Current News
18L Lions “Espresso Session” – re-energize your Membership, Fundraising, and Service Projects
  Sign up for District 18-L “Espresso Session” Membership, Fundraising & Service Ideas Saturday, February 27, 2021
Hi Georgia 18L Lions, We’ll have panel discussions where you can hear about unique ideas that other clubs are implementing. We also encourage you to share YOUR ideas and best practices. Also, you don’t want to miss special guest speaker, Lion Richard Stevenson. Lion Richard will discuss Cyber Clubs and Branch Clubs as a new way to grow Lions membership. He’ll share the interesting story about founding the South Tucson Cyber Lions Club as a branch of his traditional club. Richard is also the admin for the Global Lions Forum Facebook Group. With 5.7K Facebook members, this is the most robust discussion group on Lionism worldwide. (Check it out here.) Registration is required, but EASY. Simply click on button below. You’ll receive your personal Zoom meeting link via email. For questions or comments about the Espresso Session, please email either: Lion Becky Jarrell, 18L District GMT Chair (Atlanta Lions) – email Lion Gopi Govindaraj, 18L District GLT Chair (Woodstock Lions) – email Lions of Georgia – District 18L Serving Northwest Georgia |
Your January Newsletter
2021 Montreal International Convention
 Dear Lion Leader,
Due to the continuing concerns about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the board of directors voted to transition the 2021 Montreal Lions Clubs International Convention to a virtual event that will be delivered totally online. This decision was made with the health and safety of our Lions, staff and vendors in mind as limiting international travel and large gatherings is key to global containment strategies. Although we are disappointed that we won’t be able to host this event in person, we are excited about hosting our first virtual international convention that can safely connect Lions from around the world. We are still finalizing the details of your new convention experience, and will share those with you as soon as they are ready. Here are some important details about the 2021 virtual convention we’d like to share with you: Everyone’s invited – Our 2021 convention will be a virtual event that’s open to all Lions and Leos around the world. Registration fees – The registration fee will be US$50 until March 31, then US$75 beginning April 1. The registration fee for Leos will be US$30 regardless of date. Convention is currently scheduled for June 25-29. Additional event and registration details will be provided soon. Current registrants – Lions who are currently registered for convention will receive an email soon with more information about their registration options. Elections – Executive officer and international director elections will be conducted electronically, and voting procedures will be forthcoming. Convention updates – Check our convention website LCICon for convention updates and details as they become available. This global health pandemic has forced us all to make decisions and changes that place health and safety first. However, we are optimistic that with each new day there is hope, and as Lions, we continue to find new ways to stay connected, safely serve our communities and continue our global mission of service. We appreciate your understanding during this challenging time for our organization and the world, and thank you for your incredible service as a Lion. |
Please Join Me – Campaign 100
Lions University Webinars Scheduled
 The following webinar topics have been scheduled: LU 221 Collaboration (Master’s Program Elective) – Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 8 p.m. Eastern. Register for the Webinar Here LU 224 Meeting Management (Master’s Program elective) – Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 8 p.m. Eastern. Video recordings will be added to the Lions University website after the webinars. You must log in to your Lions University account to access the videos and quizzes. |
2021 Lions Clubs International Convention Moving to Virtual Event
Our Passion for What’s Possible –International President, Dr. Jung-Yul Choi
Board of Directors take steps to help our clubs
GA Lions Camp – January 2021 Newsletter
  Please click below to read the January 2021 issue of the Georgia Lions Camp Newsletter. GA Lions Camp January 2021 Newsletter Ed Ressler Board Chair GA Lions Camp chair2019@att.net |
Soup Kitchen LCIF Grant
Good Morning Lions,
The Carroll County Soup Kitchen is applying for a LCIF Hunger Grant. On the application it asks for area Lions Clubs participation both financially and sweat equity.
Could the Carrollton Club help with this? I am also asking the Villa Rica L/C.
It is a $15K grant for new walk in freezers.
Thanks for your consideration.
It’s Great to be a Lion!
