AUGUST 2020

2

It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the 103rd International President of Lions Clubs International. Over the past year, I experienced the overwhelming good Lions delivered to over 275 million people—more than ever before. Though I have been a Lion myself for over 40 years, it has been truly humbling to see the innovative and diverse ways our clubs serve their local communities around the world.

My experiences as International President have reminded me of just how critical our service is to people everywhere and the incredible contribution it’s making to our future. And while the past year has brought with it great highs, the world, as we all know, has experienced many changes. New global challenges have emerged, impacting our everyday lives and our ability to work, play, communicate and serve in the ways we’ve always done.

In the face of these new challenges, Lions have responded like they always have: with kindness, passion and conviction, lifting up others through our

diversity of service. I’m so proud of all our members.

In this new Lions year, I’ve been asked to serve another term as International President. I am honored to continue leading us through this changing landscape, and I’m grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me. Yet, it is the trust I have in each and every Lion that gives me hope and confidence in our ability to lead, to safely serve and to restore hope to the world in this historic moment.

Thank you all,

Dr. Jung-Yul Choi

OUR COVER

2. Intl President’s Message

3. NOTES from DG Gina

4. DG Club Visit Request Form

5. Meet 1st VDGE Paul Williams

6. Meet 2nd VDGE Pete Kelzenberg

7. Roseville Almost Open Golf

8. Woofaroo – Virtual Event

9. Collaboration Works

10. Lions Day of Service at FMSC

11. MN Lions Childhood Cancer

12. Vision Foundation Eye Ball

13.It’s all about our Clubs

14. Important Links

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

If you volunteer for something that you

really care about, you don’t have to

be pushed, the Vision pulls you

3

Dear Lions, Lioness, & Leos of 5M6,

There’s no doubt that 2020 for the most part so far, has been a year of many uncertainties and unexpected changes. From the pandemic to the cancellation and postponing of major events, countless people have had to adjust not only their daily routines but their plans and hopes for the future.

Before my term as District Governor on July 1st, I thought I had a pretty solid plan, schedule, etc. However, somewhere in early June it became clear to me that goals, plans and schedules were going to be ever-changing due to circumstances, and that I was going to have to accept and adapt to a much higher level of flexibility than I had planned. Our flexibility will determine our resiliency to the many changes going on around us. That, and the kindness and consideration we hold in our hearts.

Within Lions leadership and even other parts of the state, we are finding a variety of opinions concerning meeting and serving – opinions, not guidelines. Many of us are in unique situations and our clubs are too. We have to be mindful of the fact that while some clubs have found new and creative ways to function and serve in the new world we are living in, there are others that have not had a meeting since March because their members are in the high risk demographic, or they are just getting back to meetings, and it hasn’t been easy for them to get to this point.

There is a wonderful quote by Kaitlyn Sleyster that says “Teamwork is vital – one cannot make Harmony alone – it takes the help of others to make beautiful music.” One of my main goals this year is to restore a sense of community in our clubs and district – a team approach to meet the needs of the clubs / members of 5M6. One of the first steps in doing this, needs to be re-defining Service to include serving our members & other clubs and being mindful of their needs during this time of uncertainty and angst. By raising them up, it will make our entire district stronger.

As many are now aware, the All District Meeting has been re-scheduled from August 12th to September 24th – at an outside venue in Lakeville. Obviously, this date is completely dependent on the situation at that time and of course the comfort level of the members. We will have to re-assess as the date gets closer and keep everyone posted for any changes. In the meantime, we are assembling the Information packets / binders that you would have received in August. We will be delivering these to the club presidents by August 12th. You will be contacted by your zone chairperson regarding delivery.

Also, I have included my club visit request form on the next page. Please begin sending me your requests, in whatever form they are in – virtual, in the park, picking up trash along the road, etc. I will be happy to meet you where you are at. I will leave you with something I came across on Intl President Choi’s theme page that I found to be completely in line with the District theme this year – Creating Harmony through Service.

The Harmony of Service.

