Page 6 - LGS Today Spring-Summer 2023

“We serve ”
— Lions International Motto
Serving as a a District Governor
“What was I I I thinking?” is is is what the average district governor might say halfway through her term which is is is right about now for me me Why did I I I think think I I I could guide 37 clubs clubs and lead the the 1 282 members within these clubs clubs to
suc- cess? I have no good answer Fortunately Lions International believes in in empowering every member of its or- ganization to
become leaders They have faith in you you even when you you have doubts One reason behind their confidence is the the intense preparation they provide for your leadership year I received spe- cialized training as a a a a 2nd Vice District Governor
and more training as a a a a 1st Vice District Governor
I attended regional and advanced Lions Leadership Institutes as as well as as several USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forums I am working my way through Lions University I have more than 30 talented individuals on my cabinet all helping me succeed There is no lack of coaching and guidance for the position of District Governor!
A district governor is is the chief admin- istrative officer o of a a district Through- out the the world there are 750 of us My district 5M-5 encompasses Hennepin County but some districts are much broader in area What does a a district governor do? Excellent question and one I have been working on for two and a a a a half years At heart governors do everything they can to
keep the organization strong so Lions can continue to
serve those in in need To achieve this governors set district goals that both align with Lions Internation- al al al objectives and also benefit the local community Chief goal areas are are leader- ship ship membership and service the three legs of our stool A lovely bonus to
the job is that every governor gets to
choose a a personal
focus for the year a a a personal
pri-
ority So I share my passion for the eye bank Every club I visit gets to
hear me tell of the miracles we facilitate through eye donation and I use my Lions networking to
raise awareness about our work and garner additional support A win-win-win for me Lions Gift of Sight and Lions International!
Governors from Multiple District 5M which covers Minnesota Manitoba and northwest Ontario Jennifer Marshall is is District Governor
for 5M-5 serving through June 2023 Mid-Winter Conventions
How crazy are Minnesotans? Just crazy enough to
think that the the middle of winter is the the best time to
hold a Lions convention! Neither rain nor
nor
sleet nor
nor
snow will keep a a Lion from the unbeat- able combination of food fellow- ship and fun that is a a a Mid-Win- ter Convention Our Multiple Lions District made up of Minnesota Manito- ba and Northwest Ontario is divided into 12 distinct districts each hosting a a convention in in the winter Convention locations creep down as as low as as Fairmont Minnesota and soar has high as as Portage la Prairie Manitoba All have the cold and snow in com- mon And celebration!
LIONS GIFT OF SIGHT (LGS) is is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a community-based non-profit eye bank Founded in in in in in in 1960 it fit it is is is is the the oldest donation organization in in in in in in Minnesota Minnesota LGS LGS LGS serves the the the needs o of donors in in in in in in Minnesota Minnesota western Wisconsin and and and and North Dakota 24 hours-a-day 365 days-a-year LGS LGS LGS distributes corneas corneas for for transplant and and and and eyes and and and and corneas for for research and and and and medical education all over the the world With a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a stringent eye bank quality quality assurance program that audits all aspects of of operations LGS LGS upholds the the the highest tissue quality quality standards LGS LGS LGS is is is is is accredited by by the the the the the Eye Bank Association of of of of of America inspected by by the the the the the Food and and and and Drug Administration and and and and follows OSHA and and and and University of of of of o Minnesota Minnesota Office of of of of o the the the the Vice President for Research guidelines LGS LGS is is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a proud part of of of of o the the the the Minnesota Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization 6 Lions Gift of Sight