February, 2015

Happy Valentines Day to you all Lions, Lionesses and Leos of District 1A

Greetings!!!! I hope your New Year 2015 is filled with faith, joy and hope. Mine certainly is, with the joy to love and be loved. I am also ecstatic to tell you that my goals set for my year as your Governor is being met and am moving forward. During my 7 months in office, Lion Austin & I have had a chance to visit many clubs, attended fun(d)raisers, the 2014-15 first region meetings, and now getting ready to attend the year’s second region meeting as they come. Just FYI…please go to each other’s region meetings, meet your fellow district lions from other regions, see what projects are been done, etc. Region 1….February 26th, Region 2…February 23rd, Region 3…..March 5th, Region 4….February 19th, Region 5….February 24th, Region 6 completed theirs on January 26th. We listened as they told us of their activities, the pride and enthusiasm as they completed each task. “We Serve” because lions are good, compassionate people and want and care for our fellow human beings. Lions always leave a little something behind: a glad heart, a revived spirit or a precious memory of being cared for. If we lions don’t do what we do, nobody will. Lions, I am working hard and happy to report to the completion of my goals. For many years there had been a downward trend in membership. In accordance with International President, Joe Preston’s program on membership “Strengthen The Pride”; I set my goal to 1800 members in District 1A. We are now as of today

at 1777. Since this number we have inducted 11 new members in January. Also, in any given month for a long time there were no drops in January. Bringing our total to 1788 members. Also, happy to tell you, yesterday at the 3rd cabinet meeting of the year, there was an announcement of a NEW CLUB of 20 brand new members. This club will be in the Chicagoland area. The boundaries have not been determined yet bringing our District club count to 72 clubs. District 1A, is leading in membership in the State where every district in the state with the exception of District 1D of +1, we in District 1A are a +46 as of December 31, 2014. We are also leading in the State for donations - we have donated 19,656.61 to LCIF during this year. Leader Dog $4,370 (current donation). If we donate a total of $7500/- to Leader Dog we not only fulfill a humanitarian service but have a Kennel named in District 1A’s Name at Leader Dogs in Rochester, Michigan. My third charity: “Operation Smile”. Kids with cleft lips. It takes $240/- per kid to get an operation correcting the cleft lip and live a normal life. My goal was to help at least 5 kids with extra monies donated to me. I have collected enough to be able to operate on 3 and half kids. A donation to Operation Smile will help and provide more surgeries to children in need and transform lives forever. As I always mention, my new members in January are as follows:

CLUB # NEW MEMBER Sponsor's Name

Brookfield-Lagrange 1 JEREMY VITELL Jason Vitell

Calumet City 1 JENNIFER L.PEJKA Mollie Schneider

Chicago Bayanihan-Sampaguita 2 GINA IBARDALOZA Merly Perricone

ELBA TORRE Marilyn McLean

Chicago Filipino American 1 NELSON MERCADO Gaudi Hope Lopez

Chicago Phillipine 3 CORIANA DOREEN Melencia Tolledo

SCOTT SCHELL Melencia Tolledo

TERESITA SCHELL Melencia Tolledo

TOTAL JANUARY MEMBERS 8

-Terry D’Souza, Governor ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Editorial:- PDG Austin D’Souza, Ph.D.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and businesses are busy advertising their products on TV, Radio, Newspapers and every other media available for them in the world. Before it was celebrated only in the West and now it has become universal – just like Lions Clubs International. Many of our members in Lionism are single – they do not invite their spouse or significant other to Lions Clubs. What a wonderful time this is to them to invite them to join Lionism and work together. Governor of District 1A is dancing every day looking at District’s + in membership. There was not even a single member drop in the month of January! Good news is Zone Chairperson Ben Zoleta is bringing a New Club to District 1A. He has their initiation fee of $600 with 20 brand new members who will be joining this new club in Chicago. Once we have their name for the club and selection of office bearers, we will be making official announcement to all District 1A Lions, Lionesses and Leos to welcome them to our prestigious District – 1A.

Good news is – Chicago Central Lions Club – the very first Lions Club started under the leadership of our founder Melvin Jones is setting a goal of increasing their membership to 100 prior to Lions Clubs International’s Centenary Celebrations. I wish nothing but the best to Chicago Central Lions. GO LIONS, GO, WE NEED YOU!

From the desk of I VDG Ralph Zarada:

The annual Mid-Year Forum was

held at Moraine Valley

Community College on January

24th. The agenda for the forum

consisted of 15 different seminars

with a Keynote speaker. There was a blend of

speakers who presented both motivational and

informational topics. The Lions who attended were

served Lunch and beverages. Lion Dr. Janet Szlyk

gave the Keynote address after lunch. And in the

afternoon there were three workshops/Round

Tables. They were Social Media workshop, RC/ZC

Round Table and the Presidents Round Table.

