THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIONS CLUBS DISTRICT N4 NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR DISTRICT GOVERNOR S NEWSLETTER MARCH 2011

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1 THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIONS CLUBS DISTRICT N4 NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR DISTRICT GOVERNOR S NEWSLETTER MARCH 2011 LIGHTING THE WAY THROUGH LIONISM TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 2 Announcements, notices 3 District Governor s Message 4 Message from the Vice-District Governors 5 Goulds Lions Club convention 6 NL Visually Impaired Curling Team 7 From Hare Bay/Dover Lions Club 8 Pouch Cove Lions Club Appreciation Night 9 LCIF Changes Lives 10 Lions Provide $1.25 Million 11 Appeal from LCIF 12 MD-N Convention Schedule Checked out now Campaign: Type II Diabetes 15 Baccalieu Lions Club The Marathon by the Sea 16 From Council Chair Lion Len Mooney 17 District Governor s Visits DISTRICT WEBSITE: DEADLINE FOR NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS 15TH OF EACH MONTH. Send to g.osborne@eastlink.ca Lewis Fifield District Governor P.O. Box 621 Bonavista, NL A0C 1B0 Tel: (709) lewis@lionsnl.ca Ron Pond Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer P.O. Box 415 Glovertown, NL A0G 2L0 Tel: (709) ronaldpond@nf.sympatico.ca Morgan Pardy 1st VDG P.O. Box 145 Garnish, NL A0E 1T0 Tel: (709) morganthomaspardy@gmail.com Gail Osborne 2nd VDG/DG Newsletter Editor P.O. Box 7504 Clarenville, NL A5A 3A1 Tel: (709) g.osborne@eastlink.ca

2 2 WORLDWIDE INDUCTION DAY Lions Worldwide Induction Day is a worldwide event that welcomes new members and gives Lions the opportunity to stimulate membership growth and increase public awareness. Each year, more than 100 districts celebrate this day to honor the strength and importance of Lions. Clubs are encouraged to continue their usual induction ceremonies. This day is intended as an additional event to complement the club's induction ceremony. Lions Worldwide Induction Day takes places April 9th, District N4 will celebrate this special day during our April Convention - Saturday, April,16th. Clubs are asked to forward names of new Lions in this Lions year to District Membership Chair, Lion Jennifer Hutchings, as soon as possible via villanovaparish@nl.rogers.com Lion Jennifer Hutchings, District Membership Chair Fellow Lions, Sight Conservation and Working with the Blind Submitted by PDG Gerald Hutchings, Chairperson I know some of you have been sending in used eyeglasses, but I do not know for sure from whom or how many. Please advise me at (709) or ghutch@nf.sympatico. I would like to send you banner patches and the year you sent them. If you call me I can better explain this. I need to know how many, that I may compare them with the count from Calgary. I thank the clubs who gave donations to our Journey for Sight Program at the February convention at our April convention. I shall be more than willing to accept more donations from clubs that have not given any. The work that Lion Don Connolly has done promoting visually impaired to become active in playing curling and bowling and other activities is outstanding. Some Lions clubs have been involved with those activities and I would encourage other Lions to become involved. Lion Don Connolly can be contacted by telephoning him at (709) Let us all continue our support to sight conservation and working with the blind. Thank you all, Lion Gerald

3 3 FROM THE DESK OF DISTRICT GOVERNOR LEWIS Well here we are into March; it came in like a Lion and I hope it goes out like a Lamb. We only have four more months to go in this Lions year. So far, I am pleased at how the year has gone and look forward to the remaining months. I have met a lot of great Lions in my travels so far and I hope I can get to visit all Clubs. With only four months left, I guess 1 st VDG Lion Morgan is gearing up for his takeover and I understand that most of his Cabinet is in place. I have a feeling we will have an early spring (At least I hope so). I will not be sorry to see all the snow disappear. I have had many harrowing experiences on the Burin Peninsula Highway these past two months. I should be able to return to Bonavista by the end of March and start my retirement over again. I still have a few Clubs to visit. I am now going to ask the Zone Chairs to arrange the visits to these Clubs for me. The April Convention will be held in Gander and the Gambo Lions Club has agreed to host it. The contact person is Lion Diane Noseworthy. I am sure that Lion Diane and the Gambo Lions will do an excellent Job. I would like to briefly touch on Membership. As you know my goal was to have at least one new member sponsored by each of our 53 Clubs. I am pleased so far that we have an increase of 49 new members, however we have lost 66. (17 of these have passed away) which means that we actually lost 49 members, the same number as we gained. Here is a way to try and increase membership: Let s have an open house and invite your friends, they could be potential new members. This is a great way to get people inside the door, as long as you give them a reason to attend. The open house is a way of informing people and making them aware of what we do how we improve the quality of life in the Community. I will leave you with this thought: Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. All the best Lewis