Through the diversity of service Lions offer communities around the globe, we are able to extend kindness to hundreds of millions of people each year. That’s a remarkable achievement.

When we bring together caring men and women—each one unique, yet everyone united for the greater good— we create a very special form of Harmony. It’s the Harmony of Service. And it can reach all people, in good times, and in time of great need.

All Voices, Serving in Harmony

Lion Gina

4

Club Name: _______________________________________ Date submitted: _____________________

Member to contact regarding visit: ________________________________________________________

Phone #: ____________________________ Email: __________________________________________

Date(s) requested: 1st Choice _________________ 2nd Choice ___________________

Time of social, if held: __________ Time of meeting: __________ Will there be a meal: Yes ___ No ___

Name and Address of Club visit location: ___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Will there be other clubs represented? If so, please list: _______________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Please advise any special requests during this club visit:

• Install Officers: Yes ____ No ____ ● Present Awards: Yes ____ No ____

• Induct Members: Yes ____ No ____ ● Other, please list: _____________________________

______________________________________________

District Governor Dress Code:

• Formal, in uniform: _____

• Casual, in comfort: _____

• Is Spouse able to attend: Yes ____ No ____

Please mail or email this request form using the contact information below. The date will be confirmed after checking my schedule and the requesting Lion is notified.

Thank you so much! Lion Gina

5M6 District Governor Club Visit Request Form

2020 - 2021

5

Lions, Lioness, & Leos of 5M6,

As the incoming vice district governor of 5m6, I would like to introduce myself.

Usually these introductions begin with basic facts. This one, however, will begin with a confession and… a story.

I was born across the border. No, not the Canadian border, but the Wisconsin border. I was born in Green Bay and yes, let it be known that I am a Cheesehead.

Not that this issue has been addressed, I can tell you my story. A story that I use as part of my elevator speech for prospective Lions.

I grew up as a member of the Lions community. Both my parents were members of the Green Bay West Lions Club. I have fond memories of me and my three siblings attending an annual event for Lions and their families. Often, this event would take place Lion’s cottage, where the kids would throw horseshoes, toss lawn darts and go water-skiing. As children grew older, they often joined the Club.

I also recall that my father would often get calls in the middle of the night for an “eye run.” This would mean that transporting eye tissue from one of eight hospitals in the greater Green Bay area to Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin relay station in Fond Du Lac. And even though he was an executive for a food service company, and a hobby farmer, if he received a call for “eye run,” he would never turn the request down.

One of my sisters would eventually follow his path. She became an RN and although she never (or at least has not yet) became a Lion, she became a certified eye enucleator and would be on call to remove donated eye tissue.

As a child, I never participated in a Green Bay West (GBW) Lions Club fundraising event. This changed after I graduated from college in 1987. The Green Bay West Lions Club became involved with a fundraising event with the Green Bay Packers.

The Packer’s organization would pay the GBW Lions Club to hand out Packer memorabilia at each pre- season and regular season home game. When I would visit Green Bay and the Packers were in town, I would stand just inside the gates for Lambeau Field with other volunteers and hand out Packer towels, calendars, cardboard posters, scarves and various tchotchke to fans attending the games.

And even though it pained me so, we also handed out Packers items to Chicago Bear and New Orleans Saints fans attending the games.

Although many of the Lion Club members I knew as a child have since passed on, including my father, the Club celebrated its 50-year anniversary in 2013. During the past 10 years, a signature project for the Club has been screening pre-school children for eye disorders, a program that is now steadily spreading from district to district and club-to-club in 5M.

My parents were both Melvin Jones Award recipients. They instilled in me a sense of community service and responsibility. And my dad gave me my first Lions pin, which started me on the path to becoming a pin collector.

I eventually moved to Minnesota and after raising a family, I rejoined the Lions fold.

I have been a Lion for 15 years. I was president of the Mounds View Lions in 2009 -2010 and was president of the White Bear Lake Lions Club in 2018-2019. I received the Melvin Jones Fellowship from the Mounds View Lions and the Melvin Jones Progressive Fellowship from the White Bear Lake Lions Club.

