June Newsletter

June District 31F Newsletter
Please print and share with the members of your local club.

2012 USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum

It is less than Four months to the Tampa Forum in September and excitement is building for one of the best, if not the best, Forums in its 36 year history! Get yourself on the attendee list now by registering at the special Early Bird registration rate. The registration fee covers the cost of the seminars and four general sessions/designated meals, each with a keynote speaker including LCI’s 2012-2013 International President.

Check out the Forum website – www.usacanadalionsforum.org. Save the website address on your Favorites list and look it up on a regular basis. The website is constantly being updated with news and information on the Forum. For your convenience and easy registration, there is a secure online registration page where you can register online. In the event that you prefer to use a hard copy of the registration form, you can download, print and complete the registration form (payable by check, money order, or credit card) which can be mailed or faxed in to the address or fax number provided.
Within easy walking distance of the Forum hotels and the Tampa Convention Centre in downtown Tampa, to the east and along the beautiful and scenic Tampa Riverwalk, you will have the opportunity to visit the Tampa Bay History Center, Channelside Bay Plaza (shopping and dining), cruise ship terminal, and the Florida Aquarium. If you prefer not to walk, you can take Tampa’s unique attraction, the electric TECO Line Streetcar, a historic replica of the early 1900’s Burney Safety Cars that were an essential part of Tampa’s daily life from the 1890s through 1946. The new streetcars are air conditioned and accessible for people with disabilities. The streetcar runs along-side Channelside Drive through the Channel District and then through historic Ybor City along 8th Avenue. There are eleven convenient stops and the trip takes about 25 minutes.
Experience powerful stories of Florida at The Tampa Bay History Center. During your journey, you will stroll through a 1920s era cigar store, row up the Hillsborough River, ride along with a cattle drive and learn about the early exploration of Florida. This waterfront building with a Museum Store and the signature Columbia Café is a memorable experience for families and history enthusiasts.
Come see why The Florida Aquarium is ranked in the top 10 Aquariums in the US by TripAdvisor.com and ranked in the top 5 “Kid-Friendly Aquariums” by Parents Magazine. It is a 200,000 square foot aquarium with themed areas featuring sharks, alligators, otters and penguins. Visitors can touch stingrays, bamboo sharks in the 5,000 gallon Touch Tank or visit the No Bone Zone and touch sea stars, crustaceans, urchins and mollusks. There are interactive programs such as Swim with the Fishes with over 2,300 fish in the spectacular Coral Reef Tank, or scuba dive with Sand Tiger Sharks, or enjoy the Penguins Backstage Pass – a behind the scenes tour which enables visitors to interact with penguins in an up-close setting and see them swim, play and even touch them.
Don’t miss out! See you at the Forum in Tampa this September 13-15, 2012!

Polly Voon PCC, General Chairperson
2012 USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum

Congratulations to Lion Kenneth Smith our 2011-2012 District 31f Lion of the Year.

District 31-F Awards Night

AWARDS CERMONY

RESOLUTION – SMOKE WAYNE
HALL OF FAME AWARD – SMOKE WAYNE DECEASED – FAMILY PRESENTED THE AWARD
INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP AWARD – KEN SMITH
INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT’S CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION –
1.RANDY KIRBY
2.VINCENT SCHIMMOLLER

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT’S EXTENSION AWARD – VINCENT SCHIMMOLLER

RISING STAR AWARDS – 3
1.MELISSA EWING – MUG, CASE, AND PLAQUE
2.KENNETH COX – MUG, CASE, AND PLAQUE
3.DR. KARA RAMSEY – MUG, CASE, AND PLAQUE

CERTIFICATES
1. CERTIFICATE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT – ENVIRONMENTAL CHARLOTTE WOJCIK
2.NEW HORIZONS AWARD IN DIABETES ED – CARTHAGE LIONS
3.ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – LEO CLUBS REBECCA BROOKS
4.CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT SIGHT – JAMES KISER