Tom Jackson
770-301-3673
Kindness Matters Request
| Dear Lions of Georgia, Hope this letter finds you all well. On behalf of the Council of Governors, may I wish you a happy, healthy and safe New Year. I have a request for y’all, not from me, but from Lion Donna Townsend. Donna offered the Lions in her club (at a virtual meeting) a challenge to perform at least 100 acts of kindness over the next 179 days in honor of Haynes’ vision. (at that time there were 179 days left in the Lions year—there are obviously less than that now.) Lion Rosemary Cutuli dropped in on that virtual event and heard about the 100 acts of kindness and thought it was a great idea. She suggested Lion Donna talk to me as Council Chair about making this a Georgia Lions project. Lion Donna messaged me, and the rest is history! With the approval of the Council of Governors I am asking every Lion and every Club to participate in honoring our beloved Haynes for the remainder of what would have been his Presidency of Lions Club International by performing 100 acts of kindness. Each of the District Governors will encourage this activity within his or her District. No prizes, no recognition—just a kinder, gentler world. We are not asking anyone to record these acts, nor report them. Just do it! We all know now more than ever that Kindness Matters, and we all can do our part to make this a kinder world in which to live. Yours in Service, Marlene Humphry Council Chair |
Message from GA Lions Lighthouse Executive Director
  Dear Georgia Lions, I am humbled to serve as the new Executive Director for the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation and excited to collaborate with Lions throughout Georgia to make our mission a reality. As evidenced by the more than two million Georgians without insurance, the demand for our services is growing more than ever. Fifty counties in Georgia without an optometrist and one in every five of Georgia’s children are affected by hearing loss. The numbers are daunting. But even more important than the numbers are the individuals who are behind every number. This past December, a social worker reached out on behalf of a family – parents of a newborn – beset by financial worries brought on by job loss. The baby had been diagnosed with significant hearing loss, necessitating costly treatment that the family could not afford. When the social worker called us, it was clear that we needed to act quickly to leverage our resources to help the family. Thanks to the hard work of the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation staff, Lions, and many partners, the baby has undergone corrective surgery that will restore her hearing. More victories like this are possible. Despite the pandemic, Lighthouse staff, in partnership with Lions across the state, have continued to serve Georgians in need. We have launched the new mobile vision clinic van and plan to open a vision clinic at Grady Hospital in 2021. As of the end of our second quarter, we have served 346 hearing patients and 368 vision patients (including 68 surgeries). December was our busiest month of vision clinics since the pandemic started, and we are confident the momentum will continue. With your support and the efforts of our dedicated staff, mission fulfillment will continue unabated. In 2021 and beyond, we will focus on building and retaining relationships with rural providers to increase vision and hearing care access and equity. We will deepen our partnerships with Georgia Lions Clubs to serve more patients, increase the number of volunteer doctors, create awareness of our services, and raise much-needed funds. And finally, in recognition of our nearly 72 years of service alongside and partnership with Lions, The Lighthouse will return to its well-known circular blue logo. We need your continued support. Only collective efforts will allow us to scale the impact we know Georgia needs. I look forward to working with Lions Clubs to create a Georgia where zip code and bank account do not determine access to quality hearing and vision care. Thank you for your service as Lions, and I look forward to serving the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation’s mission. Edwin J. Link Executive Director Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, Inc. https://lionslighthouse.org For biographical information on Edwin J. Link, please click below: Edwin J. Link |
You’re invited to Lions trivia at Leader Dog
    Calling all Lions! What was the first breed of dog used by Leader Dogs for the Blind? (Hint: it wasn’t a German shepherd!) Welcome to Lions Trivia at Leader Dog! This is the first of a series of informational webinars for Lions on your legacy project: Leader Dogs for the Blind. Join us each quarter for topics such as virtual campus tours, our prison puppy initiative, and client spotlight chats. We promise to show off some puppies as well. Join the Lions team via Zoom on your computer, tablet, smartphone or simply call in on your phone. Click on a date to register (or follow the link below it): Tuesday, January 12 at noon Eastern https://bit.ly/2GaNGMt Saturday, January 16 at 3 p.m. Eastern https://bit.ly/2GaNGMt For Lions Trivia, bring a pen and paper to keep score. Top scores will receive Leader Dog gift shop gift certificates, a plush stuffed puppy and more! Know of someone interested in Lionism (or you want them to be)? Bring them along! Questions or need help registering? Contact the Lions Team at Lionssupport@leaderdog.org. See you there!  |
January District Digest
GA Lions Camp Board Meeting
GEORGIA LIONS CAMP, INC.