4 4 Hello Fellow Lions. FROM THE 1ST VICE-DISTRICT GOVERNOR The month of February is now behind us, which means that Winter is now getting shorter, and Spring is just around the corner. February was club Speak-Out Month. I trust each Club has their Speak-Out completed, and is now ready for the Regional Speak-Out. March is Club Officer Nominations Month. Make sure your Club has it's Club Officers nominated, and your PU-101 forms filled out and sent to Lions International. I encourage all Lions to step up and offer themselves for Club Officer. It is also time now for Lions members to let it be known if they want to offer themselves for Zone Chairpersons. The 3rd Lions Convention for Gander is fast approaching, make plans to attend. Looking forward to seeing you there. By now, we have all heard about the devastation that has happened in Japan. I am pleased to say that Lions International were the first on the ground there, with a donation of $1.25 million. That makes us feel very proud to be Lions. I am sure we will be keeping our fellow members in Japan in our thoughts as this plays out. Take care, Lion Morgan VDG *Lionism - Kindness in motion* FROM THE 2ND VICE-DISTRICT GOVERNOR Lions, As I write this message, I hope that Sheila s Brush has come and gone but I wouldn t bet on it. Some would say that our Lions year is two-thirds over; I would say that we still have one-third of the year remaining to continue with our Lions business of serving our communities and the world. Keep sending me your monthly activity and membership reports. It is always great to hear about what Lions in our district are doing. Try to find out for yourself what is happening in Lionism both in N4 and in the world. This District Governor s Newsletter is a good way to learn about a variety of Lions activities locally and in a much wider context. Another way to learn about Lionism is to work on filling out your Visitation Cards. The next four months will provide ample possibilities to record your attendance for Club Visits, Zone Meetings and Activities and District Governor s Organizational Meetings. For example, try to attend your regional Speak Out; many clubs are hosting Charter Nights; the District Speak Out will be held at the N4 Convention in Gander; Multiple District N Convention is in St. John s, May 13 15; Diabetes Cavalcade takes place June 12 in Bonavista. You should have no problem filling your visitation cards, learning more about how Lions serve and having a good time. Talk to you next month. Yours in Lionism, Lion Gail

