I know you can. Please, please let us avoid that June 30th drop. If you have a member that indicates they will not be returning next year, talk to them and encourage them to stay. Offer support to them be it financially or by listening to their ideas. The Lion might be better suited for another club. It is ok to transfer to another Lions club. We want our members to enjoy doing what they do as volunteers. Finally, feel free club presidents, secretaries, and membership chairs to reach out to me if you feel there is a member that is dissatisfied. The GAT team can assist and offer suggestions.

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Clubs embraced our district projects such as eye glass collection and sorting, pull tab collection and the Water by Women filter project. Our district broke record donations to Lions Vision Research Foundation (LVRF), had strong participation and donations over $17,500 to Leader Dog, supported other causes such as Alex’s Lemonade for Pediatric Cancer and the Red Shoe Shuffle for the Ronald McDonald House.

We gained more knowledge this year about LCIF – Lions Clubs International Foundation and how clubs can receive grants towards their service projects. We learned just how important it is to continue to financially support LCIF. Our goal this year for our district is $40,000. We have met 68% of our goal. We have a way to go to get there. However, I know that we can do it. So, here is the challenge:

Every club that donates at least $100 to LCIF this year will earn a chance for a $250 value gift basket to be drawn at the Banner Transfer meeting on July 12, 2026. Clubs that made more than a $100 donation will get additional chances to win - $500 gets two chances and $1,000 and above get three chances to win. The last date to donate to LCIF for this year is JUNE 5, 2026. To earn credit towards the basket, please make your donation online by the deadline and send me a copy of your donation so you can earn a chance for the basket of goodies. Lions love challenges. We can meet this goal!

We had a wonderful year of leadership within our district. The following Lions within our district are certified by LCI as Guiding Lions that will be assigned to assist clubs that need support as well as serving as a mentor for new clubs. Those lions include, Past International Director John Lawrence, Past Council Chair Wayne Cole, Immediate Past District Governor Bijoy Mahanti, Past District Governor, Carol Schoonover, District Governor Beth Whitelock, Lion Mary Dunard, Hurlock, Lion Bob Faulkner, Hurlock, Lion Steve Disharoon, Hurlock, Lion Shelly Holland, Millington and Cabinet Administrative Assistant Gene Williams. Several members within our district attended leadership institutes, District Governor Elect School, USA/Canada Forum, and the Multiple District Convention. LCI and our local Multiple District offer excellent training that is inexpensive or free to all members.

This year has been a year of F – U – N. We all learned how to put the fun back into our service projects and our meetings. Remember to have fun in what you are doing before you are not doing it anymore. The district social was F – U – N and special to me. It was a night that Lion Craig and I, along with Lion Joelle, appreciated more than words can say.

As I say good night to this chapter of my Lions journey, I wish next year’s district officers much success. Let us celebrate them – District Governor Elect, Crystal Sipes from the Queenstown Lions Club, First Vice District Governor Elect, Donna Shelton from the Chesapeake City Lions club and Second Vice District Governor Elect, Linda Wilson from the Hurlock Lions Club. You lady lions will rock it next year for sure.