Since I graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul in 1987, I was a newspaper reporter for newspapers in the Twin Cities and in St. Cloud. While in St. Cloud, I covered the Jacob Wetterling kidnapping and my stories were picked up across the country.

I am a paralegal by trade. I also have a theatrical side. I have taken improv classes at HUGE theater and Stevie Ray’s Comedy Club. And for the past eight years, I could be found on stage as part of the White Bear Lake Lions Club Annual Show—sometimes as a knight in green tights or most recently as a nerd with mismatched clothes in a 50’s musical.

I currently reside in New Brighton with my wife, Kathy. We have two children, Hale and Andrew.

I look forward to working with DG Gina Detviler, the other officers of 5M6 and meeting and working with every Club in 5M6 to serve and meet the needs of the community.

Lion Paul

Meet 1st VDGE Paul Williams

6

Perhaps I can apply this knowledge toward strategies to encourage new and continued membership from others.

“But Pete, give me a little more biographical background, in case I am stuck having to make conversation with you.” OK. I was born into a military family and lived in many different states, countries and cities in MN until finally settling down in Rosemount, where I graduated in 1980. For those of you doing the math, I am new to this “getting old” thing. I am open to advice from those with more experience at it.

My wife, Sara Kelzenberg, is not a Lion. She stays busy as an architect designing schools throughout MN. Our two kids, Katie and Henry are recent graduates of Stillwater High School. Professionally, I am a Real Estate Broker running my own business out of my home in Afton.

I look forward to working with Lions Gina and Paul, the cabinet, and members throughout our district. We will continue to make serving a great experience for all.

Lion Pete

As the new 2VDG, allow me to introduce myself. I am a member of and immediate past president of the Afton Bayport Lakeland (ABL) Lions club.

Unlike the other bio’s you may be reading, I do not have a long history with the Lions. My community involvement here began at the local schools where my children were attending. About 5 years ago (that is the year 2015 in case you are reading this in 2062 doing research for my obituary) I responded to an invite to learn about a service club forming in our area. What hooked me was the integrity of the organization. Serve the community and any money raised must go back to the community. “Sure, sign me up.”

Our club had “built in Guiding Lions” with Dennis and Cheryl Kelly and their extended family. I learned quickly what it was all about. I volunteered to be Vice President which meant President the following term. (We do two- year terms) I enjoy organizing and running service projects. Knowing that we were serving the greater good by our actions and not just words makes it more meaningful.

My involvement in club and District 5M-6 activities has led me to this point... rationalizing my acceptance into leadership role. In many ways I am still somewhat new. I hope to leverage this when I meet members throughout 5M6 and beyond. I intend to ask my fellow Lions what got them interested, involved, and inspired.

7

ROSEVILLE LIONS CLUB 421 WEST COUNTY ROAD C

ROSEVILLE, MN 55113 651-484-6181

48th ANNUAL “ALMOST OPEN” GOLF CLASSIC

WHEN: 12PM NOON, THURSDAY AUGUST 6, 2020 WHERE: GEM LAKE HILLS GOLF COURSE EXECUTIVE NINE

4039 Schuneman Road White Bear Lake, MN 55110

“Almost Open” is a fun tournament of nine holes open to both men and women. Bring your spouse, friend, business partner or neighbor. You do not have to be a Lion to take part in the nine hole event. Registration is at noon with a shotgun start at 1:00

*Form your own group or we will match you up.*Rafflesl*Low gross and low net prizes for men and ladies*Prizes for long puts & drives, longest drive for over 50 year seniors and closest to pin makes it fun.*Your fee includes: round of golf, great prizes and Fried Chicken Buffet deli. Cart not included.

RESERVATIONS: Please submit your reservation by July 29th . Fee is $50.00 per golfer.

Please enter us in the Lions “Almost Open” August 6, 2020

Players________________________________________________________________________

Club name if Lion member________________________________________________________

Signed________________________________Phone___________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________________________

Detach and mail to address at top of notice

On Thursday, August 6, 2020, the Roseville Lions Club will be hosting its 46th Annual Golf Classic at Gem Lake Hills Golf Course. As with all of our events, the proceeds will be used to help the Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition for COVID-19 and other Lions causes .

