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14. Dear Lion,   As I write to you, Judy and I are traveling to the FOLAC Forum in Mexico. We have had the pleasure to meet so many of you at the other area forums these last few months. I have enjoyed sharing with you the great successes we are achieving together through our Foundation and highlighting our exciting new and expanded initiatives. More importantly, I shared with you stories of how we are changing lives - each and every day, all over the world.   Our partnerships enable us to change more lives and help even more people in need. By working with organizations that share our mission, we are able to leverage our funds and have a larger impact. This month, as we remember the 2 year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, we also celebrate several new projects in collaboration with other organizations.   I am especially proud of LCIF's newest partnership, One Shot, One Life: Lions Measles Initiative. Lions all across the globe are working hard to end deaths from measles. Next month, Lions participating in this important program will help to ensure that nearly 10 million children receive life-saving vaccinations in Nepal. This is just the beginning. I am excited at the response of Lions so far toward the challenge issued by the Gates Foundation to raise US$10 million, to match their US$5 million. In the coming months, I will be encouraging you to show the world what we as Lions can do to support this cause. Just imagine the look of gratitude on the faces of the mothers whose children we will save!   Everywhere Judy and I travel, we hear countless times "thank you." These individuals are not thanking us; they are thanking all of you, the Lions of the world, for making a difference. I am also thankful to you. It is through your continued support to our Foundation that these projects and programs are possible. I thank each of you for continuing to contribute to our Foundation's life-changing work!   Serving together today for a better tomorrow,   Sid L. Scruggs, III Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation

Lions Giving Hearts and Hands in Haiti Two Years Later Yvette is among the many Haitians who now have dreams for the future. She hopes to be the first in her family to attend college. She is among the 1,000 families who have a new place to live and new outlook on life because of Lions. Rebuilding homes and lives in Haiti continues two years after the January 12, 2010 earthquake. This month, Lions will officially inaugurate the National Nursing School of Port-au-Prince, where 350 students will study annually. Lions are also launching a project to build 400 additional homes and a community center to provide vocational training. Eight new classrooms are being constructed at the Notre Dame School, allowing 361 students to return to school. Several projects are also nearly complete, including 600 homes for families once living in Lions' tent cities. Many of the projects are in partnership with other organizations in order to leverage Lions' funds. The projects have recently been highlighted in several news stories. View our fact sheet and visit our Web site for more information. Partnership with Special Olympics Expands to Help More Families  Aphiwe Qonya of South Africa is one of the 250,000 Special Olympics athletes who can now see better. With new glasses, he could read all of the words and numbers in the book for the first time, rather than guessing. For 12 years, Lions and Special Olympics have been partners in improving health and the quality of life for Special Olympics athletes through Opening Eyes. With the recent expansion of Lions' partnership with Special Olympics in his country, Aphiew can now benefit in other ways. Through Opening Eyes, athletes receive free vision screenings and eyewear. The program relies on thousands of volunteers, particularly Lions. LCIF has provided US$13 million in support of this partnership program. To build on the mission of improving health for athletes is the Family Health Forum. Lions help coordinate the forums where families learn about Lions Clubs, Special Olympics and the Opening Eyes program. They also learn of the challenges that athletes and their families face, while exploring ways to help facilitate better access to health care, education, social services and inclusion. This expansion program began in October with forums in South Africa as well as Namibia, Nigeria and Tanzania. Sight for Kids Partnership Celebrates 10 Years of Saving Sight Eight-year-old Viraj Madusan of Sri Lanka would have gone blind by age 14 without Sight for Kids. With timely treatment and eyeglasses, he is now seeing well. His story is similar to the 15 million other children helped in 10 Asian countries. This year Johnson & Johnson and LCIF celebrate 10 years of partnership on the Sight for Kids program, which provides vision screenings, eyeglasses, other treatments and eye health education for children. There is a great need for this program: an estimated 1.4 million children in the world are blind and three-quarters of them live in the poorest regions of Asia and Africa, most lacking access to eye care for often easily treatable conditions. A hands-on team effort, the screenings are coordinated by local Lions, Johnson & Johnson staff and local medical personnel. Johnson & Johnson has committed US$2 million to fund Sight for Kids.

