THE NORTHEAST LION “WE SERVE”

Issue No. 7 January, 2018

Table of Contents: Governor’s Letter Page 2 1st VDG’s Letter Page 3 2nd VDG’s Letter --------- District 14H & State Calendar Page 4 What’s in the Zone? Page 5-6 Membership Page 7 Information from District Chair(s) Page 8 For The Good of The District Page 9-11

Hello One and All, Do you ever wonder what all you could accomplish as a Lion or for your club or maybe even for your district? Could we take it a step further and wonder what we could do for the state or the country or even better yet, for the world? I was once told that there is no such thing as a useless Lion and I have to say, taking it into perspective, that it is a true statement. See, by even paying their dues, they are helping others on a large scale. How? By paying their dues. It all trickles down and everyone gets their share. The club gets a portion, the state and LCI get their portions and it is what keeps the wheels turning. But why just be a dues paying member? There are some that cannot help it, because of their age or their health, a family matter or other reason that we are not even aware of. Reach out to those members, keep them in the loop. Maybe they just feel disconnected and need to feel needed. In the past 6 months, our district has dropped 30 members. Why? Was there something that we could have done to prevent this? Why did they choose to not be a Lion any longer? Unfortunately, jobs and family can cause us to move and that, just like death, we have no control over. But when they left, did we assist or encourage them to locate a Lions Club where they were moving to? I hope so! I sincerely encourage each and every one of our 832 Lions in 14H; as they begin to reflect what the past year has brought them to and where they are moving forward to in 2018; to consider, why are we serving and can we serve more? As for me, it seems just like yesterday that I got into line to be governor and now I only have 6 more months to go in this part of my journey. And that is what it has been, a journey, and one that I have thoroughly enjoyed. But I believe that my work is not done yet, so hold on to your hats and let’s get this New Year started and see what new adventures there are for us! Last but not least, make sure that you send a warm welcome to IPDG Dave Barrett who is our newly appointed District Treasurer. I served with IPDG Dave for two years on the cabinet when I was 2nd and 1st and it is now my honor and privilege to be serving with him again. Welcome Dave, and Thank You!

Happy New Year and God Bless, DG Cathy

“Happy New Year” Lion friends!

So many wonderful experiences were enjoyed by our Lions and Leos in 2017. But now it is

time to make new and even more awesome plans and see where and how we can serve in

ways we never served before. At the last VDG training in Harrisburg we were given buttons to

wear that simply said, WHADITW. I’m sure that most of you can quickly figure out this

acronym. It is the reason many clubs are not as active or vital in their communities. It may also

be why some new members only last a short while as Lions before they move on to another

way to serve their communities. It can be part of the reason why our numbers are still falling.

“Situational volunteering” is the new vernacular for volunteers. People like to volunteer

once in a while for a cause they believe in and then go home. We as Lions like being a part of a

club or organization. We see the bigger picture of a world that needs what we as Lions

provide. Serving locally is just one part of what we do. Yes, it is a very important part, and this

is why we need to invite prospective members to join us. Ask someone you know to help at a

fund raiser or service project. Only then will they see the physical evidence of why they should

join our ranks to better our world. Many great Lions have volunteered with a club for quite a

while before actually becoming a Lion. Wayne Madden, the International President the year I

was the DG, worked diligently with the Auburn Indiana Lions Club for years before someone

actually asked him to join.

When we get that new recruit we need to mentor him and help him understand what being

a Lion really is. But here is where we sometimes shoot ourselves in the foot. New ideas need

to be listened to and given a chance. If he is told that his ideas have no merit you are basically

saying, thank you but no thank you, we are just going to do what we always do. The world has

changed immensely since Melvin Jones brought his dream to fruition and Lions became what

we are today. The world has changed. How we serve must change. How can we be current if

we don’t change? It is now 2018. Let’s move forward. Oh yes, that acronym, the bane of

Lionism. We Have Always Done It That Way!

I will proudly join you as we change our world through exceptional service.

May God bless all your endeavors both personal and Lions as we live out our motto,

“WE SERVE”. VDG Bill

14H AND STATE CALENDAR

Sight First & Hearing Winter Break…… No Meetings in January and February March 8, 2018 TBA Eye Screenings / Kidsight Contacts have been made with Hildebrandt Daycare at Montage in Moosic and Here We Grow Daycare in Olyphant to schedule eye screenings. If you have a contact for a daycare, please contact either DG Cathy or 1st VDG/PDG Bill Metschulat. LCI: January 8-14, 2018 World Wide Service Week to Fight Hunger State Council: February 2-3, 2018 in Breinigsville, PA State Convention: May 18-20, 2018 at Penn Stater Conference Center, State College District Events 3rd Cabinet Meeting - Sunday, February 11, 2018 @ Noon $18pp Happy Valley Sports Bar, 516 Storrs Street, Dickson City Details listed below under “Good of the District” District Convention- Lackawanna Railroad Station, Radisson Hotel, Scranton Friday April 20th, Hospitality & Saturday April 21st Convention Special Event- Saturday, May 12, 2018 – ProCare/Lions Event @ Jefferson Twp. Lions 4th Cabinet Meeting - Sunday, June 3, 2018 @ Noon $TBA Bartioli Winery, 2377 State Route 92, Harding Club Visits: With 22 clubs completed; next year I can pick up where I left off and complete the final 7! January: Moosic on the 4th and Dunmore on the 23rd February: Eynon/Archbald, Jermyn and Jessup on the 5th March: Taylor on the 19th and Mayfield on the 20th 40th Lions Day at United Nations $99 per Lion and $65 per Leo

Zone 1 Gordie Potratz 570-253-5878

Forest City Hawley/Lake Wallenpaupak Collected $7,000+ for the food pantry.