The Roseville Lions Club has been serving the area for over 60 years. Your generosity and support has been the key to our success. We are asking for your help again.

There are two ways you can contribute to the success of this event, First, you can sponsor a hole for $100.00 and have your name put on a sign at the hole. Your name will be printed in our program as a hole sponsor. The second way is to donate a gift or certificate from your business. Your gift will be used as a prize and your name will be printed in our program for all to see.

Note: if you wish to give monies and need a tax deduction. You can give to our Foundation. The Roseville St Paul Lions Impact Foundation (82-1933062) which is a 501C3 Foundation.

Thank you for your support!

8

Virtual Event

Walk your Dog – Change a Life

After reviewing expert recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and MN Department of Health, we have made the decision to host the 2020 Can Do Woofaroo virtually.

While we love having our donors, volunteers, clients and staff together to celebrate this wonderful event, and we will miss seeing all of you - we feel that everyone’s safety must be our top priority.

This year's Can Do Woofaroo will be different from years past, but the goal stays the same. And we are counting on our supporters now more than ever to ensure that we can continue to provide assistance dogs to the people who need them.

Your fundraising helps us provide even more assistance dogs to people with disabilities, free of charge.

Register as a team or an individual or make a donation to support your friends and family who are fundraising!

Team Fundraising Information Packet can be found at: https://can-do-canines.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Team-Information-Packet-2020.pdf

DOG COSTUME CONTEST

For extra fun, enter your dog in the dog costume contest. Costumes can be creative, humorous, or just plain cute. Winning dogs will receive some great prizes. Please make sure costumes are safe and comfortable. Details to come regarding how to submit your photos

PRIZES, PRIZES …. OH, AND PRIZES

Fundraising prizes: The more you fundraise, the more fun prizes you're eligible for!

$50—Can Do Canines LED collar light and Earth Rated poop bags and dispenser. Receive a round red reflector light with Can Do Canines logo. Clips onto your dog's collar and has flashing and steady LED light options to make you or your dog more visible in the dark. Also receive an Earth Rated poop bag dispenser with bags. Collar light donated by 4Imprint and poop bag dispenser and bag donated by Earth Rated.

$125—Can Do Woofaroo t-shirt $500—Can Do Canines special prize Top Individual Fundraisers Top Fundraising Team

Proudly Sponsored By:

Saturday, Sept 12th

9

Collaboration Works!

7 Lions Clubs along with 3 Rotary Clubs, 2 Kiwanis Clubs, and 1 Optimist Club have joined together along with 2 Community Foundations to help those in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are working within the Mounds View and Roseville School Districts and are proud that every local affiliate of the four major international service clubs in these districts are part of this effort. Our organization is the Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition. The concept was born in mid-March, and a small group introduced it to their respective organizations. In turn each group contributed representatives, talent, and time to build the organization we refer to simply as the Coalition.

Our Mission is to assist the vulnerable and underserved within our communities who are suffering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting non-profit service organizations that provide direct relief to those most in need. To accomplish this we are raising funds, providing volunteers, and acting as an information resource to both those able to give aid as well as those in need of aid. Our goal is to raise and disburse at least $150,000 in support of those in need in our communities. We are off to a good start, having raised in excess of $60,000 thus far and having disbursed $50,000 to grant applicants. For details please go to https://www.suburbanramseycoalition.org/grants-awarded. Much remains to be done, but our collaboration is strong and made even stronger by our shared purpose of serving our neighbors and communities.

Lions everywhere can be proud of the representation by our seven clubs in this Coalition. They have provided critical leadership and funding to make this group successful. It is also likely that the working relationships and friendships developed in working with our fellow service clubs will yield dividends to Lions service projects long into the future. Lions will also be proud that the Coalition adopted as it organizing theme Helen Keller’s quote, “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.”