 

 

 

13. Dear Lion,   Best wishes and Happy New Year to you and your Lions club!   As we begin 2012 we are also beginning the second half of our year together as Lion leaders. What we have accomplished together thus far is remarkable. I commend you on your accomplishments these past six months - meeting the tree planting goal in just three months, volunteering countless hours towards Global Service Action Campaigns and bringing new faces into your Lions family. As I look to the future "I Believe" we can accomplish even more.   The beginning of a new calendar year is a good time to evaluate our clubs, to reflect on the previous year's accomplishments and look ahead to your club's future opportunities. Have you ever thought about what your club or district will look like 10, 20, even 30 years from now? Who will be there to provide the vital services your club offers to the community today?   I spend a good deal of time thinking about the future of Lions Clubs International and I can tell you that the answer is people who are now in their late teens to late twenties.   Recruiting young people is not only vital for the future but provides concrete benefits to our clubs today. Bringing young people into a Lions club can renew its spirit with fresh ideas, create a club that more closely mirrors the community and help it precisely assess today's community needs.   It can be challenging to reach young people who are typically busy and have many options for using what free time they do have. But it might easier than you think. Today's generation of young people is more committed to volunteer service than any that came before it. If we Lions are to be true to our own commitment to service we cannot let any of that youthful energy go unused or allow their desire to serve go unfulfilled.   LCI is providing your club and district with the tools it needs to recruit young adults into your Lions family. Download My Club, My Family for a checklist on welcoming new members. I hope that you take advantage of these tools and do all that is necessary to revitalize your club and ensure its future.   Sincerely,   Wing-Kun Tam International President

Member Retention When Lions planted more than 7 million trees this year, they knew it was a long-term commitment. Saplings cannot be expected to thrive on their own. Neither can new Lions. Saplings require careful nurturing from those who set them in place. So do new Lions.   Do you know that more than a third of new Lions resign between their first and third years as club members? Many feel they have not been heard or that their ideas have not been taken seriously. I ask all club leaders and senior Lions to reach out to the newest members of your club, find out their needs and listen attentively to their ideas. I believe that listening to these new members will keep them engaged strengthen your club.   That is the "member care" part of the equation: Involvement + sense of worth + member care + family atmosphere = club success.   Download My Club, My Family for more ideas about strengthening club membership.

International Convention All Lions are invited to attend the 95th International Convention in Busan, Korea.   International cooperation and friendship is a key to Lions success and nowhere is it more prominently on display than at the international convention. At every year's convention Lions enjoy camaraderie, share ideas with other members, learn about other cultures and discover what we all have in common. This year you can join our Lions international "family reunion" in Busan, a sparkling cosmopolitan city that boasts many of Korea's cultural treasures, both ancient and modern.   Come celebrate our accomplishments and help pave the way for our future this June in beautiful Busan!

Global Service Action Campaigns

Protecting Our Environment

This year Lions left no doubt about their concern for the environment. They committed to the ambitious goal of planting one million trees worldwide, then surpassed that goal more than six times over. That's what happens when Lions believe that they can change the world, even when changing the world means changing the very face of Planet Earth!

 

Help Lions keep the momentum of the tree planting campaign by preparing your club and the clubs in your district to participate in Protecting Our Environment, the year's final Global Service Action Campaign scheduled for April.

 

The Lions you lead can:

• Help build a safe water system
• Organize a community wide clean-up
• Raise awareness of "going green"
• Volunteer at a recycling center  

To help you get started, more project ideas and a planning guide are available to help plan your club's environmental activities. Don't forget to share your club's activities using the Service Activity Report.

 

 

 

12. Dear Lion,    As 2011 comes to an end, it is a time to reflect on our many successes during this year. Last year our Foundation was able to help millions of people around the world. Our Lions Quest program has grown to six more countries, now totaling 69 countries, and is reaching more than 12 million children around the world. Our SightFirst program has expanded to include new program areas, such as education, rehabilitation and research. Our partnerships have increased, including a record donation from the Gates Foundation to help us fight measles. We have helped rebuild lives following some of the worst natural disasters in recent history. These are just a few of the numerous highlights in the past year.   It is because of your generosity that LCIF is able to expand to meet even more needs worldwide. Last fiscal year, donations were up by 40 percent. I am excited to tell you that through the first four months of this fiscal year, our donations are up an additional 62 percent, from US$15.1 million to US$24.1 million. As a result, many more people worldwide are benefiting from your kindness and humanitarian service. Nearly 1 million people will benefit from the grants awarded at the October board meeting alone.   This coming year promises to be another remarkable year. I look forward to sharing with you additional successes in the new year and thank you for your continued support.   Serving together today for a better tomorrow,   Sid L. Scruggs, III Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation

One Shot, One Life: Lions Measles Initiative Update Every day a quiet storm needlessly takes the lives of 450 children. Yet for less than US$1, we can provide life-long immunity and the chance at life. Lions, we can save 157 million children through One Shot, One Life: Lions Measles Initiative, a partnership with the Measles Initiative. The Gates Foundation is challenging Lions to mobilize US$10 million with a matching grant of US$1 for every US$2 raised by Lions. Last month LCIF received two large donations to help meet this challenge: US$250,000 from Multiple District 300, Taiwan, and US$10,000 from International Director Seiki Yamaura from Japan. All Lions are encouraged to support this program and help meet the challenge. Donations are eligible for MJF recognition. Many others around the world are also expressing their support. Last month International President Tam met with the President of Nepal and Vice President of Kenya, both of whom pledged their support to vaccination campaigns planned in their countries. Disaster Relief Update Nearly two years following the earthquake, Lions in Haiti remain committed to rebuilding lives and the economy. The nursing school is now complete in Haiti and students will move into the facility this month. The school includes four classrooms, a practice labratory and a resource library. The homes being built in collaboration with the organization HELP are nearly complete. In addition to the 620 families who are benefiting from a new home, 102 Haitian construction workers are benefiting through employment from this project. Read more online about additional projects completed or underway in Haiti. Lions Quest Expansion Pilot Lions Quest continues to expand beyond typical school programs. LCIF is beginning to pilot our new Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence Out-of-School-Time (OST) program in six community schools in the Chicago Public School system, in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Chicago, Illinois, USA. This marks the first step in bringing Lions Quest to community centers, afterschool programs and other organizations -- the very places where Lions help youth every day. Lions Quest is eager to partner with Lions clubs everywhere to expand this new initiative. Lions continue to play a key role in expanding the program worldwide. A training was recently held for Lions leaders from South Asia. In January, meetings will be held in Europe and Africa. The meeting in Africa marks the formal launch of our US$150,000 project with the U.S. State Department to expand the program in five countries. Relieving Hunger During December and January, Lions are encouraged to participate in the Relieving the Hunger Global Service Action Campaign. There are a number of resources available to assist in planning and promotion of activities that address local and global hunger. LCIF has awarded a number of grants for large-scale projects that fight hunger, including delivering food supplies in the Horn of Africa during a massive famine, a feeding program for 65,000 people daily in South Africa and re-establishing kitchens and food facilities following the disaster in Japan.

 

 

11.Dear Lion,

 

First of all, in this season of belief, let me offer best wishes to all my fellow Lions, their loved ones, friends and families.We have come a long way in five months. My belief in the power of what every Lion can do to change the world is as strong as ever.

 

The early success of our campaign to plant 1 million trees makes me both proud and so humble. Whether it's planting trees in lands scarred by the tsunami in Japan or tornadoes in the United States, or planting trees to restore our planet's critical forests in Africa or South Asia, we have succeeded in unifying Lions all over the world. These acts of service are fun and rewarding to do. They bring clubs together and bring smiles to ourselves and to people in the communities we serve.Through mid-November, together we planted more than 5.7 MILLION trees in more than 60 countries. Isn't that amazing?

 

Some Lions ask me if I will set another target.I politely say "no" because I believe the target lies in each of our hearts. It is the Lions who determine how far we go and how many trees we plant. Every tree counts, even if you can plant only one. Every member matters, too.

 

Planting trees is certainly good for the environment. But to me, it's also a strong symbol of our association's commitment to the future and a reason to invite friends, families and others to join us in making it happen.

 

You see, if we as Lions can identify the right tree saplings, plan them in the right place, and take care of them - then certainly we can also invite a new member, give them a meaningful role in our club, and nurture them like we would a member of the family.

 

This is why I am also proud and humbled by Lions' response to this year's "My Club, My Family" initiative. We have strong membership growth this year, exceeding a 16,000 net gain through mid-November. But inviting new members is easy; treating them as if they were family and involving them in meaningful service will ensure they stay.

 

So my fellow Lions, with all we have done in five months, I am now happy to say that "I Believe" has clearly transformed into "We Believe."It's because of you and your belief in what we can do. Your belief, and more importantly, your actions, have given me the greatest gift of all as your international president.

 

Consider this special issue a holiday gift to all Lions. The story's message is that Lions are indeed a precious gift to our communities.May the warm glow of family be part of your regular household and your Lions club as you believe in our great service mission.

