Meetings
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LIONS PROJECTS

DISTRICT, STATE, AND INTERNATIONAL

 

YOUTH

 

Campus Clubs

Chairman: PDG Robert Hurt

 

This committee helps those clubs in college areas to set up Lions Clubs on college campuses. Campus club’s student members do not pay District membership fees.

 

By establishing Lions Clubs on college campuses, we give students the opportunity to provide services within their area, and help spread Lionism in other areas as they graduate and move to their post-graduate communities.


Leader Dogs for the Blind

Chairman Lion Herman “Smitty” Carter

 

Based in Rochester, Michigan, Leader Dogs for the Blind was founded in 1938 by 3 Lionsmembers. These three Lions were moved to action because a man, interested in getting a service dog, was denied access to one. The Uptown Detroit Lions Club wanted to sponsor the man in getting the dog and the training he needed, but they were told that the school wouldnot accept a “sponsorship” by a club for a student. They turned this rejection around and Leader Dogs for the Blind became a reality.

 

Today, Leader Dogs for the Blind continues to provide guide dogs, training in the use of white canes and GPS instruments for ease of travel. There is no charge to the students for any of these services.

 

The facilities in Rochester house all aspects of the operation, from breeding to the final stages of training with the student. The only exception to this is the time that the dogs spend with a “host” family as they grow from a puppy to about 1 year-old.

 

There are many ways that we can help support Leader Dogs for the Blind. Obviously through our financial support, but also by becoming “puppy raisers” or by hosting breeding dogs. We can help spread the word about the valuable services that this organization provides. Their website is: www.leaderdog.org

 

Leo Clubs

Chairman PDG Robert Hurt

 

Seven years after the first Leo Club was started in 1957 in Pennsylvania, it became an official program of Lions Clubs International. Today there are more than 144,000 Leos in 139 countries! Leo Clubs are sponsored by their local Lions Club, with a designated Lion from that club serving as an advisor and an in-school employee acting in a guidance capacity.

 

The Leo motto is: Leadership, Experience and Opportunity. By establishing a Leo Club in your local school you promote leadership qualities in our youth through service-oriented activity. Working with the young people in our communities, and helping them to develop and grow, is a very rewarding project.

 

Lions Quest

Chairman: Amy Duesterhaus

 

Lions Quest is a program designed to help teachers in our school systems to help their students make good decisions when it comes to their own lives. By developing good life skills and promoting civic values, we can help to reduce drug abuse and violence in our schools and our communities.

 

The program is active in 65 countries around the world and has been translated into 31 languages. Lions Quest has trained 3,000 teachers in Tennessee alone. Proven results include improved achievement scores, improvements in knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding substance abuse and violence. It is linked to lower rates of disciplinary problems, school dropout rates and use of illegal drugs.

 

Lions Quest will be pursuing a large grant from LCIF here in Tennessee in the next couple of years. This grant will help us to develop the program more extensively throughout our state. More information on this program can be found on the Lions Clubs International website at: www.lionsclubs.org/EN/lci-foundation/our-programs/lions-quest/index.php.

 

Peace Poster Contest

Chairman Lion Leslie Warren

 

The Peace Poster Contest is run through Lions Clubs International. An announcement is put in the “Lion” magazine every year. Basically, the Lions Clubs around the world are invited to purchase a kit (normally it’s priced at $12.95) and promote the contest to children between the ages of 11 and 13. Each club selects a group of children fitting that age group and asks them to submit a poster that portrays the annual theme. The specifics of the dimensions and criteria are spelled out on the Lions Clubs International website and in the kit itself.

 

Once the sponsoring Lions Club receives the children’s submissions, they choose the winner and send the original poster to the District Governor or the Peace Poster Contest Chairman. The District then selects a winner from the posters received by the deadline and moves the winning poster to the State level, it is then sent along to the International level contest. Clubs may choose to award the participants in their contests at the club level, that is completely within their discretion. District 12L generally recognizes the winner of the district level at the Fall Conference with a certificate. The winner at the International level is given an award and is an honored guest at Lions Day at the U.N.

This contest is designed to promote peace and the arts within our schools and community.  A press release announcing the contest and the winner are very appropriate here. To view past winners, and to get more information on this contest, go to the Lions Clubs International website at: www.lionsclubs.org/EN/our-work/youth-programs/peace-postercontest/index.php.

 


SERVICES FOR THE BLIND:


Leader Dogs for the Blind

Chairman Lion Herman “Smitty” Carter

 

Based in Rochester, Michigan, Leader Dogs for the Blind was founded in 1938 by 3 Lions members. These three Lions were moved to action because a man, interested in getting a service dog, was denied access to one. The Uptown Detroit Lions Club wanted to sponsor the man in getting the dog and the training he needed, but they were told that the school would not accept a “sponsorship” by a club for a student. They turned this rejection around and Leader Dogs for the Blind became a reality.

 

Today, Leader Dogs for the Blind continues to provide guide dogs, training in the use of white canes and GPS instruments for ease of travel. There is no charge to the students for any of these services.