5 5 Goulds Lions Club hosts banner convention From IRISH LOOP POST The Community Newspaper of the Goulds, the Southern Shore & St. Mary s Bay February 11, 2011 Among the donations given out at the District Lions Clubs convention hosted by the Goulds club last weekend was a cheque to help fight diabetes. On hand were, from left, Lions Len Mooney and Michael Foote, Carol Ann Smith of the Canadian Diabetes Association, Alicia Lawlor, 13, of St. Johns and her mom Joanne Lawlor, and the Lions District Governor Lewis Fifield. Donations were also made to the Lion Max Simms Camp and a trophy was presented to Jacob Manning for winning a poster contest. The Goulds Lions Club hosted another successful regional convention last weekend. At least 20 Lions clubs from the eastern half of the island were represented at the event, which drew some 225 people to the Capital Hotel in St. John s. Long time Goulds Lions Club member and past District Governor Gerald Hutchings chaired the event. The Goulds hosts the event every couple of years for the 50 or so clubs in the eastern region, often alternating the hosting duties with a club in St. John s. With some 40 members, the Goulds club is considered one of the strongest clubs in the province. The beauty about our club is that most of the members are aged around 35, said Hutchings, who is one of the senior hands with more than 30 years of service behind him. We re lucky in that we ve been able to attract younger people in the Goulds. The Goulds club is also the only club in the province that still has a Lioness Club affiliated with it, though women are welcome to become Lions too. It also has a Leo club that boasts about 20 members. Unlike many service groups around the province, the Goulds Lions club is still going strong, even after 33 years of existence. Current Lions Ron Whitten and Eugene Howlett are the only remaining founding members. The club will mark its charter night next month. Hutchings said one of the reasons the Goulds club has been able to attract younger members is thanks to Gord Warford, who joined as a young man some years ago and then enticed a couple of his peers to join. They in turn brought in other young people and the club has grown from there. Hutchings said the biggest challenge for all clubs is retaining members and the Goulds club has discovered the best way to succeed at that is to allow the younger members to take leadership roles and to try new things. Most of the current executive are younger members, Hutchings pointed out. Another reason for its success, Hutchings allowed, is the comfortable social atmosphere. The Goulds club runs two dart leagues in its clubhouse above the Paint Shop in Bidgood s Plaza. Some of the non-club players eventually become Lions. The parking lot in the plaza is also the site of its weekly bingo night held on Sundays from May to September. The bingo is one of the club s most successful fundraising ventures. It s the only drive-in bingo left in the region, said Hutchings. You can also play inside the club if you want to. The bingos and other money-raising ventures fund a long list of public service ventures supported by the Lions. Hutchings reckoned the Lions have put at least $100,000 into the Goulds Arena. They also contribute to the Rec Centre, Bidgood s Park and Journey for Sight, pay for specially trained dogs for the blind, the deaf and people who suffer from seizures, provide scholarships for students and Christmas hampers for needy families, and help fund the operation of the Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp in Central Newfoundland. The Goulds Lions club has also raised money for Hurricane Igor victims and people who have suffered in earthquakes and other natural disasters around the world. Convention We take in money and then we give it out, said Hutchings, who finds as much Chair Gerald satisfaction today from his involvement with the club as he did when he first joined. In fact, it is a memory of his early days with the club that sticks most in his mind and for Hutchings him sums up what the Lions club is all about. This was in our early years when we reflects on used to have our meetings at Ron Chafe s old house in the Goulds, recalled Hutchings. more than It s tore down now. But one of our members, Vince Miller, came in and he said three decades there was a family in an apartment building in the Goulds, a woman with two or three children and no food, and it was coming on Christmas. He said there was only one little of service heater there and all the children were in bed so they wouldn t freeze to death. I said I Gerald Hutchings couldn t believe that in this day and age that something like that could be happening, said Hutchings. With that, the president of the club sent Hutchings to investigate for himself. So myself and Vince went down and it was even worse than what he had said, said Hutchings. The Lions got together and bought toys and food for the children. We even took the Christmas tree we had in the club, decorations and all, and gave it to them, said Hutchings. I remember that more than anything.

6 6 NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED CURLING TEAM PDG Sam Saunders, President of the Alexander Bay Lions Club presenting Craig Turner, skip of the Newfoundland and Labrador Visually Impaired Curling Team with a cheque for $500. Mr. Turner and his fellow visually impaired curlers travelled to Ottawa in February to compete in the Canadian Blind Curling Championships. For the first time in the history of the Championships the Newfoundland team placed in the medals, winning a Bronze in the seven team tournament. Team Canada from Kelowna, BC won the championship for the 7 th straight time. The Newfoundland team placed second in the round robin with 5 wins and 1 loss. The Newfoundland Visually Impaired Curling Team sporting their Bronze medals. Team members are Craig Turner, Deanna O Rielly, Bill Royal, Art Norris, Maurice Colbourne, Don Connolly and Reg Barry, coach.

7 77 FROM HARE BAY/DOVER LIONS CLUB This is a flyer that I did for our club, and when we had our cold plate take out, we dropped one at every house we went to. Lion Tom.