The unofficial count of the Lions in attendance was

94. I was hoping to break the century mark. I was

pleasantly surprised by the attendance of Lions

from outside District 1A. It gave the forum an

extended look as we reached out to the districts

surrounding District 1A. The initial feedback

regarding the forum was positive. There was high

praise for the venue, seminars, food & beverages

and the Keynote speaker Dr. Janet Szlyk. We are

still working on the survey stats and the financials

for the forum. The report will be published and

sent out to the Cabinet once they are completed

for their review.

I want to personally thank all the Lions who took

time out of their busy schedules to help with the

MY Forum. Those include the presenters,

moderators, GLT committee, and please forgive me

for not mentioning you by name. I only have three

minutes. But I do want to acknowledge Lion PDG

John and Lion Pat Coleman for their help with the

venue and for securing Lion Dr. Janet Szlyk as the

Keynote speaker and Dr. Sylvia Jenkins President of

MVCC for her welcome remarks. Both of these

speakers gave the forum an added elegance and

enhancement. But I want to especially thank all of

the Lions who also took time out their day to come

to the forum. I hope they found it to be a great

day" To be a Lion"

The vision that I had for this year's forum was

made possible through the efforts everybody

involved. I could not have done it without their

support and input. This is what I call a "First Pass

Yield" and I would give it a 99.999999% Yield. That

because as we know nothing is perfect and there is

always room for improvement.

Respectfully submitted

Lion Ralph Zarada FVDG

Greetings Fellow District 1-A Lions,

The Convention Committee is wondering where the time has gone. It wasn’t all that long ago that we were closing the books on Lion Dave Hansen’s 46th Annual Convention and here it is February and there is only 7 weeks until the 47th Annual Convention. Governor Terry is looking forward to her convention. The committee has been meeting and working hard to once again present a convention to remember. We have worked hard to keep the prices the same as the last 2 years and still find the funding to add a couple of new events.

The first new idea we came up with is a FREE Photo Booth. It will be located outside of the elevators on the second floor on Friday night only from 8:30 pm until 11:30 pm. Stop by, in costume if

you wish and take a few pictures. Those pictures will be shown during the lunch on Saturday afternoon. The second new event will be on Saturday morning. There will be a “Charter Anniversary Toast” for ALL Lions to attend and toast those clubs celebrating a major anniversary of their charter night. The club must be celebrating a major anniversary during this Lion Year 2014-2015.

The Convention Committee still needs your help though to help make the convention a success. We are asking that you get your registrations in early to help PDG Harold Burkett have an easier time preparing your packets and arranging the proper seating for your group. We ask that you continue to support the fundraising chairmen of the convention, the Vendors, the Ad Book, the Theme Baskets, and the Mini Cash Raffle. By supporting these events you are helping to keep the overall cost of the convention at its present level. Also continue to support all of the hospitality rooms. They have paid a fee to be here to put on a hospitality room to share with you, a party, to help you feel welcome to their club or their region. Lastly, Lion Chris Coleman would like you to purchase a couple of the Super Raffle Tickets to help support our District Charitable Needs.

Also, the District is seeking its future slate of officers. Should you be interested in seeking an office in the District, please contact Cabinet Secretary Brenda Block at csblock1a@aol.com

She will help you to start the process.

So there you have it, my February article for YOUR CONVENTION. Will I see you there?

Thank you,

PDG Steve Anton

District 1-A Convention Chairman

PDG Steve Anton, Convention Chairman

santonlions@comcast.net

PDG Harold Burkett, Convention Co-Chairman

harold.burkett@att.net

PCST Dawn Grogan, Convention Co-Chairman

dgrogan498@aol.com

ZC Gail Anton, Convention Co-Chairman anton173@comcast.net

PDG Mike Smigielski, Convention Hospitality Room Chairman: lionmikesmig@aol.com

BEHIND THE CAPE!

February 8, 2015

The Convention Committee has decided to

start sending out updates

with information about the upcoming District

1-A Convention. At the Cabinet meeting on

Thursday evening, the committee made the

announcement of 3 new items for the

convention. First, like and follow the District

1-A Convention on Facebook. Second, on

Friday evening after the Opening Session,

there will be a photo booth on the second

floor outside of the elevators. Stop by and

have your picture taken. You will get a copy

and we will offer a slide show of all the

pictures during the lunch session on

Saturday. The photo is free to all Lions. Third,

on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. on the

second floor there will be a “Bloody Mary

Mail Pins To:

Mail this form to:

PDG Ralph Koller, 9037 Roach Ave, Brookfield, IL 60513-1043

Toast” for all of the clubs celebrating a Major

Service Anniversary” between July 1, 2014

and June 30, 2015. This event is also open to

ALL LIONS. Your Convention Committee, at

no cost to you, brings these 3 events for you

to enjoy.

