DISTRICT PRIDE CONNECTICUT LI NS DISTRICT 23 A. Lion Rose Marie Spatafore District Governor

Transcription

1 DISTRICT PRIDE 23New A Haven Counties Serving Fairfield and CONNECTICUT LI NS DISTRICT 23 A Volume 1, Issue 5 Lion Rose Marie Spatafore District Governor December 2007 M embers of both "Troupe du Jour" and the "Danbury Leos" pose amid the ongoing work for the lighting improvements and in front of the new theater curtain in the Joel Barlow High School auditorium with Principal, Thomas McMorran and Leo Club advisor Carol Emanuel. The improvisational comedy troupe raised $13,000 through fundraising performances toward capital improvements to the Barlow theater space. As new Leos members, many of the Troupe du Jour's performers have been recognized by the International Association of Lions Clubs with the Lions Young Leaders in Service Gold Seal Award for their community service achievement. L O O U O R K L A E O T S FRONT ROW L to R: Chris Brozdowski, Leo Club Advisor Carol Emanuel, Rachel Hornstein, Sam Barickman, Jared Emanuel, Emmy Mudge, Deirdre Lewis, Brittany Williams, Olivia Hurwitz and Tiffany Touma. SECOND ROW L to R: Joel Barlow Principal Thomas McMorran, Nick Wasko, Bennett Bottero, Will Truscott and Christine Fagan. THIRD ROW L to R: Mitchell DeSimone and Chris Wasko. MISSING FROM PHOTO: Ted Bakanas, Tyler Bakanas, Talbot Eckweiler, Milo Cramer, Eli Peck, Alyssa Bilinski, Cary Glynn, Cole Tucker-Walton, Dan DeSalva, Matt Berry and the Troupe's director, Diana Canova. Photo by: Renee Wasko Lion Carol Emanuel Lions Club of Danbury, Connecticut, USA

2 Wishing You a Happy Holiday & New Year Town of Seymour Holiday Parade District Governor Rose Marie Spatafore being driven by Lion Andy Matthews and pal. As the Holiday Season is upon us, I would like to take this time to wish you and your family a Blessed and Happy Holiday. We have so much to be thankful for. Our clubs have been blessed with loving and caring members. As I make my visitations I listen to all the reat and wonderful projects and good deeds happening through out the district. The poor are being fed by food collections, dinners for the seniors and needy, the Bells for the Salvation Army are being rung by Lions, clothing is being collected, gifts for children to be given out by Santa are gathered and many, many more projects are taking place by our Lions Clubs. Christmas Villages, Town Projects, and Holiday Decorations for towns, are just a few places that you can see the Lions presence in our communities. What a sad holiday season this would be without the Lions Clubs of District 23A. Your community service is so important and I truly thank you for all your efforts and hard work. Richard and I would like to thank you again for being great Lions that truly can wear the pin proud and carry out our motto We Serve. Blessings for you and your family. Lions Rose Marie and Richard Spatafore 2

3 Hats, Mittens, Gloves & Scarves Needed for the Safe Home The Safe Home in Shelton is in need of hats, mittens, gloves and scarves for the children residing there. The Safe Home is a place where children are brought to when they are taken away by the state from their parents for protection. There, the children are cared for in a loving environment while they await either placement with family or resolution of situation in their home. Please bring items to the Cabinet Meeting on January 7 th at John J Sullivans, 557 Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia, Ct. Call Lion Rose Marie, DG with any questions at SHARE INFORMATION ON YOUR PROFESSION OR TALENT BY PLACING YOU BUSINESS CARD IN THE DISTRICT PRIDE Post Your Business Card Here For $25 your Business Card will be posted in The Pride and on the web until June 30, Just send a check with your business card - DO NOT STAPLE OR TAPE THE CARD - to CST Kathy Poirier. Mail to: CST Kathy Poirier 8 Patricia Terrace Beacon Falls, CT

4 American Diabetes Walk, Lighthouse Park New Haven District Governor Lion Rose Marie, Vice District Governor, Joan Bennett and Lion Joyce Wruck, presenting a check for $3,500 from District 23A to Robert Smith, Director of the American Diabetes Association. Cabinet Meeting Monday, January 7, 2008 The next scheduled Cabinet meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 7th, 2008 at7:00 pm at John J. Sullivan s Restaurant, 557 Wakelee Ave, Ansonia, Ct Club Presidents, officers and members of all Clubs are invited and encouraged to attend. This is a great time to network with Cabinet Chairs, set up speakers for club meetings, meet other lions and here what is happening in our district and Organization. Our guest speaker will be Lion Alan Gunzburg accompanied by his Fidelco dog, Fia. Lion Alan is willing and interested in visiting clubs and/or Zone meetings to talk about his pet project: "Services for the Blind. Lion Alan is from the Greenwich Lions Club. He will be talking about VSB, which helps him to conduct his activities of daily living as Lion Alan is blind. This will be a great opportunity to learn about what challenges one of our own members has to overcome every day. Dinner Choice: Prime Rib or Stuffed Shrimp $17.00 Please or call:lion Kathy Poirier, Cabinet Secretary Treasurer with your choice of dinner at: kathy_poirier-fla@sbcglobal.net or

5 New Member for Greenwich Lions On my Club Visitation to the Greenwich Lions Club a new Member was inducted. Lion Frederick Brooks, President, sponsored Lion ave Rafferty. Congratulations and best wishes to our new member. Keep up the great work. First MD Membership Rally Held Lion Joan Bennett, VDG and Lion Katy Poirier, CST at the First Multiple District Membership Rally held in New Britain. Lions enjoying fellowship and sharing ideas. Over 75 Lions gathered together to share ideas and information regarding how to find new members and retain current Lions 5