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9 9 LCIF Changes Lives When Lions in Paraguay saw students struggling, they saw a need that the Lions Quest program could fulfill. Through Lions Quest, students like Ivan Villaverde are more focused in the classroom and better-able to learn. Lions Quest also increases parental and community involvement. Lilian Montania, Ivan s Lions Quest teacher, had some positive things to say about the formerly mischievous student and his parents. She explained that Ivan s parents are now much more active, saying that they are ¼ an excellent example of parents who ve gotten involved and are very active in their child s education. The Lions of Paraguay were able to accomplish this through two LCIF grants. These grants allowed them to start Lions Quest in their community, and later to expand it so that they could reach more students like Ivan. Annually, LCIF awards hundreds of grants to Lions clubs, districts and multiple districts for a variety of projects ranging from disaster relief to youth development to eye-care services. Each year, millions of people around the world benefit from a project funded by an LCIF grant. Lions are both local and global. This unique position ensures that the financial support that LCIF receives is given to immediate and long-term initiatives identified by Lions who are members of the community they serve. When Lions, like those in Paraguay, see a need in their community, they can fulfill this need through designing an appropriate project, raising local funds, and applying for a grant through LCIF. LCIF responds to larger needs through disaster relief and large-scale SightFirst projects. After the devastating earthquake in Haiti last January, LCIF was able to provide tents and other items for immediate assistance to thousands of those affected by the quake. More recently, LCIF has approved a project to re-build the National Nurses School of Port-au-Prince. The school was completely destroyed during the earthquake, taking the lives of more than 100 teachers and students and worsening an already problematic shortage of trained health-care professionals. LCIF is working with the Haitian Lions Earthquake Relief and Reconstruction Committee and HumaniTerra International, an NGO founded by French Lions, to undertake the re-building project. LCIF grants are an important part of the work of Lions around the world. Grants are available for a variety of projects and can help fulfill many needs on a local, national, and even global level. Visit the LCIF website at to see what Lions around the world have done with their grants, to explore grant programs and criteria and think about how you and your club can change lives in your community and beyond. Herb Herbert M. Burry, PDG District N4 LCIF Coordinator For any information on LCIF please contact me in one of the following ways: hmburry@hotmail.com Home Phone: (709)

10 10 Lions, LCIF Providing US$1.25 Million in Relief for Devastated Japan In the case of disasters, we Lions are often the first to respond, and continue to provide for as long as it takes until all work is done. Lions Clubs International Foundation and Lions are providing relief in devastated Japan. The Tohoku Region Pacific Ocean Coast Earthquake is the worst earthquake to hit Japan in over 100 years triggered a powerful tsunami throughout the Pacific Ocean. Lions Clubs International Foundation is providing over US$1.25 million, or 100 million Japanese Yen, for immediate relief. This includes major catastrophe and emergency grant funds as well as designated donations from Lions around the world. The Foundation has also established a designated fund for Lions to directly support this disaster. LCIF is also monitoring the impact to other Pacific Ocean nations. Please visit this page for additional updates. Lions in Japan are coordinating their relief efforts through LionNet Japan and are using the Japan Lions Office as emergency relief headquarters. Japanese media, citing local and national police, said hundreds of people were dead and hundreds more missing. The 2:46 p.m. quake struck 373 kilometers (230 miles) from Tokyo, the United States Geological Survey said. In Sendai, 60,000 to 70,000 people are being evacuated to shelters in the area. "I just returned from Christchurch, New Zealand, and I thought I had seen it all, but this is unbelievable. Looking to the extraordinary dimension of this earthquake and tsunami, LCIF and Lions are committed to providing immediate and long-term relief. Lions of Japan are often the first to respond to other disasters, and I ask all Lions of the world to show their solidarity and help the Japanese Lions during their time of need," said LCIF Chairperson Eberhard J. Wirfs. LCIF has established a designated account for Lions around the world to directly support this disaster. Lions from around the world are responding generously. The 48th OSEAL Forum Committee has committed US$10,000 and the Annur Town Lions Club in India has committed US$5,000. Donors can: Donate online at Select Disaster and include Japan Earthquake/Tsuanmi in the comments section. Make a credit card donation with a MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Fax the following information to LCIF: name, address, phone number, credit card type, credit card number, expiration date, and the amount of your donation. If you are a Lions member, please provide the name of your club, as well. LCIF's fax number is (630) Mail LCIF a check in U.S. dollars, drawn from a U.S. financial institution. Please make the check payable to Lions Clubs International Foundation, noting "Japan Earthquake/Tsuanmi" on the memo line. Please send the check to LCIF, 300 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, IL 60523, USA, Attn.: Donor Processing. Make a direct deposit of local currency into an existing LCI account. Send a copy of the deposit receipt to LCIF by fax: (630) Make a direct wire transfer. For assistance with this option please contact LCIF Donor Assistance at donations@lionsclubs.org For questions regarding donations, please contact LCIF at donations@lionsclubs.org or (630) Your financial support of Your Foundation for earthquake and tsunami relief is critical the meeting the immediate and long terms needs of the most vulnerable families. Please consider supporting LCIF for this initiative and being a part of building that bridge of hope for those who are suffering. Visit to make your donation today. Donations from U.S. residents are tax deductible. Donations from individuals living outside of the United States are tax deductible as permitted by the individual's country tax laws. Although LCIF is not equipped to handle material donations, please feel free to use the Lion-2-Lion Resource Assistance Database (Lion-2-Lion Assistance) to make donations of this sort directly to the Lions in need.

