JUNE 2009

Lions, Lioness and LEOS:

As this Lions year draws to close, let’s look back on our accomplishments. We have made many miracles happen during the course of the year. We have done countless eye exams for our youth, we have provided glasses to those who need them, and we have given individuals better hearing through reduced priced hearing aids. We have provided surgeries to correct vision problems. We have donated all kinds of goods to the needy in our country and beyond. We have transported eye tissue for eye research. We have sent individuals to Camp Tatiyee for a week’s fun and provided a respite to their caregivers. And the list goes on and on and on. There are too many miracles that have occurred to all be listed here. But you all are to be congratulated for each and every one of these miracles!

I know in these economic times it is difficult to accomplish all that we want to accomplish and need to accomplish. But through your efforts we have given more hope to more people than we will probably ever know. Remember, the greatest gift that you give to others is the giving of yourself and serving others selflessly. You give the greatest gift of all, the gift of hope.

I hope you all have taken the time to reflect back upon these accomplishments. If not, please do take some time to pat yourselves on the back and stand in the glow that it yields. Even though you may not have heard it, more individuals than you can count are thanking you. We may think we are a well-kept secret, but they know otherwise.

It has truly been an honor to serve as your District Governor this year. Watching all that you do is a humbling experience. The time, the talent, and the treasure you pour into providing for others are incredible. I want to thank you for allowing me to serve you, my fellow Lions. I wish each of you, your clubs, our District, our Multiple District and our great Association, success in all the years ahead.
 
Enthusiasm + Experience = Success!

Yours in Service,
DG Rand Terwilleger

MAY 2009

Lions, Lioness, and LEOS:

Spring is definitely here. It is the time of year for new growth, beautiful flowers, and of course, allergies. Also, our many “snowbirds” have headed home or will soon do so. We should definitely thank them for participating in our club and District activities. They give us more hands to make more miracles happen!
I want to wish them all safe travels. I look forward to their coming again next year.

Our Multiple District Leadership training for new officers took place in April. I heard many comments about how important this training is for new officers. I also heard comments about the quality of the training. I want to thank those of you who participated. I especially want to thank the presenters, PDG John Hart, PDG Dick Sawyer, PCC Jerry Allen and PDG Ralph Williamson. I also want to thank PDG Ralph Williamson for continuing to tirelessly put together these programs for the benefit of our clubs and Multiple District. It takes many hours of organizing and preparing to make sure these events are successful. So next time you see him, please give him your heartiest thanks. 

I know all of us want to see the Lions year end in a truly successful fashion. This can be accomplished in many ways. First, having a net increase in club membership can do it. You can do this by simply asking a quality person to come to a club meeting. Maybe it’s a person you have been meaning to ask but just haven’t gotten around to it. Or maybe someone you meet by chance. But now is the time!

Second, become a mentor to a new Lion. You do not need to be a sponsor to be a mentor. Just help that new Lion learn about Lionism. Take them to a club board meeting, an activity or project, a club visitation, or to a District or Multiple District meeting. This will not only help the new Lion become more committed but will help you recommit to our ideals.

Third, take on a simple project to reinforce your commitment to our communities. This will give you an opportunity to end the year on a truly positive note. There is no better way start the next year than by ending this one in an upward direction.

So don’t start winding down your year yet. We have some time to get our goals done. We should be working up to the stroke of midnight on the last day of our year to accomplish what we set out to do. There is no better feeling than looking back and seeing your successes. Now is the time to make that final push to reach the objectives we set for our clubs and ourselves.

Enthusiasm + Experience = Success!

Yours in Service,
DG Rand Terwilleger

Lions, Lioness, and LEOS:

I want to thank those of you who took time out of your busy schedules to attend our District Convention in February. We succeeded in getting the District business accomplished, elected our next year’s District Leadership, and had fun. I want to again congratulate DGE Ann Roberts, 1st VDGE Art Downs, and 2nd VDGE Debbie Vine on accepting their respective positions for next year. I know they will provide excellent District leadership especially with the support of all District Lions.
I truly believe the dinner/dance was the premier event of the Convention. I want to thank the committee in doing an outstanding job of organizing the music, the flowers, and the “sweetheart pictures”. And who can forget trying to eat half a chicken. I also want to thank the Lions who took the time to thank Lori Ann’s brother, Reizian, on his special performance for us. I know he really appreciated it.
I want to thank our Convention Chair, Lion Debbie Vine, and her trainee, PDG Ralph Williamson, for all of the hard work they performed over the last year to make it all happen. I also want to thank the Bullhead City Club for doing the program and the Needles Club for handling the raffle. Special thanks go out to Lion Hal Edelman of the Laveen Club and our Tailtwister, Bruce Weekley of the Needles Club. Your “singing “or “not singing,” Happy Birthday will always be remembered. I’m glad the “not singing” group was in the majority. I’m sure most other Lions feel the same way.
Until now, I have only been involved in bits and pieces of a Convention. Now I fully realize all of the effort it takes to plan and execute a Convention. My hat goes off to all of those involved and to all past and future Convention Committees.
We are now in our last quarter of the Lion’s year. It is even more important that we all review our progress toward our goals for the year. We only have a short time to reach them. I have seen our retention efforts pay off so far this year. What had been hemorrhaging in the past has now been reduced to a trickle. Also I see many clubs continue to add new members through their recruiting efforts. I congratulate you on both fronts. Let’s not lose focus on these two important areas. With a continued focus on retention and adding two or three new clubs by year end, we will have positive growth for the year. This is something we can all be proud of.
Enthusiasm + Experience = Success!
Yours in Service
DG Rand Terwilleger

March 2009

Lions, Lioness, and LEOS:

As I sit here thinking about what to write for my March CSL article, I am reminded of all the projects you are doing to make our communities better places to live. I am very impressed with the articles I read in your club newsletters. I want to thank you on behalf of your communities for all that you do.

I had an opportunity to attend the Melvin Jones Memorial rededication in January. The MJM board of directors ordered up a chamber of commerce day. Not only was the weather great but also, the Safford Lions Club did an excellent job of assisting the board in making this a very special time. We, the Lions of Arizona, have a special relationship with Lions Clubs International. Since our founder was born in Ft. Thomas. I want to thank all of you who were able to attend. Also I want to thank PID John Walker for emceeing the event and inducting new members at the rededication. If you have a chance, ask a MJM board member to tell you about their long-range plans. They are not only large in scope but also visionary.

Hopefully, by now, you have appointed a nominating committee for selecting next years club officers. If you have not, please do so quickly. We need to get the new officers elected and the PU-101s sent into LCI. Also please send a copy to DGE Ann Roberts. She needs them to get the Multiple District Directory completed for next year. The creation of the Directory takes lots of work. If information is sent late, mistakes are more likely to happen. So please get all the information about officers and members to DGE Ann as soon as possible.

Also, please have your new officers schedule attendance at one of the three dates for club officer training. The dates scheduled are April 4th in Peoria, April 18th in Tucson, and April 25th in Flagstaff. I realize that many club officers feel they have attended enough training in the past. However, things change year-to-year. There is always something new to learn. Or you may want to attend a different officer’s training session to become more familiar with their responsibilities. You never know when you may be needed to assist the club in another capacity.

I look forward to seeing you at one of the officer training sessions and our Multiple District Convention in May.

Enthusiasm + Experience = Success!

Yours in Service,
DG Rand Terwilleger    

February 2009

Lions, Lioness, and LEOS:

I know each of you continue to offer an opportunity to others to experience the rewards of being a member of Lions.  I also know each of you are tired of hearing about our need to grow membership in our District. Unfortunately, that need has not gone away. Nor should it.

We continue to struggle with membership recruiting and retention.  Our District membership continues to decline. Yes, the District Extension Team can form new clubs. But that is only one third of our membership growth opportunity. We must continue to build our clubs through new members. We must also continue to retain our members through good leadership, excellent orientation, and immediate and continued involvement. Remember a new Lion joins a club for specific reasons. Usually it is because the new Lion wants to give back to the community. The only way that can happen is if we get them involved in our charitable activities.

Think back to when you joined Lions. How did you become involved? Probably someone asked you to come to a meeting or activity. What were the reasons you joined? Probably because Lions offered you a vehicle to help others. Why did you stay? Probably because the reward of helping others has been great. Doesn’t it make sense to offer this same great opportunity to other individuals in your community?

You have heard me in the past talk about the gift we receive when we help others. It is what others and I call the “disease of the heart”.  It is that great feeling we get when we do something that helps people in our community. Like any disease, our disease is contagious.  But unlike other diseases, this is a disease that we want to share. It is a disease that not only benefits others, it also benefits us.