We will once again hold the convention

March 27, 28 and 29, 2015.

Westin Chicago Northwest Hotel

400 Park Boulevard

Itasca, Illinois

630-773-4000

Room rates are the same as last year $85.00

per night plus tax. Early registration is only

$20.00 if registered before March 20, 2015.

The convention meal package also remains

the same at $85.00 for Saturday Lunch, The

Governors Banquet and Sunday Morning

Breakfast. Buying the meal package includes

a $20.00 registration fee, another savings for

you. All of the convention forms are

available on the District website at lions1a-

us.org

The theme of the convention this year, as

chosen by Governor Terry, is “Who’s Your

Superhero”. Your Superhero can be anyone

one that you choose and as usual please feel

free to dress in your favorite costume. Our

International Guest this year is Director Karla

Harris and her husband Clarence from the

South Milwaukee Lions Club Milwaukee,

Wisconsin. She has told me that she is eager

to visit with the Lions of District 1-A.

If you have any questions, you can contact

PDG Steve Anton at 708-514-4215 or

santonlions@comcast.net Please share this

information with your club and fellow Lions.

Use the convention as a tool for expanding

the membership in your club by inviting your

friends to attend. All are welcome.

Thank you,

The District 1-A Convention Committee

(Aqua Man)

District 1-A Pin Order Form 2015 MD-1 Illinois

New 2015 MD-1 ILLINOIS PINS for the International Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii

District 1-A members may order any amount I want ______ Pins @ $2.00 each $________________

SORRY BUT STICK PINS AND CHARMS ARE OUT OF

STOCK.

e-mail Ralph Koller to arrange how to receive your pin order: rk7737@gmail.com Make checks payable to: District 1-A Lions

Hello Fellow Lions,

I hope you all are having a great start to

your New Year and I want to let you know

what VOICES has been up to. The Voices

Board of Directors has been working diligently on a

service project that would benefit our entire District,

and we are getting close to unveiling it. We are creating

a program to do Preschool vision screenings with a non

contact screening device that would be as easy as taking

a picture, and with an immediate printout of any

potential vision problems. This printout could be taken

to the child’s family eye Doctor for further evaluation.

We will be purchasing these units for your clubs use and

provide the necessary posters and forms to hold a

successful event. We hope to be able to screen 5000-

7000 preschoolers a year and catch any potential vision

problems early on so the parents can seek out the

proper corrective treatment. We are also coordinating

audiology screenings with

the help of the Rush

Audiology Group. We hope

to implement these

screenings before the start

of the next school year and

hold them as an annual

event.

Our biggest hurdle to get this program off the ground is

to raise the funds for these units. We currently have

just enough money to purchase one unit but we need to

raise enough money to purchase at least 4 units. We

will look to secure a Standard Grant from LCIF via a

district application and then solicit donations from

corporations and like minded foundations to complete

the grant requirements and secure the funding. I

believe that this program has such great benefit to our

preschoolers that we will not have any difficulty in

achieving our goals.

Yours in Lionism,

President: ZC Lion John F. Torphy

Lion Al Parkhill 73 year member of the Calumet City Lions Club passed away Thursday, February 5, 2015.

Visitation will be held from 3 – 8 pm on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13th at Schroeder-Lauer Funeral Home

3227 Ridge Rd., Lansing, IL (708/474-0024). The Calumet City Lions will gather at 7:00 that evening for a Memorial Service.

Funeral services will be on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14th beginning with prayers at 9:30 am at the funeral home followed by a

10:00 am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Calumet City, and burial at Holy Cross Cemetery.

I regret to inform you of the passing of Juanita Beldua. Juanita was a member of the Oak-River Forest Lions for nearly 20 years. She served as Secretary and was very active as a chairperson for many committees. As some recall Juanita’s sister Marty worked at front desk at International with Lion Melvin Jones. Juanita will truly be missed she was a kind and wonderful lady.

I also regret to inform you that the Mother of PCST Andy Liamaga of the Chicago Fil-USA Lions Club has passed away.

Consolacion Pineda Liamaga, 85 years old, Pampanga, Philippines

Lion Andy will leave for the Philippines tomorrow with his brother

Please remember Lion Andy in your prayers and if you wish to send a card you can mail it to:

5323 N. Kildare Ave., Chicago, IL 60630-1758

Thank you,

Lion Brenda Block, Cabinet Secretary

International

Book Giving Day

2015

Celebrate

Three simple ways to celebrate International Book Giving Day, 14th February 2015!