 

Sincerely,

 

Wing-Kun Tam

International President

 

 

10.Register for Convention Before December 31 and Save

Share New PSAs with Friends, Family and Local Media As part of our ongoing PR efforts, we're proud to announce the availability of four new PSAs that show who Lions are in a fresh and fun way. Three of the PSAs are safari-themed spots that use humor to let viewers see how Lions help others through vision, feeding, and environment projects. The fourth PSA is an airport-themed spot that features a security x-ray machine to show viewers there's "a little Lion" inside of all of us. View PSAs now - and be sure to share them with your family, friends and local media outlets.

Lions Provide Relief for Earthquake Victims in Turkey A recent earthquake in Turkey killed hundreds, injured more than 1,300 and caused extensive property damage. Lions are bringing aid and comfort to the people affected by this disaster. LCIF approved an emergency grant to fund Lions' relief efforts. Our members are using these funds to provide relief supplies, including food and water. Read blog.

Lions Partner to Plant 1.5 Million Trees in Kenya We've joined forces with The Aga Khan Development Network to plant 1.5 million trees in Kenya, a country with one of the highest rates of deforestation in Africa. International President Wing-Kun Tam and Prince Hussain Aga Khan announced the partnership last month during a tree planting ceremony in Nairobi City Park. Read news release.

Lions Can Offer Hope and Help to Children in Need

You can expand your reach to underserved children through hands-on service projects in your community. The Lions Children First Program can provide you with easy-to-use resources and materials, including a club activity guide, sample project idea sheets and community posters. There's also a Lions Children First Facebook Fan Page where you can connect with other Lions  who are serving children in need. You can also join the Relieving the Hunger Campaign to fight hunger affecting children in your community.

 

 

9.Dear Lion,

 

I would like to share with you some exciting changes to our donation procedures that will enable us to help even more people. Many of you have shared with your Board of Trustees and me interesting ideas for expanding giving opportunities to our Foundation. As a result, you can now choose from five general categories to designate your donations and receive Melvin Jones Fellowship recognition for each donation:

 

Area of Greatest Need: Donations in this category will support all program areas and allow LCIF the flexibility to supplement initiatives where additional funding is necessary or where the need is most urgent.

 

Disaster: Donations designated here enable LCIF to direct the funds to the areas most in need following disasters in order to provide for immediate, mid and long-term relief.  

 

Sight: Donations here seek to support hundreds of sight-related activities ranging from equipping eye clinics to providing Braille computers for the visually impaired.

 

Youth: Donations in this category support the Lions Quest program and other initiatives such as educational infrastructure improvements and programs to assist at-risk youth.

 

Humanitarian Needs: Donations here will fund projects that meet diverse community needs beyond sight, disaster and youth, such as the measles program, water wells and vocational training programs for the disabled.   

 

I know you will agree with me that these positive changes will help LCIF to provide aid to even more people in need around the world. These changes are effective immediately for all future donations. Donating is as easy as before - details on each program can be found online.

 

I thank you for your continued support.

 

Serving today for a better tomorrow,

 

Sid L. Scruggs, III

Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation

 

 

8.Dear Lion,

 

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending a ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya, where more than 2,000 trees were planted by Lions and representatives of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). These trees are just the beginning of a new partnership between Lions and the AKDN that will result in the planting of at least one million trees in Kenya by December 2012. Think of it -- our entire worldwide goal for tree planting equaled in one nation alone!

 

This is certainly cause for celebration, not only because it will provide great environmental benefits, but also because growing and nurturing those trees will provide employment opportunities for young Kenyans.

 

It reminded me that growing and nurturing the Lions family is the most important work we do as Lion leaders. I am proud to report that this work is going very well. More than 337district governors have qualified for Excellent First Believer awards by chartering two new clubs or achieving positive membership results, or for Superior First Believer awards by chartering five new clubs and achieving positive membership on October 31, 2011. View the list at the Lions Clubs International Web site.

 

District governors' teams share the work of growth and nurturing with the worldwide Global Membership Team and Global Leadership Team. The Club Excellence Process provides additional nurturing for Lions clubs around the world.

 

I hope that you will join me in congratulating the First Believer recipients for their success in helping to grow our Lions family. I also hope that you, your club or district will take full advantage of the nurturing opportunities provided by the GMT and GLT and the Club Excellence Process.

 

Thank you for all you do.

 

Sincerely,

 

Wing-Kun Tam

International President

 

 

7.Dear Lion:

 

We are always looking for ways to help make each and every Lions club even more successful. Therefore, we are conducting a global membership study in partnership with RSMarketingResearch to learn which things you think are working particularly well for you and your club as well as some things that you would like to improve. Next year we will reveal the results and share success stories from other Lions clubs around the world.