So I urge you to ask people to come to a Lions meeting and find out what we do. Then if they have an interest in benefiting the community and themselves, ask them to become Lions. It is the best chance you have for building your club and helping your communities.

Enthusiasm + Experience = Success!

Yours in Lionism, DG Rand Terwilleger

JANUARY 2009

Lions, Lioness, LEOS:

Happy New Year! We are now officially in the 2nd half of our journey for this Lion’s year. As you made your New Year’s Resolutions, I hope you have included some pertaining to Lions. We often make resolutions with the best of intentions. Then as the days and months go by, we lose interest in them. Or maybe we find they are too hard to follow or take too much time. Whatever the reason, we discontinue trying to live up to them. This can happen with our resolutions about Lions also. I ask you to keep committing and recommitting to them and making sure they come to fruition. Remember your communities and the individuals within your communities are depending on you! I know you can do this, because YOU are Lions.

I know we all get tired of hearing about membership growth. But our District needs your help. We are doing a better job of retention than we have in the recent past. However, we are not growing towards that magic number of 1250 members that we need to survive as a District. I know you are Lions because you care and you enjoy receiving that great feeling every time you help someone. So shouldn’t each of us give someone else that same opportunity….that same great feeling. Ask a friend, a neighbor, a business associate, a family member, or an acquaintance to come to a club meeting. Show them what we do and how we make a difference. If they understand how important we are to our communities, they will ask to join. So don’t wait, ask someone today!

Please get your registration in for our District Convention taking place at the beautiful AVI Resort and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada on February 13 –14. We have arranged some exciting entertainment, excellent seminars, and above all….FUN! Remember we will be voting on next years positions for District Governor, 1st Vice District Governor and for the first time, 2nd Vice District Governor. This promises to be a special time…. especially at the Sweetheart Dance on Saturday night. So bring your Sweetheart, your dancing pumps, and “that little kid” in each and every one of you. I look forward to seeing you there.

Enthusiasm + Experience = Success!

Yours in Service, DG Rand Terwilleger

DECEMBER 2008

Lions, Lioness and LEOS:
During the 6 months just passed, we have had an opportunity as Lions and Lions Clubs to make a difference in our communities. We have also had many opportunities to ask someone to attend our meetings and become a Lion. We have had an opportunity to participate in club projects and make our clubs stronger and more vibrant. We have had an opportunity to work together as teammates and make our club membership stronger. We have had an opportunity to have our motto, “We Serve”, always present in our hearts and on our minds. We have had an opportunity to visit other clubs and help those that are struggling and learn from those that are strong. We have had an opportunity to work on District and Multiple District projects.
The big question is: “Did we take advantage of these opportunities and make our teams, clubs, District and Multiple District stronger and better?”
We now have a chance to capitalize on the good things that have happened and win back the opportunities we have lost. The reason we have this chance is because we do not live by a calendar year in Lions. Our year goes from July 1 through June 30. Look back at what you as a Lion and your club have done over the first half of our year. Ask yourself, “What can I and my club do to make the second half even better?” Have a second half club retreat and evaluate the opportunities that exist. Then develop an action plan. Put the action plan to work and watch the results! Let’s work together to make the second half of the year better then the first half.
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and a Happy New Year!
Enthusiasm  + Experience = Success!

OCTOBER 2008

Lions, Lioness, and LEOS:
If you attended our 1st Cabinet Meeting, you heard an excellent presentation by our District MERL Team. They discussed some of the opportunities that exist in membership and retention, extension, leadership, orientation and a review of protocol. The presentations are in PowerPoint format and can be used in your club meetings or club retreats. For a copy, just email PDG Ralph Williamson and he can send you one. Or better yet, ask our MERL Team to attend one of your meetings. It will be worth the effort and will enhance your meetings.
Also we had an excellent presentation following lunch by Lion Bob Barrett of the Peoria Sunset Lions Club. He is also the mayor of Peoria. He shared with us how to get more of our activities into the media. He worked for several years as a reporter and editor of the Arizona Republic. He currently is the manager of public relations for the Central Arizona Project. His insights should really assist us in better getting our story out to the public. I’m sure with enough notice; he will speak to your club.
We are now in the second quarter of the Lions year. Most of the “snow-birds” have returned. I asked at our 1st Cabinet Meeting that every club re-examine its community projects. I suggested that every club visit with its community leaders and find out what additional help their communities need. Many of these needs will not require money, only time. For instance, “adopt a highway”, assist a child in reading at school, clean up a park, etc. These kinds of activities can not only help the community but also can help revitalize your club. Too many times I see clubs that are still doing the “same old thing” and they get stale. New activities cannot only help the community, but can bring club members together. Remember, our success as Lions is in doing!
Please get your registration in for the Mid-Year Leadership Conference. It promises to be a wonderful event. It will not only have some great seminars, but will also have fun socials. Also start planning on attending our District Convention in Laughlin, NV at the AVI Resort and Casino on the weekend of Feb 13-14, 2009. We have some real surprises in store.
Enthusiasm + Experience = Success!

