
July/August Volume I, Issue 1

Lion Jackie Morlock was installed as 5M-5 District Governor at the International Convention in Denver the first week of July.
Governor Jackie’s theme during her year in office is “Unlocking the Secret of Lionism”. Governor Jackie wants to work with the Lions, Lioness and Leos of 5M-5 to make sure the good works of Lionism do not remain a secret in our communities.
Our new governor has been very active in the former St. Louis Park Lioness Club as well as the current STLP Lions Club, achieving 24 years perfect attendance. She received the 100% President Award and was elected Lion of the Year by her fellow club members.
Jackie’s husband Harley served as 5M-5 District Governor 1987-1988 and together they traveled to numerous international conventions, USA/Canada Forums, Multiple and District conventions.
Gov. Jackie was born and raised in Fargo, N.D. She has worked at various businesses over the years while raising their five children. The Morlocks recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a 50’s style party hosted by their children and 13 grandchildren.
Governor Jackie is excited about the possibilities this year brings and she is anxious to visit your clubs and get to know you all better.
It was a bittersweet moment for International Direction Ross Thorfinnson and his Partner in Service, Lion Lynda, when the 86th International Convention drew to a close Friday, July 4 in Denver, Colorado.
For the past two years Lions Ross and Lynda have maintained an exciting yet grueling schedule of travel as Ross fulfilled his responsibilities as a Board member. In addition to the conventions, Mid-Winter Conferences, Seminars, speaking requests, Board meetings, etc. that required his attendance, Ross often traveled to International Headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois where his expertise in money management earned him the chairmanship of the Finance and Headquarters Operations Committee.
Int’l. President Kay Fukishima charged the Finance and Headquarters Operations Committee, under Ross’ direction with reducing expenditures at Oak Brook, and convincing members worldwide that a dues increase was necessary. Ross was then asked to present the committee’s recommendations to the delegates and sell the need for a dues increase.
5M-5 Lions in attendance described Director Ross’s presentation as mesmerizing. Removing his Int’l. Director badge and nametag, he walked down into the audience and spoke to the delegates “as just a Lion member to another Lion member.”
He obviously made an impact as twice he was interrupted with standing ovations, and the dues increase later passed with an approval of 79.3% .
The Lions of 5M-5 and the entire Multiple 5M are proud of Director Ross and Lynda’s service on the Board.
Ross, you did us proud!
Dear Lions,
I am excited about the upcoming Lions year and working with the Cabinet, clubs and fellow Lions. There are some changes, that goes with the territory of becoming a new district governor, changes which I hope will help me serve all of you better.
At the time of this writing, PDG Harley and I will be in Denver for the International Convention and I will have the pleasure of being installed as your new District Governor. Then come home and implement my goals.
My goals are simple. First - to become positive and drop the negative comments and feelings. My second goal is to Unlock the Secret of Lionism by setting good examples, by serving the community and by letting others know about us and what we do by using the media, with the help of our Public Relations chair, Lion Dick Erickson. Third - enhance and help the Leo Clubs be more visible. The fourth goal is to use the technology of the website as a means of communication to pass on information. We will have a link for your projects, a link for getting speakers, and more to come as needed.
The Informer will be sent to each club via e-mail, then someone in the club will be responsible to pull it off and give a copy to their members. There will be other club information and notification coming this way, therefore it is important for the Lion members to check their e-mail or go on the website for up to date information. The website is a great place to go and check what other club events, photos, speakers for your clubs, and much more. Check it out. Our website address is www.5m5.org.
I look forward to visiting your clubs and hope you will schedule a meeting soon. I understand the calendar fills up fast.
Yours in Lionism,
Jackie Morlock
District Governor
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Famous words by Helen Keller, a mantra for Lions:
“Alone we can do so little.
AUGUST IS FILLED WITH
IMPORTANT START-UP MEETINGS
Some clubs “take the summer off” as far as official meetings go, yet those are some of the most important months of the Lion year. Even if the clubs aren’t meeting “officially, they’re busy with end-of year awards dinners, fund-raiser, club picnics, assisting and supporting other clubs fund-raising activities.
The International convention is at the end of June and the new Lions year begins July 1 and the newly installed governors are eager to get their term underway.
Since this is a combined July/August issue of The Informer it’s important that notice is taken of the following meetings:
MONDAY, AUGUST 4 –
District Cabinet Meeting
Golden Valley VFW
7775 Medicine Lake Road
east of #169 to Winnetka Ave.
on S.E. corner of intersection.
6:30 p.m. social, 7:00 dinner
R.S.V.P. to Gov. Jackie at
952-401-9455 or hmorl@hotmail.com
Dehn’s Country Manor
11281 Fernbrook Lane North
Cty Rd 81 north to Cty Rd 121
Right on 121 (Fernbrook) to Dehn’s
Region East/Zone Meeting
Camp Edenwood
Eden Prairie
6:30 Social, 7:00 Meal/Meeting
I-494 to Crosstown 62, west on
Crosstown 62. Watch for signs.
