District 29-I Newsletter June 2019

Together, Let’s Make a Difference

The blockbuster movie Avengers: Endgame was recently released and is setting all box office records. It is an exciting movie, the superheroes solve problems, save the world and each other by working together. But, the movie is fictional. I am in awe of what you as individuals and clubs do each day to make the world better, you all are

the real SUPERHEROS. In the past year, you chartered a new club, set a record breaking Parade of Checks donations to various Lions Charities, 100% of all clubs donated to the West Virginia Lions Sight Foundation and to the Lions Club International Foundation. This is the 4th straight year that 100% of our District clubs have donated to LCIF. We have currently donated $26,919.00, an increase of $3000.00 from last year donations. My deepest thanks to PCC Al Cox, PDG Dave Nicholson, PDG Glenn Ryburn and every Zone Chair for their help in accomplishing these goals.

Your service to your communities have been unbelievable, sponsoring Diabetes Dogs for Children, Stamp Out Hunger event, eye screening, providing glasses and hearing aids, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas events, road clean up, stocking Food Pantries, awarded scholarships to graduating High School Seniors, and scholarships to Camp Kno Knoma. This list could go on and on. To date you have reported 1,919 service activities, 52,285 Lions Hours, and serving 158,783 people.

The 2018-2019 Club Excellence Award Application is published in this newsletter. I would like to see as many of our clubs as possible earn this award. Fill out the application and mail or email the form to me. Remember that I have to sign the form and submit it to LCI by August 31, 2019.

Thanks to every Club Secretary for club reporting on MYLCI, which continues to improve each month. Every club has reported membership and service activities. Club President do not forget to complete the 100% Secretary Award form and return it to me by June 20, 2019. Help me recognize these unsung heroes for all their hard work and dedications,

I am hesitant to talk about membership. I am afraid that I will jinx us. But here we go. We started the year out with 1,580 members. We have dropped 94 members (unfortunately this includes 24 deaths) and added 128 new members. We now have a total of 1,614 members

in District 29 I, a positive growth of 34 members. Thank You! Historically, June is one of our greatest months for recruiting members and I expect our numbers to go up even higher (if I didn’t jinx us). Keep up the good work!

I am excited to look forward to the upcoming year, we have an outstanding team; DGE Ruth Straley, FVDGE John Mason, and SVDGE Sue Long. I have the upmost confidence in their leadership team.

It has been a wonderful experience and a pleasure to be your Governor. Thank You. Every milestone that we accomplished has been due to the hard work and dedication of my CABINET. A special thank you to my District Secretary/Treasurer Sue Long, FVDG Ruth Straley and SVDG John Mason.

I would be remiss if I did not express my appreciation to PCC Doug Long and CC Ken Shahan for attempting to answer my one thousand questions, the support and encouragement they provided to me.

Last, but certainly not least, a THANK YOU to my wife Mary Jane for walking every step with me, providing support and being my sounding board. I could never have accomplished any of the things or made the journey without her.

Hopefully, we “Made a Difference” this past year. I believed that we did and had fun while doing it. I was humbled and honored to serve as District 29 I Governor. DG Rob

LION RUTH STRALEY, FIRST VICE DISTRICT GOVERNOR I am very happy to report that Lion Mickey Nardella is remaining as the Newsletter Editor for the next year. She does an outstanding job pulling together all the pieces to create the newsletter. So if you have anything you want in the newsletter please send it to her at mickey@ma.rr.com with a copy to me. There is a change that I think will be a good one. Soon to be FVDG John Mason will also be the

Secretary for the District. Soon to be SVDG Sue Long will be the Treasurer. We are splitting what has been a single position into two different ones. It will allow us to benefit from Lion John’s club secretary expertise and familiarize him with the District prior to his term as Governor. Lion Sue has already been serving as Treasurer so the bank account is nearby and she is very familiar with all the financial issues of the District especially dues collections. I am grateful to both of them for volunteering to do two jobs at one time. The date for the District I Conference is September 28 at Canaan Valley Resort. I urge each club to have at least one person attend this event. By the way, this is the Leaf Peepers weekend in the area so it will be a scenic weekend to be there. More details will follow. The District C conference is November 1-2 so our District I conference being on September 28th allows five weeks between the two conferences. Several dates for District Governor visits have already been confirmed. I urge you to contact me soonest if you have a traditional date. My cell phone/text is the best way to reach me at 904-608-4715. See you next month in the District Governor’s Message.

Lion John Mason, Second Vice District Governor I was at a school picnic recently where most of the students were playing on the playground. All except one student, this student was in a wheelchair. She so wanted to play on the swings, but could not. During lunch, some of the students asked about getting a wheelchair accessible swing for the park. Lion Kim discussed with the students possible ways to raise the money needed to purchase the wheelchair swing. Lion Kim made contact with the park superintendent and he is very excited about the project. This has led to the students wanting to join

the Leo Club and a possibility of 2 new members. There are opportunities in front of us each day. Opportunity to help someone in need or an opportunity to add a new member. We just need to be aware of opportunities around us. It has been a pleasure to serve a Second Vice District Governor. Lion Kim and I are looking forward to the next year and visiting the remaining 27 clubs in District 29 I. Be on the lookout for us at one of your meetings. If I can provide any assistance to your club, please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone at 304-820-7742 or email me at jlmason0531@gmail.com. Let’s have fun being a Lion serving our communities.

