NOV_DEC_Lions

In My Opinion
by Van C. Stone, Executive Director

WILL YOU JOIN?

It is hoped that this is not a rhetorical question begging to be ignored. Rather it is my wish that it be taken very serious, as I believe that the answer is extremely complex and most important. As human beings we “join” many things—churches, the Armed Services, fraternities/sororities, social, professional, and service organizations. I guess you could say that we like “belonging” to something or to being members of an identifiable group. There was a time when men and women only joined those things to which they were able to commit their time, talent, and money. The causes represented by these organizations were important to us and we truly committed ourselves to them. Our Lions of Illinois Foundation has embraced a magnificent Vision “to create a permanent vehicle for the delivery of programs and services to the visually and hearing impaired”. The question before each one of us is, “Will we join in the quest to make this Vision a reality”? I do not mean passive acceptance of the Vision, but rather making a strong commitment to it expressed in hard work and action. How do you suppose we can make it happen?

1. Participating in all Foundation fundraisers!
a. Candy Day
b. Sight and Sound Sweepstakes
c. Tootsie Pop Day
d. Diabetes Awareness
e. Walkathon
f. Birdies for Charities
2. Being a Sustaining Supporter
3. Becoming a Foundation Fellow
4. Leaving a bequest in your Will!
5. Adopt A Camper

The question still stands! Will you embrace the opportunity that Providence has placed before the Lions of Illinois? In short, “Will you join your brothers and sisters in Lionism who have already joined the quest for an honorable destiny—our Vision”?


The vision of the Lions of Illinois Foundation is to create a permanent vehicle for the delivery of programs and services to the visually and hearing impaired. A powerful statement and commitment to the future of Lionism and the needy in Illinois.		In My Opinion by Van C. Stone, Executive Director WILL YOU JOIN? It is hoped that this is not a rhetorical question begging to be ignored. Rather it is my wish that it be taken very serious, as I believe that the answer is extremely complex and most important. As human beings we “join” many things—churches, the Armed Services, fraternities/sororities, social, professional, and service organizations. I guess you could say that we like “belonging” to something or to being members of an identifiable group. There was a time when men and women only joined those things to which they were able to commit their time, talent, and money. The causes represented by these organizations were important to us and we truly committed ourselves to them. Our Lions of Illinois Foundation has embraced a magnificent Vision “to create a permanent vehicle for the delivery of programs and services to the visually and hearing impaired”. The question before each one of us is, “Will we join in the quest to make this Vision a reality”? I do not mean passive acceptance of the Vision, but rather making a strong commitment to it expressed in hard work and action. How do you suppose we can make it happen? 1. Participating in all Foundation fundraisers! a. Candy Day b. Sight and Sound Sweepstakes c. Tootsie Pop Day d. Diabetes Awareness e. Walkathon f. Birdies for Charities 2. Being a Sustaining Supporter 3. Becoming a Foundation Fellow 4. Leaving a bequest in your Will! 5. Adopt A Camper The question still stands! Will you embrace the opportunity that Providence has placed before the Lions of Illinois? In short, “Will you join your brothers and sisters in Lionism who have already joined the quest for an honorable destiny—our Vision”?

Lions Night at the For several years, your Lions of Illinois Foundation has secured a limited number of discounted tickets to a Chicago Bulls game. On January 14, 2006 (Saturday night), a limited numbers of Lions will have the opportunity to see the fabulous Chicago Bulls, raise a few dollars for our Foundation, and show the world that Lions can have fun while helping others at the same time. If you wish to join some fellow Lions and some of the people we serve to enjoy the NBA Bulls as they conquer the Indiana Pacers, please order your tickets as soon as possible. Tickets have been discounted to $34 per ticket-Level 3 (normally $40).
Upcoming LIF Events… Mark Your Calendar November 4-6, 2005 Board of Trustees meeting The Chateau, Bloomington, IL January 8, 2006 Coordinators meeting The Chateau, Bloomington, IL January 14, 2006 5 th Annual Chicago Bulls Outing United Center, Chicago, IL February 10, 2006 Candidate orientation The Chateau, Bloomington, IL February 11-12, 2006 Board of Trustees meeting The Chateau, Bloomington, IL May 5-6, 2006 Tootsie Pop Day May 18-21, 2006 Board of Trustees meeting & State convention Naperville Holiday Inn Select Naperville, IL June 4, 2006 2 nd Annual Night Walk Danada Equestrian Center Wheaton, IL July 10-16, 2006 John Deere Classic “Birdies for Charity” Moline, IL				LIF Staff Directory Main Line : 815-756-5633 V TTY: 815-748-9088 Fax: 815-748-9087 Staff Van C. Stone , Executive Director - Ext. 227 Mario J. Gumino , Accounts Manager - Ext. 224 DiAnne Ortega , Receptionist - Ext. 221 Joanne M. Delby , Development Coordinator - Ext. 222 Sherry A. Radek , Assistant to the Exec. Dir. - Ext. 223 Alan D. Wilson , Camp Lions Registrar - Ext. 231 Susan F. Young , Sight & Hearing Coordinator – Ext. 240 Joe Krenkel , Hearing Bus Driver/Tech - Ext. 224 Joy Knollenberg , Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Tech. - Ext. 240 The LIF Office is open 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays

			CONGRATULATIONS LIONS! The Lions and Lioness of Illinois have demonstrated that Birdies for Charities is an excellent way to help grow our Lions of Illinois Endowment Fund. We have just received the report from John Deere and most importantly, two checks representing the excellent support the Lions gave this tremendous fundraiser. We received the following checks: Paid Pledges $54,200.69 Bonus Bucks $ 5,426.82 Total Received $59,627.51 The interesting point to be made is that we have barely scratched the surface as to the real potential of this fundraiser. If every Lion and Lioness would accept the responsibility to secure a pledge of one penny per birdie, over $400,000 would be raised each year for our Endowment Fund. That’s right, just one penny per birdie pledged per Lion and our Vision could become a reality in the future. This doesn't’t mean that the Lions need to reach in their own pocket in every case, but simply to find someone willing to pledge to our great work while offering them the opportunity to win a car or other great prize. For now, every Lion & Lioness is extended the gratitude of the people we serve for their generosity and perseverance. Let us recognize their gratitude by making next year even greater.

	The Goodwill Ambassador's Challenge Details in the February/March Issue


2006 LIF Sight and Sound Sweepstakes Sweepstakes Campaign January 2006 until the Foundation Breakfast at the State convention in May . (Plan on attending the Foundation Breakfast). Each Lions & Lioness Club should receive Sweepstakes tickets & a 2006 How to Manual prior to their first Club meeting in January 2006. If your Club does not receive Sweeps tickets by the middle of January, contact Joanne at our Foundation. Additional Sweepstakes tickets are available (after the 1st of the year) from our Lions of Illinois Foundation (800 955-5466, Joanne at ext. 222). Club Involvement Appoint an enthusiastic / ambitious Sweepstakes chairperson. Distribute Sweepstakes tickets to Club members at your first club meeting in January. (Also, get tickets to those members not in attendance at this meeting.) Explain How & Why this is a very important fundraiser for both our Lions of Illinois Foundation & your Lions / Lioness Clubs hearing & sight related projects. Keep information on both the Sweepstakes program & our Foundation in front of your Club members each month of the campaign (this is the only way that SWEEPS tickets will be sold). Collect money & tickets & return to our Lions of Illinois Foundation during the first week of May or bring to the State convention (no later than 10 am on the morning of the breakfast). If your Club does not sell raffle tickets, consider purchasing your Clubs tickets (Club’s have also been winners) or send a dollar donation to our Foundation & ‘mark’ for the 2006 Sweepstakes campaign. Basically, this project is cost free to participating Clubs. The Sweepstakes Program Winners will be drawn toward the end of our Foundation Breakfast at the State convention. First prize is $5,000 with (5) $1,000, (10) $500, & (10) $250 prizes. If the seller will complete the back of each ticket they sell, they can also be a winner. In addition to the prizes listed above many children & adults are Sweepstakes winners, as the money raised from sweepstakes is used to support the various programs & services of our Lions of Illinois Foundation. If your Club would like additional information on the Sweepstakes or on our Foundation, contact your District Sweepstakes coordinator or your District Trustee (contact information should be in your District directory).