Presidents and Secretaries of all the clubs are receiving invitations from their respective Zone Chairmen to the Region/Zone meetings. These meeting are informative and fun and every effort should be made to attend.
You’ll be glad you did!

PLAN AHEAD!
Some of you may be spending weekends at the beach, on vacation or “Up North” at the cabin, but before you know it important Lion events will be coming up and you don’t want to miss them. That’s why we’re printing a tentative copy of the yearly Lions calendar now – so you can plan ahead.
After this, we’ll print a monthly calendar in each Informer including any Lion club events or fundraisers. Please keep in mind this is a tentative calendar and some dates and places of events may need to be changed.
DISTRICT 5M5 CALENDAR
2003-2004 - (Tentative)
July 26 Council of Governors - Willmar
August 4 District Cabinet Meeting
Golden Valley - VFW
August 11 Region West/Zone Meeting
Place: Dehn’s Country Manor
August 13 Region East/Zone Meeting
Place: Camp Edenwood
August 8-10 DG visit to Intl Headquarters
and Leader Dog
August 5M5 day at State Fair
Lions Eye & Hearing booth
August 28 State Fair Ticket Sellers
September18-20 USA Canada Forum
Portland, OR
October 4 or 11 World Service Day
October 11 Thanksgiving for Vision
(Pres.) Earle Brown Center, BP
October 16-17 VDG Training
Mahnomen, MN
October 18-19 Council of Governors
Mahnomen, MN
October 26 Camp Courage Halloween
Party – Near Annandale
October 27 District Cabinet Meeting
Place: TBD*
October -- Sight Night –New program
November TBD* Region West/Zone Meeting
Place TBD*
November 12 Region East/Zone Meeting
Place TBD*
December 6 Salvation Army Bell Ringing
2004
January 16-18 Mid-Winter Convention
Sheraton Four Star – BP
January 17 Cabinet Meeting at Convention
March 17-18 District Governor Elect
Training –TBD*
March 19-20 Council of Governors
Place – TBD*
March 29 District Cabinet Meeting
Place TBD*
April TBD* Region West/Zone Meeting
Place TBD*
April 14 Region East/Zone Meeting
May 21-23 5M Multiple Convention
Mahnomen, MN
May 2 ROAR College
Officer’s Training
June TBD* White Cane Day
July 5-9 International Convention
Detroit, MI/Windsor, ON
September 16-18 USA/Canada Forum
Reno, NV
*TBD – To be determined
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Hi! I’m Marilyn Lieb, your new Informer editor, and I’ll try to explain how the Informer is going to be distributed so each and every Lion, Lioness and Leo in the district receives a copy.
Before I do that, however, I’d like to give a HUGE thank you to PDG Charley Williamson, who has been the Informer Editor for the past two years. Charley did a great job and he will be a tough act to follow. His enthusiasm for Lions was evident in the articles he wrote. Your fine service is GREATLY appreciated, Charley!
This July/August issue is going to be a little light and a little late what with having to get back into the writing mode, inputting lots of email addresses, vacations and all, but the September issue will be full of ideas, reports, and Lion news.
The deadline for articles, announcements, ads, etc. will be the 15th of each month for the next month’s issue, i.e. the deadline for the Sept. issue will be August 15th. As soon as The Informer is complete, it goes via email to Cabinet members, club presidents and secretaries whose email address I have and to Cabinet Secretary Lion Joan Andrew. I will also send a copy via email to Webmaster Lion Steve Larson who will transfer it to web format and you will be able to view it after the first of each month on www.5M5.org.
Secy. Joan will be responsible for mailing a hard copy to those club secretaries who do not have email and/or to a club Mail Contact. That Mail Contact person (a club member who volunteered to take on this responsibility) will then be responsible to print and copy the newsletter and see that individual members receive a copy.
We realize this all seems very cumbersome but the District simply can’t afford to mail out a copy to every Lion member. The cost of mailing to all Lions is horrendous and the revenue from ads is not sufficient. Gov. Jackie is committed to getting the newsletter to everyone in the district. We ask your patience while we get everything in place. The email address you should use when contacting me is informer@dfti.net. I look forward to talking to you next month! ML
2003 USA CANADA FORUM
PORTLAND, OREGON
It’s not too late to sign up to attend the 27th Annual USA/Canada Forum in Portland, OR, September 18-20.
You may never have an opportunity to experience an International Convention, but every Lion member should try to attend at least one USA/Canada Forum in their lifetime. We promise you it will be an unforgettable experience and one that will enhance your service to your Lions club, and to you personally as a Lion member.
From July 1 through August 15, 2003 the registration cost is $175.00 per person. After August 15th that amount is increased by $10.00. A hotel deposit of $100 is due along with the registration fee. To see what is available go on website: http://www.usa-canada-lions-forum.com.
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IN MEMORIAM