was priceless.” —Willie Brown, of the Russell and Area Lions Club in Manitoba, Canada, on how they acquired goods for their fundraising auction. “This is the key age as I see it. You need to spend time with your young kids, and Lions offers a bit of direction. It’s an opportunity to show your kids,…more...Lights, Camera, Action Heroes!Children fighting cancer in Germany show off their inner superheroes thanks to Braunschweig Lions Club. Read story now.more...We’re Different, We’re the SameGreetings, Lions. We talk a lot about serving our community as Lions. Service is best when it is personal and close to home, and when it enriches our relationship with our neighbors. But now, as the world becomes smaller, the space between our communities grows smaller, too. Sometimes we focus on how different another culture is. How their food is flavored, how they dress, how they celebrate, how they mourn. But while the diversity of…more...Executive Summary - Jan 2020EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA October 9-12, 2019 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS COMMITTEE Confirmed the decision of the majority of the conciliators in the district dispute resolution complaint filed by Al Rehab Lions Club, affirmed the international director endorsement of Past District Governor Ahmed Salem issued during the District 352 convention held in May 2019. Declared that former member Byung-Gi Kim not be eligible for future membership in Lionism and…more...