Honesdale Had a dinner for challenged children.

Montrose

Stone Bridge/Susquehanna Completed eye vision screenings.

Waymart

Zone 2 Fran Stepkovich 570-470-7838

Eynon / Archbald Lions Club Lions Club went to Mid Valley Manor and sang Christmas carols and passed

out small gifts to residents, we are working on Lions signs at all entrances to our area.

Our Snowflake Gala is 1/27 at Fiorelli’s in Peckville, $75pp, contact me for reservations, live Music, raffles,

silent auctions, open bar and more. If you can’t attend, I also have tickets for a chance to win a 5 night cruise to

Bermuda for $10 each.

Blakely / Peckville Lions Club Jermyn Lions Club The club is in the process of reorganizing. Let’s wish them well.

Jessup Lions Club Participated in the Santa train donated & passed out hot chocolate. Collected eyeglasses.

Mayfield Lions Club

Scott Twp. Lions Club Valley view LEO’s Club Had an eyeglass Collection. Had a Christmas party for Life skills

Zone 3 Ivar Iverson 570-282-0329

Abington Lions Club

Benton Lions Club DaltonLions Club

Falls Twp Lions Club

South Abington Lions Club

Tunkhannock Lions Club

Zone 4 Jack Horvath 570-489-7834

Lake Ariel Lions Club

Olyphant LionsClub Minisink Lions Club Super Bowl 52 Pool Tickets $10 each. Contact DG Cathy Metschulat 570-504-6261.

Dunmore Lions Club

Nice Job!

Jefferson Twp. Lions Club

Stocking Stuffer January 1st, 2018 Tickets are available and will be available

At the December cabinet meeting Wonderful stocking stuffer prizes.

Olyphant LEO @ Mid Valley

Zone 5 Lion Brian Wilson chefkamel@aol.com

Minooka

Moosic

Old Forge

Ransom

Scranton Central

Taylor

Sample Ticket

District 14-H by the numbers: Abington 42 (-1) Benton 11 (-2) Blakely / Peckville 19 Dalton 10 Dunmore 18 Eynon / Archbald 100(+4) Falls 32 Forest City 23 Hawley / 15 Lake Wallenpaupack - Honesdale 69 Jefferson Township 31 Jermyn 13 Jessup 14 Lake Ariel 18 Mayfield 17 Minisink 35 Minooka 64 Montrose 43 Moosic 26 Old Forge 29 Olyphant 31 Ransom 8 Scott Township 34 Scranton Central 25 South Abington 13 Stonebridge / Susquehanna 19 Taylor 27 (-1) Tunkhannock 22 Waymart 24 Beginning # of Members/29 Clubs 854 Total Dropped Members 30 Total Deceased Members 7 Total Reinstated Members 2 Total New Members 13 Total Members as of 12/31/2017 832 Lions Worldwide: 1,433,737 Footnote for dropped members: Surveys have been mailed to each dropped member that left in good standing. Should any club wish to have a copy of this survey, please contact DG Cathy

Heavenly Father,

Please bless the young ones, as they

have a long way to go.

Please bless the old ones, as they have

come a long way.

Please bless the ones in the middle, as

we have much work to do.

Welcome new members

100th Member for the Eynon/Archbald Lions Club

Beatriz M. Cabrera

Jeffrey G. & Patricia Rieder

Julia K. Munley, Esquire

INFORMATION FROM DISTRICT CHAIRS

Sight First & Hearing Committee: As reported by Lion Irene Masco there is a $50 increase in

the cost for the hearing aids that are being purchased which brings the cost to $500. Based upon that information, during the November Sight First & Hearing meeting, it was voted that each club would be responsible for $250 in place of the $225 as given in the past.

The following and much, much more can all be found on LCI’s website: www.lionsclubs.org

(Found on Falls Lions Club Facebook page, submitted by Lion John Headley)

For the good of the district 14h

Let’s not keep this newsletter a secret! Please share it with your club members so that they can see what is happening in our district as well. Offer to have their email addresses sent to PCC Mark Kusma of the Abington Lions Club at mkusma@abingtonlions.org He is extremely careful not to spread viruses, even when the weather is nice outside In addition, if you are the secretary of a club, please respond to your zone chair when they contact you about what your club has accomplished or is planning. They are volunteers just as you are and it would be appreciated if they had the chance to chat with you, Thank you! They are also in the process of planning zone meetings where folks from each club can get together in a mutual place and just sit down and shoot the breeze about what is going on in each club and getting to know your neighbors. ________________________________________________________________________________________ A great idea for a “service” project during the winter submitted by Global Service Team Chair, PDG Joe Skinner:

Free (not even a donation)

Coffee and / or Hot Chocolate

Served around your community

Warm up inside and out

Meet YOUR Local Lions club

Learn what they do in YOUR Community

You are cordially invited to the 3rd District Cabinet Meeting to be held on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018

516 Storrs Street, Dickson City, Pa

Registration starts at 12 noon and the meeting to start at 1pm All reservations and meal payments are to be mailed to District Secretary Joy Lewis at 2027 Prospect Avenue, Scranton 18505 by February 4, 2018. The cost is $18pp with a cash bar. The meal will be a buffet style dinner. Should you have any additional questions you may contact Lion Joy at dutchsdoll2@gmail.com or 570-241-7528. In addition, all items that are to be placed on the agenda must be submitted to Lion Joy two weeks prior to the cabinet meeting. Thank you! I hope that you are able to attend and enjoy great food & fellowship! Thank you, DG Cathy