Page 6 - LGS Today Newsletter Fall 2021

“Service to others is the rent we pay for the space we occupy here on earth.”
— President Douglas X. Alexander Lions Clubs International
Service from the Heart
The International Association of Lions Clubs firmly believes
in developing the leadership skills of its members. While not all Lions occupy professional management roles, through Lion Clubs International, they have ample opportunities to become leaders or to become better leaders.
To give all a chance to shine, many leadership positions on the club, district, and international level are for only one or two years. And this is true for the highest position in the association: International President.
The shepherd of the 2021-2022 Lions year is Douglas X. Alexander,
a Lion hailing from Brooklyn, New York. His theme for the year is “Service from the Heart,” an apt choice since President Alexander has a heart twice the size of the average Lion and three times the size of the citizen on the street. Lion Douglas has maintained that “Service to others is the rent we pay for the space we occupy here on Earth.”
In other words, if we are well and if we are well off, then we have an obligation to see that others are well and well off, too. Service, the essence of Lionism, is an obligation, as well as a privilege and a joy.
President Alexander recently queried, “Are we living who we say we are?” Lions. Eye bankers. Individuals. Each one of us would benefit from asking ourselves this question. Are we providing service or just lip service? We trust our answers will do us credit.
Eye Donation Month
For those in the eye banking profes- sion, each day presents the pros- pect of hope from loss. This state
of equilibrium between grief and gratitude is always present in the work of our donation coordinators, eye tissue recovery technicians, family support staff, and laboratory personnel. It is always remembered by our partner relations, quality systems, communications, and eye bank support service staff.
But when November arrives, we set aside time to just celebrate our work with Eye Donation Month.
We ask you to join us in raising awareness of the great gift that is eye donation and the work of eye banks to transform that gift into renewed hope and restored sight.
Happy Eye Donation Month!
2021
LIONS GIFT OF SIGHT (LGS) is a community-based non-profit eye bank. Founded in 1960, it is the oldest donation organization in Minnesota. LGS serves the needs of donors and recipients in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and North Dakota, as well as Galveston, Texas, 24 hours-a- day, 365 days-a-year. LGS distributes corneas for transplant and eyes and corneas for research and medical education.
With a stringent eye bank quality assurance program that audits all aspects of operations, LGS upholds the highest tissue quality standards. LGS is accredited by the Eye Bank Association of America, inspected by the Food and Drug Administration, and follows OSHA and University of Minnesota Office of the Vice President for Research guidelines. LGS is a proud part of the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
6 Lions Gift of Sight