There will be a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Lions Camp in Perry, Georgia on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 3 P.M. The location is Cherokee Pines Golf and Fitness Club, 1000 Country Club Road.
Additional information will be made available as we get closer to that date.
Chairman Ed Ressler
chair2019@att.net
Lions Clubs of Georgia | 977 A Madison Rd, Eatonton, GA 31024
December LCIF Chairperson’s Newsletter
December The DISTRICT DIGEST
Lions trivia at Leader Dog
| Calling all Lions! What was the first breed of dog used by Leader Dogs for the Blind? (Hint: it wasn’t a German shepherd!) Welcome to Lions Trivia at Leader Dog! This is the first of a series of informational webinars for Lions on your legacy project: Leader Dogs for the Blind. Join us each quarter for topics such as virtual campus tours, our prison puppy initiative, and client spotlight chats. We promise to show off some puppies as well. Join the Lions team via Zoom on your computer, tablet, smartphone or simply call in on your phone. Click on a date to register (or follow the link below it): Tuesday, January 12 at noon Eastern https://bit.ly/2GaNGMt Saturday, January 16 at 3 p.m. Eastern https://bit.ly/2GaNGMt For Lions Trivia, bring a pen and paper to keep score. Top scores will receive Leader Dog gift shop gift certificates, a plush stuffed puppy and more! Know of someone interested in Lionism (or you want them to be)? Bring them along! Questions or need help registering? Contact the Lions Team at Lionssupport@leaderdog.org. See you there! |
USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum – December News
 The Des Moines Times The latest news and information for the Des Moines 2021 USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum. Note: We apologize if this is a duplicate message for some of you. It has come to our attention that many of you who would need to know about the Virtual Leadership Experience deadline below did not receive this email when it was originally sent. We believe this is fixed now. Thank you! Register Here A Message from Our General Chair  As Father Time prepares to give way to Baby New Year, we look back and reflect on 2020. Physical activities came to a halt and then emerged online. Our leadership has been tested as we coped with uncertainty, learned new skills, and continued to serve through it all! The Forum Planning Committee and the Host Committee of Iowa Lions have been hard at work to put plans in place for an AMAZING 2021 Forum that includes the programs you’ve come to enjoy at the Forum, as well as some new features to help in “Cultivating Leaders”. We are more hopeful than ever, that it will be safe enough for us to gather in person, and I really hope to welcome YOU to Des Moines for #LionsForum2021! Best wishes for good health and a joyful holiday season, Wendy Cain  Deadline to View Content Don’t forget! The deadline to view all sessions from the 2020 Virtual Forum is December 24, 2020 for those who were paid participants.  Interested in Hosting a Future Forum? The USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum reaches out to all parts of North America every year in an effort to identify cities that might be interested in showcasing their area by hosting a future Forum. The completed 2025 bids need to be received by February 28, 2021. Read More Visit Catch Des Moines Visit Camp Hertko Hollow FOLLOW US:  #LionsForum2021 Questions? Contact us today at infor@lionsforum.org |
Happy Centennial Birthday to Atlanta Lions Club!