11 11 Dear Lion, I am sure you are all equally shocked with the news of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I could have never imagined that I would be traveling home from Christchurch, where I witnessed devastation, only to now experience the extraordinary dimension of this disaster. Lions, we respond immediately, alongside our fellow Lions of Japan. Within hours of the disaster, Lions Clubs International Foundation committed over US$1.25 million, or 100 million Japanese Yen, for immediate relief for Japan. This includes a major catastrophe grant, six emergency grants and designated donations from Lions worldwide. We gave also established a designated fund for Lions to directly support this disaster. But, I appeal to you - we need to do more. You know firsthand that in the case of disasters, we Lions are committed for as long as it takes. "We Serve" does not stop at a community or country border but extends to every corner where there is need. Our hands are building bridges for a better tomorrow. Lions, I ask for your help in making the hope for a brighter tomorrow for those who so urgently need from us. The most immediate way to give hope is through a designated donation to LCIF. Your financial support of Your Foundation for earthquake and tsunami relief is critical the meeting the immediate and long terms needs of the most vulnerable families. Please consider supporting LCIF for this initiative and being a part of building that bridge of hope for those who are suffering. Visit to make your donation today. With cordial regards, Eberhard J. Wirfs Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation

12 12 Multiple District N Convention St. John s, Newfoundland Schedule of Events Friday May 13, :00am Flag Raising City Hall 11:00am - 12:00pm Long Range Planning Meeting Sheraton Hotel 12:00pm 13:00 Lunch with Council, ID and PID s Sheraton Hotel 13:00 14:00 Constitution and Bylaws Meeting Sheraton Hotel 14:00 15:00 Budget and Audit Meeting Sheraton Hotel 15:00 16:00 Attending DGE Speeches Sheraton Hotel 16:00 17:30 Attending Reception at Lt. Governor Residence (Council, ID and PID s ) 18:00 19:30 Council Meeting Sheraton Hotel 21:00 Meet and Greet CLB Armories Saturday May 14, :00am 9:15am Opening of 2011 MDN Convention Sheraton Hotel 9:20am 10:20am Training Session Sheraton Hotel 10:30am 11:30am Training Session Sheraton Hotel 12:00 13:00 PDGA Luncheon 13:00 14:30 Speak Out Sheraton Hotel 14:45 16:30 MD N Council of Governor s Meeting Sheraton Hotel 16:40 17:15 Bear Pit session with ID Sheraton Hotel 18:00 19:00 Cocktail hour for head table guests 19:00 Banquet Sheraton Hotel SUNDAY NECROLOGY SERVICE 10:00 AT THE SHERATON HOTEL

13 13 Hello fellow Lions, here may be something you can use at your club level to help raise awareness about diabetes; you may even be able to use it when you have the public in for various reasons. If we help one person learn about Diabetes and how to live a healthy full life with it we have done our job. Get checked now campaign launched to help combat type 2 diabetes Tuesday, March 01, 2011 Canadian Diabetes Association and Loblaw Companies Limited offer year-long national in-store program TORONTO, ONTARIO (March 1, 2011) Today, the Canadian Diabetes Association launched Get Checked Now - a national public awareness campaign aimed at Canadians 40 and older alerting them to the consequences of being passive about their potential risk for developing type 2 diabetes and leading them to take action against the disease by getting checked now. The Association and Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) will also offer a national Get Checked Now program that will help get Canadians checked for type 2 diabetes and support them in living healthy lives with the disease. According to a recent Environics Public Opinion Poll commissioned by the Canadian Diabetes Association, 43 per cent of Canadians (people without diabetes) indicate that they have never been tested for type 2 diabetes. Based in part on this insight, the Get Checked Now awareness campaign features a dramatic story line and compelling images to draw attention to a sign that someone may experience with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes severe tingling or numbness in the extremities known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy. National television and radio public service announcements encourage Canadians to visit getcheckednow.ca for information and, more importantly, to find out where to get checked for diabetes. Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions among the Canadian population. Many people with prediabetes or undiagnosed type 2 diabetes may actually display no symptoms. It is critical that we all act now as diabetes is not only costing our healthcare system, but is costing Canadians their life, said Michael Cloutier, president and CEO, Canadian Diabetes Association. Our campaign sponsors and distinctive collaboration with Loblaw will help Canadians get checked for type 2 diabetes and provide educational resources to help them manage the disease. Continued on page 14...

