Lions District 31-O

What’s Happening in the “O” Zone

SERVING DURING THE TIME OF COVID-19

Our lives have changed immeasurably over the last 45+ days. One of the only comforting aspects of what is going on in our nation is that this is a shared experience unlike anything any of us have gone through. The aspect of this that is not comforting is that our shared experience is not an equal experience. Many of us have been inconvenienced but have been able to ride this out in relative comfort working from home while social distancing. Unfortunately, there are many in our communities who have lost their jobs with no prospects. Until we are able to return to some sem-blance of societal normalcy, there will be a tremendous need. My parents were young teenagers during the depression of the 1930’s. How they lived their lives reflected their experiences during that time. There were no social safety nets. The programs put in place by FDR helped to put some people back to work until World War II ended the depression.

Many are facing the circumstances that brought on the suffering of the 1930’s. There are social safety nets, but not nearly enough. Congress has passed one rescue bill, but with the scale of what is happening now, it is time for Lions Clubs to do what we do, SERVE! Food insecurity was a real problem before Covid-19. It will become more widespread with the shuddering of our econ-omy and the closing of schools to try and save our health care system. This is an opportunity for Lions to serve while staying safe. Each club, each individual Lion has to decide what their level of comfort is to serve under these circumstances. No one should do anything that they feel puts themselves at risk. Here are some suggestions of things we can do that 1

st VDG Allen Swaim of

31S received from the Governor’s office.

First: The food banks are in serious need of volunteers to package up food for individuals. This would just be working in a building with a limited amount of folks, not any contact with others who are receiving the food. I will receive more information as it comes in. PPE will be provided and very limited face to face conversations.

Second: The Meals on Wheels program has been turned into a once a week delivery of frozen food. The Lion would only have to drive up to one of the Meals on Wheels recipient’s house and place the meals for the week on the porch. After the placement, go back to their car and call the number of the recipient and tell him or her that the meals are on the porch and then leave. Seems pretty simple and relatively safe. PPE and gloves are appropriate, and no face to face contact.

Third: There is a website established for community service organizations called coronacommunity.org

I was asked to relay this information to the Lions.

These are some ideas for clubs and Lions to consider. I also implore the leadership in each club to check on your members while we are unable to meet. This is a time of stress and anxiety. A friendly call or email or text to check in on members could be a great comfort.

STAY SAFE EVERYONE!

What’s Happening in the “O” Zone

FROM 1ST VDG PAUL MARTH...

WHAT ARE LIONS

TO DO!

“Social distancing” is a phrase that most of us had never even heard before February of this

year. Now it is on the TV at least 500 times a day! Covid-19 has already had a tremendous

cost on our country, Lions clubs and individual Lions. What are we to do?

Contact your club’s fellow Lions. This serves two purposes. First, social contact is vitally

important to cope with possible depression resulting from isolation and loneliness. Get

to know a club member that you do not know well. Be upbeat. Secondly, there may be

needs of club members that you or your club can meet. Members may have lost a job,

be caring for a sick family member or have other needs. Maybe you could deliver a

bag of groceries, a meal or pick up medicine.

Consider the use of “Zoom”, “Go to meeting” or some other app and have an “on-line”

meeting. Lion Barbara Thompson, our 2nd

VDG and GST, has indicated a willingness

to help clubs with setting this up. Cyber clubs use these tools all the time for meetings.

There is no reason your club cannot do likewise. Some of these apps are free.

Be sure to conduct club elections no later than the end of April. You can do this electroni-

cally or by mailing ballots to club members to return. It is very important for the incom-

ing District officers that they have accurate information for next year’s District Directory

and that new officers be reported to LCI by the end of April. Secretaries, please help us

with this.

Don’t forget our District service project with the plastic bag recycling. I assume each of

you are still grocery shopping, receiving on-line purchases from Amazon or other

sources that are shipped in flexible plastic bags, etc. There is no reason that every Li-

on cannot put these bags into a 30 gallon trash bag. My first bag is almost filled and I

hope you are taking this easy step to continue to serve.