Hear our ROAR! Atlanta Lions Celebrate 100 Years of Service December 17, 2020!  Hi Tom, I’d like to wish a Happy Centennial Birthday to the Atlanta Lions Club! One hundred years ago, the Atlanta Lions Club was created as a new service organization to focus on the needs of Atlantan and the metropolitan area. Atlanta Lions Club was the first Lions Club in Georgia. There are now about 4000 Lions in Georgia and 1.4 million Lions worldwide. The Lions’ motto is “We Serve” and we are proud of our service history in Atlanta. In 1948, Atlanta Lions helped found the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, which helps provide vision and hearing for the uninsured and underinsured. In 1963, we helped create the Georgia Eye Bank. In 1968, Atlanta Lion George Crumbley started the first Peach Bowl to benefit the Lighthouse. The Peach Bowl continues to be college football’s most charitable bowl game, donating $50K each year to help the Lighthouse provide vision and hearing services to Georgians in need. Today, we continue to support the Lighthouse, as well as Georgia Vision 2020, the Young Generation Movement, the Lions Camp for the Blind, Leader Dogs, LCI Foundation for worldwide humanitarian aid, and many other local charities. We want to grow our club for the next century. Lions:invite your friends and family to join us. If you’re not already an Atlanta Lion and you’re interested in service, please email Scott Rogers at srogers3@hotmail.com for more information. Now is a great time to become a Lion as Lions Club International has waived its initial fee through Dec. 31, 2020. 1920 was a period of great change in America. “In Georgia, Atlanta was reinventing itself yet again undergoing rapid modernization, exploring new solutions to traffic problems, developing a “New South”… The 1920’s were the peak of post-civil war reconstruction…. 1920 was also a time of major societal change. Prohibition laws banned alcohol started being enforced in January, and the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote finally became law in August…. And in December of 1920, a group of men gathered in the Ansley Hotel on Williams Street to formalize the organization of a new civic organization, the Atlanta Lions Club.” Our Atlanta Lions member Terry Boyd has been researching and writing a history of the Atlanta Lions Club to commemorate our 100th anniversary this year. Terry has been scouring the archives of the AJC and found over 100 articles mentioning the Atlanta Lions Club in 1921, detailing virtually every meeting (and every baseball game).Apparently, we were quite the topic of the society pages! Thank you so much, Terry, for working on our history. We have much to be proud of for the past 100 years and much to look forward to for the next 100 years! Click Here to view “The Roaring 20’s first 10 years of Atlanta Lions Club”  Highlights from our Centennial Year 2020  Watch a 1 Minute Recap of Atlanta Lions in 2020The past year has been crazy and chaotic for all! Here’s a snapshot of SOME of the activities Atlanta Lions and Leos have done in the past 12 months: Marched in the Peach Bowl Parade Hosted International Youth Exchange Students from New Zealand and Australia Attended the Carter Center Board of Councilors Meeting as part of the Lions Club delegation. Did you know that former President Jimmy Carter is a Lion? Cleaned eye glasses at the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation (Jan) Attended fabulous “Night of Spectacles” fundraiser for Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation Held our first Zoom meeting and MANY more since Covid Led the first ever US/Canada/Australia Youth Exchange Chairperson Forum in Dallas Distributed 3,250 free 20-pound boxes of fresh vegetables (4 trucks) as part of the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program to City of Refuge, LEAF, Gateway Center for Homeless Men, Atlanta Mission Women’s Shelter (My Sister’s House), and Young Generation Families Inducted new Leos to the Atlanta Leo Club (for high school students) Held virtual “Night of Magic” fundraiser and two Virtual Trivia Night fundraisers. Painted an AWESOME picnic table for City of Dunwoody Picnic Table Project Provided multiple “Covid Care Actions”, such as dinners, toy/book donations for battered women at the International Women’s House Had GREAT speakers at our meetings, including Shon Gable (CBS46 news anchor), Stacie Court (from Learning Ally), Scott Steiner (City of Refuge), Eric Meineke (CEO Georgia Eye Bank), Adam Keith (Operation Freedom Dogs), Dr. Natalie Weil (Emory Eye Care and Georgia Vision 2020), Dave Chase (Leader Dogs for the Blind), Dr. Ramona Houston (The Power of Social Responsibility), Lions District 18L Governor Tom Jackson, motivational speaker Garrett Graveson, Georgia State Senator John Albers.   