Welcome to the Taylorsville Lions Club

What is the Taylorsville Lions Club?

• Civic Organization= “We Serve”• Mission is to support Visually Impaired People

(VIPs) through community activities and collective action

• Today’s program is an overview of what the Taylorsville Lions do to achieve that mission

The Lion World

• Taylorsville Lions are a part of Lions International– Largest Civic Organization in

the world– Based in Oak Brook, Illinois

• North Carolina Lions- belong to Multiple District 31– Divided into districts L, I, O, N,

and S– Each is divided further into

zones

The Lion World-District Officials• Each of NC’s districts is headed by a

District Governor, has 1-2 Vice Governors, and a Secretary and a Treasurer

• Clubs report to their zone, which reports to their district, which reports to International

• Districts set goals for some humanitarian fundraising

• Districts work to enhance the clubs in their area to increase membership and work together more effectively

North Carolina Lions, Incorporated

• Statewide organization, based at Camp Dogwood in Sherrill’s Ford, NC

• Tasked with administering the statewide programs, also with the running of Camp Dogwood

• Board of Directors are elected by the Districts

Nearby Lions

• The Taylorsville Club is part of Zone 1, which is the North Wilkesboro, Taylorsville, Elkin, Bethlehem, and Yadkinville Lions

• We have good relations with Lions Clubs in Catawba County (District L)– Longview, Conover, Newton,

West Hickory VIP, and some others

Taylorsville Lions Structure• Club has a president, and 2 VP• Club has a treasurer and a

secretary– Some Lions Clubs combine the two

offices• Club has a Lion Tamer (Sgt at

Arms)• Club has a board of directors

consisting of the President, VPs, Secretary, Treasurer, and 4 directors, as well as the immediate past president, the Lion Tamer, and the Tailtwister

Club officers 2015-2016President: Clyde Higgins1st Vice President: Sonny Cook2nd Vice President: Ray ColemanSecretary: Johnny DavisTreasurer: Brenda HigginsTailtwister: Charlie WellsLion Tamer: Charlie Wells1st Year Directors: David Curry, Randy Mundy2nd Year Directors– Brian Lucas, VacantFair Chairman: David CurryMembership Director: Randy MundyChaplain: Ray Coleman

Activities of the Taylorsville Lions Club

• Fundraising Goals– All Lions Clubs in MD 31 are

expected to support the Brighter Visions Program• Brighter Visions: source of matching

funds for eyeglasses, white canes, and other programs- administered by NCL, Incorporated

– Every district sets a goal of so many $/per member for Brighter Visions and some other suggested programs

– All Lions in MD 31 are expected to support Camp Dogwood through the sale of raffle tickets each year

Activities of the Taylorsville Lions Locally

• Eyeglasses- The Taylorsville Lions provide eyeglasses to people who apply and meet certain criteria– NCLI pays half, we pay half – The need varies from year to year

• Collection of Used Eyeglasses• Support for Leader Dogs for the

Blind- collecting cans and can tabs– Leader Dogs is a guide dog school

in Rochester, Michigan operated by Lions

Local Activities Con’t

• J. Atwell Alexander Lions Club Scholarship- we offer a scholarship to a student every year– Current amount is $500

• Youth Program- The Taylorsville Lions Club sponsors a Leo Club– School based Leo Club at

Alexander Central– Program is to teach young people

about community and humanitarian service

Other Activities

• Vision Screening- the Club sometimes participates in the Mobile Screening Unit program– Free vision screening– Sometimes done in

conjunction with other clubs• Blood Drive- the Taylorsville

Lions Club usually schedules a blood drive in April of a given year

Supporting our Local Activities• Taylorsville Lions Club

Fairgrounds– Used as a fundraising engine– Profits, if any, go to support the

club’s humanitarian activities– Used for rentals, events

• Small animal/junk auction every Friday- we do concessions

• Exhibit Hall rentals• Lawn Mower Racing

– Alexander Agricultural Fair- annual event held since 1946- club’s biggest fundraising activity• Requires a lot of work

Other Fundraising

• Broom sales- the Taylorsville Lions sell brooms as a fundraiser– Source: Industries of the

Blind in Greensboro, NC• Other things– Raffles, chicken dinners

Action Committees

• Fair Committee: spends a lot of time on operating and maintaining the Fairgrounds– Includes traveling to the State Convention

• Eyesight: spends time determining need for glasses

• Board of Directors- meets monthly after a club meeting

Club Needs

• Number one need- members– Able to work, perform a very wide range of tasks

from carpentry to advertising– Able to commit some time to the Club– Able to work well with others– Able to assume leadership positions in the

organization– Able to persevere

• In other words, we need many kinds of people