January 2005

The 5M-5

Informer

THIS IS A GREAT DAY !!! The sun is shining, a little crispness in the air...it’s GREAT to be a Lion !

By the time you receive this newsletter, Christmas cards have been sent and received and presents have been purchased and wrapped and given…now we look forward to a New Year. With this New Year comes an anticipation of many wonderful things. In our household we are anticipating the arrival of yet another grandchild.

We are also anticipating an exciting Mid-Winter Convention. This is a time of rejuvenating the spirit of Lionism…We will be looking back and remembering our departed Lions who had served us so well and then we will be looking forward to spending time renewing old friendships and meeting new friends. You will be meeting International Director Ernest Young from Lansing, Kansas. ID Young will be giving a seminar on membership and will be the keynote speaker at the Governors Banquet. He has a wonderful message, you won’t want to miss it. Also on this weekend, there will be seminars on “WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO”. We will have speakers from the Lions Eye Bank and from the Hearing Foundation. This convention is going to be fun-filled and fully packed!

I would be remiss if I did not thank the Region Chair, Zone Chairs and Committee members for their hard work. When this Cabinet was put together, I asked them to go the “extra mile”. Well, they have gone above and beyond …you can’t imagine the hours of work they have put in to start new programs for healthy clubs, membership increase, retention and orientation…in short “The Plan”. This is all for YOU…we can’t do this alone...but together we can make great things happen. I look forward to seeing you all at the convention! Yours in Lionism,

Mark your calendars and plan to spend the weekend of January 21, 22 and 23 at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel (formerly the Radisson South). You’ll be in familiar surroundings, although you’ll find numerous changes in the structure of the 2005 Mid-Winter Convention – all of them positive!

OPENING CEREMONY - the Friday night gathering at 7:00 p.m. will be the official opening ceremony of the Mid-Winter, encompassing the memorial service, flag ceremony and musical selections. We think you’ll enjoy the changes.

If your club has lost a member through death during this last year, please notify your Zone Chairperson or Gov. Ole as soon as possible. They will need a picture of the deceased along with an obituary copy to create a dignified slide presentation for the memorial service. As in the past, the Governor expects hospitality rooms to be closed during the opening ceremony.

FIRST TIMERS - if you are a new Lion, please pick up a First Timers Questionnaire at the registration desk or from a Zone Chairperson. It’s something fun for First Timers to help them meet new Lion friends and to get to know the members of the District Cabinet. The winner will receive a hospitality book for THE 2006 Mid-Winter convention.

OUR INTERNATIONAL GUEST - Our distin-guished Lion guest for the weekend is Int’l. Director Ernest Young from Lansing, Kansas. He will speak Saturday morning at the Membership seminar, and will be the keynote speaker at the Governors Banquet on Saturday evening. Let’s all make him feel welcome in the best district in Multiple 5M!!

International Director Young was elected to serve a two-year term as a director of the International. As-sociation of Lions Clubs at the 87th International Convention, Detroit, Michigan, USA/ Windsor, Ontario Canada, 2004.

Director Young is a retired U.S. Army Management Analyst and Army officer. A Lions member since 1989, Director Young has held many offices within the association, including club president, district membership chairperson, district governor, multiple district council chairperson and multiple district membership chairperson.

Additionally he has been a presenter at five USA/Canada Lions Leadership forums and has served on the international elections committee. In recognition of his service to the association he has received numerous awards, including four International Certificates of Appreciation, the International President’s Award, International President’s Leadership Award, Extension Award, Founder’s Membership Award and a 15-Member Key Award. He is also a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow.

In addition to his Lions activities, 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.

Please help make Director Young feel welcome in the hottest district in Multiple 5M!!

SHOW YOUR PRIDE - The theme of our conven-tion is “Through Service Comes Membership”. How about displaying a poster outside your hospitality room listing what your club does to raise money and what services your club supports. Do it up big! It’s a good way to show others what you do. Be proud of who you are and what you do…LIONS DO THINGS THAT MATTER – to their communities, their countries and to the world!

TRAINING / SEMINARS – PDG Burdell Wessels has arranged for Dram Shop Training in Plaza 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – a requirement for clubs that sell beer or liquor and have Liquor Insurance.

Seminar Chairman Lion Bob Lenzmeier has put together another excellent seminar in Plaza One beginning at 10:00 a.m. You’ll hear from Gay Smithson (Leader Dog Field Representative), PCC Bob Beard (Int’l. Diabetes Foundation), Lion Roger Badenhop (Special Olympics), Al Peters & Beau (Minnesota Hearing Dog) and questions may be directed to ID Ernie Young and DG Ole Nelson.

SATURDAY LUNCHEON – Club Presidents be sure you and your spouse attend the Saturday luncheon, where Presidents will be recognized. You’re doing an important job and your efforts deserve recognition. Don’t miss the article in this newsletter about luncheon speaker Lion Jay Krachmer, MD.