We wish you and your family good health and peace in this chaotic holiday season! If you need anything or just want a friendly person to talk to, please call: Scott Rogers at 678-886-6800 Phil Minnes at 404-379-8498 Becky Jarrell at 770-355-7726 Chris Fabina at 404-345-2349 Warm regards, Lion Becky Jarrell Atlanta Lions Secretary; Georgia Youth Exchange Chair Atlanta Lions Club Lion Scott Rogers, President Lion Phil Minnes, Board Chair Lion Dennis Rogers, 1st VP Lion Chris Fabina, Treasurer Lion Becky Jarrell, Secretary Meetings 2nd and 4th Thursdays from noon-1:15 (meeting via Zoom during COVID social distancing) Atlanta, GA Get Involved |
REGISTRATION OPEN
 REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Dear District Governor, I would like to share some exciting news with you. The Leos & Lions of Canada are hosting the 4th USA/Canada Leo Leadership Forum on July 21 to 25, 2021 at the Sheraton Cavalier Calgary Hotel. Registration is now OPEN! This 2021 Leo Leadership Forum will bring Leos together from across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. During the course of the week, we have seminars in various areas of leadership and community-organizing as part of our core curriculum toward the diploma earned at this Forum. We also have elective seminars prepared by Leos. It’s our goal to also empower our Leos to educate each other in areas of interest to them related to leadership. At the conclusion of every seminar, the facilitator will offer a quiz on the subject. The passing of this seminar quiz will give the Leos credits needed to graduate from our program. All seminars are reviewed by our Dean of the High School Program and Leadership Development committee members. We invite an international officer as our guest speaker at every Leo Leadership Forum. This gives our Leos the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about our association and the legacy that our Founder Melvin Jones left for the world. Leos also get the opportunity to network and bond with other Leos, Leo-Lions, Lions, and LCI Staff Members. We provide a full day of fun touring the host city area and a day of community service planned by the Leo Host Committee. We have an Opening Ceremony/Dinner together with a Closing Night Dinner Gala that includes the presentation of diplomas and concludes with an entertaining night of dancing. Our Leos return home more knowledgeable about our Association, the Leo Club Program, and ways to continue building up their own clubs while bringing bright new ideas for service projects and fundraisers. This Leo Forum will help Leos become great leaders ready to serve their community and continue to grow as individuals while feeling proud to be Leos. We welcome Leo Club Advisors, Lions and parents to attend the Forum and enjoy the experience as well. Please share this email with your Leos and Lions interested in learning more about the Leo Club Program. If your Leo Club is school-based, our team is happy to speak to principals or faculty advisors to better explain our Leo Forum or answer any questions. Our contact information is listed below. Take a look at our video showing highlights of our 3rd Leo Leadership Forum attached to see what it’s all about firsthand. We look forward to welcoming all Leos and Lions to Calgary. Sincerely, Leo Fabian Maxwell Chair, Leo Advisory Council FVDG Michelle Harris Chair, Leo Forum Host Committee PIP Judge Brian Stevenson Vice Chair, Leo Forum Host Committee Leo Loralee Klys Host Area Representative, Leo Advisory Council Leo Alicia Kiri Beer Canadian Representative, Leo Advisory Council LEO REGISTRATION FORM LION REGISTRATION FORM Feel free to email us if you have any questions at: info@leosforum.org HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR 3RD USA/CANADA LEO LEADERSHIP FORUM  VISIT OUR NEWLY DESIGNED WEBSITE www.leosforum.org USA/Canada Leo Leadership Foundation | Website |
Thank you – Grady Foundation
Amy –
One of the things I am most thankful for this year is the incredible generosity of our community. Even in the early days of the pandemic, when no one knew what tomorrow might bring, people like you thought about Team Grady.
Your gift of meals provided sustenance. As a sign of how much the community cared, it also fed our employees’ souls. We will always be grateful for your wonderful gift.
I hope that you and all those important to you enjoy a healthy and happy Thanksgiving.
