While still in his early 20’s, Tracy Morgan heard the news that he had long expected. His decrease in visual acuity was becoming more acute and was definitely the result of an eye condition called keratoconus*. Tracy was aware of a family history of “eye problems”, so when informed of his eye diagnosis he decided to make the best of the situation. Doctors recommended that he continue to see an ophthalmologist yearly and to expect that one day he would need eye surgery.

Fast forward 15 years. Tracy was now finding it increasingly difficult to work as an architectural designer and draftsman, and was experiencing increased sensitivity to light. He found using the computer, the instrument by which he made his living, almost impossible. He found it quite painful to look at the screen. He had to wake up one hour early each day just to acclimate his eyes to the light. Only then could he minimally function around his home or at work. Without insurance, Tracy was losing hope of remaining financially independent.

To quote Tracy - “I joined the Cayucos Lion for community service reasons, and I was overwhelmed with the wave of club and community support regarding my own vision”. The club referred me to the Lions Eye Foundation and provided emotional and financial support for the trips to San Francisco. My club also utilized funds from their annual golf tournament and made the Foundation the recipient of all money raised at that event.”

After careful evaluation, Tracy and his doctors at the Lions Eye Clinic decided a corneal transplant was the next step. Immediately after surgery, Tracy was amazed at his vision. “I could see clearly for the first time in twenty years.” Then a setback as Tracy’s graft was rejecting. This was a very difficult period for Tracy and the staff in the clinic. Tracy remained remarkably upbeat, continuing to make the weekly five hour trip to San Francisco for post operative appointments. It was decided to try a second graft, which also rejected almost immediately. Tracy now had to endure injections of medicine directly into the eye and had his eye sown shut, treatments that continued for months. Still, Tracy kept the faith that

his vision would be restored. Now the eye was healed enough to try a third transplant. Tracy was quite concerned as were our doctors. Every visit was an event in the clinic as the staff waited to hear how Tracy was doing. Tracy is a very likeable gentleman and the staff immediately took to him. Finally, some good news. Tracy’s graft was not rejecting and was healing properly. It would take several visits and eye exams to confirm it, but Tracy’s third corneal transplant was a success!

“A big thank you to all the clinic staff and doctors, but I would like to single out Dr. Philip Penrose and Dr. David Vastine who have shown personal

interest in my health and welfare.”

As a result of the many surgeries on his eye, Tracy developed a cataract. It was now necessary to again subject his eye and his new healthy cornea to another surgery. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as this procedure was also successful.

Currently, Tracy is doing quite well. He has returned to work and is building a design and drafting practice. He is also extremely happy to resume his passion –exercise! He kayaks along the coast, runs and is just physically active without the constant constraint that comes with worrying about his eye. His is also a drummer in a local band.

“The network of people involved in helping with my vision has expanded my view on life. I am currently planning to move to the Bay Area and hope to join a local Lions Club and give back to the community. I have learned that everyone needs help at some point in their life, and warmly thank the Lions Eye Foundation for opening their doors to me and the many others who need eye surgical care.”

*Keratoconus is a condition in which the normally round, dome-like cornea becomes thin, develops a peaked cone shaped bulge, resulting in blurring and distortion of vision, increased sensitivity to light, glare and pain/irritation.

The Lions Eye A Publication of the

Lions Eye Foundation of California-Nevada, Inc.Summer 2010

Mission Statement: “The Lions Eye Foundation preserves and restores the gift of sight by providing free ophthalmic examinations, operations and medications to the less fortunate members of our community.”

Surgeries, Setbacks and Success Finally

Tracy Morgan

History of the Lions Eye Foundation - Part 3, by Galdo Pavini

In 1983, Maurice Perstein retired after 13 years as our Executive Director. An extensive search for a new executive director resulted in an excellent candidate being selected, PDG Don Stanaway of the Burlingame Lions Club. After 27 years in this position, Don is still going strong. Under Don’s stewardship, in the late 80’s and early 90’s, the number of member clubs increased to over 600 Lions and Lioness Clubs. Unfortunately, that number has decreased to around 350 clubs due a number of club charters being turned in, some clubs merging, and few existing clubs focusing on other areas. In 1984, the Helen Keller Fellow Program was introduced, requiring a donation or commitment of $1,000. All Helen Keller donations go into the General Fund, which supports adult surgical care. One additional $1,000 donation (progressive) earned a Ruby on the Helen Keller pin; a further $1,000, a Sapphire; and a final $1,000, a Diamond. In the first year of this program, twelve Helen Keller fellowships were given out. Of interest, the first progressive Helen Keller Fellowship with a Ruby was given to Dr. Sam Lerner in 1986. Sam is still serving

