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Lions Of South Dakota
  District  5 SE
LeeAnn Haisch


 
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Upcoming Events Reminder!!
Standard form of Constitution and By Laws for Clubs

Henry Baker Forms are now found on the Documents page

5SE Spring Forum Registration and Agenda are now available. Click here.

State Convention to be at The Gulch in Deadwood Sept 27-28, 2024. More information coming.

Vermillion Lions Pancake

WELCOME To Lions District 5SE

We are located on the eastern side of South Dakota; part of the MD5 District. We currently have 40 Lions Clubs, and 1028 members in the District.

   Our District Governor for the Lions Year 2023-2024 is Lion LeeAnn Haisch

With coffee in hand and an outside temp of -14, I sit down to write this newsletter article hoping for inspiration from this frozen world. The sun is bright and I would love to go out and absorb its rays, but the wind chill makes it too cold to remain outside for any length of time.

The gravel road beckons me to take my daily walk, but the snow has crusted over to an icy layer too slippery to traverse. It all seems so dreary.

Then it hits — that is my inspiration! There is beauty in this landscape and this isolation. It is a time to dream and plan and renew commitments made at the turn of the calendar year.

What do I really want to accomplish this calendar year? What steps can I take to make the world a better place for others? Who can I help through even the smallest of gestures — a phone call, a card, a coffee together at the local coffee house? And how am I taking care of myself? Suddenly, the dreariness washes away and I can see the possibilities, even through the frost of the windows. What do you see for possibilities?

I have a few suggestions from a Lions perspective:

1. Increase your knowledge of Lions by taking a course through the Lions Learning Center on www.lionsclubs.org. If you are a club officer or would like to be, there are short courses on what you should know to best serve. If you are just curious about Lions and want to know more, there is a course for you.

2. Plan a new service project for your club. Dare to dream and make a plan. Don't be paralyzed by what has always been or fear of the unknown. As I have said in earlier newsletters, BE BOLD.

3. Recognize the contributions of club members through your own club awards — make them fun. We have formal awards through the district and LCI, and you are encouraged to award them, but we also need to be a little spontaneous and goofy.
 
4. Encourage members of your club to attend our district convention in Freeman on April 6. Get a car load and come to the event. It is guaranteed to be fun and you will get to meet wonderful Lions from across the district.
 
5. Challenge yourself to invite at least one person to join your Lions Club. We have added 55 new members to our district so far this year, but we have dropped 31 members. Who are your newly retired or empty nest friends — invite them. What about your sons and daughters — have you asked them to continue your Lions legacy? How will you speak to young people about the service of Lions?

 6. Call Lions clubs in your zone to see if you can work on a project together. Learn from each other.

7. Be adventurous — attend the International Lions Convention in Melbourne Australia this June. If that seems a bit too far, plan to attend the Multi District 5 Convention in Minot, N.D., May 16-18. The registrations are included in this newsletter.
 
8. Volunteer to take a role on the District 5SE cabinet for 2024-2025. Dedicated individuals with a love for Lions are always needed.
 
9. Dedicate yourself to earning the Club Excellence Award for your club.
 
10. Help a neighboring community start a Branch Lions Club so Lions service can spread.
 
11. Donate individually to SD Lions Foundation and Lion Club International Foundation.
 
Let's make 2024 a year of renewal of purpose through bold ideas and dedication to Lions Service.

Yours in Service

Lion LeeAnn Haisch

District Governor 5SE