District Governor’s Message - March, 2013 By the time you receive this newsletter both Carol and I would have been to 65 Clubs in our District, as well as attending Australian Day Ceremonies, MD 201 Council Meeting in Sydney and a Cabinet Meeting at Simpson.

Our first outing was the MD 201 Council meeting in Sydney. We were accompanied by DGE Stewart and Carol, and Incoming Cabinet Secretary PDG Derek and Phillipa, all of them were having their first training sessions to prepare them for the year ahead starting in July, 2013. We had a number of business days followed by a Saturday Night Dinner in Darling Harbour. There we were joined by the current Youth of the Year State Finalists, who were on their National tour.

While we were in Sydney, we received word that there were a number of fires in Victoria, mainly in the South-West of the State near Dartmoor, and also at Licola. We were also informed of large fires near Coonabarabran NSW and, of course, the terrible floods in both Queensland and NSW.

This brings me to the point of Disaster Relief. While we were in Sydney we were able to set up a National Disaster Relief Fund. Donations will be accepted by our Australian Lions Foundation. You may recall the original fund was set up for the Tasmanian Bush Fire Relief, but due to many new disasters it was re-named the National Disaster Fund under the direction of ALF.

Please ask your Club if they have made a donation to the appeal, and if you have donated this cause, I would like to this opportunity in THANKING YOU for our support. y

Next we attended the Australian Day Ceremony at Williamstown, hosted by the Lions Club of Altona and the Hobsons Bay City Council. This event was well attended by Members of Lions, Rotary, Local Government and the Australian Day Ambassador Mike Brady.

We also held our third Cabinet Meeting in the first week of February, hosted by the Lions Club of Simpson & District. Many thanks to all the Members and your Partners - it was a great week-end.

As mentioned in my last newsletter, the month of March is going to be our month of “MEMBERSHIP” . By now I hope you and your Club have put some plans in place to achieve our collective target goals of 45 New Members in March, and a total target of 85 New Members by the end of this 2012/2013 Lions year in July.

If you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact Dennis Grant, our District Membership Chairman, on 521401499 or 0401374928, I sure he will be able to assist you.

May I take this opportunity to remind all Members that March is also election month for all the Club Office Bearers and ask each Member to give a great deal of thought to what you can do for your Club and for the greater Lions organization? For all you Incoming Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers as well as Club Membership Chairmen, I would strongly recommend you attend the Incoming Officer Schools being organized by DGE Stewart in May. It is most important that every Incoming Club Officer attends one of the three schools to ensure that your job, and that of others, is made much easier and smoother due to everyone sharing knowledge as to how to do the job.

Please support this year’s District Youth of the Year Final to be held in Camperdown, and our “V” District State Final will held in Wangarratta. Further details are included in this Newsletter

This year’s MD201 Convention will be in Canberra, from the 26th-29th of April, and Registration Forms are in the current Lions Magazine. We would like as many Lions as possible from V2 to attend this Convention and take the opportunity in welcoming DGE Stewart and Lions Lady Carol to the stage as they are about to start their journey in the new Lions year in July.

At this Convention there will be an opportunity for Ex-Servicemen to march under the Lions Banner on the 25th of April, “ANZAC DAY”. Please mark on your registration form if you would like to march. Thank you.

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Christmas Cakes Could I please remind all Clubs that Cakes Account payment is due by the end of February, 2013. Please remit to “TOP TASTE” direct. Please make sure that the accounts are correct, and if you have any queries please directed them to our Christmas Cake Chairman PDG Allan Reeve.

Lou Scholten,

Lions International District 201V2 Newsletter – March, 2013 – Page 2

District Governor

Carol’s Chatter

This month has gone so fast. D.G. Lou and I are both on the road again. Sounds like a country song but that’s what we do this year. We have had a very good month, meeting some new people and catching up with some we have met before. It was very pleasing to go to Willaura Club and it was more like a Zone meeting. Lions from Skipton, Stawell, Ararat and Lake Bolac were in attendance, and it was great to catch up again with them.

