In looking at the web page, I find they are again working with many disasters that have happened.  Minot and Bismarck, ND received a grant to help with the flood in that area.  LCI helped with a grant right here in District 5 SE to build a Habitat for Humanity home in Harrisburg.  This was a joint project with the Sioux Falls Downtown Lions, Zone 7, and students from STI built.  It is a wonderful thing to see the smiles of a family when they receive the key to their new home. I am applying for a PR grant to replace bad Lions signs in our towns.  In my traveling around the district, it is very noticeable some of the signs look very old and do not reflect that we are proud to have a Lions Club in the community.  As soon as we receive this grant, we will be able to order new signs or large decals from LCI.  My hope is that our signs will look much better when this project is completed.  More to follow on how we will accomplish this project.

Did you know that our neighbors in Canada sponsor the Dog Guide Training Center?  This center trains puppies that to become service dogs.  These dogs help people who may have a medical condition that requires a dog to help them when health fails.  This can change a person’s life completely as they become a life companion.

In Minnesota, they have partnered with the Veterans Affairs Department and started a program called “Project New Hope.”  This project is Lions funded.  It is for families and the veteran to attend a retreat free-of-charge and receive time and counseling to reconnect and grown together.  Because of this project, several Veterans and employees of the Veterans Administration have joined the Lions, are now helping council, and maybe just listen to the service men or women and their families.

The Peace Poster winner for our District was from Yankton SD.  We entered our first Peace Essay contest and the winner for MD 5 is Viborg.  We are so lucky to have youth involved in contest.  At MD 5, the Peace Posters that have not won still we displayed so that we could all see what talent they had to choose from.   Everyone who enters is a winner in my eyes because they tried.

Have you registered for the SD Lions State Convention in Yankton?  Do you have a room reserved?  Do you have a good voice or even a half way good voice?  Lion Shiloh Oorlog needs to know so we can get our choir back together.  That was so much fun when we did this in Sioux Falls at the Fall Forum.

Thanksgiving will be here before we know it.  Just around the corner is Christmas.  What will you be thankful for?  I know I am thankful for the three “F’s” Family, Friends, and Food. Remember to share a meal with someone if you can.  Maybe even something to keep a person warm. It is not hard to realize we have so much to share with those who do not have anything.  The Lions International is asking us to share just one gift to someone who would not receive something if we did not give.  “We Serve” is our Motto.  Let us remember that.