DG Chuck and Lion Paulette Bailey

Fellow Lions of District 12-N,

Happy New Year to all Lions of East Tennessee.

We have completed the first half of our Lions year; three Cabinet meetings, most of the required Zone meetings and Club visits are completed, most of the Loblolly Pine tree seedlings have been distributed and, most importantly, you have provided for the needs in your communities because “We Serve,”

Preparations are underway for our District Convention to be held in Knoxville at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on February 17-18, 2012. 

Why do I mention something so distant from now?  Because in order to get the favorable rates, you must register this month at the hotel and with Kathy Burrow, our convention chair (burrown@bellsouth.net), and I encourage all to attend who are able. 

We will have a Luau Friday night in keeping with the Hawaiian theme, three great seminars Saturday morning:

• “How to do Diabetes Screening”, by EMT Rick Papke of Tellico Village Volunteer Fire Dept. and Lion Harmon Towne,
• “How to do KidSight Screening” by PDG Jim McFarland, and
• “What every Lion should know” by PDG Wendy Cain.  The Wendy Caine seminar is designed primarily for members who have joined in 2010 or later but anyone is welcome. 

Our Saturday Luncheon speaker is Carroll Jackson of Leader Dog, Rochester, MI and our Saturday, Dinner speaker is International Director, Dr. Sonja “Sunny” Pulley from Portland OR. 

Entertainment Friday and Saturday evenings will be provided by “Sound Investment and the Sweet Memories” and Grammy Award nominee “Karen Taylor Good.”  Rumor has it that Elvis will make an appearance doing some music from Blue Hawaii. 

In keeping with the casual Hawaiian theme, attire for the entire event is casual; flowered shirts for the men and muumuus for the women are very appropriate.  Only the sitting District Governor will be expected to where his blazer and tie and only on Saturday evening.  Lions vests are always appropriate at any Lions event.

As usual, there will be a Silent Auction, the proceeds of which are to help defray convention expenses.  This year I am encouraging clubs to consider donating a gift basket to the Silent Auction containing items from your local area.  Additionally, any individual donations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

This year’s Convention Business meeting will be especially important because it involves changes to our District Constitution and By-Laws to bring them into compliance with the Lions International set of documents.  Letters to all club Presidents have been mailed detailing the required process for identifying Club Delegates who are entitled to vote on these important matters.  Additionally, approval of the 12-N Charities budget and Election of Officers are necessary agenda items for the business meeting.

Thank you Lions of 12-N.  I am truly honored to be serving you as District Governor because I am getting to meet the most generous people in East Tennessee, the individual Lions of District 12-N.  You freely give of your time, your talents and your money to help your community all through the year.  I have seen the vastness of what our district is doing.  You are living examples of what our founder, Melvin Jones, envisioned when he conceived our great association.  I offer my sincerest gratitude to you for what you do in your communities.  

Paulette and I wish you and your families a safe and healthy New Year.  There is peace on earth and goodwill toward men (and women) because you serve.

Happy New Year.

Yours in Lionism,

DG Chuck Bailey