The Australia Day Breakfast at Williamstown was fun. Mike Brady was the Australia Day Ambassador, and we could remember with him the “Up There, Cazaly”, the SPC Baked Beans Campaign, the ‘Lucky you’re with Ammi’ ad, (all his!), just to name a few - a very entertaining morning.

On a personal note on that same day we also had brunch with our son and dinner with my sister and her husband. Life for a District Governor is very busy and you manage to fit in family where you can. So it, too, is helping Lou’s ‘coat story’ come true, and that is amusing to him but a disaster to me. But it has its perks! I need new clothes most weeks, and that’s got to be good.

So after Portland we will take a small break (4 days) and go away with my other sister and her husband. We will go to the wine region of S.A., come home Tuesday night and then off to Queenscliff/Point Lonsdale on Wednesday Night.

We have a few on the sick list in the District and we send our love and best wishes to them all for a swift recovery.

All the Best, Lions Lady Carol Scholten

District Governor’s Album

It would be great to have every Club represented in the District Governor’s Album. Many Clubs have had their DG visit, and only a few have forwarded photos. If no photos were taken, can I perhaps have a Club Group photograph or one of the President as soon as possible please. Email to: hlochhead@hotmail.com

Heather Lochhead

Retention

Following on from what I wrote in the February District Newsletter and bearing in mind that this is March Membership Month across the MD201 area, I would like to continue to share some of the information to be found in “Member Retention a case of Routine Maintenance NOT Rocket Science” developed by PDG Bill Duncanson

Commandment 6 – Involve ALL your Members. The value of this commandment cannot be overstressed. People become LIONS because they want to do something for their community; they want to help others - especially people who are disadvantaged, disabled or underprivileged.

There are many ways in which Members can be involved: administrative skills, hands-on trade skills, counsellors, skilled with young people or aged people’s needs, good fund-raisers or good motivators.

Whatever their background or vocation they have something to offer to the overall success of the Club. We must let them do it. No Lion will continue to attend meetings to just listen night after night, or be there to make up the numbers at dinners. It is far easier and cheaper to be a knife and fork person at home. Too many Lions are LOST to the organisation because this commandment is never heeded.

Take seriously the views and suggestions of newer Members, they are joining “To Serve”, so let them. Be careful of the “We tried that before. Won’t work!” or “I say we do this, or do that, or you can count me out!”, or “I’ve got it all in hand, I’ll sing out if I need any help!” type statements because they immediately cut short any further creative thinking and/or involvement.

In short, run a Club where everyone can get a chance to have a say; where assistance from willing and able people are not knocked back and aim for a large majority support for all Club projects. “We did it together” will work wonders for Club morale.

I can forward an electronic copy of this paper by contacting me on pmhjohnson@gmail.com and if you wish me to be a Speaker at Club, Zone or Region level please feel free to use this email as a means of being in contact with me.

Phillip Johnson, 1st Vice District Governor Elect – Retention

Aspire to Inspire before you Expire

DG Lou’s Visitation Schedule

March, 2013

Wednesday, 13th Melbourne Vietnamese Monday, 18th Clifton Springs Tuesday, 19th Corio/Norlane Wednesday, 20th Edenhope Thursday, 21st Lake Bolac Thursday, 28th Sunshine

Australia Day Honors

Congratulations are extended to the following Lions who received awards in the recent Australia Day honors:

Lion Tom Harding, OAM, from Torquay, helped rebuild the abandoned town of Farina, S.A. A Liosince 2003, he was Chairman of the Lions Village Board of Management 2005-10, and has been very involved in the Caravan Industry.

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PDG Gordon Williams was named Citizen of the Year for the West Wimmera Shire, for his involvement with the Shire, the Hospital, his church and sporting groups in the Kaniva area, as well as his involvement in the sheep industry which has been international.

1st Vice District Governor Elect Phillip Johnson was awarded Citizen of the Year for the Colac Otway Shire, for his community service in many areas, including the Lions Club of Colac, Colac Hospital, driving patients for Red Cross and Leadership in his church parish, among many others.

