December 2004

The 5M-5

Informer

This is a G R E A T DAY ! The sun is shining, a little crispness in the air and it’s a GREAT day to be a Lion !

Our second cabinet meeting was held Nov. 8 at Camp Edenwood. The loyal Lions were there, but I think some of us were watching the Vikings! As always, we had a wonderful dinner, fellow-ship and good ol’ education. Another part of the “Plan” was introduced. Lion Lynda Thorfinnson did a marvelous job presenting the membership part of the three year “Plan”. This information will be going out to the clubs via the Membership Teams. These teams are ready to come and give the clubs a helping hand to expand their vision of service for their communities. As you know, the Zone Chairs have been out doing the club assessments. This has not been an easy job. The Zone chairs and Region Chair have been working tirelessly to get this part of the “Plan” in place. With this information, they will be working as a team along with the District to assist your club in serving your community.

Myself and Lion Karen are in our 5^th month serving as your District Governor. We have visited many clubs and have been welcomed with warms smiles, handshakes and wonderful fellowship. For this we thank you all.

We are having a most thankful Thanksgiving this year in our family. We are again blessed to have another grandchild. Of course, you have all heard of our Dylan, and now we have a two-year- old granddaughter, Teresa Alexandra. She is our chosen child from Russia by our oldest daughter Stacy Lynn. She arrived on November 2, and she and parents are adjusting well.

I would like to take a moment before closing to stress the importance of your delegates for the Mid Winter Convention. We will be having several things to vote on at the Convention. We are having a race for

Vice District Governor as well as voting on a dues increase for the District and a couple of other housekeeping matters. We have approximately 180 delegates in our District. I am sad to say that not even 50% of the eligible delegates come and vote. If you have been chosen or if you volunteered to be a delegate, it is your duty to attend the business meeting and vote! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding being a delegate or anything about the convention in general. I’m here to serve YOU.

This December/Christmas issue of The Informer should reach you a day or so before Thanksgiving. Turkey and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving – what could be better? Only lutefisk and lefse at Christmastime, right? But that’s just the eating part of the Holidays. The very best part is giving thanks around the table with family and friends for the many blessings we enjoy throughout the year. Then we begin the busy time buying and wrapping gifts, putting up decorations, giving to those in need, being a bell ringers for the Salvation Army, singing the familiar Christmas carols and finally gathering with loved ones to celebrate the birth of Jesus – the true reason for the season!

Lion Karen and I wish each of you and your families a very happy and safe Thanksgiving, and a most blessed Christmas season.

The Robbinsdale Lions Club wishes to extend its sincere thanks and appreciation to all the Lion members and clubs that were represented and celebrated our 65^th anniversary with us. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed seeing so many of you from the surrounding areas. A very special thanks to Inter-national Director Maynard Rucks for traveling the many miles to be with us and address the group.

There’s just a short time left to nominate a Lion or Lioness to be honored with the John Lutter Award for outstanding service and dedication to Lionism.

A nomination form was included with the November newsletter, or get one from your Zone Chairman.

If you nominated someone last year and your candidate was not chosen, please remember that you are strongly encouraged to re-submit your nomination.

Please submit nominations by December 1, 2004 to PDG Bob Lieb, 460 Fifth Ave. No., #302, Hopkins, MN 55343 or email it to www.informer@dfti.net.

Pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs and

beverage $5.00 - Children under age 4 - free

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon

Crystal Community Center, 4800 Douglas Drive

Proceeds support Lions Community Projects

Maple Grove Community Organization and the

Breakfast and Lunch with Santa

Bring your children to see the "Real Santa” who

knows more than you can imagine. Kids go away totally convinced. Pics available or take your own.

December 7^th is the last day to purchase tickets for the game on December 17^th between the Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Clippers.

For every ticket sold through this Lions promotion, the Timberwolves organization will donate $10 back for the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank or the Newborn Child Hearing Screening Program.

Lion volunteers are needed to tend collection sites at each entrance to Target Center as fans attending the game drop off used eyeglasses and hearing aids. If your club wishes to participate in this venture please call Vice Dictrict Governor Jack Hines at 763-428-2434 or 763-428-4321, or via e-mail at decimet@dsimn.com.

