2019 Lions District Convention

Written by Mary Stephenson 4-15-2019

The 61st Annual District Convention for the 4-C1 officially opened on April 12th at 2:30 PM. It ended on April 14th at 11:05 AM with joining hands and singing Auld Lang Syne.

What happened in between the open and close I will share the hours we attended. (Did not stay late for the parties.)

Conventions can inspire, educate, provide laughs, bring together like-minded people, meet folks you haven’t seen in a year, and meet new Lions.

The first laugh was when PDG Marianne Keesee realized she had read the theme of the convention (Food Fair) as UFO not USO and had to scramble around and find an appropriate costume for the event. It might have been even funnier if she had not caught her error. But then again, don’t pilots spot UFOs?

The USO was for District Governor Sue Kerr and her love for flying. Little airplanes all over the Food Fair tables. We also built and flew a packaged model plane. The landing was unpredictable, even if you tried real hard to control them. I think we would have all done better if we had built our own out of paper. I had brothers, so I made lots of paper airplanes when I was a kid and did pretty good at flying them.

2019 District Convention

The Candidates’ Hospitality (aka: The Hangar) started after 4 pm. We snacked, talked, drank, and ironically waited for more food! The Food Fair started at 6 and we got to sample lots of great creations from other clubs. Many food choices and don’t know what my favorite was as much of the food I consumed in The Hangar was delicious. But the ice cream was great. After seeing Ron’s bowl of ice cream, I was sorry I was too full to go back for a second round and create his ice cream sundae.

Doyle, Ron, Janet, Ava, Gary, and I all attended the Food Fair. I hope they had a good time.

The Saturday session started at 9 AM with the boring part which those up in the ranks, find applaud worthy. Then they had a time of honoring Lions and their accomplishments, and on to the budget presentation.

Next was the most heartfelt speech of the whole weekend. Rob Burroughs, director of Northern California Veterans Museum & Homeward Bound Program for Military Families, spoke to us for an hour. He talked about his family in the military, his father, grandfather. And how soldiers stayed and fought in WW1 and WW2 until it was over. But after those wars things became different.

He told of the preparation for running a convoy from Kuwait in to Iraq. Using all 6 lanes traveling north and that from the first vehicle crossing the border to the last was 45 minutes. They were targets for the enemy. Their headlights could be seen in the early hours before daylight. They took supplies to the Marines staying in one place for a few days and move on to the next. The intense stress of being fired at and trying to keep his men safe. His biggest fear was not dying, but one of his men dying and the letter he would have to write or the phone call he would have to make to the family.

He told about the training. Some soldiers questioned him why they were there. His why was a powerful one and will forever remain in my brain. And I may not repeat it as he did but his why is: A single mother of 3 gets up and feeds her kids on 9-11. She takes them to school and day care, then heads off to work. Arriving at the Twin Towers she goes to her job in an office located high in the building. Then the planes struck and as she is on the top of the building, she makes a choice to either burn to death or jump. She jumps and with one last piece of dignity left she holds her skirt close to her body as she falls. That is the why. For the mother of 3, and many like her that can’t defend themselves.

Many times throughout Rob’s speech he had to stop and collect his composure to continue. At those times it was tough to hold back the flow of tears. I sit here now trying to see the screen; I think I shall have to walk away for a while and dry my eyes.

Rob told us about PTSD and why they continue to have problems after they are home. As they are in it together, in the war they have a support team. When they get home, no one understands why they can’t pick up where they left off before going to war. It is apparent years after his tour he is still emotionally attached as if it were yesterday, telling us it comes and goes but is always there. He told us 95% (I believe his numbers might have even been higher) of people working in the VA have never been in the military. This makes it a difficult task to know how to relate to the vets. There are a tremendous amount of suicides from PTSD more deaths than what the actual war has claimed. A sad reality.

The museum in Anderson proposed date to open is May 18th. One item will be a 1917 Studebaker. Lots of memorabilia will be on display.

International Director, Tom Gordon from Canada was the visiting speaker. He is Canadian, so you know he was good! Funny too! Talked about getting new members and then keeping them interested. Ask and invite them, follow-up after the invite. Invite them to your event to help, even before asking them to become a member. Partner with another organization. Have your elevator speech. Keep an application in your back pocket; I prefer a business card in my pocket. Another point was: How you get the community interested? Answer: Get recognized for what you do. I think we got some of that by the Chamber of Commerce Greeters last week.

Never underestimate the power of getting the word out. During one of my courses in advertising they mentioned a store that was giving back to the community in a larger volume than their competitors were doing but never mentioned it. Their sales were suffering, the advertising agency informed the community what their local store was doing, soon people were shopping with them. The public wants to support those that support their community. If the public and businesses know what our Lion’s club is doing for their community, they are more likely to help us raise funds to continue with our work.

Saturday afternoon was the Student Speaker Contest. 82nd one they tell us and that it started in 1938. I will take their word for it, as I wasn’t around then.

The 4 were winners at the Club, Zone, and Regional competitions. Now they were competing at the District Level. Next will be the Area and the Finals for California. I am learning something and paying attention.

Didn’t catch all their names but will give you a few thoughts. First was a girl named Isabella. She walked around the front of the room giving her speech. She is a journalist for her school. Second girl was Victoria Cox. She was my pick. She also walked across the front of the room, connecting visually with her audience. Made many references to people and facts. Third was a boy Christopher. Stood on stage and although his speech was polished, I did not find it compelling. Fourth was a boy named Nathanael Munn. His speech seemed shorter than the others. He also stood on the stage. Researched names and dates to state his points on the subject. He won and at first I thought they were wrong. But after analyzing their decision, I had to think what they seen I missed. 2 of the judges were lawyers and the other 3 were higher educators.  He put emphasis on points of his examples and then was silent, before resuming. Just as a lawyer might do in front of a jury to convince them of his evidence as he sees it. So good luck Nathanael and yes that is the way he spells his name. He tells me they are always spelling it wrong.

Hung around and talked with Lions at the end of the session and headed over to The Hangar for another hospitality at 5 PM. Had some nice snacks to choose from, chatted, and left before 6.

Sunday they gave us some updates on the convention and they talked too fast I couldn’t write it all down. But this is what I got.

Food Fair: 

Best Booth – Loma Rica       Best Costume – Loma Rica    Best Food – Live Oak

There was 129 people this year. Last year they had 132.

New District Governor: Elisa Coyle

First Vice District Governor: Tyler Spencer

Second Vice District Governor: It seems that the person going to take this position does not completely qualify until January and will then move in to the seat. I think I know what her name was but don’t want to put it down if it is wrong.

Treasurer: Mike Ferrier    Secretary: Melanie Hunter   Chaplin: Helen Garr  

Zone Chair Lassen: Niki Manning   Global Leader: PDG Jamie Hart

For more photos click here.