For more information go to https://www.suburbanramseycoalition.org/ and contact the leadership of any of the following Lions Clubs: Falcon Heights-Lauderdale; Mounds View; New Brighton; North Suburban Evening; Roseville; St. Paul North Ramsey 500; Shoreview/Arden Hills.

10

Districts 5M2, 5M5, 5M6 and 5M7 will join together at the 3 FMSC facilities in the Twin Cities Metro area. Our Mission is to pack food for the malnourished children of the World!

Our goal is to have EVERY club in the 4 Districts participate in one or more shifts on that day. Collaboration among LIONS, LEOS, LIONESS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY

will make this an achievable goal!

Donations of any amount would be VERY much appreciated!! You can bring your personal donation AND/OR your Club donation to one of the sites on the day of the event

OR you can mail it ahead of time to the Feed My Starving Children Coon Rapids location.

Be sure to indicate in the MEMO area – LIONS DAY 2020.

Promote this in your community as part of the Lions Clubs International Global Service Framework.

For more information about FMSC, or more about how you can make a difference right now, visit:

https://www.fmsc.org/

Feeding Kids. Feeding Spirits. Empowering Communities.

Lions Day of Service

At Feed My Starving Children

Tuesday, October 20th

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

Since you saw that we have just started opening sites, it won’t be long for us to take an assessment of our staffing, reconfiguration and volunteers to see if we need to modify our volunteer experience. And we know that the CDC and our governor can change any of our plans as they deem prudent for each of us and our safety. Currently our operations team believes they will roll out October dates within the next 3 weeks. So let’s reconnect the 3rd week of August. Once we confirm a yes, let’s look at the lists, reach out to the individuals and their leadership to determine who may be a “no” right off the block. The commitment Lions would make with their “yes” would be to work with up to 4 other people within 6 feet of each other. We want each to consider their risk and comfortability with those Lions they register with. Our capacity may grow as well.

Currently we sit at Coon Rapids= 50, Eagan= 50, Chanhassen= 25. Changes are determined by the state laws as well as square footage and staffing.

As you can tell, we’ve been working faithfully to feed kids and support volunteers.

Here’s a video of the Coon Rapids staff so you can get a preview of the current experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ucFeBIB4T4

We’ll be in touch in a few weeks.

Judy Watke, Development Manager, Feed My Starving Children

11

MN Lions Childhood Cancer Foundation is pleased to announce an extremely successful Shave for the Brave! Fundraiser. In the middle of a pandemic with all our gatherings of conventions and meetings postponed or held online, we persevered and raised over $18,000! We thank all of you for your supportive contributions and spreading our fundraising information.

MN Lions Childhood Cancer Foundation has also raised over $100,000.00, during the last Lions year, which after matches, became $300,000 for the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital Childhood Cancer Survivor Program. We are looking forward to a check presentation ceremony when safe to do so.

Believe award: Clubs donating $1,000.00 have earned our beautiful, Believe Award. We are so proud of the design and hope your club can display your successful contributions to assisting children with cancer. Currently our foundation is keeping records of all the club donations. Your club does not have to contribute all the funds at once to earn the Believe Award. Donations to the U of M Hospital will be designated for the Childhood Cancer Survivor Program. And the MNLCCF is the leading contributor for this new program!

And we have pins!!!! Please request pins from your district representative, they are $5.00/each.

Two Recent donations: Kamp Kace (Kids Against Cancer Everywhere) in central Minnesota will use $9,000 to pay for winter camps in the 2019 season by teens enjoying winter camp experiences, and to assist in their needs for the future. Unfortunately, the summer camp for 2020 was postponed due to the pandemic.

Crescent Cove - Crescent Cove wants to install a picnic area that will accommodate handicapped children and their families. Because of the unique design and safety features, this will cost about $15,000. We would propose that the Lions of Minnesota fund this necessary project. The MN Lions Childhood Cancer Foundation will match any contributions by clubs or individuals at the rate of 1.5 to 1. That is, if a gift of $100 is made, the Foundation will match it with another $150. If we can raise $6,000 from clubs and individuals, the Foundation match of $9,000 will reach our goal. (Note Crescent Cove on the memo line of checks.) https://www.crescentcove.org/

We received our 501c3 status! - Clubs can now write their checks to the MN Lions Childhood Cancer Foundation!!!