The form with which to order your club’s tickets is included with this newsletter. Second-level corners and end seats are available for $24 and second-level sidelines are available for $40. Why not make it a club outing by ordering a block of tickets for your club members. Just be sure to get your order in by Tuesday, December 7^th. See you at the game!

8:00 1:00 Rogers Community Ctr

Free will donation for pancakes

Mark your calendars and plan to spend the weekend of January 21, 22 and 23 at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel. The Sheraton Bloomington was formerly the Radisson South so you’ll be in familiar surroundings.

Our guest for the weekend is Int’l. Director Ernest Young from Lansing, Kansas. He will be speaking Saturday morning at the membership seminar, and he will be the keynote speaker at the Governors Banquet Saturday evening. I.D.Young was elected as a director at the 87^th International Convention in July 2004. Director Young is a retired U.S. Army Management Analyst and Army Officer. A member of the Lansing Lions Club since 1989, Director Young is active in numerous professional and community organizations, including the board of directors for the Greater Kansas City Chapter of Blacks in Government. He has four children and nine grandchildren

There were Mid-Winter forms in last month’s issue of the Informer. Please read them carefully and either e-mail or send the completed forms to Vice District Governor Jack Hines.

Lion Wayne Harkness and Lion Bob Jechorek, two fine Lions are vying for Vice-District Governor 2005-2006. Lion Wayne is a member of the Hopkins Evening Lions and Lion Bob is a member of the Brooklyn Center Lions. You will find their complete Lions biographies on page five of this issue. Be sure to read them thoroughly.

Another important read in this issue, is the column by PDG Larry Lindquist detailing the proposed 5M-5 dues adjustment. As PDG Larry says, it is the response-bility of all of us to provide this district with the best tools available to grow and better serve the people who need us.

Come in out of the cold and enjoy the warmth of the Mid-Winter Convention. It’s going to be G-R-E-A-T !!

Lion Dan Luc was a new Brooklyn Center Lion, having joined only one year ago. A native of France, Dan came to the U.S. when he was 18 years old. He was proud to be a U.S. citizen and a member of the Brook-lyn Center Lions.

Lion Winton Linderholm -37 year member of the Robbinsdale Lions Club.

The proposed increase of $2.00 per year will increase the District 5M-5 dues to $7.80 per year.

Remember, it is the responsibility of all of us to provide this district with the best tools available to grow and better serve the people who need us.

ST. LOUIS PARK LIONS CLUB

featuring Music Memories with

Barbara Lee and Sherry

Social 6:00 – Dinner 7:00 / $16.00 Donation

Camp Edenwood, 6350 Indian Chief Road

Eden Prairie, MN

CONTACT: Lion Sonjia Wagner at 763-425-5434 or any St. Louis Park Lion

5M-5 Lions, Leos and Lioness continue to serve their communities. They turned out in good numbers for the Camp Courage Halloween Party. There are numerous Santa/pancake/waffle/Holiday events in De-cember as you’ll see from the ads in this newsletter.

A major project coming up will take the efforts of every Lion in our District. It is “The Plan” that was unveiled at the Zone Meeting in September. If each club has a net increase of two members this Lion year we will hit our goal. The Zone Chairmen will be out to your club to do a survey and work with your club.

Dist. 5M-5 and 5M-6 are working together to sponsor an LCIF Benefit Concert by the Augsburg Centennial Singers in April. It will help LCIF help the victims of the Florida hurricanes. More about that later

· Deadline for the January issue of The Informer is December 19! (Yikes! that means I’ll be writing the newsletter during Christmas week!) It would be helpful if you would get me information on any upcoming events or fundraisers as soon as possible. Send them to me at informer@dfti.net Please put LIONS in the subject line of email so I’ll know it’s not junk mail. DO NOT send anything to me at my old Hotmail account!

· Please note: If you have not yet scheduled your club’s visit from District Governor Ole, please do so as soon as possible in order to schedule a time convenient to your club. Call Ole or Karen at 763-566-4925 or email them at oknelson@usfamily.net.

· More changes! The Morelock’s correct fax number should be 952-401-7961; Bernie Braegelmann (Region East, Zone 1 Chair) has a new email address bernxie@aol.com;

· If your Lion or Lioness Club has lost a member through death, you must notify your Zone Chairman immediately. The information is needed for the new Mid-Winter Memorial format and will also be reported in The Informer.