 

We estimate that the survey will take approximately 15 minutes for you to complete. Rest assured that all responses will be kept completely confidential and at no time will your responses be personally identifiable. Please click the following link to be directed to a website containing the survey:

http://rsmarketingresearch.com/L?id=3098050

 

If you have any questions, please contact us. Thank you in advance for your time and input.

 

Lions Clubs International

Membership and New Club Programs

memberprog@lionsclubs.org

http://rsmarketingresearch.com/L?id=3098050

 

 

6.Dear Lions Leader:

 

New Lions Eye Health Program (LEHP) materials are now available for you online! LEHP is a community-based education program that empowers you to promote healthy vision and raise awareness about eye diseases that can cause blindness.  

• LEHP provides user-friendly, fact-based toolkits and materials for you to personalize and use with confidence and pride.
• LEHP is co-branded with the globally-respected National Eye Institute (NEI)/National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP).
• LEHP resources can be used worldwide, with the guidance of your local professional eye care partners.

Coming soon... more LEHP toolkits and resources!

 

We encourage you to take a look at LEHP, and if you have any questions, please contact Health & Children's Services Department.

 

In service,

 

Marilee Kadar

 

Marilee Kadar

Manager, Health & Children's Services

Lions Clubs International

Marilee.Kadar@lionsclubs.org

Tel: 630-468-6867

Fax: 630-706-9221

 

 

 

5.Dear Lion,   This month we celebrate Lions World Sight Day and our commitment to saving sight around the world. This month I am also happy to share with you a new health initiative.   I am sure you have heard of the deadly disease measles. The terrible truth is that 450 children die each day from this disease. You may not know that a devastating complication from this disease is blindness. This is just another reason that as Lions we join the fight to stop this disease to save lives and prevent childhood blindness.   Last year we joined the Measles Initiative, a collaborative effort of several leading organizations to eliminate measles. In less than 10 years, this August, the 1 billionth child was vaccinated through this initiative. While measles has been reduced by 78 percent since 2001, the World Health Organization estimates that decreasing support could result in 500,000 more deaths each year if the present progress rolls back to pre-2000 levels.   Our pilot year was a great success! Lions and our partners vaccinated 41 million children in four countries. Now we must expand these efforts to reach even more children in more countries. In a survey of Lions members, 90 percent expressed the desire to continue this program.   This is now possible thanks to a commitment by our partner, the Gates Foundation. The Gates Foundation is awarding us US$5 million for the program this year, the largest single donation in our history. The Gates Foundation will do this by matching every US$2 that we raise with US$1. We have set a combined goal of providing U$15 million toward this initiative.   I ask that you encourage your club and district to get involved. Please help us to meet our goal of providing US$15 million for the Lions' Measles program this year. You can support this program at www.lcif.org/donate or learn more online. Your donation is MJF eligible.    Serving today for a better tomorrow,   Sid L. Scruggs, III Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation

 

 

4.Dear Lion,

 

When we began our leadership year in July, I announced my intention to visit with as many club presidents as possible. Now, with one quarter of the year behind us, I have had many opportunities to fulfill that commitment.

 

In meeting with presidents in many diverse locations around the world, I have seen that most Lions clubs are alike in very many ways...and certainly in all the ways that really matter. We all believe in Lions power to change our neighborhoods and the world through service and leadership.

 

In fact, most clubs remind me of the Mt. Cameron Lions Club which I joined in 1981. The members there made me feel welcome, immediately offered me responsible assignments and taught me what it means to be a Lion. They made me feel like a member of a family. Because they did, I became a Lion for life.

 

I believe that it is the club presidents who have the greatest responsibility and opportunity to make members' experiences more like that of a family. Presidents can set the tone. I hope the tone you set will be one of welcome and respect for the talents and ideas of all members. Presidents who are successful at this will find themselves at the head of a healthy -- and growing -- Lions club. Lions who are fulfilled in their desire to serve and happy with the club's camaraderie are our best recruiting tools.

 

Club presidents are also the key to motivating clubs to participate in projects like the Global Service Action Campaigns and this year's challenge to plant one million trees worldwide. Already there has been more than 150,000 of hours of volunteer service and 2,518,999 trees have been planted to date.

 

These projects are already changing the world in meaningful ways. They will be the legacy of our leadership and testimony to the truth of Lions motto: We Serve.

 

Thank you for all you have done and all you will do to make our world a better place.