DELEGATES - If you are a delegate to the conven-tion, please COME to the convention and VOTE!!! The business meeting begins at 3:00 p.m. in Plaza 5 & 6. BE THERE! There’s much to be voted on at the convention – most importantly the endorsement of PID Ross’s run for 2^nd VP of the Association. Then there’s the race for Vice District Governor between Lion Bob Jechorek and Lion Wayne Harkness. There’s the matter of a dues increase and a few other housekeeping issues. PDG Larry Lind-quist has another article in this issue detailing the proposed 5M-5 dues adjustment.

GOVERNOR’S BANQUET – We gather at 7:00 p.m. for the Governor’s Banquet where we’ll hear from I.D. Young. He will present the International Awards and we’ll learn who receives the John Lutter Award A grand ending to a busy day.

RECOGNITION BRUNCH – Come to the Veranda Ballroom for brunch and hear Gov. Ole give the State of the District address, and we hear guest speaker Lion Diego Preciado, MD. No doubt we’ll be subjected to malicious tailtwisting also.

DONATIONS -The clubs in 5M-5 support our 5M-5 district activities overwhelmingly through the Parade of Checks. Zone Chairman Dave Reach has an excellent article in this issue detailing each activity. At the brunch we have a fine speaker so the distribution of checks will be handled differently. Please bring your checks (donations) on Friday or Saturday when you register. There will be a secure container for your donations and the container will also be available Sunday morning for those that forget to bring them earlier. This should minimize the confusion of past “line ups” during brunch. Each clubs’ contribution will be recognized, but there will not be the familiar Parade of Checks.

AFTER THE BRUNCH - When you register you will be given an evaluation sheet. On this sheet you will be asked how you liked the convention; what you liked, didn’t like, what we could have done better or differently. We ask that you fill this out after the convention Sunday morning and they will be picked up after the brunch.

ROOMS AND BOOKS - If you forgot to reserve a hospitality room for your club, sleeping room or hospitality books, please call Vice District Jack Hines @ 763-428-2434 or e-mail him at decimet@dsimn.com. Remember all sleeping rooms need to be reserved through VDG Jack Hines.

It’s going to be a fantastic convention! Come in out of the cold and enjoy the warmth of the 5M-5 Mid-Winter.

CLUB SECRETARIES – PLEASE GET THE NAMES OF YOUR DELEGATES FOR THE MID-WINTER IN TO DISTRICT SECRETARY LION LORRAINE SHINNICK. PHONE # 763-560-0273….REMEMBER THAT THE CLUB AND LION CHOSEN TO BE A DELEGATE MUST BE IN GOOD STANDING (DUES PAID). EMAIL Lorraine at - lcshinnick@comcast.net.

Lion Pete Naab, a member of the Orono Lions Club, who passed away. He will be missed by his fellow Lion members and friends.

The proposed dues increase is $2.00 per year, which will increase the District 5M5 dues to $7.80 per year.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH OF US TO PROVIDE THE DISTRICT WITH THE BEST TOOLS AVAILABLE TO GROW AND BETTER SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED US.

Lions and Leos from 5M-5 will cross the river and join hands with their counterparts in District 5M-6 to sponsor a concert benefiting LCIF (Lions Clubs International Foundation).

The event will feature the Augsburg Centennial Singers in concert at Augsburg College.

district, and tickets cost $40.00 each. There will be flyers available at our Mid-Winter Convention which will contain an order form. When you order your tickets, enclose a check and self-addressed stamped envelope and the tickets will be mailed to you. Tickets will be available on a first come first served basis.

Sponsorships to underwrite expenses for the concert will be available to clubs in 5M-5 and 5M-6

At of this writing, Immediate Past President and LCIF Chairman Dr. Tae-Sup Lee has agreed to attend the event and will accept a check on behalf of LCIF. We are hoping to raise $20,000 that night.

Let’s have a great response from the Lions and Lioness of 5M-5 to this fundraiser for LCIF.

If you have questions in regard to the singers, the event or the program, you may contact VDG Jack Hines, or DG Wes Sideen from 5M-6.

Article IV, Section 7 & 8 of the International Constitution and By-Laws states.:

(a) Be an Active Member in good standing of a chartered Lions Club in good standing inn his/her Single or Sub-District.

(b) Secure the endorsement of his/her club or a majority of the clubs in his/her Single or Sub-District.

(d) Only in the event the current Vice District Governor does not stand for election as District Governor, or if a vacancy in the position of the Vice District Governor exists at the time of the District Convention, any club member who fulfills the qualifications for the office of Vice District Governor as set forth in Section 8 of the Article IV and who is currently serving or who has served one (1) additional year as a member of the District Cabinet, shall fulfill the requirements of Subsection (c) of this Section.

