Gagewood Lions Club Offers Lawn Mower Winterization

The Gagewood Lions Club held its first “lawn mower winterization project” on Nov. 11. Everything went well, and it looks we’ll make it an annual project. Gagewood Lions serviced 31 lawnmowers! Lion Eric Jahn brought this new project to the club, chaired the project and worked hard during the project. Thank you! We would like to also give a special thanks to Lion Pat Herman of Wildwood Towing for opening her facility for this project. We couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks also to Lion Kim Flood for the chili lunch, and thanks to all the Lions who worked so hard to make this project a success!

Dear District 1F Lions, Lionesses, LEOs, & CUBs,

As the Holidays and 2017 wind down and slowly fade from our memories, we look forward to the New Year 2018, and check our Lions Calendar for upcoming events that will keep us motivated and eager to help those less fortunate in our local communities and worldwide. Lions Clubs International has an agenda for the new year that includes: Relieving the Hunger Centennial Service Challenge

For those who may not have been informed previously through this column, I must remind all that as of our last District Convention in March of 2017, I was elected District Trustee for Lions of IL Foundation, and have been in a dual role for several months. I have been trying to recruit Club LCIF Coordinators for a period of time, and some volunteers have stepped forward to answer the call. 

If you are one of those volunteers, thank you; but more are needed to assure that Lions Clubs International Foundation needs are met for every club in our District. Please inform me if you are interested in becoming a Club LCIF Coordinator. 

Online resources include www.diflions.org and www.lionsclubsinternational.org. 

Sincerely in Lionism,

PDG Lion Molly M. Penny

District 1-F LCIF Coordinator, 2015-2018

Lions of Illinois Trustee, 2017-2019

P.S. I can be reached at pennys246@comcast.net or 847-662-4917.

The 2018 District Convention Committee has been hard at work planning our District 1-F Convention to be held April 6-8. The District Convention will return to the Renaissance Chicago North Shore hotel in Northbrook. The committee is very excited, and we have some new things planned as well as some old traditions. 

Keeping with tradition, the Convention will begin with the Lions Clubs Parade of Banners at the opening plenary session on Friday night. Also for Friday night, we’ve changed things up a bit for the Hospitality Room, which will have a Las Vegas theme in keeping with the location of this year’s Lions International Convention. HERE’s the BIG NEWS: Lions clubs wishing to host one table in the Hospitality Room may do so at no charge. That’s right: FREE. (If a club would like more than one table in the Hospitality Room, there is a $50 fee for each additional table requested.) To reserve a table for your club today, complete the request form included in the Convention Information Packet.

Saturday will be a full day with plenary sessions, a remembrance for Lions who have passed, seminars, speakers, good food, awards and more. Sunday will conclude the weekend with voting, breakfast and Lions of Illinois Foundation business.

All documents and registration forms needed for your clubs and Lions members to register, sign-up, support and attend Convention are included in the Convention Information Packet. These documents are also available on the District 1F website.

Are you a Lion who has a home-based business? Would you like to share your passion with fellow Lions?  The District 1-F Convention's 3rd Annual Vendor Show will be Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore hotel in Northbrook. Don't delay, slots will fill quickly. Download the Convention Information Packet for a Vendor Application. Questions? Contact Lion Shelly @ lionshellyg@gmail.com.

Convention Proceedings Booklet advertising fundraiser!

The 2018 District 1-F Lions Convention Proceedings Booklet is a promotional and informative annual booklet on District 1-F and your fellow clubs. More importantly, it is a fundraiser for District 1-F. Your club’s advertising, including your club’s area retail, governmental, non-for-profit advertising in this booklet is a great deal on its own merit. As you know from past experience, the District 1-F Convention Proceedings Booklet is viewed and used by fellow Lions, friends, families and businesses throughout our district and beyond; that covers a lot of ground! 

We encourage you to assist all of us in initiating and recruiting advertising from your club and the communities you serve. Example: How about the establishment that holds your regular club meetings? Any fellow Lions own a business, or know someone who works at a major business/corporation? How about your business Candy Day locations?

And don’t forget about the Patron Lists that are published throughout the Convention Proceedings Booklet. Clubs are encouraged to submit a Patron List to support District 1-F fundraising efforts and give some name recognition to the members of their clubs at the same time.

Annual Club Reports

The Proceedings Booklet also includes an annual report from each of the clubs in our district. Lions Club Presidents should submit their annual club reports — and Patron Lists — for publication in the Convention Proceedings Booklet no later than February 16. Club reports, which should be no more than 500 words, may recount the club’s activities over the past year, or focus on one significant volunteer moment that club presidents would like to share with the rest of District 1-F.

Club reports are published free of charge and may include a club logo and one or two photos, depending on the length of the report. For more information about the Proceedings Booklet, download the Convention Information Packet.

Club Brag Board Display

Each club also is invited to display a Club Brag Board at Convention. Your Club Brag Board should show everyone in the District the community events, fundraising and services your club has offered throughout the year. Consider incorporating the Convention’s Las Vegas theme into your brag board. More information about the Brag Board Display & Competition can be found in the Convention Information Packet.

If you, your club or anyone you know has something to donate for the silent auction, please contact ZC Dennis Spaeth via phone 847-520-5933 (home), 847-212-8051 (cell), 847-714-0176 (office), or by Email: dspaeth46@comcast.net 

Here’s what’s on our wish list for the Silent Auction:

Parade of Banners

At the Opening Session on Friday, April 6, there will be a parade of club banners into the main convention hall. This is the time to show your club pride by participating in this event. Complete the entry form in the District 1-F Convention packet.

Click here to download an important excerpt from the MD-1 Lions state magazine.

District 1F Lions Website |  MD1 Lions Website |  LCI Website