1st Cabinet Meeting Minutes District 20-Y2 9/17/2011
Meeting Called to order at 10:08 AM at the Northeastern Association for the Blind at
Albany building by District Governor Rick Quick.
Pledge of Allegiance was led by 2nd VDG Steve Lynch
Lions Prayer was led by PDG Dick Nason
DG Rick’s opening remarks:
Thank you for the outpouring of help for the families affected by Hurricane Irene. We
were very lucky that while we did lose a lot of personal possessions we did not lose a lot
of life in the area. The clubs have been generous in donating time and money to the effort
to help people in all the areas hit and that will need to continue into the future.
The International President, Wing-Kun Tam, has a goal of planting over 4 million trees
which was promised by all the DGs at the International Convention. So far over 1 million
have been planted. He also has a focus on developing youth, working with them and
finding projects to do involving them. His overall theme for the year is “I believe”.
DG Rick also took time to thank PDG Lettie for setting up the meeting at NABA as well
as planning the Fall Conference at the Desmond. At the Fall Conference on Sat Nov. 5th,
we will be having space for all clubs to set up their displays to show the visiting
International Director what the clubs in the district are doing. Club displays will be in the
afternoon starting at 2pm. Cabinet meeting will be before dinner. The after dinner
program will feature the International Director as speaker.
Treasurer’s report submitted by PDG Dave Harris. Motion to accept by PDG Joan Scott,
2nd by PDG Lettie Saheim. Motion carried.
Flood Relief Meeting
The district received a $10k grant from LCIF. This grant has proven to be very restrictive
in nature. It was decided at the meeting to break up the grant based on need to the areas
hit.
The breakdown of the money given away through the grant goes as follows:
$4,000 each to Duane and Schoharie
$400 each to Amsterdam, Fonda, Granville, Scotia, and a reserve account
We also received a grant of $2,500 from the NYS Bermuda Foundation. Please continue
supporting the organization because they have always been very generous in helping
clubs in our area.
Clubs please let the District know how much you are spending on relief efforts so we can
keep a total.
District20Y2Lions.org has information on who to contact for Clubs affected by the
Hurricane.
Lion Tom Snowdon talked about the Schoharie-Wright Lions Club effort. There were
over 500 damaged homes in Schoharie. The flooding began on August 31st, phones and
power were lost. There is no gas locally in the area. Many clubs helped out immediately.
The Bethlehem Lions Club brought gas and gift cards, Northville-Sacandaga Lions Club
brought school supplies, and the Galway Lions Club dropped off food, school supplies,
cleaning supplies, and clothing on September 7th. Some Lions also volunteered their own
time helping out in the community.
2nd VDG Steve Lynch discussed the damage out near the Granville area. There is
estimated damage of $5-10 million. Granville donated $5,000 and set up a committee that
met with every family based on need.
DG Rick stated that the Scotia-Glenville Lions Club donated $2,000 to the effort for
Rotterdam Junction.
Other areas that were hard hit included:
Duane, Fonda, Amsterdam business district, Cranesville, and Cobleskill.
Youth Band:
There are funding problems for the Youth Band at the State Convention. The kids
provide a great form of entertainment that we don’t want to lose. We’re having a $10 per
ticket raffle to help shore up the funding. If we sell every ticket it will only cost $250 to
send a student to the convention. The kids are taken on local trips around the area of the
convention during the weekend, and this money helps pay for those activities as well as
hotel accommodations.
Meeting Speaker:
NABA Director Lion Christopher Burke
NABA was founded in 1908. It provides constructive jobs as well as care to the blind in
the community. NABA currently employs 73 people and provides full range
rehabilitation services to 15 counties. In 1958 NABA purchased a 28,000 sq ft building to
use as a manufacturing center as well as rehabilitation services. NABA also owns a
parking lot it rents out as well as the building next store it rents space out of for income.
75% of the labor in the textile shop is blind. NABA is able to get preferred sourcing for
its products which helps keep business in the shop.
Rehabilitation services include:
Vision clinics, various children’s programs, teen programs, and partnerships with seniors
in the communities served.
Website:
Lion Jerry Gordon would like clubs to update their website information please contact
him.
Lions Foundation at Albany:
Looking for a good tasting, cheaper bunny provider so it is more cost effective for sales.
We are going back to three choices: milk, dark, and white bunnies.
A lot of the patients receiving help don’t have any insurance which is making treatment
very expensive. So we need to have good sales to help support the organization.
Hearing Society
Changed the meeting place to the Madison Hearing Center in Albany, due to the
hurricane. Collect old hearing aids for salvage.
Old Business: None
New Business:
Storage trailers for relief areas, and one to use as an office.
Remember PDG Conroy Beebie in your prayers.
1st VDG Linda Walsh is representing us at US-Canada Forum this year in Alaska.
Motion to Adjourn 2nd VDG Steve Lynch, 2nd by Lion Tom Snowdon. Motion carried at
11:57AM with DG Rick Quick presiding.
Attached to minutes find the Region N Zone A report.
Zone Report 1
The Zone meetings have been scheduled for this year as follows:
Glens Falls: September 27th, Fort Edward: November 16th, Granville: January
17th, and Hadley Luzerne: May 2nd.
Fort Edward Lions Club:
No report from club.
Glens Falls Lions Club:
Glens Falls has welcomed 2 transfer Lions into the Club, inducted 2 new Lions,
and a third new Lion will be inducted into the Club on September 27th.
The Club had concession booths at LARAC and 4th of July in the Park. We will
be at the Adirondack Balloon Festival selling a variety o food and beverages.
Stop by and visit us!
During July & August financial assistance was provided for 1pair of glasses & 2
hearing aids.
Finally, the Glens Falls Lions Club is busy preparing for an exciting new
signature fundraiser scheduled for next year, October 2012 – a duathlon (5 mile
run, 20 mile bike, followed by a 5 mile run).
Hadley-Luzerne Lions Club:
The club worked 1400 hours working on the new food pantry. Club donations:
$300 to School Back Pack Program which provides food to underprivileged
children, $100 to Glens Falls Lions to help with their equipment loss.
The club provided one eye exam and one pair of glasses, and awarded Senior
Scholarships totaling $2250. Our annual duck race and free community thank
you picnic was held with 146 in attendance. The club worked 610 on rodeo
parking, our biggest fund raiser. Hadley-Luzerne added two new members.
Granville Lions Club:
In July we held our Annual 4th of July Kid’s Day with 90 area children. Each
child received a T-shirt, competition ribbons and a free ice cream cone. The club
had their Annual Clam Bake in July with DG Rick Quick in attendance.
In August the club continued weekend furniture sales and took a dinner cruise
on Lake George. We are presently planning a Zumbathon for November to
benefit diabetes.
Donations included: $195 for a hearing aid, $100 for The Back Pack Project, $470
in furniture to The Slate Valley Museum auction, $100 to the Knights of
Columbus, $500 in vouchers from Lens Crafters, $5000 for Granville families (30
people) affected by the Hurricane Irene.
Granville has added 1 new member and will be inducting a new member next
week.
We mourn the loss of Lion Dr. John Glennon a member of our club for the last 50
years.
Respectfully submitted for your consideration,
Marianne Lynch
Zone Chairman