(a) Be an Active Member in good standing of a chartered Lions Club in good standing in his/her Single or Sub-District.

(b) Secure the endorsement of his/her club or a majority of the clubs in his/her Single or Sub-District.

(1) As President of a Lions Club for a full term or major portion thereof, and member of the Board of Directors of a Lions Club for no less than two (2) additional years; and

(2) As Zone Chairman or Region Chairman or Cabinet Secretary and/or Treasurer for a full term of major portion thereof.

· Just got this bio for our Friday night guest singer, Jamel. He is a minister, singer, songwriter, recording artist. A native of Detroit, in a city called Motown, he has been around soulful and spiritually anointed music all his life. A great artist delivering spiritually anointed messages through music.

· Deadline for the February issue of The Informer is January 10! 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 yet to 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.

· 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.

This time of the year, we zone chairs and cabinet members get a lot of questions about to whom the clubs can write checks for the Mid Winter Convention Parade of Checks. I’ve put together this partial list of activities sponsored by District 5M-5 and the name and phone number of the Cabinet Chairperson if you need additional information.

Diabetes - The International Diabetes Center (IDC) is our District’s primary recipient providing Diabetes research, screenings, education, medical professional training, and publishing. They are a 501(c) 3. Many clubs in the District also support Juvenile Diabetes. Others support ADA’s “Camp Needlepoint” providing money for camper scholarships. Contact Lion Dewey Senneseth, Cabinet Chair (763-473-6662)

Camp Courage - Located near Maple Lake, MN, our District has long sponsored many activities at Camp Courage. Most recently we funded the renovation of a barn into a handicapped accessible activities center and play area. Our annual Halloween Party is enjoyed by hundreds of kids and their parents. Contact Lion Jim Rouillard, Cabinet Chair (763) 428-2627.

MN Lions Eye Bank - The Eye Bank is a great Lion’s success story making a daily difference in many people’s lives. The Eye Bank runs the eye tissue program in the State of Minnesota. Tissues are collected for transplant and research. The Eye Bank also funds the eyeglass pro-gram. You may also designate in the memo line that you wish your contribution to be used for the Children’s Eye Clinic. Contact Lion Charlie Johns, Cabinet Co-Chair (763) 421-8108 or Lion Tom Shinnick (763)-560-0273.

Hearing Foundation - Cochlear implants, hearing tests, infant hearing testing, hearing aids, and research are among the many important works of the Lions Hearing Foundation. You may also designate in the memo line that you wish your contribution to be used for the Children’s Hearing. Contact Lion Roger Badenhop, Cabinet Co-Chair (612) 721-1625 or Lion Chuck Fortman (763) 427-1277.

Hearing/Service Dog – the Lions have been sup-porting this program to provide trained service dogs to people with special hearing or physical needs. Contact Lion Bob Stamos, Cabinet Chair (763) 521-7348.

Leader Dog - Located in Rochester, Michigan, this Lions sponsored service trains dogs for the visually impaired. The dog recipient attends Leader Dog, receiving his/her dog and training at no personal cost. Contact Lion Kay Elliott, Cabinet Co-Chair (952) 920-1905 or Lion Jim Ebert (763) 561-3788.

Liberty Day - This Lions program educates our young students about the Constitution of United States of America and the founding of our great nation. Local politicians, such as Congressman Lion Jim Ramstad, visit the schools and speak to the students and teachers about the history, intent, and purpose of our Constitution, given to us by our founding fathers. Contact Lion Jack McKernan, Cabinet Chair (952) 922-8267.

LCIF -Lions Clubs Int’l. Foundation provides money and services throughout the world such as fighting river blindness in remote regions of the world, providing seed money for Diabetes programs, relief for natural disasters, and for national emergencies such as the World Trade Center attack. The Melvin Jones Fellow Award is given for contributions of $1,000. Call Lion Ron Edlund, Cabinet Chair (1-715) 483-2804.

Lions Quest - Quest is comprehensive drug aware-ness and other risk factors program providing training to schoolteachers and administrators to identify “At Risk” behaviors and effectively counsel individuals. Contact Lion Bob Becker, Chair (763) 566-4347.

Youth Exchange - This Lions program has students from all over the world visiting the United States and vice versa. Contact Lion Brenda Reeves, Cabinet Chair (763) 427-2507.

Lion Clubs that sell beer or liquor and have Liquor (Dram Shop) Insurance will need to have members that dispensse Liquor products attend an “Alcohol Awreness Training.” This is a requirement for your insurance to be valid. The insurance company has agreed to let us do this again at our Mid-Winter Convention. At least one member of your club will need to attend and then train people in your club.

