Lions/National Eye Institute Resource Summit

I had the great pleasure of attending the Lions/NEI Resource Summit in Bethesda, Maryland, with 24 Lions, from all over the U.S., all involved in vision initiatives, for a full day of brainstorming and planning.

We reviewed the many vision educational resources currently available to our Lions members and for dispensing to the public. We created a laundry list of new ideas and looking forward to the fulfillment of the action plans of new resources.

I had a free afternoon and took advantage of a beautiful day to take the train into Washington D.C. with PID Dr. Dennis Cobler. We were able to pay tribute to our Veterans at many of our National Memorials. Thank You for YOUR service.

Lions of Michigan Vision Mission to Merida, Mexico

A team of 12, including six "rookies" travelled to Merida, Mexico in the Yucatan peninsula. It was great to be welcomed by the Merida Lions as we excited the plane.
In three days of clinic, we saw 945 patients and provided prescription glasses, sunglasses and needed medications for infections and glaucoma.

Forty patients were referred for follow-up cataract surgery and glaucoma maintenance. Lions Rodrigo and Alejandro were great hosts, as we were invited to Lions homes each night for a special home cooked dinner banquet.

It's incredible what can be accomplished in SERVICE with Lions working together, not speaking the same language, but doing everything possible to serve those in need. Thank you Lions of Merida for opening your homes and hearts to us.

Syracuse, New York 20-Y1

We had a great visit to mid-state New York with District Governor Scott and Stacy Renner. At the Melvin Jones Awards and Robert Uplinger dinner, I had the honor of meeting PID Bob Seibert.

We visited the Harrison Eye Clinic, under the inspired leadership of Dr. Haepner. Over 14,000 patient eyecare visits a year happen because of the support of the 20-Y1 Lions.

Then we saw the most fantastic eye research I have ever seen at the Upstate University Eye Research facility. This is also heavily supported by Lions. Currently, there are seven separate projects working on regenerating tissue in the retina which will lead to the solution of some of our most debilitating eye conditions like macular degeneration. Some earth shaking results will be coming out of this research within the next ten years.

There was a Cabinet meeting on Sunday. Governor Scott does a pushup for every meeting he attends as Governor as is now up to 24 pushups. He will be the strongest, most fit Governor in our Association this year!! I met some new Lions friends in VDGs Joe and Doug, CST Sue, Lion Max, Lion Wayne and great mentors in PDG Dr. Kerry and PDG Stan. It was also great to spend some time with old friends PDG Dr. Paul Weber and Wendy. Cooperstown next time.......

Aurora Borealis Lions Eyeglass Recycling and Vision Center

Congratulations 49B on your Aurora Borealis Lions Eyeglass Recycling & Vision Center.

Providing recycled eyeglasses for those in need around the world and vision care for those in need in Alaska. Had a blast examining a patient in the new exam room with PID "Doc" Meyers.

Thanks to Governor Ed Casey and Rhonda for being such great hosts and an incredible first experience in Alaska, MD 49.

Lions of Alaska.....YOU SERVE!!!!!!

District 49B-Alaska and Yukon Territory

Congratulations District Governor Ed Casey on an outstanding Mid Winter Conference. The weekend was filled with a comprehensive Cabinet meeting and great training in leadership, meeting management, extension, membership, and retention.

We celebrated the first anniversary Charter Night of the Fairbanks Offroad Lions Club. My head is still bobbling after the "off road" ride to dinner. Thanks Lion Phil for sharing your Jeep with us!

Great to see PID Buster and Cheryl and PID "Doc" Meyers again. Met so many great new Lions friends. Lions Bill, Ann, Juanita, Rick, Dodie, Howard, "Ski", Andy, Cory, 49A DG Phyllis and many, many more.

Fairbanks, Alaska MD 49B

Great first day in Fairbanks, Alaska! After three flights to get here, a ton of thanks to District Governor Ed Casey for picking us up at the airport at 12:30am.

Just like Michigan in January, it's 25 degrees and a little snow, with really slippery roads. The sun comes up at 9:00am, but doesn't rise far above the horizon, and then proceeds to circle around until it sets at 6:00pm.