PLAQUES
1.BEST CLUB SERVICE ACTIVITY – ROCKINGHAM
2.CLUB OF THE YEAR 20 OR LESS MEMBERS – CARTHAGE
3.CLUB OF THE YEAR OVER 20 MEMBERS – LUMBERTON
4.MOST IMPROVED CLUB 20 OR LESS MEMBERS – CLARKTON
5.MOST IMPROVED CLUB 20 OR MORE MEMBERS – MARY STEWART
6.BEST CLUB NEWLETTER – LUMBERTON
7.BEST CLUB WEBSITE – ROCKINGHAM
8.HUMANITARIAN AWARD – BROADWAY
9.DISTRICT 31-F HELEN KELLER AWARD – WESTERN HARNETT
10.GOVERNOR’S APPRECIATION – CLARENCE “DUTCH” DINE
11.GOVERNOR’S APPRECIATION – DAN BOUDREAU
12.OUTSTANDING PARTNER IN SERVICE – KAYE BUCHTER
13.LION OF THE YEAR – KEN SMITH

MELVIN JONES AWARD – DISTRICT GOVERNOR DENNING BUCHTER

Where has this year gone?

Where has this year gone? It has been an enjoyable and rewarding year for me as District Governor.
The District developed and maintained its own website which is being considered for an award from Lions International. Thanks to the work of Lion Ken Smith the district website has been a great communication tool. The District also condensed the newsletter from 20 plus page to ten or less decreasing printing costs and mailing cost. The District was able to reduce the number of newsletters mailed out to two. The Newsletter is also being considered for an award from Lions International as well.
Major changes were made in the Mid-Winter Convention, from a three day convention to a one day all convention. The District had many positive comments concerning the convention and plans are to continue with the one day format.
A group of District 31-F Lions, representing multiple clubs have formed a private, independent, philanthropic association known as “THE KNIGHTS FOR THE BLIND CHARITABLE TRUST.” The Trust was formed to provide financial assistance grants to blind or visually impaired persons whose needs cannot be readily met at the club level. Even though last year was the initial formation of the Trust, I am very proud to say that we the Trust were able to pay all expenses for one lady to have cataract surgery.
Many Lions and clubs from our district have assisted on statewide and district events as well as the many activities within the community. Many assisted with the VIP Fishing Tournament and the Blind Car Rally. The Blind Car Rally was sponsored by the Whiteville Lions Club and initiated by PDG “Dutch” Dine. Also many Lions worked at clean up day at Boys and Girls Home as well as at Camp Dogwood. This year the Western Harnett Club made improvements to the putt-putt course they built at Camp Dogwood last year in the old horse stables. Through the leadership of Charlotte Wojcik the district planted over 1100 trees in keeping with the International Presidents goal of planting one million trees. The district also had two Lions participate in a mission trip to Haiti which were Kara and Lance Ramsey. Several clubs built and completed a Habitat House with the help of a grant from Lions International.
In preparing for the future, the district had Lion Ken Smith attend the Senior Leadership Institute in Oak Brook. We also held a Club Excellence Process (CEP) program, began developing new leadership training, and worked on several locations for new clubs to come on line in the future.
The most important part of the district is the work of the Lion Clubs in their local community. With half of the clubs reporting their activities to Lions International the statistics indicate the great work of Lions. The clubs reported 252 activities, 12,951 lion hours, 4,678 people served, 22 hearing aids collected, 1,296 eye glasses collected, 1,178 trees planted, and $147,154 funds raised.
Friday night was FUN Night at the State Convention which was enjoyed by all. The entertainment was the Snyder Family Band. The interesting fact about the band is the great musical ability of Zeb age 16 and Samantha age 13. After seeing talent of these young individuals it reaffirms my belief in the youth of today.
On Saturday night a delicious meal was served and several awards were given. Two individuals were honored from District 31-F. One member (deceased) “Smoke Wayne” formally of the Whiteville Club was installed into the HALL OF FAME. The Presidential Leadership medal was presented to Lion Ken Smith. The speaker for the evening was Past International Director Haynes Townsend. His talk was both very entertaining and informative.
On Saturday May 26th a very successful Awards and Induction Dinner for 31-F was held at the Carolina Lakes Clubhouse. It was hosted by the Western Harnett Lions Club. My appreciation goes out to Vince Schimmoller and Charlene Wojcik and the other Lions who hosted the event. The award winners will appear in a separate article in this newsletter.
In closing I thank all the Lions of the District for their service to the state, and southeastern North Carolina.

