Message from DG Ed Gibbons

Lions of District 12N,

Great News! District 12N has a new club! It is the Elizabethton Lions Club located in Elizabethton. I just received confirmation from LCI that it is a go. There are 26 new Lions to start the new club. I am so excited for this club. The Charter night is July 9th at the Carter at Main mansion/restaurant in Elizabethton. I would like to see some support for this new club from other clubs in the District. I will be sending out invitations in the near future. Any support can be sent to me or to their address (PO Box 1391, Elizabethton, TN 37644).

We had a great Lions State Convention in Clarksville. Congratulations to PDG Jim McFarland who received the Presidential Award from the current Lions International President Joe Preston. Yes, we had the President of LCI at our State Convention. Congratulations to PDG Clare Crawford who received the Presidential Leadership Award from LCI President Joe Preston. These two Lions are two of the hardest working behind the scenes Lions; they are very deserving of finally being recognized for their dedicated work. I was honored to submit their names for the awards to LCI President Joe Preston. Lion Brandon Johnson was also honored by receiving the Virginia Lindsey Leadership award presented by President Joe Preston.

Lions Club Conventions are very rewarding; I encourage every Lion to add attending the Lions State Convention as well as the International Convention to your bucket list at least once during your lifetime. Perhaps you will consider attending the 2017 LCI Convention in Fukuoka, Japan when our own Tennessean, Lion Bob Corlew, will become our 100th Lions Clubs International President.

Fellow Lions, this is probably my last newsletter. District Governor Elect Fletcher Stephens will take office July 1st. Being District Governor has been extremely rewarding for me. It has always been a goal in my life – and now I can mark it off my bucket list. Thank you, Lions of District 12N for being so hospitable to me on my visits to your clubs. Thanks to the clubs that helped me meet my goals of a Plus One in Membership for this year (some have really surpassed Plus One) and thank you for helping start a new club in District 12N. All in all it has been a great year. I will miss each of you. Thank you for doing what you do to promote Lionism in your community – and the entire world. You make me proud!

In Lionism,

DG Ed Gibbons