14 14 Continued from page 13 Now, Canadians can get a complimentary personalized diabetes risk assessment at participating pharmacies located at Loblaws, Zehrs, Extra Foods, Atlantic Superstore, Real Canadian Superstore and Your Independent Grocer retail stores. This risk assessment takes only minutes and was developed in consultation with the Canadian Diabetes Association and complies with the Association s Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada. Free copies of a Canadian Diabetes Association and Loblaw co-branded publication called Verve A Guide to Living Healthy with Diabetes will also be available. Starting in the spring through to the end of the year, Loblaw and the Association will deliver diabetes education sessions at pharmacies in select Loblaw retail stores to help Canadians learn how to manage their diabetes, and to help facilitate a network of individuals living with diabetes. Working with the Canadian Diabetes Association is another example of Loblaw s commitment to help Canadians live healthier lives, says Bobbi Reinholdt, senior vice president, Pharmacy, Loblaw Companies Limited. Our pharmacists can provide personalized diabetes risk assessments at any time, and education on managing diabetes including diabetes medication reviews and, information. Loblaw and its pharmacies aim to support Canadians healthier lifestyle goals in a one stop shop experience. Loblaw is a proud supporter in this year-long national initiative with the Canadian Diabetes Association, which represents one way the Company is offering programs, services and products that can help Canadians live healthier lives. Reflective of this approach, the Company has just launched its Helping You Live Life Well event in its banner stores across the country. With 100 new healthier items in the latest President s Choice Insiders Report and a spotlight on diabetes health screening and education sessions in select banner stores to an ongoing focus on fresh food offerings and more, Loblaw aims to motivate Canadians to live healthier lives. Diabetes in Canada Today, more than 3 million Canadians live with diabetes of which 1 million live with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. A further 6 million Canadians live with prediabetes and nearly 50 per cent of them will go on to develop type 2 diabetes. Nearly one in four Canadians either has diabetes or prediabetes. Prediabetes refers to a condition that, if left unchecked, puts you at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. More than 20 people are diagnosed with the disease every hour of every day. Diabetes also threatens the economic prosperity of our nation as it currently costs our healthcare system $12.2 billion annually a number that is projected to rise to $16.9 billion by However, as much as diabetes is impacting the Canadian healthcare system, it is shortening people s lives by 5 to 15 years. Diabetes is increasingly costing Canadians their lives, yet people remain desensitized to it.

15 15 THE MARATHON BY THE SEA In March 2010 an article titled Carter Gets Going appeared in a national UK magazine, Running News, 41 year old, Jeff Carter, from Bushey in Hertfordshire, UK, will be running 12 marathons in 12 months! This is not a bad feat for a young man who grew up with crippling Asthma for the first 23 years of his life. Having Asthma myself made me unable to do anything like this and I sometimes struggled to even run a mile in the past he says. Going near animals was out to the question and I dreaded the winter months. It wasn t until he underwent basic training for the military that he was given a proper diagnosis; it brought his flying career to a halt but was able to continue to become an engineer. Advances in medicine have changed his life, I was given a new medication that had changed my life says Jeff, and I am obviously able to do more running than I was previously capable of. So far this year Jeff has completed 7 of his 12 marathons and has raised money for numerous charities throughout the UK. The Baccalieu Lions Club was asked if they would be interested in assisting Jeff in this feat, with any proceeds he raised going towards anything they wish. On August 8 th, 2010 Jeff ran his marathon from New Perlican to Old Perlican, a distance of 26 mile, raising a total of $ in sponsors from the area. The Baccalieu Lions Club decided it would be fitting, considering Jeff was a survivor of a major disability that they would donate all the funds raised to the Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp. With the money raised the Baccalieu Lions Club used it to purchase a Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp Fellowship Award and on January 28 th 2011 the Baccalieu Lions Club along with Lion Randy Driscoll, treasurer of the Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp Foundation presented Mel, Jeff s father, the Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp Fellowship Award on behalf of his son Jeff and asked him to pass along our many thanks for donating his time and money for this great cause.

