January 2004 Volume 1, Issue 5

 

Dear Lions, Lioness & Leos,

            Happy New Year to All!  We are in the second half of our year of Lionism. I want to thank the clubs that have responded to the re-quests for my visitation to your clubs.  Thank you for responding in a timely manner to letters, phone calls and emails.  This is all appreciated to help run a smooth year.

            The highlight of our year is the Mid-Winter Convention January 16-18 which is set up for YOU.  It is a time to renew friendships in the whole District.  Our District is all of Hennepin County and Chanhassen.  It is a time to see, hear and learn of what we are REALLY all about.  There is still time to make meal reservations.  You will gain much from attending seminars, viewing Peace Posters, and getting a diabetes screening.

            International Director Lowell Bonds and his wife, Carolyn, of Hoover, AL will be our guests and speaker at the Banquet.  In addition to his Lion activities, Director Bonds is a graduate of Auburn University, served in numerous professional and community organizations.  He and his wife have a son and one granddaughter.  I have met Director Bonds and Carolyn and they are very personable and fun people.  He wanted to know if we would have a nice temperature of 78 degrees, so we told him, “Yes ~ indoors.”

            WANTED:  New Lion members, active and non-active Lions, Campus Club members, spouses of Lions that are not members, and anyone with an interest to SERVE, are encouraged to attend all or part of the convention.

                        Yours in Lionism,

                        Lion Jackie Morlock, District Governor

 

 

ATTEND THE 2004 MID-WINTER

        

         It’s going to be a great convention.  It’s a perfect time to see old friends and make new ones.  We’re at an exciting new location which should make us all slow down and look at everything in a new light.

         We’ll elect a District Governor 2004-2005 and a Vice District Governor for the same time period.  Lion Jack Hines is the VDG candidate and his Lion bio appears elsewhere in The Informer.          

         Although we don’t have the center court that we’ve come to expect at previous locations, the staff of the Hilton is prepared to do everything they can to assure everyone of a problem-free and enjoyable weekend.

         Club rooms are on the 2^nd and 3^rd floor and your convention program contains a complete list of room numbers.  We plan to also post the list in elevators.  Please do not tape anything on any walls of the rooms or hallways. 

         The Hilton is giving us a fantastic deal by meeting the price of the Ramada Northwest and we thank them for their acceptance of our convention.

         Due to the limited space in hospitality rooms, there will be room on the Mezzanine level for clubs to set up their games, activities, raffles, etc.  Tables will be provided for their use. 

         With the cancellation of the Dram Shop Seminar a few more changes became possible.  Please note: 

 

·   The 5M-5 Cabinet Meeting has been moved to Friday afternoon, 1/16 at 3:00 p.m. in the Mississippi Room located on the Lobby level of the hotel.

·   Saturday registration opens at 7:30 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m.  Yipee!

·   The Leo Forum and Women in Lionism Seminar have been moved to 8:00 am Saturday morning.

·   An additional event -Diabetes Testing - will be available from 9:00 to 11:00 am in the Hotel Lobby.

 

         Everyone’s looking forward to seeing YOU at the Mid-Winter.  Don’t disappoint us!

LION JACK HINES – CANDIDATE FOR VICE DISTRICT GOVERNOR

     

Lion Jack Hines, a charter member of the Rogers Lions Club, is a candidate for 5M-5 Vice District Governor 2004-2005.

      Lion Hines has 27 years perfect attendance in his club, has held the required club offices, and chaired numerous club projects.  His District involvement includes serving as Zone Chairman and Region Chairman.  He presently serves on the MERLO team on the Membership & Retention committee, and chaired the 2003 Camp Courage Halloween Party.

      He looks forward to visiting with all Lion members and delegates at the upcoming Mid-Winter Convention.

     

           

 

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ALWAYS FOLLOW

YOUR DOCTOR’S ADVICE

(Portions of this article are taken from one that appeared in the Brooklyn Center Sun Newspaper by Sarah Bingaman Schwartz)

         We should all follow the advice our doctors give us.  Lioness Inky Moeschler, a member of the Brooklyn Center Lioness, took her eye doctor’s advice to heart when he suggested “Why don’t you go sort glasses?” 

         She began to go the first Tuesday of every month to Dr. Hess’ office in Crystal, to help sort the donated glasses. Then she found out about a trip VOSH was planning to Nicaragua, and she wanted to go.  “It sounded interesting, so I started saving my money,” Moeschler said.

         Since her first trip to Managua, Nicaragua, in 1993, she has been back to Nicaragua three times, and has traveled to Ecuador two times, once to Costa Rica, once to Haiti, and once to Guyana.