the LEF as a Trustee and a member of the Executive Committee. The first progressive Helen Keller Fellowship with a Diamond was given to Betty Jensen, the widow of Bud Jensen who served many years as a Trustee. Mrs. Jensen is a proud sponsor of our 50th Anniversary gala. There are currently close to 1,000 Helen Keller Fellows. The California Legislature passed the seismic-safety legislation SB 1953 in 1994 following the Northridge earthquake. This earthquake forced 23 hospitals to suspend some or all of their services and resulted in more than $3 billion in hospital-related damages. SB 1953 requires by 2030 that all hospital buildings in the state of California be operational following a major earthquake. It further states that all medical centers with critical care units and emergency departments meet the new seismic guidelines for those specific departments and buildings by 2015. For California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), our partner in our service mission, this meant rebuilding or incurring significant and costly upgrades to existing facilities. To continue our partnership with CPMC, the Foundation voted in 2002 to create a Capital Campaign Fund with a goal of raising five million dollars. Until 2007, the LEF actively solicited money from clubs and individuals, and agreed to match up to one half million dollars of contributions. The Capital Campaign is currently inactive until plans for the future Lions Eye Clinic and Eye Institute are finalized. In 2005, we started to take advantage of evolving technology. We created a website, updated our archaic processes and computerized our accounting system. We also created Club, Helen Keller, Life Membership, and Donor computer databases. Our meetings have also evolved. The first Trustee meeting in June 1960 was a dinner meeting. Monthly dinner meetings continued until 1971 where they changed to a monthly breakfast meeting. In 1972 they changed again to bi-monthly meetings, and in 1978 they changed to the quarterly meetings of today. Recently, the Investment Committee, instead of meeting in person, had a one-hour telephone conference meeting. Does this mean that further changes to meetings are coming?

Galdo PaviniHistorian

LEF’s Residents Share Their Stories

Thomas Litzinger grew up in Columbus, Ohio and completed his undergraduate training at Miami University. He discovered ophthalmology in his second year of medical school while on a medical mission trip in Honduras, when his internal medicine team ran into a group of ophthalmologists. After hearing stories of making the blind see with cataract surgery and enabling Honduran doctors to do the same through donating equipment and training, his calling to become an ophthalmologist was realized.

Thomas returned from his trip with a new passion for ophthalmology and international health. Shortly thereafter, he and four of his fellow medical students at Ohio State University founded the non-profit organization Ride For World Health, an annual cross-country cycling trip and lecture series, to raise money and awareness for domestic and international healthcare issues.

Thomas chose California Pacific Medical Center because of the opportunities it offers for international rotations, high surgical volume, and camaraderie among residents, attending physicians, and staff. His

hobbies include basketball, weight training, photography, art, and exploring the Bay Area.

Thomas’ plans for the near future include: applying to cornea fellowships this summer, and performing cataract surgery in Nepal and the Himalayan mountains this fall.

Thomas states: “The Lions Clinic is a unique place where service, education, and healthcare delivery intersect. I am privileged to be a part of it.”

Thomas Litzinger, M.D.

Hal is a native Californian, who was born and grew up in Chico. He attended High school there and then served in the Navy, aboard a Liberty Ship in the South Pacific at the end of World War II. When he returned to Chico, he studied for one year at Chico State College (now University), but left in order to earn a living.

In 1947, he moved to San Francisco doing underwriting for an insurance company in the Financial District. In 1949 he was transferred to Fresno with the same company. Hal decided he liked outside sales better, and in 1953 went to work for a distributor of Gallo wines. In 1962, he joined a company selling industrial lighting. In the early 1970’s Real estate beckoned Hal. He studied and obtained his Sales and his broker Licenses and continued in that business until his retirement in the early 1990’s.

Hal married Geneva in 1960; a marriage lasted for 34 years until, sadly, Geneva died. In 1994 Hal married the second love of his life, Heide. Sadly, Hedie passed away recently. Hal has three stepchildren from his first

marriage and two from his second marriage. He also has a sister who is still living.

Hal joined the Visalia Host lions Club in 1965. He held all club offices, including President. His services to the club and to Lionism earned him the Lion of the Year award. In 1974, he joined the LEF (when Kaz Kariya was President). Hal progressed from Advisor to Trustee and from 1983 to 1985 served as President. He answered the call of duty again in the year 2000, when he volunteered to become Secretary, a position he kept until the end of June of this year.