Yours in Service,
DG Rand Terwilleger

Lions, Lioness, and LEOS:
The month of September brings many clubs in our district “back to life” after being “Dark” for the summer. In another month the “snow-birds” will start to make their annual migration back to the sunny and warm climes of Arizona. Our Lions Year is already one quarter over at the conclusion of this month. We have many things to accomplish in this short time, but I know because we are Lions, we will meet our goals!
Your MERL Team has been hard at work over the summer. We have identified the areas of our District where we can Charter new clubs, and make a Lion's difference in those communities. We also have developed Leadership Programs to help our newly Chartered clubs create strong leaders. Because we all know that to have vibrant clubs we need good leadership. Also, ZC Mary Michaelis , Womens Membership Development Chair, can assist you with promoting increases in women's membership in your club. Remember, the MERL Team is ready and able to assist you and your club in Membership, Retention, Leadership, and Orientation.
Lori Ann and I had the opportunity to attend the 1st Council Meeting and District 21B's 1st Cabinet Meeting on the weekend of August 9th. There were approximately 150 Lions in attendance. We had a great time. The host clubs did an excellent job of making sure all Lions in attendance had fun. We also received some excellent training about the “generations” and their differences. I will be attending the District 21C's 1st Cabinet Meeting the weekend of August 16th.
Those of you who were able to attend our District “Kick-Off” on August 23rd not only received some good information, but also, had a good time. PID Dave Roberts installed our new District Cabinet and Committee Chairs for 2008-2009. We had presentations by our State Projects, a CSFII update, and an invitation to our District Convention in February 2009. We also had a presentation by PCC Bob Lee on our District Proud Lion/Proud Sponsor Program. Following lunch, Lion Mayor Bob Barrett, of the Peoria Sunset Club, spoke about Colorado River Water Use and our need as Lions for Public Relations. Thank you PDG Ralph Williamson for chairing the meeting and making it a success!
Remember: Miracles happen through your service!

DG Rand Terwilleger
District 21A

AUGUST 2008

Lions, Lioness, and Leos:
I recently returned from halfway around the world…Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand was the site for the 91st Lions Clubs International Convention and District Governor School. The District Governor School and Convention were both great experiences. Also the people of Thailand are very friendly and continually look for ways to make you feel comfortable in their homeland.
Our new International President, Al Brandel, has some very exciting programs for this year. His theme is “Miracles Through Service”. He firmly believes that they are created by members like you….EVERYDAY HEROES. Without you, our communities would be far worse off. I look forward to sharing more with you about the International and District programs during my club visits later this year.
Also, at the Convention, we learned that we have exceeded our stretch goal of $200,000,000 for Campaign SightFirst II. The Campaign received cash and pledges of $203,000,000. Thank you to all the clubs and Lions, Lioness, and Leos that participated. You have just made our world a better place!
Great News! We finished 2007-2008 with a net gain in District membership. This has not happened in several years. Congratulations to PDG Hallis Anderson, the District Cabinet, the District MERL Team, and especially to all of our club officers and club members. It is a wonderful accomplishment and gives us the momentum we need to duplicate the results this year!
Please mark your calendars for our “District Kickoff” and 1st Cabinet meeting on August 23rd at the Grace Inn in Ahwatukee. Also our District Convention will be February 13-15, 2009 at the AVI Resort and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada. We have some VERY exciting programs planned for both meetings.
As we start this new Lions year, I want to wish each of you and your clubs the very best in all of your activities. Remember, Enthusiasm + Experience = Success!

DG Rand Terwilleger
District 21A