Gratefully –
Joselyn
| Joselyn Butler Baker President | Grady Health Foundation 191 Peachtree Street, NE | Suite 820 | Atlanta, Georgia 30303 O: (404) 489-1559 | M: (404) 432-7389 www.gradyhealthfoundation.org |
Our Mane Message Newsletter
Happy New Year!! Inside find successes of 2020 and our plan for 2021
 2020 for those Lion Leaders who want to act now… skip to blue section below. The year 2020 has been different. Social distancing, masks, and FaceTime have become the new normal. Some traditions, service projects and fund raising opportunities have been torpedoed. New ideas and excitement have emerged. Lions Clubs International was faced with the challenge of the Spanish Flu shortly after its formation. Yet, when we talk of the history of our association, we focus on the expansion of clubs into new communities; new and exciting service projects; and, our former leaders, who embraced the vision of a better tomorrow through service to others. How will we, the Lion leaders of today, be remembered by the many generation to come? Let me suggest to you that we will be remembered as a group of dedicated Lions that have banded together to expand our footprint of service, engage more volunteer members and provide leadership opportunities to every Lion. Our kindness to others will be remembered long after the impact of our service has faded. Through the haze created by COVID-19, there is hope. Just look at some of our successes….  The Lions of Constitutional Area 1 have overcome challenges to post some impressive results in the first 6 months of FY 2020-21. We have formed 73 new clubs that is an increase of 53 over the same time period last year. Who can remember a 265% increase in new clubs? We have decreased members leaving our association by 4% as compared to last year. The 656 members that we saved, will impact over 6500 lives. Retention of quality Lions is as important as adding new Lions. Even with the challenge of adapting to new ways to meet and serve, almost 9,000 new members joined existing clubs. As we learn to meet and engage in a virtual world, it is possible that we could increase that number to 36,000 by June 30. What is the next step toward Success?  2021 2021 is the year that we turn the lights back on. There was no vaccine in 1918 -1919. Yet, Lions found ways to continue in their quest to make an impact. Today, we have the hope of a vaccine to stop the spread of this devastating virus. Hence, our expansion of service, engagement of new members, formation of new clubs and retention of current members is more promising than ever. Action Steps If you have not, register and join VP Doug, Brian and Patti for the January Road To Success webinar series. The first episode is January 4 at 7 PM CST. Link to save your seat is below. Share the Link to register on your social media and with your club members, please Invite a new member to join your club, this week. Help one struggling club to “Turn the lights on” Let your Global Action Team Leaders know how we can serve you, your club and district. Click here to save your seat!! January 4, 11, 18, and 25 Resources to assist you Global Action Team Area Leader Roster North America Membership initiative District Membership Progress Reports  Thank You!!! Sincerely, Jerome Thompson, PID CA 1 GAT Leader PO Box 593 Moulton Alabama 35650 256-340-4762 |
GA Lions Lighthouse Notice
 Fellow Georgia Lions, The candidates who submitted letters of intent to be placed on the ballot as qualified to stand for election for the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation for the 2021 – 2022 fiscal year are as follows: Chairman: Jon Winters Vice Chair: Garner Andrews Tammera Sears Secretary: Vicki Hubbard Treasurer: Mark Bradley Elections will be held at the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation Board meeting to be held in Perry, GA on January 30, 2021 at 1 pm. On November 14, 2020, the GLLF Constitution and By-Laws Subcommittee’s recommendation for amendments to the GLLF Constitution and By-Laws was approved by the Board of Directors. Notice is hereby given, that each resolution will be presented to the Lions of Georgia for adoption at the Annual Lions Lighthouse Volunteer meeting in Perry, GA on January 30, 2021 at 1 pm. Please see the below attached recommended resolutions for amendments and current Constitution and Bylaws of the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation. GLLF CB&L GLLF C&BL Resolutions Although a physical meeting will be scheduled, individual Georgia Lions may participate in the annual meeting virtually, including by voting for the candidates and resolutions. Any individual Georgia Lion participating in the vote by electronic means, will be required to register online and attend the Volunteer Meeting online 15 minutes prior to the call to order. A link will be sent for registration instructions in the near future. Jon M. Winters, PCC Board Chairman, Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation Cell: 706-833-0458 Email: Jon_Winters@Comcast.net  |
CAMPAIGN 100
Energizing and Engaging Clubs through Service, Membership, and Leadership
The 18 L Global Action Team reminds you to revisit and review the Road show #1. Thanks!
https://lionsclubs.app.box.com/s/zk0tguyqfnih9j1rl6illthoue7bu6qy
GA Lions Camp December Newsletter
 Season’s greetings to you and yours! Enjoy the Georgia Lions Camp December Newsletter…click below: GA Lions Camp December 2020 Newsletter   |
WEBSITE: How the Global Action Team can help your Lions Club