Sometimes efforts to do good things for our Club lead to even better things. That was the case when Lion Ron Lockner agreed to lead an effort to help our membership committee create a short written plan aimed at membership growth.
We had a great brainstorming session at the first meeting of the group. Lion Ron led with an outline of principles that Lions Clubs have used for growing their memberships.
As ideas began to flow, the group identified one overriding principle: our Club must have broad appeal if people are to join us. That means, of course, opportunities for community service, but it also means being an organization where potential members say “Yes! I would like to be part of this great group!”
So we are pursuing a three-pronged approach.
First, take a hard look at our Club. It’s a very good Club, but perhaps we can make it better—make it more attractive to potential members. The survey we asked you to fill out is a step in assessing our weaknesses as well as our strengths. This self-examination is the foundation for the next step.
Second, take actions to make our Club better. We brainstormed a lot of possibilities, including doing a “community needs assessment” to identify new additional areas where we can serve. Mentoring and comprehensive orientation for incoming new members might help as well.
Third, develop a plan for getting new members—a succinct plan that highlights the attractiveness of our Club, and outlines specific actions that our Membership Committee (and all members) can pursue to grow our membership.
The group is meeting a second time in the next few weeks. One goal is to flesh out the three steps (above) and get draft ideas to you, our members. We need your inputs to make sure any actions we take are a good fit for our Club, and for our current members.
Got some ideas? Tell any Club officer, or email me or Lion Ron, and we’ll make sure they are considered.
Doug Hutchinson
Halloween Humor
Why didn’t the skeleton cross the road?
He didn’t have the guts!
Why don’t ghosts like parties?
They have no body to dance with!
What do skeletons say before they begin dining?
Bone Appetit!
KidSight Update
The KidSight photo screening committee has had a busy start to the school year. So far, we have screened over 1000 students at Irish, Laurel, St. Joseph, Putnam, and Linton Elementary Schools. Over 250 children in community pre-schools and daycare centers have also been screened, but we aren’t finished yet! In January students at Tavelli Elementary, as well as several other pre-schools and daycare centers are scheduled for screening.
KidSight screens for the following:
Hyperopia – “Far-sightedness” is the difficulty seeing objects that are near. Untreated this can contribute to “crossing of the eyes” but can be corrected with glasses.
Myopia – “Near-sightedness” is when the eyes focus incorrectly, making distant objects appear blurred. It can be treated with glasses.
Astigmatism – A condition in which the cornea has an abnormal curve causing out-of-focus vision.
Anisometropia – This condition can adversely affect the development of binocular vision in infants and children. The brain will often suppress the vision of the blurrier eye in a condition called Amblyopia or “lazy eye.”
Strabismus – Eyes are not directed to an object simultaneously. Sometimes the eyes deviate outward and sometimes inward.
First Annual Halloween Eye Ball
Friday, October 25th, 2013, the Ensight Skills Center hosted the first annual Halloween Eye Ball in downtown Loveland. The event took place at the Odd Fellow’s Majestic Gathering Place, a building that was built in 1903 as an Opera house. As the costumed crowd grew larger, The Devon Parker Band set the mood for dancing with Michael Jackson selections along with some classic jazzy, funky beats. Great fun was had by all. Ensight raised over $9,000 including $4000 that will go toward the endowment fund. We invite you all to the 2nd annual Halloween Eye Ball in 2014, if you dare.