This will be put on by Bob Pomplum of Loss Control Services, Inc. The charge for the seminar will be $400.00. This amount will be divided by the number of people attending (i.e., 20 people = each pay $20 per person) plus $10 per person for materials. He is giving us a break, as he normally charges $70-$90 per person plus $10 for materials.

5M-5 will have a Mid-Winter training session Saturday, January 22, 2005, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Sheraton Hotel in Bloomington. Any questions, call PDG Burdell Wessels at 952-934-1762.

You can get this out of the way now even if your insurance does not come up later for renewal. Mr. Pomplus will issue a certificate that you have complied.

      The Minnesota Lions Eye Bank is proud to announce that Jay H. Krachmer, M.D. University of Minnesota Professor and Department of Ophthalmology Chair will be the guest speaker during the President's Luncheon at the Mid-Winter Convention on Saturday, January 22.
      In July 1992, Dr. Krachmer joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota as Professor, department chair, and holder of the Mackall-Scheie Research Chair in Ophthalmology. He specializes in clinical teaching and research aspects of cornea and external disease of the eye.
      Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dr. Krachmer received both his undergraduate and medical degrees from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He then returned to Iowa where he interned and completed a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Iowa. In 1974 he completed a one-year cornea and external disease fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Krachmer was a member of the faculty in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Iowa for eighteen years before coming to Minnesota.
      Dr. Krachmer is well-known in ophthalmology circles as a co-author of Cornea, a 3-volume "single source" text on the cornea. He is a charter member of the Minneapolis Ambassadors Lions Club. We hope that everyone will want to attend the luncheon to hear what Dr. Krachmer has to tell Lions about the exciting research that is taking place at the University of Minnesota Eye Bank because of the support of Minnesota Lions.

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases in which the pressure inside the eye may or may not be elevated. Open angle glaucoma is the most common form of the disease and the type related to aging. It cannot be cured but can be controlled with either eye drops or pills. The normal fluid pressure inside the eye progressively increases. If untreated, vision loss or blindness may occur. There usually is no symptom or pain in the early stages. An affected person may notice side vision gradually failing. As the disease worsens, the field of vision narrows.

Surgery can help fluid escape, which will reduce the pressure, however this is usually reserved for patients whose pressure cannot be controlled with eye drops, pills or laser surgery.

Those at risk are African-Americans over 40, anyone over 60, family history, and people with diabetes. There are two types of tests to detect glaucoma. The “air puff” to measure eye pressure and the dilated pupil eye exam which is recommended every two years for at risk people. It is this procedure where this disease is most often detected.

We are right in the middle of a busy holiday season, Thanksgiving is behind us and Christmas will be here in a few days. I hope everyone is ready for Christmas, or almost ready.

This past month went fast and Carol & I have attended a few function. Like Osseo’s 60^th anniversary party held at the Legion in Osseo. We saw a lot of friends we haven’t seen for a while.

I went to the Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota Dog Graduation Ceremony. It is something to see when the recipient and the dog get together, the joy you feel is really something. If you haven’t been to a dog graduation, you should try to attend next year.

Carol and I had a great time at the St. Louis Park Christmas Party. Carol picked up a couple of items at the silent auction. Good party!

The weekend of December 11 we attended the Diabetes Seminar at the International Diabetes Center for the day.

26TH ANNUAL SUPER BOWL SUNDAY
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2005
Minnetonka Community Center
Minnetonka Blvd & Williston Road
Serving 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Tickets at the door $ 5.00 donation

The World Health Organization estimates that there are 250 million people worldwide suffering from severe hearing loss. In the United State there are 28 million Americans with a hearing loss. Within the 28 million Americans there are approximately 7 million who can’t afford a hearing aid. In 2002, the average price for a hearing aid in the US was $1,600. Most insurance companies don’t cover the cost of the hearing aid, and the “low-priced” hearing aids advertised use poor technical components, resulting is poor quality and low used satisfaction.

To address the problem, LCIF has partnered with Project Impact to develop and manufacture the Lions Affordable Hearing Aid. Through two Core 4 grants, LCIF has supported Project Impact’s establishment of a manufacturing and distribution site in South India.

The Lions Affordable Hearing Aid “Lionsear” has received FDA approval as well as the CE Mark for distribution in Europe. Clinical trials conducted with the University of Washington’s Harborview Medical Center, in conjunction with the Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight and Hearing have shown high rates of user satisfaction and have proven the aids to be of good quality and competitive with other mid-rage digitally programmable analog hearing aid.

LCIF and Project Impact will sell the hearing aids for $100-$120 and ask that participating clubs recruit local audiologist to test and fit low-income patients for no more than $300 for one ear and $500 for two ears.

You club can get involved with “Lionsear” by recruiting audiologist and covering whatever costs the patient cannot afford. For more information please give me, Roger Badenhop, a call at (612) 721-1625.

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