Residing in San Rafael since 1995, Hal is a Life Member of the San Rafael Host Lions Club, where he also earned a Lion of the Year award. He is a Melvin Jones Fellow and a Helen Keller Fellow with a diamond pin. Hal is also a life member of the Knights of Columbus.

In his spare time, Hal enjoys taking leisurely walks and giving in to his passion for traveling and visiting many exotic places in the world. In his own words, Hal writes “Countries I have visited: Every country in western Europe, Africa, Antarctica, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Panama, Columbia, several Islands in the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, China, Thailand, and many Islands in South Pacific.”

Meet Hal Guill, LEF’s Past President and Outgoing Secretary

Acknowledgements and Thanks

Total number of Patients --- 63New Referrals --------- 109

Actual Dollars Spent --- $100,900Estimated Value ------- $896,000

LEVERAGE 8.8:1

Fast Facts • The most prevalent surgery was for cataracts • There were 23 surgeries for retina problems that would have cost $25,000 each • The youngest patient was 3 years old, oldest was 85 years old

Statistics and Leverage

April - June 2010

Hal Guill

New and Progressive Helen Keller Fellows:• Heide Burch • Ron Cox (Ruby) • Lee DeLange (Sapphire)• Jon Froomin • Dennis Harrison • Mary Griffin Ramseur • Jim Hayes • Gene Nakanishi • Norman Trevakis Jr. (Diamond) • Norman Trotten • Darrel Yuen

New Life Members:• Win Adler • Maggie Cambridge • Eddie Dinsmore• Roy Dressel • Carin Friedlander • Thomas Garske• Terry Goodwin • Val Isaacson • Denise Kelley• Arthur Mansfield Jr. • William Paden • Don Pitchford• Sam & Sonia Wilkinson • Ronda Wolfe

Memorial Donations (at least $200)• Sam French • Charles Leach • Jeanne Payne• Don Stanaway • Sally Territo-Wong • F.A.S.T. Lions• San Rafael Host Lions Club • Vallejo Marina Lions Club

General Donations (at least $200)• Cayucos Lions Club • F.A.S.T. Lions Club• Geneva-Mission Lions Club • Hanford Breakfast Lions Club

Donations (at least $1,000)• Bets Jensen • Richard & Sharon Smith • Foster City LionsClub • Park Presidio Lions Club • Danford Foundation

Total Received: General Fund $28,102 Restricted (Life) Fund $7,600

The tear-off sheet included in this issue has all of the information about the 50th Anniversary Dinner Dance at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport Hotel. The hotel rates are only guaranteed until August 10. Dinner reservations must be received prior to August 15. Seating is limited, and space is filling up fast. Please read the information carefully and make your reservations right away. We will not have a “will call” nor will we be able to seat people who show up at the door. This is your opportunity to attend a gala affair, receive a one-of-a-kind commemorative pin, and meet our International President.

Welcome to the Forest Ranch Lions Club. Forest Ranch is a small community of about 2,000 people located northeast of Chico. The club has 16 members and was chartered in 1991. Their principal fundraisers are an annual Raffle to benefit the volunteer Fire Department, and recycling of cans, bottles, etc. They also support the Elementary (Charter) school in their community. For more information on the club, visit their website “ForestRanchLions.org”.

Also welcome to our newest Lions Club in District 4-C4. This is the Special Olympics Lions Club that has just been chartered with 26 members. The Foster City Lions Club is the sponsoring club, and the San Mateo Lions Club has graciously paid for the first six months of membership in the Lions Eye Foundation.

If you have any questions that could be answered in this publication, please email them to me at sommerfred@sbcglobal.net. Do include your name, email address, and club/district affiliation so that we can give you credit.

From the Editor

Fred SommerEditor

P.O. Box 7999San Francisco, California 94120www.lionseyeca-nv.org

415.600.3950

Officers & Key PersonnelPresident – Steve LadenFirst Vice President – Fred SommerSecond Vice President – Dennis NobleTreasurer – Leila ChowSecretary – Jan AhearnExecutive Director – Don StanawayProgram Coordinator – Mark Paskvan

ContributorsEditor – Fred SommerPhotography – Norene Miranda, Mark PaskvanArticles – Mark Paskvan, Galdo PaviniLayout & Production – Roger WeinerPrinting – Forté Press Corporation, BurlingameDistribution – Precise Mailing, S. San Francisco

For More Information: www.lionseyeca-nv.org