16 16 From Council Chair Len Mooney Fellow Lions, it only seems like yesterday that we started this Lions year and now three quarters of the year is over. It has been a trying year for all of us with all of the disasters that have hit us in the past year and we have tried our best to help our fellow man in times of trouble. One of the good things is that we have Lions who have been ready to jump up and help out. You only need to look at local papers and national ones to see where Lions are and where and how they serve and our own magazine portrays some of the things we have done this year. It may be a good idea to leave it at the doctor's office or the hospital or our place of work after we have read the magazine as people may pick it up and look at what we are doing and it may encourage them to talk to us about joining or helping in some small way. People who are in your community who help you with your projects can become honourary Lions and Lions at large if you wish to bestow that title on them. We have been active over the past year with our organization and with our help in fund raising endeavours we have helped our communities as we continue to serve. We have served on boards locally and internationally. We can be extremely proud of what we have accomplished. We have Lions such as Lion Vera Smith, and Lion Matthew Williams getting public recognition for doing their public services. There are many Lions throughout our great district and our multiple who have performed many miracles as they have helped bring joy, peace and comfort to neighbours and friends in time of need. There are many who have given of the most precious thing life has to offer and that is their time. Time to help on a project, time to deliver a hamper, time to deliver a meal, time to drive a person to a doctor's appointment, time to help someone with their shopping, time to stop and say hello to someone sick, time to visit a elderly person, time to tell a joke or sing a song. The giving of one's time is the most precious gift we can offer but you know we are the big winner when we do give because we receive 10 times the value of what we give. Our elections of officers for our clubs will soon be upon us and I ask you to take the time to consider offering yourself to help your club. Conventions are just around the corner and if you are able to participate in a convention, even if only for a few hours, you will truly enjoy seeing other Lions and you will pick up an idea to help your club. I just read where Lions International just donated $1.25 million to help out with the earthquakes in Japan. We all will donate to the cause if we possibly can as some clubs will do a fund raiser for just that reason while other clubs already have some money that they are able to donate. I believe we should let our District Governor know what we are donating. If each club was able to donate $1000 in our district, we could say District N4 donated $53,000 to help Lions in Japan and on a multiple district we could say Multiple District N donated $250,000 to help Lions help the people. We all work together for the common good of our communities and we will continue to do that. When a group can say they donated a large amount of money it helps get a little more recognition for the group. I want to take a moment to thank all of the Lions this year for all they have done to help their districts and the multiple district. There are many positive changes coming to our organization as we move forward and I want to thank all those who have offered to help in many ways. I want to thank Lion Pat Bursey and her teams for organizing and planning a great convention for us in St John's in May for our Multiple convention and I want to thank District Governor Lewis and his team for helping me during the past year. Many hands make light work and with many hands you are able to do more in less time. Thank you to all Lions in District N4 for all you do for Lionism and for your communities. There are no better volunteers than you and someday you will know the true value of what you do when you help someone no matter how small a task it may be. Yours in Lionism, Lion Len

17 17 DISTRICT GOVERNOR S VISITS March Visits March 3. South West Arm March 5... Baccalieu March Musgrave Harbour March Fort Point March 21 Waterford Hospital March 26.. Goulds April Visits April 1 St. Lawrence April 2.. Fortune April 9... Sunnyside April 10. Come by Chance April Convention Gander April Placentia April 28..Gambo April Hare Bay-Dover April Indian Bay May Visits May 2... Mount Pearl May 7... Portugal Cove/St. Phillips May Random May MD Convention St. John's May St.Brendan's May Marystown Lions Club May Terrenceville (meeting 2pm ) May English Harbour East June Visits June 4... Alexander Bay June 8... Hants Harbour June 9... Shearstown June Carbonear June St. Vincent s June Greens Harbour June Whitbourne