· I know I promised you more about The Plan in this newsletter, but I’ve got turkeys to stuff and krumkaka to bake! Maybe next issue.

· The All Zone Meeting on November 30 will be held at the Brooklyn Center Community Center, 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway. Social 6pm, Dinner 7pm.

9 toppings, sausage, juice and coffee

Adults $5.00 advance, $6.00 at the door

Children 5 yrs. old and under $3.00

Community Center Activity Room

5600 – 85^th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park

Another new Lions club came in to being recently with the chartering of the Ambassador Lions Club at the University of Minnesota. Membership of the club is comprised of doctors and employees of the Minnesota Eye Bank and the Minnesota Hearing Center - 26 members strong. There was great representation of Lions from throughout the Multiple Districts. PDG Bucky Hartkopf was the master of ceremonies and PID John “Spud” Edling was the keynote speaker and installed the new members. It was a time of wonderful fellowship! Welcome to the Lions Family. Governor Ole and his cabinet look forward to working with you.

8:00 am to 12:00 pm

$6.00 Adults - $4.00 Children

Champlin American Legion

Hwy #169 & Hayden Lake Road

LEHP – Lions Eye Health Program and EyeCare America, a public service foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, are partnering together to preserve sight across the nation.

November was National Diabetes Eye Disease Awareness month. The EyeCare America Diabetes Program matches eligible seniors 65 and older with nearby volunteer ophthalmologists who provide dilated, medical, eye examinations and up to one year of care at no out-of-pocket cost. The helpline operates all day, every day, year round. Their number is 1-800-272-3937. Did you know that a diabetic is 25 more times likely to suffer vision loss? Did you know that diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults under 50? The leading cause of blindness in persons over 50 is macular degeneration. Call the number above if you know of someone with diabetes who need help.

My name is Lion Bob Jechorek, and it is with a great sense of excitement that I announce my candidacy for Vice-District Governor for the Lions year 2005-2006. My club, the Brooklyn Center Lions, has given me unanimous support in the effort to become Vice District Governor. I would like to give you a bit of my background as a Lion and as an individual.

I have been a member of the Brooklyn Center Lions Club since 1991. In that time, I have served as club secretary twice, served in the three vice-president’s roles, and served as club President in 1999-2000.

I have also served on many committees of the club, including co-chair of the projects committee, chair of the calling committee, current chair of the program committee and current chair of the membership committee.

For the past 4 years I have served on the District Cabinet as a Zone Chair and Zone/Region Chair and Region Chair. This year, I am again serving as the Region Chair.

In March 2002 I had the privilege of being accepted to, and attending the Sr. Lions Leadership Institute in Oak Brook, Illinois.

In June 2003 I was honored to be named a Melvin Jones Fellow. Though I have had the opportunity to experience much as a Lion, that experience has touched me as no other.

At last year’s Mid-Winter convention, I received an International President’s Certificate of Appreciation in recognition Innovative Achievements in Lions Leadership and Service.

On a more personal note, my wife Cheryl and I have been married for 28 years and have three children, Christen, 24, Kelly, 22 and Michael, 21.

By profession, I am a microbiologist. After receiving my Master’s Degree, I taught and did research at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis campus. Four years ago, I left the University and I am now employed at Land O’Lakes, Inc., as a lead scientist in the Microbiology Projects Laboratory.

I am asking for your support and your vote at the Mid-Winter Convention. I believe that I have the experience and leadership qualities to serve the Lions of District 5M-5 as your next Vice-District Governor.

My name is Lion Wayne Harkness and I am your acting District 5M5 Membership Chair. The purpose for writing to you today is to better acquaint you with my past involvement as a Lion, as I campaign for Vice District Governor for the Year 2005-2006.

Since joining the Hopkins Evening Lions Club in 1994, I served as Hopkins Lions President and am currently the Greeter. My six (6) years of service on the 5M5 District Cabinet as Region Chair, Zone Chair, and Membership Chair have prepared me for the work ahead if elected Vice District Governor. My recent projects include being certified as a Guiding Lions and coordination with PID Ross Thorfinson & PDG Bucky Hartkopf in the efforts to form a new Latino Lions Club in Minneapolis.

