ITEM 1
The Lions Youth Exchange student, Alexa Talkington, spoke about her trip to Australia. She traveled around Australia enjoying the sights and sounds of the people and the land. Her experiences included horse back riding, water skiing, snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, watching whales, and eating kangaroo steak. She did observe that Australians tend to talk fast. she had the opportunity to meet and speak to local Lions Clubs. Alexa thanked the Club for supporting her on this once in a life time adventure.
ITEM 2
The Club presented scholarships to two young ladies:
Kaitlyn Kemner, a 2009 graduate of Robert C. Byrd High School, the daughter of JoEllen and Harry Kemner. She is headed to Ohio State.
Maria Sellas, a 2009 graduate of Bridgeport High School, the daughter of Steve and Irene Sellas and granddaughter of Lion Angelo Koukoulis. She is starting at WVU.
Kaitlyn, Patty, Maria
ITEM 3
Lion Steve Glass provided an overview of the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF). LCIF Banner
Lions Clubs International Foundation supports the humanitarian work of Lions clubs. LCIF aids Lions in making a greater impact in their local communities, as well as around the world. Through LCIF, Lions ease pain and suffering and bring healing and hope to people worldwide.
LCIF has five goals:
- Preserve Sight
- Combat Disability
- Promote Health
- Serve Youth
- Disaster Relief
Donations provide funding in the form of grants to financially assist Lions districts with large-scale humanitarian projects that are too expansive and costly for Lions to finance on their own. The Foundation aids Lions in making a greater impact in their local communities, as well as around the world. Through LCIF, Lions ease pain and suffering and bring healing and hope to people worldwide. Major initiatives of the foundation include the following:
* SightFirst programs
o Childhood Blindness Project
o Lions Eye Health Program (LEHP, pronounced "leap")
o River Blindness/Trachoma
o SightFirst China Action
o Sight for Kids
* Other sight programs
o Core 4 Preschool
o Vision Screening
* Disability programs
o Lions World Services for the Blind
o Diabetes Prevention/Treatment
o Habitat for Humanity Partnership
o Lions Affordable Hearing Aid Project
o Low Vision
o Special Olympics Opening Eyes
Steve encourages all Lions Club members to support LCIF with generous contributions. Steve pointed out that WV Lions have given around $1.5 millions but have received grants totaling $1.3 million to support WV projects. LCIF administrative costs are around 8 percent, making it an efficiently operated fund.
ITEM 4
Several weeks ago, several Club members assisted the Health Access Yard Sale. The sale collected over $4,000 which will significantly help provide health services to those who are in need of medical assistance.
ITEM 5
Board Meeting will be held on August 25th at 6 p.m. at Minard’s Restaurant.
ITEM 6
Cindy Glass announced that our next speaker for our August 28 meeting will be Blair Montgomery, President of Pierpont College.
