Volume 3, Issue 5 June, 2012
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE David Lambertson
I am honored and humbled by the trust placed in me by the Fort Collins Lions Club. We have a rich history and a club full of people who have given more than I have for many years longer than I have been a member! The full impact of the responsibility became clear when I realized that our club was indeed shrinking year by year, mostly due to age, not due to willingness. I have never met a more dedicated group of people who have accomplished so much for a community.
My fear is that as I age, my club will slowly disappear and the legacy of Lions in Fort Collins will become a written history with no current chapters.
My friends, I just don’t want that to happen, and neither do the poor sight-challenged, the diabetic, the challenged youth, the underprivileged children, and all of the others we serve in Fort Collins.
We can prevent this by allowing (that’s right, Allowing) others to decide whether or not they want to help us! We can allow this by inviting them to lunch.
Let’s change our culture a bit. Not drastically, just a bit.
I was invited to lunch by Alan Beatty a few years ago. Before then I had no idea what Lions were all about. I met some great people (you!), but did not join.
I was invited again by Alan Beatty. I learned more about Lions and discovered the connection that I had…why it should matter to me. My Grandmother was blind as I grew up: a victim of diabetes. I helped her constantly and even took a week-long vacation to New York City with her. I was her “human cane” as we walked the streets of Manhattan. I still did not join.
The third time I was invited to lunch the time was right and I joined! I have contributed now to the club. Of course, I had to join first, and before that I was invited to lunch.
It is really simple, and at the same time, difficult to change. We need to invite our friends, neighbors, and children to lunch. Not to a commitment, but to lunch.
They will not know us as a club if we don’t invite them. If they don’t know what we do, they will not find their connection to us. Without that connection, they will not join. Without them joining, our club will disappear within my lifetime.
Without our club, who will pick up the slack and get glasses to about 400 people each year who desperately need them but cannot afford them? Add to that the hearing services we provide and all of the other good work. Yes, even the pancakes.
Please join me, and invite your friends to lunch. It doesn’t cost you a cent, it is fun, and they always like it. Then they can vote. Then they can decide to join if they want to. Some will, and some will not.
Some will.
Induction of new officers and new members.
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Ted Blevins, 2011-2012 president presents incoming president, Dave Lambertson with the president’s pin[/one-half][one-half last=yes]
Sponsored by Tobey Yadon, two new members, Verna Garcia and Sue Yadon, joined our club.
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[box color=”white” icon=”thumb_up”]We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.
[/box] [box color=”blue” icon=”accept”]REMEMBER – Invite a friend to lunch. It can make a difference![/box]To Advertise or Not?
by Ted Blevins
The four Fort Collins Rotary Clubs ran two full page ads in the Coloradoan on April 25 and 26. I read with interest about all the accomplishments and community service by the 200 plus members of the four clubs. The ad on the second day listed 10 reasons to join Rotary.
After reading these ads, I felt very proud of being a member of the Fort Collins Lions Club, the best kept secret service club in town. Our less than 70 member club does more for this community per capita than any other club I am aware of.
We just finished being the primary sponsor of the 9 Health Fair, which served over 1700 people this year.
We annually take pictures of up to 1200 pre-school and elementary school kids’ eyes to catch early eye disease, with a referral rate near 10 percent.
We subsidize the Ensight office in Fort Collins that provides help that is not available elsewhere to hundreds of adults with failing vision to the tune of $1000/month.
We provide 30-40 pairs of glasses to the needy every month in Fort Collins thru our Sight Committee.
We build ramps and install safety bars for those who need them for the cost of materials only.
And, we are the only service club in Colorado to donate to the Veteran’s Plaza to recognize past, present, and future veterans of our military.
Then there is the Lions Camp, the Lions Eye Bank, the Youth Speech Contests, and the hearing and diabetes committees’ efforts to serve the public.
I know I am preaching to the choir here, but maybe it is time to spread the word beyond our club. Thanks to our Bingo efforts, we can afford to do all of the above, and more. What do you think about advertising in the media?
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CLUB OFFICERS and Committees 2012 – 2013
[one-third last=no]President:
1st VP:
2nd VP:
Secretary:
Ass’t Secretary:
Treasurer:
Ass’t Treasurer:
Tail Twister:
Assistant:
Lion Tamer:
Assistants:
One Year Director:
One Year Director:
One Year Director:
Two Year Director:
Two Year Director:
Two Year Director:
Membership Chair:
Chaplain:
Rafflers:
Lions Tales Editor:
Immediate Past Pres.:
International Pres.:
District Governor:
1st Vice Governor:
2nd Vice Governor:
Zone D Chairman:
Bingo:
Christmas Party:
Valentines Party:
[/one-third] [two-thirds last=yes]David LambertsonDoug Hutchinson
Doug Max
Irene Toliver
Vic Meline
Tobey Yadon
Ron Lockner
Wayne Crownhart
Dan Fahrlander
Rusty Holsten (Fletcher)
Luke Burhenn, Faye Lockner
Faye Lockner
Doug Max
Robin Mitchell
Luke Burhenn
Alex Chapman
Joe Hamilton
Ted Blevins
Aida Raider
Bill Brenner, Bill Lentz
Sue Yadon
Ted Blevins
Wayne Madden
Steve Leroux
Ken Moore
Robert “Bob” Kitchell
Eunice Michalka
Harold Hartman
Vic Meline
Doug Max
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