Everything you ever wanted to know, but were afraid to ask!

1. District 23 B Lions Orientation Everything you ever wanted to know, but were afraid to ask!

2. Who Are the Lions? • The World’s Largest Service Organization • Over 1.2 Million Members (Men and Women) • 44, 389 Clubs • 751 Districts • 202 countries Worldwide

3. How Did It All Begin ? • June 7, 1917 • Chicago area businessman, Melvin Jones organized the first Lions Meeting (Note: Melvin Jones was never an International President) • October 1917, the first Lions Convention was held in Dallas, TX, with 22 clubs participating

4. Lions Motto We Serve

5. Mission Statement • To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs.

6. The Lions Emblem

7. Helen Keller’s Challenge • 1925—Lions Convention • Keynote Speaker is Helen Keller • “Knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.”

8. Lions Clubs International Foundation • The Charitable Arm of the International Association of Lions Clubs—Major Grants and Disaster Relief • Campaign SightFirst raised more than $150 million for curable and preventable blindness • $750,000 in grants given to Connecticut Lions for major endeavors over the last ten years. • Melvin Jones Fellowship—Opportunity to honor and recognize fellow Lions or citizens of the community • New England Melvin Jones Dinner—Each March • Campaign SightFirst II has raised $204 million, exceeding its goal of $200 million.

9. Some Accomplishments of LCIF • Since 1991, LCIF has saved or restored the sight of 27 million people worldwide. • Delivered 88 million doses of Mectezan to prevent River Blindness in 9 million people in 12 equatorial countries • Performed over 5 million cataract surgeries. • Established over 650 eye clinics in underdeveloped countries. • Is working to eradicate Trachoma from Central Africa.

10. Lions Eye Health Program • Retinal imaging • Glaucoma Screening • Visual Acuities • Visual Field Screening • This is a Screening—not an eye exam • Clubs sponsoring Health Fairs with Vision Screening

11. What about in Connecticut? • In Connecticut MD 23: • Almost 6000 members • 155 Clubs Statewide • Three Districts: • 23 A 23 B 23 C • One Multiple District MD 23 • We belong to District 23 B with 54 Clubs • Hartford and Litchfield Counties

12. MULTIPLE DISTRICT 23 CONNECTICUT DISTRICT 23 B HARTFORD & LITCHFIELD COUNTIES DISTRICT 23 C WINDHAM, TOLLAND NEW LONDON & MIDDLESEX COUNTIES DISTRICT 23 A FAIRFIELD & NEW HAVEN COUNTIES

13. Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation • Run by a Board of Directors comprised of Lions from all three districts. • Raises funding for grant distribution for continuing research in eye disease. • Largest Recipients—Yale Eye Center and the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington. • Macular Degeneration Research--Yale • Connecticut Lions Vascular Eye Center--UConn • Lions Eye Health Program • Knights of the Blind • Sight Saver Day

14. INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIONS CLUBSORGANIZATIONAL CHART Board of Directors 33 Elected Directors 1st VP President 2nd VP District Cabinet District Governor Vice Dist Governor Cabinet Sec/Treas Region Chairs Zone Chairs Zone Chairs Zone Chairs Club Club Club Club Club Club Club

15. DUES STRUCTURE • International Dues………………………$ 39.00 per year • Multiple District 23 Dues Administration…………..….$1.00 Convention Fund………..…..1.60 Outgoing Governors Fund….0.85 Promote Connecticut Fund…0.55 Subtotal...........................4.00 per year • District 23 B Dues…………………………..5.90 per year Total $ 48.90 per year • Plus club dues which vary from club to club.

16. LCIF—Lions Clubs International Foundation Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation Lions Low Vision Center (Vision Rehabilitation) LEHP (Lions Eye Health Program) Retinal Imaging/Eye Screenings Leo Clubs Lions Day with the UN CRIS Radio Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation American School for the Deaf Eyeglass Collections Youth Outreach/Activities Peace Poster Contest Major Endeavors of District 23 B

17. Lions Low Vision Center, Inc • Owned by all 23 B Lions--Run by Lions Board of Directors • Provides Vision Rehabilitation for those with significant vision loss. • Provides Aids and Devices to the Visually Impaired • Support Groups, adaptive technology training • Takes referrals by Lions, Physicians, and self referrals • Ambassador of Sight Recognition • Changing Lives every day—More than 1200 people helped last year in Connecticut • Berlin Blues Festival

18. Every March Connecticut Lions Attend: Enjoy the bus trip to the United Nations Learn about the International peace keeping efforts of the UN Bring the winner of your Peace Poster Contest Bring your Leo Club Members

19. CRIS Radio—Connecticut Reading Information System • Reads the local newspapers to the blind, physically handicapped, and print handicapped. • Special programs on a daily basis • Volunteer Readers • Links the visually impaired or print handicapped to the local community.

20. Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation • Placing 100 guide dogs yearly • Foster program • Sponsor a Guide Dog • In community training • Heavily supported by Connecticut and New England Lions

21. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States • Spring Fundraising by Lions • Main office in Wallingford • Printed Materials available for Lions Health programs • Screening programs/Diabetes Expos • Health Education • Dietary Assistance • Diabetic Classes

22. The Oldest School for the Deaf in the United States • The Lions Computer lab • Software upgrades • Web sites and other technology • Deaf children 3-18 • Opened on April 15, 1817 on Main St. in Hartford • Birthplace of the American Sign language • Located in West Hartford

23. Where do Eyeglasses Go? • Collected in local communities by Lions • Turned in each year at the Governor’s Breakfast • Sorted by the New Britain Lions • Stored by Amodio Movers and shipped by New Britain Lions to clearing house in New Jersey. • Repaired, sorted by prescription, labeled and sent to third world countries for distribution to needy people.

24. Lions Clubs and Local Blood Drives • Disaster Relief • CPR Classes • Emergency Shelter Operations

25. Lions and Kids…… • Leo Programs • International Peace Poster Contest • Kids at Risk—Mentoring Programs • International Youth Camps/Youth Exchange

26. Conventions/Seminars • Multiple District 23 Mid Winter Conference--February • Multiple District 23 State Convention--May • International Convention of Lions—July • USA/Canada Forum—September • Emerging Lions Institute • Senior Lions Leadership Institute

27. THELION MAGAZINE First printed January, 1931 10 issue per year Printed in 22 Languages ENGLISH SPANISH FRENCH SWEDISH KOREAN DUTCH DANISH ICELANDIC ITALIAN GERMAN FINNISH JAPANESE TURKISH CHINESE NORWEGIAN GREEK HINDI POLISH PORTUGUESE THAI FLEMISH-FRENCH INDONESIAN

28. WEB SITES TO REMEMBER • Lions Clubs International www.lionsclubs.org • Connecticut Lions MD 23 www.ctlions.org

29. A Final Thought… “Service is the essence of greatness. All great men and women became great because they gave some talent or ability in the service of others. And no matter how small our talent, we too can contribute in some way to others—we too can become great.”

30. We Serve