         Inky Moeschler has seen what a pair of glasses can do to change a person’s life.  “In Managua, Nica-ragua,” she said, “there was a 6-year-old girl who was very nearsighted.

            “We put the glasses on her; and she looked at her mother and said ‘Mama!’” Moeschler said.  “It was the first time she had clearly seen her mother: I was crying, the doctor was crying.  “That will change her whole life.”

      Rewarding experiences like those are what keep Moeschler going on mission trips with Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH).

      Although she had fun on the trips, she said they are definitely work trips, not just vacations.  Most trips, the group works for or five days in the clinics, has two days to sightsee and then they fly home.

      In a typical day, the clinics try to serve 500 people -  sometimes there are more.  They line up outside the clinic and doctors test their eyes using an auto-refractor, which tells exactly what strength lenses they need.  The doctor writes that on a prescription pad.

      Next the patient moves to the glasses room, where Moeschler and other volunteers take the prescription paper and look for the right glasses.  The workers try to match the prescription exactly, but sometimes they just have to get as close as they can.

      “Sometimes they are so eager to get glasses, I think they take ones they can’t see out of,” she said.

      Different patients need the glasses for different things, and the patient’s prescription usually includes what their occupation is. 

      The volunteers who dispense the glasses try to find out the patient’s main need.  “Older ladies and housewives often come with a needle and thread, and if they can thread the needle, the glasses are fine.”

      Since she started working with the project in 1993, Moeschler continues to be amazed at the number and quality of glasses the Lions receive each year.  “My Lions group collect the glasses I take,” she said.  “Every month, we have huge bags of glasses.  Where do they come from?”  Are people changing their glasses every month?”

      It takes a lot of eyeglasses from all over the country to keep VOSH going.  According to the VOSH web site, www.vosh.org, the organization averages 40 to 50 missions per year, and had 90 missions in 2002.

      Approximately 400 optometrists and 600 other volunteers provide care to 80,000 people yearly.         

      This busy Lioness President, Inky Moeschler, who also volunteers at a Park-Nicollet Urgent Care and with the Salvation Army, recently received the Helen Keller Award from the Brooklyn Center Lions for her work in sight conservation.  What a great choice!  Congratulations Inky! 

~ ~ ~

      To have striven, to have made an effort

To have been true to certain ideals –

This alone is worth the struggle.

We are here to add what we can to,

Not to get what we can from, life.

                                                     ~ William Osler

 

 

Want to attend the Saturday night Banquet but unable to attend other Mid-Winter events?  Call VDG Ole Nelson at 763-566-4925 to reserve a ticket.

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If you send an email to the Informer Editor!  Please remember to type either Lions or Informer in the subject line of your emails. If I don’t recognize your name and there is no subject listed - I delete the email without opening it.  Thanks!

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If you know of a group who is looking for a speaker, have them contact PDG Jack McKernan, who will provided them with a 40-minute presentation on Diabetes and Macular Degeneration, including a 13-minute video.  Contact PDG McKernan at 952-922-8267 or jbmckernan@aol.com for more information.

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Acting president of the Minneapolis Hiawatha Lions Club is Lion Thomas Neumann, 7428 – 16^th Avenue South, Richfield, MN  55423.  Phone 612-861-3262.

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Wayzata leadership change:  New president of the Wayzata Lions Club is Lion Tim Anderson, 316E Ridgeview Drive, Wayzata, MN  55391. R: 952-475-2550, B: 952-475-2502.  His email address is tima@thefoursome.com.

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 Address change:  Arlyce Severson, Rogers Lions Club Secretary has moved and her new address is 8336 Parkview Avenue NE, Otsego, MN 55330.  R: 763-5653119, B: 763-1981.  Email address is aseverson@wellsteadofrogers.com.

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The correct name, address and phone number of the Edina Lioness President is June Lee, 5700 Fairfax, Edina, MN 55424, phone number 952-925-9523.

 

 

NORTHEAST MPLS LIONS

CELEBRATE

     Northeast Mpls. Lions had a Christmas dinner at Jax Café where they also inducted four new members.  The new members and their sponsors are Christopher Bolin/Jeff Surma; Al Hofstede, Jr./Todd McDowell; Tony LaMere/Bruce LaMere; and Tom Miskowic/John Schulte.

     The club is also planning their BIG Pot O’Gold Fundraiser scheduled for Wednesday, March 10 also at Jax Café in N.E. Minneapolis.  Tickets to the event include dinner for two and a chance to win cash in five drawings.  Silent auction items will also be on-site for biddidng.  Watch for more information in the February Informer. 