 

The facilities in Rochester house all aspects of the operation, from breeding to the final stages of training with the student. The only exception to this is the time that the dogs spend with a “host” family as they grow from a puppy to about 1 year-old.

 

There are many ways that we can help support Leader Dogs for the Blind. Obviously through our financial support, but also by becoming “puppy raisers” or by hosting breeding dogs. We can help spread the word about the valuable services that this organization provides. Their website is: www.leaderdog.org

 

 

 

Lions World Services for the Blind (LWSB)

Chairman PDG Tony Martin

 

Lions World Services for the Blind, based in Little Rock, Arkansas, provides free life skills training to people who have low-sight problems and those who are blind through degenerative diseases or through sudden events. The funding for this organization is provided through the Rehabilitative Departments of the student’s home state and by donations from Lions Clubs, individuals and other organizations.

 

Students from all over the United States and 58 other countries have received assistance from LWSB. LWSB teaches them how to handle day-to-day necessities, provides supportive counseling and teaches job skills that will allow them to provide financially for themselves and their families without having to rely on government aid. Jobs skills that are learned here are used by the Internal Revenue Service, Dillards, the Army and Microsoft. People are taught to be self-sufficient and self-supporting through technology and by learning skills such as small engine repair.

 

LWSB offers tours for those interested in seeing their facilities in person. Please contact them through their website, or by phone, prior to travel to the Little Rock area to arrange this. Their website address is: www.lwsb.org

 

 

Tennessee School for the Blind

 

Tennessee School for the Blind is located at 115 Stewart’s Ferry Pike in Nashville. The State of Tennessee authorized the establishment of this school under state funding in 1844. It has been at its’ current location since 1949. The school accepts blind and visually impaired students between the ages of 3 and 21 from all over Tennessee.

 

The Lions of Tennessee have been contributing to programs at TSB since 1959. Our

contributions assist the students through the Boy & Girl Scout Programs, the Student Work Program, the Low Vision Assistance Program and the Summer Enrichment Program and traditionally, on the 2nd Friday of December each year the school hosts “Lions Day at the Tennessee School for the Blind”.

 

This event is very moving and definitely worth attending. The students put on a Christmas program for the audience, then Lions from across Tennessee group together by District to distribute $50 checks to each student from their district. In return the student presents that Lion with a handmade Christmas card, or some other such item. I cannot stress how this exchange touches the hearts of every person present!

 

Anyone wishing to support the Lions Funding of programs at the school may send donations payable to “Friends of TSB Lions Fund”, c/o PDG Ralph Brewer, 2835 Blue Brick Drive, Nashville, TN 37214. His telephone number is ((615) 871-4849 if you would like more information on the Lions contribution to the school.

 

 

SIGHT AND HEARING RELATED:

 

 

Diabetes Awareness

Chairman Lion Lynn Smith

 

Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the United States. Many people who are diabetic are not aware that they are affected by this disease. In order to raise awareness of the dangers of this disease in our communities, we are implementing a new program here in our District.

 

We are working with Bayer HealthCare Diabetes to have glucometers in District 12L. These, and the supporting informational packets, will be available to any club who wishes to provide a “Diabetes Screening” in their community. Training in the proper use of the equipment, as well as the appropriate procedure for doing the screenings will be available prior to the event. *We are trying to get these glucometers at the time of writing this document.

 

 

KidSight Outreach

District Coordinator - Lion Tom Palmer

 

KidSight Outreach is a Tennessee Lions program that has spread globally. Lions here in

Tennessee work to screen eyes in preschool age children to try to catch visual problems early enough to correct them. According to the website for the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, an estimated 3% of the children born here in Tennessee suffer from an eye condition that can be found and corrected with proper screening.

 

Lions District 12L has many eye screening instruments available for clubs to use in setting up screening for preschool age children. We also provide the training and forms necessary to carry out these events here in West Tennessee.

 

After the screening event is held, the forms are forwarded to the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital for review and contact with the parent or guardian for follow-up where necessary.



Lions Mobile Eye Clinic

Lions Mobile Eye Clinic Driver/Scheduler – Lion Kenneth Perry

Executive Director - PDG Ray Murphey

 

You may have seen our Mobile Eye Clinic, or “Sight Van” at your local school or, perhaps, some other community event. Funded in part by a grant from LCIF, and by many others who donate to keep it operational, the Mobile Eye Clinic travels all over West Tennessee with Lion Kenneth Perry behind the wheel. Kenny is usually available to come to your local school, fair, or other public gathering to help Lions Club members exam the eyes of people of all ages.

 

 

 

Mid-South Lions Sight & Hearing Services

Chairman Lion Carolyn Schriber

 

If you are a member of any Lions Club in West Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri or Mississippi, then YOU are a member of the Mid-South Lions Sight & Hearing Services. Mid-South provides free services (with a Lions Club sponsorship) to people suffering from eye disease or hearing impairment. Those services include: cataract surgery, treatment for diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, prosthetic eyes, surgery for detached retinas, cornea transplants, surgery for crossed eyes, low vision therapy, hearing aids and other hearing loss related surgeries.