 

Sincerely,

 

Wing-Kun Tam

International President

 

 

3.Dear Lions and rap enthusiasts,

 

Lions and non-Lions everywhere are talking about the newly-debuted Lions rap video "Rockin' the Vest." In the video, real Lions members dance and sing along with an original rap song while they perform community service.

 

Our hope is to make this rap video go viral, to expose as many people as we can to the great work that we do and excite them about serving their communities. Partnered with four new and fun public service announcements, this rap video is designed to have potential members view us in a new way.

 

Do you rock the vest? Watch the Lions "Rockin' the Vest" rap video and help us spread the word by sharing this video with your club members, friends, family and neighbors.

 

Thank you for helping our Lions rap go viral.

 

Dane LaJoye

Public Relations Division Manager

Lions Clubs International

 

 

2.Dear Lion,  

 

As a parent and grandparent, one area of service that is especially important to me is programs that benefit our youth. Our Foundation offers this service opportunity through Lions Quest. Our kids are learning more than what is printed in a textbook; they are developing vital skills that will fully prepare them for their teen and adult years. I've witnessed the success of this program from my home state of North Carolina, USA, to Thailand.

 

Lions in these areas and around the world know the value Lions Quest has for kids. It's exciting that this program continues to grow each year, and this is only possible because of you, Lions. Just last month during our Lions Quest Advisory Committee Meeting, we awarded 26 grants for more than US$1.2 million-a new record! Three of these grants are for France, the Republic of Georgia and Slovenia to begin the program, bringing the total number of Lions Quest countries to 69.

 

We are also working with new partners and organizations to help us in our expansion efforts. In August, a training workshop was held for 31 teachers and personnel from Joint Base Lewis McChord, a U.S. military installation in the state of Washington. These educators will use Lions Quest to positively impact the lives of kids whose parents have been repeatedly deployed for active duty. With grant funding from the U.S. State Department, we will adapt Lions Quest materials for use in Africa and expand our programs in five countries. And many Lions have successfully partnered with their local governments and ministries of education. In Lithuania, for example, the Lions received a 500,000 Euro grant from the European Union to expand the program nationwide.

 

We are eager to work with you, and I encourage you to appoint a Lions Quest chairperson in your district, if you do not have one, to help lead this effort locally. I invite all of you to learn more about this important program during the area Forums, where we will have a Lions Quest seminar or training. If you are unable to attend, all of these materials will be available on our new LCIF Web site.

 

Serving today for a better tomorrow,

 

Sid L. Scruggs, III

Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation

 

 

1.My Fellow Lions,

 

Just two short months ago, I stood on a stage in Seattle, Washington as your new international president, and I asked you to believe in yourselves - to believe in our mission of service to others, and to believe that together we could accomplish anything we set out to accomplish.  That included planting 1 million trees.  I told you if we can plant a million trees, it will reinforce the limitless potential we all know we have to make a difference as Lions.  When I asked "do you believe it" the Lions present that day responded with a resounding "yes."

 

Lions - I am proud to announce that in just the first 60 days, we have surpassed our ambitious goal of planting 1 million trees.  As of September 7^th, the Lions of the world have planted over 1.3 million trees!! 

 

But we aren't done yet!  I believe we can continue the momentum we have already put in motion.  Any of us can plant a tree. It's a very visible and hands-on way for each and every Lion to make a difference. It's also a great project to invite your community at-large to join your local Lions club in a collaborative effort.  So make tree-planting part of your club or district activities this year, and invite your neighbors, friends and members of the community to join you. What better way to be reminded of our gift of service than to watch the trees you have planted grow year-by-year?  We will continue to report the number of trees being planted on this Web site.   Tree planting and the care and nurturing of our environment remains a cornerstone of my presidential theme.

 

There is so much more to accomplish.  With care, the trees we have already planted, and will continue to plant throughout the year, will grow and benefit generations to come.   New and current Lions members, nurtured in a family friendly club atmosphere, will benefit the world immeasurably.

 

Again - thank you and congratulations on surpassing our first goal of planting 1 million trees.

 

For more on this and other stories, visit Success Stories. For a list of helpful resources in your area, visit the contacts page in the Million Tree Planting section.

 

Remember that district governors who achieve at least 50 percent participation in the tree planting campaign qualify for the Believers Award. The top 100 clubs in each constitutional area which plant the most trees will also receive a Believers Award.

 

I believe we can attain each and every goal outlined in my presidential theme brochure. Lions - do you believe it?

 

Sincerely,

Wing-Kun Tam

International President