District V2 Youth of the Year Final

Saturday 23rd March, 2013 Theatre Royal, Camperdown Cnr Manifold & Bath Streets

(Bath Street entrance)

6:30 for 7pm start $30 per person

BYO drinks – soft drink & water provided

RSVP with names, any special dietary needs And payment by 15th March

Lions Club of Camperdown, P.O Box 192 Ph Maree 5593 1273 or Bill 5593 2788

camperdownlions@gmail.com

Membership Drive

This month of March has been identified by Multiple District Council of Governors as the month of a Australia wide Membership drive, with a V2 District target of 46 new Members across the District

To assist with achieving this target, I have put together some points to remember that have shown excellent results in the past. Remember this not an easy task but like all good Lions we rise to the challenge

Remember that finding and securing new Members is never easy. 90% of Members join Lions to help their local community grow.

New Member Hints * Ask the prospective Member if they would like to become part of Lions in relationship to the good work Clubs are doing in the local community

. * Invite the prospective Member to a Lions meeting. It is recommended that the prospective Member attend both a Business and a Dinner meeting * Remember to pick up the prospective Member and introduce them to all Members in attendance and LOOK AFTER them Get their feedback on their thoughts regarding the local Lions Club * Focus on the Community issues and projects being implemented at the Club or are in the planning stage. At this stage people cannot see past issues within their immediate community and are not interested in Multiple District or Lions Clubs International activities, This can be introduced gradually or at Region Information Forums

In seeking new Members the hardest thing to do is ask the question:

“WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A LION?”

Some ways of reaching prospective Members are: 1. Promotion Days at shopping centres 2. Newspaper articles on Club activities and successes 3. Electronic Media and social media

Never prejudge prospective Members and we should never discount the younger community members as they have some wonderful ideas or family members

Remember that the Global Membership Team is there to help Clubs achieve this target please feel free to contact me

Regards

Dennis Grant V2 GMT Membership Coordinator

Ph: 0401374928

Lions International District 201V2 Newsletter – March, 2013 – Page 5

Attention all Lions and Lions Clubs

As most of us are aware, there have been a number of bushfires in Tasmania, NSW, and Victoria during the course of this summer, as well as the devastating floods in Queensland and Northern NSW.

If you wish to contribute in any way to the relief effort for any of these events, please refer to the list below for details.

Carngham Fire; 9 homes and buildings destroyed in V2 District.

Monetary donations can be directed to Maria Rice, Community Liaison Officer, Pyrenees Shire, Beaufort, Vic. For hands-on-help, contact the Lions Club of Skipton, who are monitoring the situation, and ask what can or needs to be done.

To donate to the Tasmanian or Gippsland fires, or to flood relief interstate, please write all cheques out to the Australian Lions Foundation, along with instructions as to where you would like your donation placed. It is important you then send all information and cheques to Cabinet Treasurer PDG John Greenwood, PO Box 184, Leopold, Vic 3224, and he will pass it on to the relevant body.

Remember our motto, “WE SERVE”, and our Ethic, “To aid others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy”. For more information, contact:

V2 Disaster Liaison Chairman Greg McAdam

Ph. 5574 6222, Mob 0428 746 222 Email gajemcadam@bigpond.com

Vale – PDG Les Rogers A tribute to Past District Governor Les Rogers, Life Member Award, Melvin Jones Fellow (received for his dedicated service to Lions Clubs International, the Lions Club of Anglesea and the Lions Club of Geelong Hamlyn Heights. P.D.G. Les was the Guiding Lion when the Geelong Hamlyn Heights Club was formed in 1977. He later transferred from the Lions Club Anglesea to our Club in 1979. He served in many portfolios in both Clubs and at District Level in 44 years as a Member of Lions Clubs International.  

WE WILL MISS YOU 

“Coins 4 Kids”

Will your Club join the challenge?

Imagine the potential of over 300 Lions Clubs across Victoria participating in the same fundraising activity over the same period of time and donating all the funds to Children’s Charities.

Every Lion, Lioness and Leo Club in Victoria is invited to join in this community activity during the period commencing 19th March, 2013, and concluding 14th June, 2013.

So how does it work?�

• Clubs invite their local school/s to participate in collecting and laying coins along a line in their local community.