     Ticket information available from Lion Todd McDowell at tmcdowell@erdmanautomation.com.

 

 

 

 

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

            It is great to welcome these new members that have joined our organization.  Do your best to make them feel welcome! – Governor Jackie

 

Lion Peggy Lazer                                  Champlin Lions

Lion Jeff Lazer                                      Champlin Lions

Lion Gregory Owens                             Champlin Lions

Lion Previn Solberg                               Champlin Lions

Lion Bruce Melillo                                     Hamel Lions

Lion Patti Gregerson                                 Hamel Lions

Lion Michael Gregerson                             Hamel Lions

Lion Christopher Bolin                         Mpls. N.E. Lions

Lion Al Hofstede, Jr.                            Mpls. N.E. Lions

Lion Tony LaMere                               Mpls. N.E. Lions

Lion Tom Miskowic                             Mpls. N.E. Lions

Lion Pete Thoresen                                  Rogers Lions
Lion Jonathan Dolphin                              Rogers Lions
Lion Jeffrey Berman                                  Rogers Lions

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GOV’S CALENDAR & UPCOMING EVENTS

 

January ‘04    4   Brooklyn Park Visit*

                      5   Edina Visit*

                      6   South Shore* / South Tonka Visit*

                      7   Rogers Visit*

                  9-11   5M-6 & 5M-9 Mid-Winter Conv.

                16-18   5M-7 Mid-Winter Convention

                16-18   5M-5 Mid-Winter Convention

                     22   Camden Visit*

                     23   Corcoran Visit*

                     27   Hopkins Noon Visit*

                     27   Chanhassen Visit*

                     28   Northwest Tonka Visit*

                     31   Lyn-Lake Great Nostalgia Show    

                     31   5M-1 Mid-Winter Convention

February        1   So Tonka Pancake Breakfast

                      1   Brooklyn Center Pancake Breadfast

                    7-8   5M-8 Convention

                     12   Brooklyn Center Lioness Visit*

                14-15   5M-2, 5M-3, 5M-10 Conventions

                     19   Golden Valley Visit*

                20-23   5M-13 Mid-Winter Convention

* Governor’s official visit

If you have not already done so, please schedule your club’s official visit with Gov. Morlock soon!

 

Remember to check for a listing of up-to-date events at our website www.5M5.org.

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PEACE POSTER WINNER

      The winner of the Peace Poster contest is a student from St. Hubert’s School in Chanhassen.  Her name is Katie Ziomek and she and her parents will be invited to the Brunch at the Mid-Winter Convention.  Her poster and 3 entries will be on display at the convention.  Look for it on the Mezzanine level.  Congratulations, Katie!!

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ATTENTION BELL RINGERS

      Lion Steve Gillane, Crystal Lions Club, chairman of the Salvation Army Bell Ringing project, asks club presidents and/or bell ringing chairmen to please report the total dollars you raised bell ringing.  If you don’t know the totals, at least let him know if your club participated.  Please call Steve at 763-537-0555.

     

 

“GIVE KIDS A SMILE DAY”

      The new Mpls. North Lions are sponsoring free dental exams, cleanings, x-rays, sealants, tooth fillings and extractions for North Minneapolis children aged 3-17 at no cost to families if not covered by insurance.  If families have insurance their insurance company will be billed.  These free exams will be conducted at Pilot City Health Center, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm each day on February 6 & 7, 2004.  They hope to serve about 100 children each day.

      The event is co-sponsored by Pilot City Health Center, Metropolitan Health Plan, MN Dental Association, American Dental Assn., Greater Mpls United Way and Crest.

      If you would like more information please contact Lion Carla McMorris, Pilot City, at 612-302-4720.

     

 

ADDITIONAL $ 3,000 WILL BRING

HONDURAS PROJECT TO COMPLETION

                                                       By PDG Jack Riordan

      In October I arrived in Le Ceiba Honduras with  $10,000 from Multiple 5M and the $10,000 matching funds from Lions Clubs International Foundation.

            With the contractor and the city working with the Lions the original amount of $26,000 was reduced back to $23,000 to help bring the project back into focus.  Rising costs and inflation of the Honduras dollar was going to make it very difficult to complete the project.  With the cooperation of the weather we should be done by the end of February. 

Please help finish this project.  Send checks to:

 

Multiple District 5M

Honduras Firefighters Water Project

4501 Park Glen Road, #226

 St. Louis Park, MN 55416