These experiences have been a growth process, and have assisted me in my decision to run for Vice District Governor. I have worked hard with fellow Lions Clubs & other organizations doing joint project to raise funds to accomplish the goals and challenges set before me. While President of the Hopkins Lions we raised $12,000 to assist a neighboring Lions Club purchase Infra-Red Goggles for the Fire Department, & we worked with the VFW Post 425 & American Legion to purchase a Wheel Chair Lift for a boy in Hopkins. I also Co-Chaired a project with another neighboring Lions Club to purchase Hearing Aids for a young boy. I have long been a believer that we should all work together to achieve our goals, and have worked hard instilling this belief in my fellow Lions.

Linda, my wife is also a member of the Hopkins Evening Lions Club, along with our daughter and son-in-law; my grandfather and mother are both Lions in District 5M10, as helping others is a family affair and a long standing tradition. Linda and I have been married for 8 years, we have 3 children & 6 grandchildren. I enjoy working with and helping others. We regularly attend our Club & District functions. This past summer we were a host family for Lions Youth Exchange, for the second time.

I graduated from Patrick Henry High School in north Minneapolis in 1979. I then spent 4 years in the U.S. Army; spending 2 years in Germany and 2 years in Louisiana. Upon returning from my 4 years of service in the Army I went to Minneapolis Drafting School for 2 years, earning a degree in Architectural Drafting. I then started working as a Civil Engineering Technician, which I have been doing for 14 years. I currently work at Quality Site Design as an Engineering Technician preparing CADD drawings for residential sub-divisions and commercial site. Wayne Harkness, 5216 Birch Road, Minnetonka, MN 55345; Work – 763-550-9056 Home – 952-974-9283 Cell - 952-250-1672, or via the Internet at wharkness@mn.rr.com

To sign up for bell ringing individually or with your club, call The Salvation Army at 651-746-3425 and ask for Tom Mckee and be sure to tell him you are with 5M5 Lions. If you would like to have more information, call or visit www.thesalarmy.com.

The Brooklyn Center Lioness recently gave a Spinoza Bear to a 10 year old girl that has Leukemia. This little girl has been battling Leukemia since the age of 4. She is a patient at the University of Minnesota Hospital.

Spinoza is a powerful form of therapy that benefits children throughout their lives. The Spinoza buddy bear project is for any age child who is diagnosed with a chronic illness. It helps with a combination of healing music and storytelling with the tactile comfort of a soft teddy bear. Spinoza provides effective distraction when children are faced with scary situations such as a hospital treatment or loss of a loved one. The uniqueness of Spinoza Bear are the special stories and songs that helps children with interaction, communication and a healthy expression of themselves.

If you are not familiar with the Spinoza Project and are interested in finding out more about it, you may call 1-800-282-2327 for information about this fine program.

Many, many thanks to the 50 plus Lions, Leos and Lioness who provided another great Halloween party o a large group of youngsters at Camp Courage. 5M-5 Lions and Lioness have sponsored this activity for many, many years and always give unselfishly of their time, talent and funds.

The Camp Courage youngsters and their families enjoyed face painting, picture buttons, balloon animals, lots of games, prizes, and filled up on pizza and pop.

This year 15 Leos from the Rogers and Brooklyn Center Leo Clubs joined in the activities. Leo Amanda B. helped work the duck game and said it was fun to see their faces light up with smiles as they discovered what they’d “won”. She described the group as sweet and very polite. Leo Katie Carlson was afraid it might be boring but instead discovered it was fun helping and playing with the youngsters. Leo Katie Gustafson said it was fun to see the room fill up with witches, rock stars and super heroes and noticed how their smiles widened as the contents of their bags increased. “They are happy despite the challenges in their lives and it made me appreciate all the things I take for granted”, said Katie.

Leo Chaz Brown described the experience as “Awesome! I was running the ring toss game and not one kid left without saying thank you.” He also sid he got a lot more out of the experience at Camp Courage than he ever expected and that he would gladly go back again another day.

VDG Jack Hines said many Leo members described it as a great learning experience for them, and that the afternoon at Camp Courage touched their lives and made a lasting impression. This was a great service opportunity for the Leos.

Thanks Leos, Lioness and Lions for providing another fun-filled afternoon at Camp Courage.

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Last modified: July 24, 2008