We saw some moose in the wild just off the road. Roadkill here is a lot bigger than in Michigan! We had fun visiting the Hot Springs, the Ice Museum and the Ice Hotel. So glad we did not have to sleep in the big, cold bed!!
Had a tremendous evening of dinner, dancing, fundraising, and costume contest at the "Icebreaker" party sponsored by the Goldstream Lions Club. Dinner was served to us by the local Girl Scouts. What a great way to involve our young people in service and let them meet Lions.

Fayetteville, Arkansas District 71 - Our First ID Visit

District Governor Ron and Marcia Frey, District-7I, were great hosts in Fayetteville, Arkansas, last weekend. It was our first ID visit and it was great! Governor Ron had a fun-filled and informative weekend planned for his convention, which was held on the University of Arkansas campus.
Friday night consisted of a Blue Grass band playing while we all tasted samples of 11 recipes entered in the chili cook-off competition. The competition was fierce and the voting was close for the three top places. This looks like a great competition to be repeated next year on an even larger scale.

Saturday's schedule was filled with awards, a Cabinet meeting, election AND information centered around break-out sessions. These sessions were facilitated by volunteer executives from Walmart Corporation and resulted in a lot of interaction and great ideas from the attendees. During the wrap-up summary session, two of the Walmart volunteers said they would be attending their local Lions Club meeting. Now THATS what we are talking about! Involving people in SERVICE and then they become interested in making a difference in someone's life. It was good to see some establisted friends in PCC John and PDG Wanda Barnett and Lion Brad Baker; and great to meet new Lion friends in Lion Myrna McGee (widow of PID Don), CC Earl Sears, VDG Jennifer Carey, Lion Kelly Ellis, Lion Keri Earwood, Lion Ken Swanson, PDG Bill Johnston and future Lion Scott.

Saturday evening we experienced the most frightening haunted house. This "Nightmares Haunted House" is a gigantic, annual project of the Bentonville-Bella Vista Breakfast Lions Club. Dozens of high school and college students work alongside the dedicated Lions and spouses, scaring the daylights out of everyone, and raising money for all the visually impaired charities the Lions support in Arkansas. Service & fun, an unbeatable combination!


Thank you Governor Ron and Marcia for being such wonderful hosts and making us feel so welcomed and at home. Congratulations on a great convention. Go Arkansas! Woo Pig Sooiee!!!

Directors in Kilts

To fully participate in the Scottish heritage of President Sid Scruggs, the entire Board dressed in traditional attire for our banquet and dinner with the Host Committee at Edinburgh Castle. The men wore kilts and the ladies were in sashes. No, we did NOT totally follow Scottish tradition with our kilts!

LCI Board Meetings

Our first day of the full Board meeting was Friday, followed by a full day of individual committee meetings. I am one of five Directors on the Service Activities Committee. Saturday night meant late night reading of the committee reports in order to be ready for summaries the next day. The last full day of the Board meeting consisted of reviewing all the separate committee reports and resolutions. Voting on the resolutions happened at our last session on Monday morning. At all times we were encouraged to participate and ask any questions. It was a lot of work, but thorough and satisfying.

Touring Scotland

Today is a recovery day after 24 hours of travel. We took a 360 mile bus trip with ID Yamandu and PDG Silvia Acosta (from Alabama) touring the highlands of Scotland. We were able to take a boat out onto Loch Ness and search for the famous monster. We also learned a few of the "rules" of drinking whiskey from a passionate local expert.

LCI individual Board Committee meetings start tomorrow.

Arrival in Edinburgh, Scotland

Cheryl and I arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland this morning and were met by the enthusiastic Host Committee. We were picked up at the airport (along with ALL of our luggage) and driven to the Sheraton Hotel with a room overlooking the Edinburgh Castle. We will be holding our Board meetings there starting Thursday.

After a nap (travelled all night) we are going out to explore the town.

USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum-Milwaukee

We just returned from the USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum in Milwaukee with 2,476 Lion from around North America!

Cheryl was the Chairperson for the Forum store and, with the great volunteer help from many Lions (many of them Michigan Lions!), she sold a record amount of merchandise.

