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Make a Donation to Help Haiti Earthquake Victims Now
Donations can be made in confidence to LCIF, as 100 percent of every donation will directly to Haiti relief, as administrative costs are paid by interest earned on investments. LCIF just recently received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the highest rating possible from the independent charity evaluator. In 2007 LCIF was named the #1 non-governmental organization with which to partner, a title our Foundation still holds today.
27-D1 District Governor
Rick Daluge
rhdaluge@wisc.edu
(608) 273-1091
Lion Peggy and I are in the midst of our second half of Lions clubs visits and we both have enjoyed the experience of learning more about our district Lions clubs, meeting club officers, and making new friends!
I know that some clubs look upon the obligatory district governor visit as something that has to be done, but we must remember that the dialogue that we have with clubs on these visits is really a two way street; its your chance to tell me what concerns you have with the Lions organization and it's an opportunity for me to communicate some messages from Lions International, our State Lions, and the district. We're looking forward to the second half of our visits!
I want to encourage as many Lions, Lioness and Leos as possible to attend our district Convention March 12-13 in Dubuque, IA.
This is not our first out of state district convention, but it is the first one to be held in Iowa, so we do make a bit of district history with this convention. As you can read elsewhere on this page, Convention Chair IPDG John Jenson, and his committee have an excellent program and convention planned! And we have as our International speaker, PID Harold "Otter" Ott from Pennsylvania. We of course will conclude the convention with our Honors Night where we will recognize our club presidents, secretaries, and treasurers of our Lions, Lioness and Leo clubs. I do hope that those Lions in club leadership positions will be sure to join us.
Our district convention allows us to meet old and new Lions family friends, educates us with ten informative program sessions, and allows us to honor and recognize our club leaders.
In addition we elect our new leadership for 2010-2011. As always there will be a special session for first time attendees and newer Lions members.
Our district Lioness group has also been very involved with the planning for the convention and our hospitality night which will have a Casino theme.
Peggy and I look forward to seeing all of you at our district convention! We have a great hotel, a wonderful program, and the warm fellowship of the Lions family! See you in Dubuque!
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Dear Lions of the World,
It is with great sadness that the world's attention is focused on the devastating earthquakes in Haiti that left 1.5 million homeless, up to 200,000 dead, and countless injured and traumatized. It will take years for the country to fully recover, but we know that Lions will be there every step of the way.
Just like Lions have done with the South Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the Sichuan earthquake in China and other calamities, Lions and LCIF will be there for the both the short- and long-term - providing immediate aid now but also working to rebuild communities, to restore hope and to support those affected for as long as it takes.
If there is one thing that makes Lions unique from other service agencies, it's that we commit for the long term and we work within the affected communities - through our local Lions -- to rebuild for a better tomorrow. The Haitian Lions are our brothers and sisters, members of our international family, and we will never let them down.
As you are likely aware, Lions have already moved swiftly to provide immediate assistance despite the coordination challenges. Lions relief tents are being shipped from Sweden; Lions from Canada on a mission in Haiti during the quake gave first aid assistance during the first hours and days; and Lions in the Caribbean area are sending aid over land and by sea. Additionally, a coordinating committee of Lions in Haiti, Dominican Republic and nearby countries are actively planning for the next steps, and our foundation chairperson, Al Brandel, immediate past international president, will be traveling there to meet with them beginning tomorrow.
Naturally, the response by Lions to LCIF's Lions Hope for Haiti donation appeal has been tremendous. Within days, we have already mobilized more than US$350,000. By the time you receive this email, I am sure it will be even much, much more. But we'll need millions more if we are to help the country rebuild, to provide homes for the homeless, to rebuild schools for the children, to rehabilitate those left disabled, and to help heal so many shattered and broken hearts. So please donate what you can.
Lastly, I am extremely saddened to report that two of our Haitian Lions -- our family -- have perished and other Lions may have lost family members. On behalf of Lions the world over and members of our international board, we offer our sincere, heartfelt condolences and sympathies to our Lions family who have suffered such personal losses.
To our Lions family in Haiti, I commit to you that the Lions of the world will be there for you today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, the year after that - and again for as long as it takes.
There will be more updates from LCIF Chairperson Brandel in the days to come. Meanwhile read the latest LCIF update on Haiti, including information on how you can make a personal online donation. I thank you all ahead of time for any further assistance you can provide.
With sympathies,
Eberhard J. Wirfs
International President |
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