DG Denning Buchter

Pembroke Lions Club News

Pembroke Lions presented Paulette Dial the 50th Annual Lion of the Year Award.

ROAR AT THE ROCK – Rockingham Lions Club

Coming again
Saturday, June 2, 2012
See You There!

2011′s Car Show, “Roar at the Rock”, was great fun. Our club was able to make ourselves visible in the community, raise money to assist with service the VIPs in our area, as well as have fun. Not only did we have a wide variety of vehicles entered in the show we also have a talented group of students from our local high school that we invited to show off their accomplishments from the school year. The metals technology class of Richmond Senior High School took on the challenge of designing and building their own electric cars during the course of this past year. They had previously visited our club to tell us about this project and showed us a little of what they had accomplished before they really put them to the test on the go. At the car show the students entertained us and amazed us as they drove their creations quietly around the lot drawing the attention of the entrants and spectators alike. Just as these students intend for this project to become an annual part of the metals technology program, we are excited about how our annual car show is growing and look forward to the next one. Hope to see you, our fellow Lions at the next car show (June 2, 2012).

Rockingham Lions Club

Helen Keller Day

In 1971, Lions Clubs International declared that henceforth June 1 would be remembered as “Helen Keller Day.” Lions around the world implement sight-related service projects on Helen Keller Day. Helen Adams Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama; the child developed a fever at 18 months of age. Afterwards, Keller was blind, deaf, and mute. At age six, teacher Anne Mansfield Sullivan of the Perkins School for the Blind was hired as Keller’s teacher. The 20-year-old taught Keller sign language and Braille. At age 10, Keller learned to speak. Sarah Fuller of the Horace Mann School was her first speech teacher. In 1898, Helen entered the Cambridge School for Young Ladies. In the autumn of 1900, Keller entered Radcliffe College. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in 1904. Throughout the years, Sullivan remained at her student’s side. She formed letters into Keller’s hand for comprehension of textbooks, college lectures, and conversation. Keller’s Personal Crusade In 1915, Keller joined the first board of directors of the Permanent Blind Relief War Fund, later known as the American Braille Press. In 1924, the young woman started the Helen Keller Endowment Fund. In the same year, Keller joined the staff of the American Foundation for the Blind as a counselor on national and international relations. On June 30, 1925, Keller addressed the Lions Clubs International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio. She challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in this crusade against darkness.” She said, “I am your opportunity. I am knocking at your door.” In 1946, Keller became a counselor on international relations for the American Foundation for Overseas Blind (a sister organization to the American Foundation for the Blind). She traveled to 35 countries. Keller made her last major public appearance in Washington, D.C. in 1961. She received the Lions Humanitarian Award for lifetime service. Keller died on June 1, 1968 at age 87. Her request to the Lions 43 years earlier inspired the international organization to adopt the Sight Conservation and Work with the Blind Program as a major service initiative.

Last Meeting Together As 2011-2012 Council Of Governors

The 2011-2012 Council of Governors pose for one last photograph together at the N.C. Lions State Convention in Charlotte. Pictures here (left to right) are Past International Director Haynes Townsend, District Governor Randy Champion of District 31-A, State Council Chairperson Carlton Weeks, District Governor Andy Lilliston of District 31-G, District Governor Jim Boehm of District 31-J, District Governor Michael H. Schwartz of District 31-E, Past District Governor Bob Sprinkle of District 31-B, District Governor Mike Hopkins of District 31-D, District Governor Denning Buchter of District 31-F, District Governor Rick Sutton of District 31-H and Council Secretary-Treasurer Ron Kelly. PDG Sprinkle was standing in for District Governor Helen Hudson, who passed away during her term as governor. The state convention was dedicated in her memory.