6 A Letter From Our International President Mahendra Amarasuriya, International President Dear Club Officers, Do you know what to expect when your club succeeds in recruiting more women and young people as members? Experience shows that your club will gain: Energy Commitment Connections New ideas Enthusiasm and a spirit of fun, and Deep concern for the well-being of the community and a desire to make the world a better place for all. Sound familiar? They should. These are attributes for which Lions Clubs International has been justly famous for more than 90 years. When we set a goal for increasing the diversity of our clubs, we are simply looking for old virtues in new places. It is our way of holding fast to our fundamental ideals while recognizing the ways in which society has changed over the recent decades. It is undeniable that women have empowered themselves and have become important participants in business, civic and cultural affairs. Their ever-growing numbers in Lions Clubs International has enriched our association and I am proud to say that women now make up 18.4 percent of our membership, up from 13.5 percent just four years ago. Thanks largely to the technological revolution, the world no longer works on a seniority system. New ideas are more likely to be judged on their merits than by the age or experience of those who suggest them. Any organization that dismisses the contributions and wisdom of bright young people does so at great peril. Fortunately, Lions new student membership program provides your club with an unparalleled opportunity to include future leaders in your membership or to help form a student club at a nearby campus. Please see for more details about this exciting program. Another important way for your club to capture the future is by doing everything possible to bring active Leos into full Lions Club membership. To learn more about making the transition from Leo to Lion, please see I urge you to embrace today s reality by doing your best to meet your club s goals for recruiting new members. Remember, there are tried-and-true methods that will enable your club to successfully meet this challenge. 6 Continued on page 3

7 Continued from page 3 I urge you to embrace today s reality by doing your best to meet your club s goals for recruiting new members. Remember, there are tried-and-true methods that will enable your club to successfully meet this challenge. Target groups of potential members not individuals. Give new members special assignments that are uniquely suited to their talents Make sure that new members voices are heard within the club. Groom newcomers to assume leadership positions by giving them special responsibilities as assistants or interns to current leaders. You never know what might happen when you put these best practices into effect. In the suburbs of Toronto, Canada, the newly formed, Ontario York Region Heritage Lions Club sponsored a video game tournament that involved parent-child teams from throughout the area. An event designed to bring families together was a natural project for the club which consists entirely of parents and their offspring. And it is not hard to imagine that the new club will add even more family groups because of the excitement generated by the tournament. If we truly wish to live up to the motto, We Serve, we must serve our communities as they really are today, not as we might imagine them to be. Including more women and young people in our clubs is the best possible way to gain this insight and open up previously unimagined avenues of service. As always I thank you for all you do for the members of your club, your community and all the people of our world. Sincerely, Mahendra Amarasuriya International President LCI Web site Links CC: International Directors and Board Members Past International Presidents Past International Directors Council Chairpersons Vice District Governor Past District Governor Multiple District Secretary District Secretary MERL Team Team 20K DGE Mentors Team 20K Coordinators Click here for the Lions Clubs International privacy policy: Lions Clubs International, 300 W. 22 nd Street, Oak Brook, IL USA 7

8 Mid - Winter Conference Mid-Winter Conference - Get your registration forms in now! Clubs from all Districts will be displaying their projects. Let the Multiple District know what great things are happening in 23A. Let s have a big showing of our Clubs accomplishments. Join in the fun on Friday Fun Night and have your club put on a skit. This year s theme is The King and I. Please call your region chair and let her/him know if you will participate in either of the above. LET THE 23 A TEAM SPIRIT SHINE Watch This Space For Important Upcoming Information On Our 2008 State Convention 8

9 9

10 10

11 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ TEN FOR TEN $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $10 FOR $10,000 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ A $10 RAFFLE TICKET $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ COULD WIN YOU THE FIRST PRIZE OF $10,000 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ SECOND PRIZE WINS $2,000 THIRD PRIZE WINS $1, % OF NET PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO: THE LIONS CLUB OF DANBURY 2007 RAFFLE DRAWING TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 7, 2008 AT 1:00 PM AT THE HOLIDAY INN IN DANBURY Danbury Low-Vision Center Scholarships & Eyeglasses for Danbury Students CT Radio Information System (CRIS) Lions Eye Research FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT JERRY HOFMANN AT: OR geraldjhofmann@aol.com with LIONS RAFFLE IN THE SUBJECT LINE. CHECKS TO BE MADE PAYABLE TO: DANBURY, CT LIONS CHARITIES, INC. You may also contact any Danbury Lion at the Mid-Winter Conference. But note: Sales Limited to only 3000 tickets. Don t YOU be left out in February s Cold!

12 Who s Who At The District Pride Visit us online at: or Publisher Joan Bielizna joanrealtor@snet.net Editor Frank Molinaro frank.m@molinaro-insurance.com Webmaster Ernie Harrington ech105@snet.net If you would like an event covered by an article in this publication, please submit it as an attachment in WORD to an addressed to frank.m@molinaro-insurance.com. Please make sure that you include <dp23a> in the subject or reference area of the . NOTE: The Publisher has informed us that the absolute DROP DEADLINE for the January 2008 District Pride is 15 January 2008! She will not accept any articles or photos after that date unless accompanied by a VERY LARGE check made payable to her! The January 2008 District Pride will be a published hard copy as well as posted on our web site. All articles must be submitted following the guidelines stated above. Please remember: We really like to keep our Publisher happy! District Governor Lion Rose Marie Spatafore 4 Round Tree Drive Ansonia, CT (203) CELL (203) BUSINESS info@e-ztravel.org 12