I would like to begin by saying how proud and excited I am to be the Governor of District 49B for the 2010-2011 year. I am sure we will have another very successful year.

With our active and knowledgeable MERL team, coupled with the leadership of our Zone Chairpersons and Club Presidents as well as support from the Multiple District and Lions Clubs International, we will continue to succeed and define our motto, “We Serve”.

With your help this year, we will add 2 new clubs, 1 branch club, 1 century club, and a new LEOs club on each side of the border. Considering the electronic age we live in, I would like to see our first cyber club chartered this year as well. I also challenge each club to bring in 5 new members and reduce the number of lions that leave their clubs . To attain these goals, we must keep membership retention at the forefront. Retention does not mean keeping inactive members on the roles. It means reaching out to those inactive members and rekindling their interests in Lionism. Our great district does pretty well at recruiting membership. A key for our growth is focusing on retention as well. Reaching these goals will improve our district and our ability to serve our communities. Call on the district MERL Team for training and advice. They have the training and resources to help us accomplish our goals. One tool for retention is a Club Membership Survey. It’s a great tool that provides feedback from your membership that may not regularly attend meetings.

Communities will need our services more than ever this year. There may be needs for our services that we haven’t dealt with before. I encourage all clubs to do a Community Needs Assessment. This is a valuable tool that will help your club better meet community needs. The feedback you receive will help your club make adjustments and possibly come up with new projects not considered before, thus providing more service. Visit other clubs in the district for new ideas. Set up a committee of members to attend other clubs’ meetings and work on projects together. Club interaction and multiple club projects are great ways to have fun and provide more service. Also seek out non-Lion organizations to work with on special projects.

We must keep our new lions busy as well. When you ask someone to become a Lion, ask them to bring a friend. When you install a new member give them a Lions’ pin and include them on a project – put’em to work! After all, that’s why they became Lions.

Our new Aurora Borealis Lions Eyeglass Recycling and Vision Center has just come on line. Due to the hard work of many lions, most especially the North Pole Lions, many more people with vision problems and concerns will get help for a lower cost. Not just in our district, but many people around the world will benefit from our Districts’ work.

We also have two foundations in our district. Let’s take advantage of them by using them to their fullest potential. To get something out of the foundations, we have to put something in, time as well as funding. Lions Clubs International Foundation does so much service around the world. We could have similar benefits right here in 49B from our own foundations.

International President Sid Scruggs III theme this year is “Beacons of hope”. His focus is on Service. We as Lions Clubs must be healthy to better serve. He is encouraging clubs to rejuvenate their membership. He will be asking Lions “…when did you become a lion. Not when did you get sworn in or when you wrote that first dues check. But when did something or someone touch your heart and let you know that what you do makes a difference. That defining moment or project…” There are people and groups that need our services, but don’t know where to turn for those services. We must shine brightly so that they may find us.

This year, 49B will be “Northern Lights Beacons of Hope” for those in need.

Turn on those beacons, 49B! Let everyone know who and where we are!

We are Lions! We Serve!

Ed Casey
District Governor, 49B
2010-2011