LION JACKIE SMITH RECEIVES COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD < Lion Jackie Smith displays the $2,500 check for the LIF received with the AIG Community Spirit Award. Pictured L-R – Lion Rosella Smith, Lion Jackie Smith, & Lion Joyce K. Schroeder, PDG. Each year, AIG American General recognizes selected employees whose volunteer efforts on behalf of not-for-profit organizations merit acknowledging. Accordingly, Lion Jackie Smith of the Springfield Lincolnland Lions Club was bestowed with the AIG American General Community Spirit Award. Lion Smith was recognized for her volunteer work on behalf of the Lions of Illinois Foundation and was presented with a $2,500 grant for the organization Lion Smith truly understands the great cause of Lionism and the singular focus of our Foundation, as she was inspired to join the Lions by her mother-in-law, Rosella .Smith, who is legally blind and active in the Lions. Our Foundation has embraced a great Vision “…to create a permanent vehicle for the delivery of programs and services to the visually and hearing impaired.” In keeping with this magnificent formulation, Lion Smith has dedicated significant time and effort in collecting used prescription eyeglasses and hearing aids, participating in the decision-making process for the purchase of eyeglasses for Springfield school-age children, and she single-handedly managed the purchase and the distribution of gifts for blind residents at a Springfield care facility. Lion Smith also works on Candy Day and Tootsie Pop Day which helps send blind and deaf children to camp, provide low-vision instruments to children with low vision problems, screen adults for diabetic retinopathy and others vision disorders, and screen young children and adults for hearing problems—all provided free of charge. Smith has also received the highest honor bestowed by the Foundation. In 2003 she was named a Lions of Illinois Foundation Fellow , which recognizes ongoing assistance and dedication to those in need. When a Lion shares honors received with their Foundation, all to benefit those we serve, it says volumes about that individual and the organization benefited. On behalf of all Illinois Lions, Lion Jackie Smith is hereby accorded our heartfelt gratitude. Volunteers speed the process Each of the pictured groups below answered the call to lend a hand in the sorting, separating, and boxing of donated eyeglasses and hearing aids. With over 300,000 arriving annually, it is a challenging task to keep ahead of the flow. Each donation is gratefully welcomed in the campaign to aid the visually & hearing impaired around the world. Help is always needed, perhaps your club would like to commit to a few hours of volunteer work. Contact Alan Wilson at adwilson@tbc.net to arrange a visit. DeKalb Evening Lions visited the LIF in October to clear the hallways of donated glasses & hearing aids. In attendance were President Rose Swanberg, Clarence & Maxine Divine, Glenn Moody, Dean Burgemeister, Lee & Myra Stone, Bill Draper, 1-J VDG Ed Kelly and wife Pam, Rick Tonozzi, PDG, Bob Conrad, Dennis Hadley, Caroline Werline, Joanne Delby, and event photographer Susie Halverson (not pictured). Elgin Youth Academy rolled up their sleeves to help the visually impaired by sorting eyeglasses on "Make A Difference Day" 2005. Lion Bob Cywinski, Leo Club Coordinator for District 1-J, organized the event. Sun City Huntley Lions Club made a record 23 visits, totaling 92 hours of volunteer service as their commitment to eyeglass sorting & the visually impaired the LIF serve. Pictured are Sandy Beck, Gretchen Lane, Rose Jelonek, Judy Kozik. Other volunteering members (not pictured) have included Bonnie Bradbury, Janice Pearson, Grace Phelps, Josie O'Hara, Sue Floden, Jean & Genevieve Boutier, Jeanne Henley, Mary Lou Jacobs, Mary Werner, & Dee Menconi. Peoria Heights Suburban Lions have made three trips to aid in the campaign to process needed eyeglasses & hearing aids. Pictured are (front L-R) Sec. Carolyn Dodge, Ben Dodge, PDG, (back row L-R) Bill Miller, Pres. Paula Miller, and John Allsworth, PDG.

Lions Share

The official newsletter of the Lions of Illinois Foundation

Indeed we are thankful, we truly could not continue our LIF mission without our Lions family.

We Wish each of you the very best of the Holiday Season.

Sincerely,
Van, Mario, Joanne, Susan, Sherry, DiAnne, and Alan

LIF Staff Directory

Staff

CONGRATULATIONS LIONS!

2006 LIF Sight and Sound Sweepstakes

LION JACKIE SMITH RECEIVES
COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD

Volunteers speed the process

For all those Lions who have doubts we don't touch lives, read this letter and believe.

Do you believe its worth it now?


	Is it really worth it ? For all those Lions who have doubts we don't touch lives, read this letter and believe. Sterling Noon Lions Club Vision Chairperson Ever since I have had my drivers license I can remember someone from your organization standing in the middle of the road selling rolls of hard candy at least once or twice a year. I can almost hear myself complaining about the inconvenience it was to me for this little delay in time. How self centered we humans can be! Here you people are out there volunteering your time for a good cause and the rest of us complain about a 15 second delay in our so important lives. I am now 50 years old and out of work due to diabetic neuropathy. And guess what? I needed glasses but couldn't afford them. There you Lions people were again! Freely giving back to me what I complained about giving in the first place. I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart for my new glasses. I will never again complain about being delayed for what 10 seconds? Thank you for your selfless service to our community. Next time I will look forward to seeing your volunteers. Sincerely, Douglas Scott Dawson Do you believe its worth it now?
	The Lions Share Newsletter is a publication of the Lions of Illinois Foundation. Please address all comments or requests to: Alan Wilson, 2814 DeKalb Avenue Sycamore, IL 60178 or call 1-815-756-5633 ext. 231, or e-mail at adwilson@tbc.net.