SVDG John Mason

DO YOU SHOP AT AMAZON? Each time customers shop at smile.amazon.com Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of the net purchase price for millions of eligible products to the charity of your choice. There is no additional cost or charge to customers or charities for this. Customers who shop with Amazon Smile can choose a charity to support before they start shopping. You can change to another charity at any time, should you wish. Lions Clubs International Foundation is one of the available charities from which you can choose. To register for Amazon Smile, go to smileamazon.com and register. Select LCIF as your charity and every time you shop at Amazon Smile you will benefit LCIF.

Submit pictures and articles by the 3rd of each month in order to get in the

next month’s newsletter. Send to our newsletter editor

Mickey Nardella at mickey@ma.rr.com

with a text copy to DG Ruth at 904-608-4715

LIONS CLUB OF THE YEAR

(2018 – 2019)

SHEPHERDSTOWN CENTENNIAL

The Philippi Lions Club is having a Pork BBQ on Sunday, June 9, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Blue & Gray Park (Rt 119/250

intersection). The meal includes a BIG 5-inch pork bbq sandwich, with homemade potato salad or coleslaw, baked beans, dessert & drink for

$10. Drive thru service. Take out or eat under the tent with a view of the Philippi covered bridge & Tygart Valley River.

Around the District

Wardensville Lions Club

On May 16, 2019, Dr. Chuck Terrell, Board member of the Hardy County Community Foundation, presents a $1,000 grant to Lion Lorrie Krautwurst for the Wardensville Lions Club’s Story Time Program. Story Time is a weekly reading program for young children held every Friday at 10 am at the Wardensville Library.

Philippi Lions Club

Shepherdstown Centennial Lions Club

Stamp Out Hunger event. 2,500 pounds of food was collected and distributed to local pantries.

In our efforts to continue supporting the citizens of Preston County, the seven Lions Clubs

of Preston County are in the process of planning their 2019 Golf Tournament. The tournament is to be held at the Golf Course of Alpine Lake Resort in Terra Alta, West Virginia on

August 24, 2019. Every Lions Club in Preston County works to support many charities and projects. We provide financial assistance with vision screening and prescription eye wear

for Preston County residents in need. We conduct vision screening for school aged children (staring with preschool) at the beginning of each school year. We can also provide assistance

with the acquisition of hearing aids and diabetes screening.

For additional information contact Jerry Edens at 304.789.2235 or John Myers at 304.288.3750.

Everett A. Lewis Johnstown

May 2019

Darlene A. Cameron Clarksburg Albert Cox II Robert B. Hinerman Clarksburg Adamston Michael Knight Beth A. Burke Clarksburg Main Street Harrison Richard A. Burke Clarksburg Main Street Harrison Yaronn James Arciaga Fort Ashby Nikki Cannon Vincent E. Shambaugh Fort Ashby Kam Jeffries Ansly Wells Martinsburg Centennial Patricia Sewell Robert B. Wells Martinsburg Centennial Patricia Sewell Cheryl A. Wilt Mountain Jeanette Adams Carol L. Powell Short Gap Molly Stevey Brandy L. Shoemaker Short Gap Mary Zembower Timmy A. Shoemaker Short Gap Mary Zembower Evan M. Jordan Stonewood Mary Jordan K. Coty Lee Campbell Tygart Valley E. Campbell Matt T. Lee Tygart Valley Alfred Scalia Allen D. Robinson Tygart Valley James Fincham Bobby L. Snelson Tygart Valley Michael Pizzino Mary Jane Braham Valley District Judy Harder

Lions Club of the Month – May

Small Club – Franklin

Large Club – Jane Lew

Congratulations!

The MiCo in Milan, Italy is the place to be in July!

The Milan Convention Center (MiCo) will host the 102nd Lions Clubs International Convention July 5–9, 2019 in Milan, Italy. The MiCo is one of the largest convention centers in the world and will be the location of three action-packed plenary sessions, an exciting exhibit hall, and the spectacular international show. In addition to the great food, shopping and sights, this year Milan will be celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci. He spent more time in Milan than in any other city. Many of Leonardo’s contributions will be celebrated with exhibitions and tourist itineraries. There are many attractively priced half-day, full and multiple day tours available to visit places like the Swiss Alps, seaside villages and other great cities in Italy.

There still is plenty of time to register to attend the Lions International Convention in Milan. From now through March 31st the registration fee is $200 and from April 1st through the onsite registration in Milan, the fee is $225. To get more info and to register on-line, search lionsclubs.org and click on LCICON on the upper right hand of the page. If you have any questions, please contact MD 29 International Convention Chairperson, PCC Al Cox by phone at 304-216-5251 or email at anewtc2@ aol.com.