• The line of coins may be in a public place e.g. shopping mall, Lions Park, or in school grounds – wherever is visible to the public and safe for the students.

• Schools and Clubs� will share the money raised - 50% to a Children’s Charity chosen by the school and 50% to the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation.

By all working together during the same period, the project will raise awareness of Lions Clubs and their willingness to serve their local communities.

Further information will be made available to Clubs by post, on the District web-site or by emailing the District Coordinator, PDG Max Oberlander maxo@vic.australis.com.au

State Final Youth of the Year

6th April 2013 6.30 for 7.00pm

Gateway Wangaratta, 29-37 Ryley Street

Wangaratta Dress- After 5.00pm

Cost $40.00 per Head Host Club Wangaratta

For Bookings and accommodation Contact your YotY District Chairperson

camperdownlions@gmail.com Ph Maree 5593 1273 or Bill 5593 2788

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Lions International District 201V2 Newsletter – March, 2013 – Page 5

Member Welfare The sincere sympathy of District Governor Lou, Lions and Partners are with those whose loved ones have passed away since the last District Newsletter.

To Lions Wayne and Judi Oakes (Camperdown), on the sudden loss of their daughter; to Lion Hamish and Felicity Griffiths (Balmoral), on the loss of Hamish’s mother; to Lion Robert Blackman (City of Horsham), on the loss of his uncles; to Lions Lady Val on the passing of Lion Russell Hemphill (Rupanyup); to Lion Jim and Pam Millard (Heywood) on the loss of Jim’s brother; to Lions Lady Estelle on the loss of PDG Les Rogers (Geelong Hamlyn Heights).

To all our Lions who are unwell, we wish you a speedy recovery. ‘Get Well’ wishes to Lion Dawn Shaw and Lion Eileen Broadwood (Coleraine), Lion Gordon Field and Lions Lady Eril Field (Nhill).

District Governor Lou and Lions Lady Carol still have some Clubs to visit, and if these Clubs have any Members who are unwell and would like a visit, if the Club likes to contact me I will see if this can be arranged.

We wish all Lions who have birthdays or special anniversaries around this time our congratulations and best wishes.

Congratulations to Lion Keith and Eleanor Fegan (Colac) on their 60th Wedding anniversary, and to Lion George and Elinor Caris on 57 years of marriage.

Congratulations to Lion Toni and Andrew Blackwell (Leopold) on the birth of their son Logan.

Mary Antonoff Welfare Chairman

New Members

District Governor Lou and Members and Partners of District 201V2 welcome the following new Members, and thank their Sponsors for introducing them into the Lions family.

New Sponsor Lions Club of Geelong Hamlyn Heights Rohan Ridgeway Ivan Panton

Lions Club of Merino Digby

Danielle Telley Richard Lane

Lions Club of Portland

Nina Hurt Trista Hamblin

Lions Club of Skipton Kim Haley Ronald White

Lions Club of Warrnambool Craig Bramley Mike Trevena

Walk For a Cure

Walk for a Cure, which we held through Geelong District Lion Clubs last year, raised $20,000, and received terrific support from Clubs throughout the District. We had between 350 and 400 Walk in Geelong on the day.

As with the event last year, this year we are again asking for support.

Financial contributions can be made and, like always, will be greatly appreciated. However we invite Clubs outside the City of Greater Geelong to try and organise their own fund-raising activity with their local Primary or Secondary Schools, and they can rest assured that each of their schools will probably have a child who suffers from Juvenile Diabetes (type1).

An activity can be a Walk around the Local Race-course, Football Oval, Walking Track or the like, followed by a Barbeque and other children’s activities.

Once the Club holds their activity and collect Sponsorship from participants, they can log into the web page, set up their own (Club) details under the Geelong page, and then deposit funds accordingly.

We are holding our Walk on Sunday, 24th March - however other Clubs may not be in a position to raise funds on that day and may like to hold an event on another day.

Type 1 Diabetics rely on Insulin injections, (by way of syringes or a syringe pump), up to 6 times a day to keep them alive. A good way of remembering about Type 1 Diabetes is the sufferer never has a holiday from their injections because failure to have your injection results in the ultimate.

