It is my honor to be serving as President of your Virginia Lions Hearing Foundation & Research Foundation, Inc. during the twenty-fifth anniversary year. Over the previous quarter of a century this foundation has exemplified our motto "We Serve". The work that the UVA Medical staff has performed with the assistance of the Virginia Lions is something that you can’t put a price on. We know that many who could not hear at all now hear. Many who did not hear well, now hear much better and for those who had no hope in the past it is likely that the latest research will provide a means to correct their hearing deficiencies. To all involved, thanks for 25 years of wonderful accomplishments that we can to be proud of as we look to the next 25 years.

Our Annual Meeting was well attended this year. Most of us had our first chance to tour the new facilities at the University of Virginia Medical Center. We saw first hand some of the latest equipment for advanced medical procedures and auditory research. Each time I have toured these facilities, I always come away more impressed with what is being done to help the deaf and the hearing impaired.

Lions, Lionesses and Leos, this is your Foundation and we need your financial support and that of your club. We welcome club and individual donations. Please invite your District Hearing Chair to visit your club for a presentation this year. At each our District Fall Conferences there is to be a person representing our Foundation, be sure to utilize them toward your District hearing plan. This is truly what Lionism is all about, our service to those in need making a positive impact on their quality of life. Your Hearing Foundation is doing this on a regular basis.

Please feel free to visit the Hearing Foundation at UVA whenever you can. I hope all of you have a very productive year in Lionism as we serve those in need.

Yours in service,