Please contact our District Chairs if you have any checks to send and they will make sure to get it taken care of Contacts are Lion Kris Detviler – kdetviler@lions5m-6.org or IPDG Tracy Braaten at tracybraaten@lions5m-6.org.

Again, once a club reaches the $1,000.00 donation level, they are eligible to receive a Believe Award.

The Forum will offer a choice of a full refund or a rollover of your registration fees to the 2021 Forum. You can make that choice in writing by e-mailing our Registrar at registrar@lionsforum.org or by mailing your choice request to PO Box 723, Rapid City, SD 57709-0723. Please do not call the Forum office to request a refund or transfer of funds to 2021. Our goal for the USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum has always been to provide a rich learning experience and a social environment where we see our old friends and make new ones. This 44th Annual Forum promised to be one of the best as the City of Louisville has so much to share with us. We extend our sincere appreciation to the City of Louisville and to the Kentucky Lions for inviting us. We hope to be back soon. Lion Harvey Whitley, PID 2020 Forum General Chairperson

MN Lions Childhood Cancer Foundation

12

Giving is not just about

Making a Donation

It’s About making a

Difference

13

Danny Rubio Burnsville Sponsor: Dave Moen Beth Wurtzberger Burnsville Sponsor: Randal Smith Kelly Sorg Hastings Rivertown Sponsor: Carolyn Gronquist Bruce Day Scandia Marine Sponsor: Michael White Tammy Peterson Scandia Marine Sponsor: Don Peterson Joyce Ritz Scandia Marine Sponsor: Ben Van Sant

Jane Lightbourn Hastings Rivertown John Baird Stillwater Bill Huot Wildwood Shirley Walker Woodbury

Members

On July 25th, The Maplewood North Lions sponsored

PeaceMaker MN bike ride for peace education.

Lion Chris Kawohl made the signs and Lion Roger Green promoted what the Lions are all about

“We are grateful for your support of our mission to help schools be safer places and to help kids learn skills like

empathy, respect, cooperation, and peaceful conflict resolution.” PeaceMaker MN

5M6 MEMBERSHIP TOTALS

14

► District 5M6 Website: https://www.lions5m-6.org/

► Lions Clubs International: http://www.lionsclubs.org/

► Multiple District 5M (MD5M) http://www.lionsmd5m.org/

► Lions MD5M Hearing Foundation: https://www.5mhf.org/

► Minnesota Lions Diabetes Foundation: https://www.mnlionsdiabetes.org/

► Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation: https://www.mnlionsvisionfoundation.org/

► Leader Dogs for the Blind: https://www.leaderdog.org/

► LCI KidSight USA: http://lionskidsightusa.org/

► Can Do Canines: https://can-do-canines.org/

► Lions Gift of Sight: https://www.lionsgiftofsight.org/

► Special Olympics: https://specialolympicsminnesota.org/

Lions District 5M-6 is not responsible for content or digital publication practices of the entities above. Please check with each site

publisher above and their corresponding terms of use and privacy policies.

*All Submissions must be in compliance with District 5M6 Digital Privacy and/or Opt-In Policies. If you have any questions about this, please contact

DG Gina M. Detviler gmdetviler@lions5m-6.org or visit https://www.lions5m-6.org/privacy/

*Events and/or Stories submitted for publication within the Vision Newsletter

may also be added to District 5M-6 Calendar of Events and digital array(s) (online).

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF LIONS DISTRICT 5M-6

PUBLISHED BY THE LIONS OF

DISTRICT 5M-6

The Vision Newsletter, official publication of Lions District 5M-6, is

published monthly by the authority of the District 5M-6 Officers and Cabinet.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Dist. Governor Gina M. Detviler 1st VDGE Paul Williams 2nd VDGE Pete Kelzenberg Secretary/Admin PDG Lynn Farley Treasurer PDG Carol Farley