The web page for all information, and to see how our total of funds raised grows is:

fundraise.teamcurediabetes.org.au/event/JDRF walkgeelong

This web site allows anyone to set up a Sponsor list for fundraising.

Mick Harris Lions Club of Geelong South Barwon.

Walk Co coordinator

From the Editor

Some people have had a problem getting articles to me. Please note that my email address and mobile phone number listed in the Multiple District Directory are both incorrect. My correct email is in the masthead of this Newsletter and my Mobile No. is 0438 501 445.

Val Pritchard Newsletter Editor

Lions International District 201V2 Newsletter – March, 2013 – Page 5

District Cabinet Secretary’s Report

District Cabinet Secretary’s Report

Here we are well into the second half of the Lions year, and by the Bulletins and Activity Reports received, many Clubs didn’t seem to have a lot of time off over the holiday break. There were reports on organising Carols by Candlelight, Christmas Dinners, and New Year’s Eve and Australia Day celebration activities, all proof that Lions are very active in their communities.

Here we are well into the second half of the Lions year, and by the Bulletins and Activity Reports received, many Clubs didn’t seem to have a lot of time off over the holiday break. There were reports on organising Carols by Candlelight, Christmas Dinners, and New Year’s Eve and Australia Day celebration activities, all proof that Lions are very active in their communities.

March is an important month for Clubs as it is the time when we elect our Incoming Officers. It is essential that Secretaries record their names electronically on the MyLCI PU101 website as soon after the elections as possible. This will ensure the new President and Secretary will have access to membership data when they take office. Can I please remind you to return the PU101forms I sent out recently to me by the due date (March 30th). These details are put on a spreadsheet and forwarded to the National Office for inclusion in the Multiple District Directory.

March is an important month for Clubs as it is the time when we elect our Incoming Officers. It is essential that Secretaries record their names electronically on the MyLCI PU101 website as soon after the elections as possible. This will ensure the new President and Secretary will have access to membership data when they take office. Can I please remind you to return the PU101forms I sent out recently to me by the due date (March 30th). These details are put on a spreadsheet and forwarded to the National Office for inclusion in the Multiple District Directory.

Canberra Convention April 25th to 29thCanberra Convention April 25th to 29th I have sent a couple of requests to Clubs requiring prompt attention: the first was for the names of Lions, Partners, Lionesses and Leo’s who have passed away since the National Convention in May. 2012. This is a cross check and confirmation for me to ensure all names are submitted to be recognised in the Remembrance Ceremony at the Convention. The second was the Registration of Delegate forms for those attending the Convention. It is important for me to have these details in good time to advise the Sergeant at Arms the numbers for voting cards. Just a reminder, please let me know the names of Club Members attending the Convention so I can have a complete record of V2 attendees. The third District Cabinet Meeting was hosted by the Simpson & District Club, and we thank President Bev and

Members for the provision of the excellent venue and the fellowship extended.

Our Disaster Chairman reported the fires claimed 9 homes in the Carnam/Heywood District. It was also noted that Licola Village had been spared any damage, and that children in the camp were safely relocated. It was decided to donate $1500 from the Disaster Fund to the Lions Club of Lake Bolac to help rehabilitate a family who had lost all their possessions in a fire.

The second PR trailer has been delayed due to lack of funding. District Chairman Greg will look at possible avenues for a grant.

District Governor Lou advised that the American Mint will strike a new coin commemorating 100 years of Lions service in 2017.

CBL Chairman Bruce Hudgson made an interesting observation that the NSW court had decreed – “that organisations must record the numbers ‘For and Against’ all Notices of Motion put to a meeting”. He noted it related only to NSW at this stage but we in V2 should be aware.

I have noticed quite a number of Lions wearing the Lions/Apex lapel pins. Can I encourage Clubs to recognise those Members who are ex-Apexians in their Club? They can do this by issuing them with a combined lapel pin and noting their years of Apex service to their membership record.

We are still receiving a number of return District Newsletters with incorrect addresses. Can Secretaries please update any Members change of address immediately to avoid this situation.

Bob Gilchrist Cabinet Secretary