Follow the link below to find a special message
titled "Charity leaders offer tips for tough economy, holiday season"
which is on the www.cnn.com website. Our
International President, Al Brandel participated.
Fall Conference Resource Materials
District Governor's Message
Our International President, Lion Albert F. Brandel
selected the slogan “Miracles Through
Service” for the 2008-2009 theme.
Day after day, year after year our miracles through
service fill gaps in out communities. We play the role of the everyday
heroes; we go about our service, greatly enriching the lives of others
without much glory or attention. We make out communities much better
places to live and raise families.
In 2008-2009 we will focus on Community Service, a key
factor of our members. Visible community projects attract new members,
and involving members in hands-on projects keeps members active,
develops their leadership and team work skills, and renews their
commitment to Lionism.
We will focus on Membership. To maintain a strong
thriving membership is necessary to meet community needs through
service. Service is a source of member pride, service helped recruit new
members. Team leadership is necessary to succeed in recruiting and
retaining members as well as organizing new Clubs.
In his presidential year, President Al will celebrate
Lions for performing miracles through service and for being everyday
heroes. This is no about self-congratulation.
Instead, it is a way to further our services. It is to
celebrate Lions Community service, renew pride in what it means to be a
Lion and tell the world at large about that we do build a better
tomorrow. Taking pride in what we do will give us more energy and
motivation to continue our great works and increase our service.
Let us celebrate ourselves, let us tell our story to
those around us and the rest of the world who do not yet know what it is
we do, and how well we do it.
Lions Raise More Than US$200 Million to Save Sight
Bangkok, Thailand, June 26, 2008—Lions
Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and Lions around the world have exceeded
their campaign challenge goal of US$200 million for their flagship, global
blindness-prevention program, SightFirst. Funds raised during Campaign
SightFirst II (CSFII), a three-year worldwide campaign operated by the
international charitable foundation, will save or restore the vision of more
than 37 million people around the world. As of June 26, Lions had raised
US$200,329,000.
Led by 7,000 CSFII Lion volunteers, Lions surpassed their initial US$150 million
goal in February, four months in advance of CSFII’s conclusion. During the final
month of the campaign alone, Lions raised more than US$20 million to surpass the
US$200 million challenge goal.
“The efforts of Lions worldwide over the last three years makes me incredibly
proud to be a Lion,” says Dr. Tae-Sup Lee, Lions past international president
and CSFII chairperson. “Through CSFII, our role as ‘Knights of the Blind’ will
continue for years to come because of the dedication of our volunteers and all
of our donors. Most importantly, LCIF and Lions will be able to continue to
deliver the excellent services of the SightFirst program and thereby ensure that
millions of individuals around the world are able to live with the gift of
sight.”
At
least US$100 million of CSFII funds will be granted through LCIF’s SightFirst
program to contain and eliminate the leading causes of avoidable blindness,
including cataract, the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide.
Another US$50 million will be used to combat new and emerging threats to sight,
including diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and low vision. The funds
raised beyond the US$150 million initial goal will make it possible for Lions to
fund research and rehabilitation initiatives in developed countries. Lions’ goal
is to provide “Vision for All.”
SightFirst was launched by Lions in 1989 to battle preventable and reversible
blindness. Lions estimate US$6 is the average cost to save or restore a person’s
sight through SightFirst. Lions have already restored sight to more than 27
million people by funding cataract surgeries, vision screenings and treatment,
and improved eye-care services for hundreds of millions of people in underserved
areas in 91 countries around the world. Lions have also built eye hospitals in
developing countries and trained eye health care workers where there were
previously none.
CSFII officially concluded during the 91st Annual Lions Clubs International
Convention in
Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday, June 26 when
the final dollar amount raised was announced. More than 18,000 Lions clubs
members, including international media, from around the world were present for
this historic announcement for LCIF.
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