 

In order for someone to receive these services, they must meet the Federal guidelines as an indigent, a Lions Club must complete the appropriate (sight or hearing) application,  and they are then placed on a waiting list. An eye exam for eye services is helpful in determining the treatment they are seeking, though HIPPA laws must be complied with. For hearing services a check in the amount of $225.00 must accompany the application.

 

The waiting time for sight and hearing services varies depending on the available funds to complete the treatments. Supporting funds come from CORE 4 grants from LCIF, donations from Lions Clubs, individuals and other organizations. The Hamilton Eye Institute also gives us credit for volunteering at the Clinic. Amanda at Mid-South has the details on what volunteering options are available to help us offset the costs of treatments. There are also fun and rewarding opportunities to provide financial support through the “President’s Secret Service” and the “Dahlstrom Award”. Continuing financial support options are also available.

 

For more information you may visit their website at: www.midsouthlions.org. The financial criteria for patients is located on the website, along with applications for services that can be printed out.

 

 

The Star Center

 

Located in Jackson, Tennessee, Star Center is a non-profit organization that provides assistance and training to people who struggle with vision, hearing and other learning challenges. The Star Center was started by Lion Chuck Doumitt and his wife Margaret when their young children became blind in the late 80’s. Unable to find support in the area to help them with this situation, they decided to provide their own assistance. The Star Center grew from there.

 

Though Star Center is not officially a District 12L project, Lion Chuck has been a great supporter of District 12L Lions and has provided us with a gathering place in the past and will be the site of our Organizational Meeting on July, 30 and our Fall Conference on October 22, 2011. You can find out more about Star Center and its services by visiting their website at: www.starcenter.tn.org.

 

Student Volunteers for Optometric Services to Humanity

(SVOSH)

Chairman Lion Dr. Beth Sparrow

 

SVOSH is a group of volunteer students from the Southern College of Optometry who travel within their communities, usually with their local Lions Clubs, and throughout the world. They provide eye screenings, exams and services where needed. There are about 90 members in the Southern College of Optometry Lions Club, a campus club in the Memphis area. They work with other local Lions Clubs with follow-up care after they do their eye screenings. Our district Lions benefit by having these dedicated eye care professionals on hand.

 

SCO Lions Club and SVOSH (their main project) accept used eyeglasses and sunglasses for redistribution in third-world countries. The students travel to rural areas in Central and Southern America, providing their services where people would otherwise not receive this care. More can be learned about this project of our fellow Lions at this campus club by visiting their website at: www.svoshsco.org.

 

 

 

 

Tennessee Lions Charities (TLC)

District 12L Directors:

1. Lion Tom Palmer (2009-2012)

2. PDG Robert Hurt (2010-2013)

3. PDG David Martin (2011-2014)

 

Established in 1995, Tennessee Lions Charities is the non-profit (501(c)3) organization for the Lions of the State of Tennessee. This was initially set up to handle the monies being collected to begin the KidSight Outreach Program through the Tennessee Lions Eye Center for Children at the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, but is used also to handle collection of monies for all projects at the state level. The benefit of this is to provide an agency that fits the Internal Revenue Service’s definition for tax-deduction purposes. Most Lions Clubs in our state have not filed for this exemption, and many large companies and organizations require that designation for donations.

 

Similar to the Melvin Jones Fellow of the Lions Clubs International Foundation, the Tennessee Lions Charities also has a Fellowship. This Fellowship is called the “Lindsey-Jennings Fellowship”. This fellowship honors the two men under whose stewardship TLC began, Past International Presidents Edward Lindsey and Austin Jennings. For a $1,000 contribution anyone can purchase or receive this award. The recipient will receive a plaque, letter and pin, along with the assurance that the money will be used here in the state of Tennessee to further our humanitarian works. More information on this can be obtained by contacting PDG Lynn Wilhoite at (615) 690-8644 or by e-mail at lynn_md12hq@tnlions.com.


INTERNATIONAL


Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF)

Chairman: Vacant

 

Lions Clubs International Foundation is the charitable arm of our Lions Clubs. It is how we reach out to our communities locally and globally in times of disaster and for assistance in large humanitarian projects. Getting money where it’s needed costs the Foundation $0.08 for every $1.00 provided. Since the establishment of LCIF in 1968 Tennesseans have donated right at $3,000,000 and have received over $2,750,000 back in grants. Those grants have helped to set up the KidSight Outreach Program through the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, provided funds to the Mid-South Lions Sight and Hearing Services in Memphis and have been distributed throughout Tennessee for assistance in tornado and flood recovery.

 

LCIF reminds me of the story my mom used to tell me called “Stone Soup”. Though it’s great to be able to contribute $1,000 for a Melvin Jones Fellowship, it’s not always financially possible. But, if we remember that every little contribution that is made goes into the pot, along with all the other “little” contributions, pretty soon we have a large amount of money to help in times of need. Check out the impact that we have when our money is pooled together at the International level by going to the Foundation’s website: www.lcif.org. You will also see the good we are doing around the world, and here in our own back yard, in every issue of “Lion” magazine.

 

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