1. Give a Book to a Friend or Relative.

Celebrate International Book Giving Day by giving a child a new, used or borrowed book.

2. Leave a Book in a Waiting Room or Lobby.

Choose a waiting room where kids are stuck waiting and there are few to no good books available. Purchase a good book, and deposit your book covertly or overtly in your waiting room of choice. The goal here is to spread the love of reading to kids, so choose a fun book, nothing controversial.

3. Donate a Book.

Wrap up a box of children’s books that your kids have outgrown and get them in the hands of children who could really use a book or two. Donate your books to your local second hand store, library, children’s hospital, or shelter. Alternatively, donate your books to an organization working internationally to get books in the hands of kids, such as Books for Africa.

How will you celebrate International Book Giving Day?

Lion Judith E. Toft

District 1-A

Membership Coordinator and RAP Chair

Visit District 1A Website:

http://e-district.org/sites/1a/

Web Editor: PCST Dawn Grogan

UPCOMING EVENTS IN DISTRICT 1A

District 1A Bowling: Willowbrook

Bowl.

District 1A Convention: March 27, 28

& 29 at Westin Itasca

Helen Keller 5K Run & Walk: April 26

at Richards High School & Wolfe

Wildlife Area, 10601 S. Central

Avenue, Oak Lawn, IL

Send your nominees for District

Awards:

Lion of the Year

Lioness of the Year

Leo of the Year &

Citizen of the Year 2015

So far we have the following

candidates for District Offices:

I VDG Ralph Zarada for District

Governor

II VDG Ernie Lapid for I Vice District

Governor

Cabinet Treasurer Pat Duda for II Vice

District Governor

Dr. Richard Rucoba for II Term

District Trustee

JOIN LION GOV.

TERRY FOR A DAY

OF FELLOWSHIP

DISTRICT 1-A

73nd ANNUAL

SCRATCH & HANDICAP

BOWLING

TOURNAMENT

Saturday FEBRUARY

21, 2015

Join our Pride

in

DISTRICT 1A

Birthplace of Lionism

Terry D’Souza, Governor, Ralph Zarada I VDG, Ernie Lapid II VDG

Brenda Block Cabinet Secretary, Pat Duda Cabinet Treasurer

At the present time, District lA is accepting

resolutions for the two positions on the District Cabinet

- 2nd Vice District Governor and Lions of Illinois

Foundation Trustee for the years 2015-2017 and the

three Board positions on V.O.I.C.E.S.

These positions are an important part of our District growth and strength. Lions with good leadership skills are encouraged to get involved. This

involvement will help in continuing not only the

success of our District, but will also give that individual a sense of accomplishment as they carry out

our motto "WE SERVE".

The qualifications for the candidate seeking a board position on V.0.1.C.E.S. is simple. He or she needs to be a member in good standing in a Lions Club that is also in good standing with District lA and Lions Clubs International. A candidate for a V.0.1.C.E.S position, cannot hold a District elected office, however, they may hold a club office.

A candidate for the Office of 2nd Vice District Governor and Lions of Illinois Foundation Trustee,

needs to be a member in good standing in a Lions Club that also is in good standing with District l A and Lions Clubs International. Additionally, he or she needs to meet the quali­ fications outlined in the District IA and Lions Clubs International Constitution and By-Laws in

order to be eligible to be a candidate for that District office.

The candidate needs to file the proper written resolution with the District IA Cabinet Secretary stating his or her intention. The resolution shall be prepared and presented as outlined by the latest adopted edition of the District lA and Lions Club International Constitution and By-Laws. Said resolution needs to be delivered by the District Cabinet Secretary to the appoint­ ed Members of the Nominating Committee no

later than 20 days prior to their report at the District

Convention. As in the history of District 1A, all resolutions received prior to the February Cabinet Meeting will be read and recorded as part of that meeting's minutes.

If there is any position not having a nominee within 20

days of the District Convention, then the procedure to make nominations from the convention floor will be carried out as per the District IA and Lions Club International Constitution and By-Laws. Thank you for your consideration to get involved and serve your fellow Lions as an officer of District IA or a member of the V.0.1.C.E.S. Board.

I am looking forward to

receiving your

resolution.

Respectfully,

Brenda Block Lion Brenda Block

District IA Cabinet Secretary

Cc: Lion Terry D'Souza, District IA Governor Lion Steve Anton, PDG, District 1A Convention Chairman

District Governor’s Newsletter Edited & Published by PDG Austin D’Souza for District 1A Lions