Paul Silverman is looking into obtaining an LCI grant in connection with the virus. Be sure

and let him know any specific needs that your area has that could be served by a

grant.

What’s Happening in the “O” Zone

WHAT ARE LIONS TO DO!

(continued)

If you have a predisposition toward charity and the assets to do so, now is a great time to

support Brighter Visions and LCIF with a donation. The needs of these organizations

do not shut down during the virus but rather increase. Please help if you can.

Get your Camp Dogwood tickets into your club secretary. Purchase a few extra yourself.

Make suggestions to your club officers of service that can be done while “social distanc-

ing”. No idea is “dumb”. Please be thinking.

Finally, keep looking up. This too shall pass. Don’t engage in “Stinkin thinkin”. Be an

“encourager” instead of a “discourager”.

6’ APART!

New Cubs in our Clubs in March

Mount Gilead Norwood Waxhaw

Randy Efrid Phillip Morris Kalyan Chagallu

Greensboro

Jeremy Jenkins

We would love to know more about our newest Lions. Send us

brief bios about a new member and we will include it in this sec-

tion.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE NEW LIONS

AND THE LIONS CLUBS THEYJOINED!

Lions of District 31-O,

Thank you for all you continue to do in your communities.

The Brighter Visions Annual Fund drive continues to provide matching

funds, mobility canes, and scholarships during this time of “social distanc-

ing.” Camp Dogwood staff members are continuing to prepare for the

summer camping season for our visually impaired campers.

If your club’s fund raisers have been canceled, as many have, think about

raising more money through the Timberlake raffle. The framed print

measures 24” x 30”. The signed, numbered print of “Winter Garden” by note

North Carolina artist Bob Timberlake will be a great investment. Unframed

prints are selling on e-bay for $275 - $298. Raffle tickets are $5.00 each or 5

tickets for $20.00. Please consider this as an additional way to raise our

Brighter Visions contributions. To date, we have sold 83 tickets. Each club

will receive BV credit for your raffle sales. The drawing will be held at Camp

Dogwood on June 18, 2020. Please contact me at la-

raine.dupree1967@gmail.com or Lion Jamie Lockhart at harryjameslock-

hart1@gmail.com for tickets or more information.

Lions, everyone’s participation is needed to keep providing services for

those in need.

Again, thank you for all you are doing to help someone else.

Win this Bob Timberlake Print

“Winter Garden”

Raffle tickets are available now!!!!!!!

Drawing to be held June 18, 2020 at Camp Dogwood.

$5.00 each or 5 for $20.00

All Sales Benefit Brighter Visions

Tickets available from Lion Jamie Lockhart harryjameslockhart1@gmail.com

336-674-6214

Or

Lion Laraine Dupree Laraine.dupree1967@gmail.com

704-292-3163

Educational Opportunity for Lions

If you would like to register for it, there will be a Lions Virtual Sympo-

sium on The Future of Lionism on Facebook on Saturday, April

25th from 1-5 pm Eastern Time. The speakers will be International

2nd Vice President, Brian Sheehan; Past International Director Lewis

Quinn; Past District Governor Jodi Burmester of Wisconsin, and the

Young Lions Taskforce. This will be moderated by Past District Gov-

ernor Wendy Cain. You can register at www.Facebook.com/

LionsVirtual

District Recycling Project, The Trex Challenge

Through the first three months of the challenge the Clubs of 31-O have collected 231.9 pounds of plastic bags and other plastic coverings. This leaves us 268.1 pounds to collect over April, May and June to meet the challenge and earn the Trex Bench for Camp Dogwood. Keep up your good work for the environment and we will get it done.

Fellow Lions, Did you know NC Lions collect and recycle used ink cartridges? The money raised from this program goes to offset the cost of the annual Deaf/Blind Retreat held each fall. Now you can link yourself or your business and mail those ink cartridges directly to the recycler at no cost to you. Follow the link below for more information. Here you will find which cartridges are accepted and how to print your free shipping label. http://www.fundingfactory.com/goal/camp-dogwood Thanks for all you do, Tammy Thomas Camp/Retreat Administrator

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