I was able to meet many of the Lions that we will be visiting on our upcoming convention speaking trips over the next two years. I had the pleasure of introducing Past Council Chair and Lions of Michigan State Treasurer, Paul Hemeryck, as he presented Lion Bill Taylor with a Melvin Jones Fellowship for his service making flower arrangements for Hospice patients and their families for over ten years. LCI President Sid Scruggs presented the MJF award on stage before his Presidential message on Saturday.

Cheryl and I are off today for Edinburgh, Scotland, where we will be attending our first Lions International full Board meeting this week.

Elected

Election was Friday and I was elected to be an International Director for the term 2010-2012. The final Plenary Session was highlighted by the speech of "Sully", the pilot that landed the plane safely in the river in January. It was quite a moving presentation on the importance of preparation and teamwork - he is a Lion!!

After Cheryl and I were presented with the new directors on stage, it was great to hear the cheers from the Lions of Michigan in the crowd. We immediately went to a luncheon, followed by my first Board meeting. WOW. It was like being in the United Nations. Translator booths in the back for the interpreters from the four other languages that were spoken by Board members. The seats were in a big square, with the Directors all sitting behind nameplates and microphones and headsets for use when interpretation was needed. The Past International Presidents sat in a ring behind us and then the spouses sat in a row behind them. My first year Director class has US members besides me from South Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Alabama, California and Oregon. Then Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Denmark, Slovenia, Iceland, Brazil and two from India are represented. This is quite a friendly, experienced, articulate and motivated group.

Wednesday in Sydney

Another beautiful, sunny, but chilly day in Sydney.

Opening ceremonies and the highlight was the parade of flags of all the 205 countries that make up Lions Clubs International. All the 17 candidates for International Director had the opportunity to speak for two minutes today. Tomorrow we each have two minutes in front of the WHOLE ASSEMBLY of 12,000 Lions that are in attendance; in front of a caucus where all the Lions were invited.

Sydney

Sorry for the delay in updates. Days and nights fly by.

We arrived in Sydney on Sunday and have been busy meeting all the Lions from the U.S. and around the world. Yesterday (Monday) the final list of candidates for International Director was narrowed down and I am one of the seven for the seven spots to be filled by North Americans! This means that after the vote on Friday, I will be the International Director from Michigan.

Today was the International Parade and the 50 Lions of Michigan followed the Lions of Michigan All State Band in the march. Michigan made a great impression on all of the people that were lining the parade route that ended at the famous Sydney Opera House on the edge of the harbor.

Cheryl and I are busy each day with visits to states and countries that hold a caucus to meet each of the International Director candidates. we usually speak for 2-3 minutes and move on to the next meeting. The evenings are filled with receptions that are held by different countries where the same process happens. It is how the Lions from other countries get to see a little bit of the candidates in person. Tonight we are off to the Canada and Australia receptions.

The weather is in the 60's, but each day has been sunny. Since it is winter here, they think it is cold, but the northern midwesterners are usually wearing short sleeved shirts while the locals are wearing down jackets!

The Australians are great hosts and very friendly, though they do talk a little funny. We even had kangaroo and crocodile pizza!

Monsoon in Auckland, New Zeeland

Well, we arrived safely after a LONG flight from Los Angeles. New Zeeland is much more hilly than I expected. It is winter here, so it is 60 degrees and has been raining for 1 1/2 days. The people are very friendly, but they say WE talk funny! They drive on the left side which has been a real challenge for me. With the steering wheel on the right side and the controls reversed, I keep on turning the windshield wipers on when I am trying to hit the turn signal! Goofy Americans!!

Watching a lot of World Cup and adjusting to the time change before the Convention begins. We are 16 hours AHEAD of GR time until we go to Sydney Sunday morning and then we will be 14 hours ahead. Back to the future.......
Gary and Cheryl

Lions International Convention-Sydney, Australia

Cheryl and I are leaving in two days for the Lions International Convention in Sydney, Australia, where I am competing for the position of International Director of Lions International. There are 34 Directors worldwide, each serving a two year term. Seventeen are elected each year, seven from North America.