The Virtual Ambassador ~ August 2009

Merida Foundation Distributes Donated Eyeglasses in Mexico
Because of the generosity of eyeglass donors and the Lions club members who volunteer to sort and clean these needed donations, thousands of individuals throughout Mexico have a new outlook on life.


In April, the Merida Foundation from Jefferson City, which aids Mexican and Peruvian villagers living with vision problem, traveled to Merida, Mexico and the surrounding area on its first of three annual mission trips. The Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation provided the Merida Foundation with 3,000 pairs of eyeglasses recently, many of which were distributed to villagers of all ages during the trip.

Said Merida Foundation president Dorothy Lemke in a letter about the trip, ?There was a young girl, maybe 11 or 12. She came up in the line with her mother, barely able to see at all. It took forever to find her a pair of eyeglasses that would help. When we finally put on that first pair that made a difference, her eyes got so bright it looked like someone had turned on a switch.?

By working closely together with other organizations focused on vision care, the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation and our dedicated Lions volunteers continue to make a difference for children and adults alike around the world.

It's Back
"The Traveling Gavel"
The traveling gavel will debut in District 26-M5 effective July 1, 2009! It will be coming soon to a club near you. The 26-M5 gavel loves to travel, it is always on the look out for new places to see and people to meet. So if the gavel travels to your club, as lovely as it is, you can't keep it. While the gavel resides with a club, the club will be charged a fee of $1 per day for each day they have it. So please take it to meet more people and see more places. The gavel must return to its rightful home; the District Governor no later than the 3rd week of June each year. This will definitely give the gavel an opportunity to "refurb" it's self and prepare for another year of adventurous travel!
Here are the rules:
1. The gavel must stay within the boundaries of District 26-M5.
2. The club that is presenting the gavel must notify their Zone Chairperson via email and cc the District Governor that they no longer have the gavel.
3. The gavel may not reside at the same club more than once in the Lionistic year. (July 1- June 30)
4. After a club receives the gavel they start paying "gavel support" of $1 for every day it is in their possession. Accepting the gavel is not optional; clubs should be cordial to their presenters and graciously accept the honor of now enjoying the company of the "traveling gavel. "
Important Note: Once the gavel has been passed along; the club passing the gavel must send the email notification; please list the names of all the members that traveled for the visit. Don't have email. we will definite take a phone call! (See rule 2)
How does a club transfer ownership of the gavel?
It's simple:
1. The club that possesses the gavel must have a minimum of 4 members travel to another club for a regular meeting and present the gavel to any club officer.
2. If less than 4 members travel for the visit, the transfer is not official, and "gavel support" does not transfer. And the gavel must be presented to a club officer.
3. You may receive a credit of $1 per member for every member over 4 that are present for the visit.
(Example: If a club has the gavel in it's possession for 10 days, gavel support is $10. However if said club takes 9 members on the visit to transfer ownership, the club would have a 5 member credit @ $1 per member and gavel support is $5.)

Here is the rest of the story:

After discussing the travelling gavel program with First VDG Lion Johnny Stabno, we realized that with 65 clubs we wanted to give more opportunities for the gavel to visit other clubs. Therefore, we have designed a second travelling gavel. Lion Stabno volunteered to take possession of the second gavel and presented it to his home club, the Independence Host Lions. It will, hopefully, begin its journey soon.

Because of the addition of the second travelling gavel, we have amended the rules just slightly. When a club receives a traveling gavel, it must be taken to a club in a different Region other than the region their club is in. All other rules remain the same.

As to the first travelling gavel, my home club, the Belton Lions took possession on July 1st, but it has already started its journey around the district. Lion Cathy and I were joined by seven other members of my club when we visited the Orrick Lions Club last Tuesday, Jul 21st. My club president Lion Phil Trued and I presented the outgoing club president, Lion Kenny Goetz, and the incoming club president, Lion Bruce Dugan, with the prestigious traveling gavel and secured the promise of the Orrick Lions taking the gavel on a trip, very soon.

I reported to the Cabinet Treasurer that traveling gavel # 1 was handed off to the
Orrick Lions Club on Tues, July 21, 2009 by the Belton Lions Club. Gavel support would be as follows:

Gavel Support from 1Jul-21Jul = 20 days X $1 per day = $20.00
9 Belton Lions attended: 4 minimum required;
Credit for 5 lions more than minimum ($1 each) = minus $ 5.00
Total $15.00

Gavel Support Due to District $15.00

I hope that one of the travelling gavels is able to visit your club soon. Be sure and send an email to our Cabinet Treasurer, Lion Gerry Wachsmann, when you drop off a gavel so we can keep track of their locations and also how much gavel support the district will collect.

Good luck!

Lion Tom R.....
District Governor

Celebrating 85 Years in Nevada, Missouri

Installation of Officers, June 30, 2009

June 30th Regular Meeting

A special meeting on June 30, 2009 District Governor Elect, District 26-M5, Lion Tom Rayfield and his spouse, Lion Cathy will visit our club. DGE Rayfield will Install the Incoming Club Officers for FY 2009 - 2010.
DGE Rayfield has also made arrangements for a Special Presentation to the Club. Past International Director Lion Leland Kolkmeyer and his spouse, Lion Marcia, will also visit the Club. PID Kolkmeyer will present the 85th Year Banner Patch to the Club. This will be an important and historic moment for the club.

Mark your calendars and make plans to bring your spouse or guests. E-mail me your numbers to attend if you have not already given them to me so Karen, our caterer, can make arrangements for a special lunch.
Yours in Lions,
Lion Rudy
Club Secretary

District Newsletter

Check your email, the District Newsletter is available in PDF format from Jene Crook, District Governor.
Lion Rudy
Nevada Lions Secretary

June 23, 2009
Hello, Judy Feuquay, President/CEO NRMC, was guest speaker today at our Regular Club Meeting. She asked me to provide you with the following note. She is asking for input to support their planning efforts.
Lion Rudy
Club Secretary
In God We Trust!

Dear Community Member;

Nevada Regional Medical Center is working to provide the best possible health care for
our community. Your input in our planning efforts is important. We ask that you take 15 minutes out of your day and spend it giving us your thoughts on the number of physicians and the variety of practice specialties of medical staff.

The survey tool is available to you online at; http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=3NjdpndjJuJVusXEIpwKUg_3d_3d
or you can request a paper copy by calling 448-3710 or e-mailing skeys@nrmchealth.com. We will close the survey date by July 10, 2009.

Our plan will not be complete without knowing what you think... please share your opinions with us so that we might meet our goal of providing excellent healthcare
services. Thank you. .

Most sincerely,
Judith K. Feuquay
President/CEO
NEVADA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
800 South Ash, Nevada, MO 64772
Phone: (417) 667-3355 Fax: (417) 448-3636 TDD: (417) 448-3750 www.nrmchealth.com

Installation of Officers

Joining us to install our incoming Officers, Lion Tom Rayfield, District 26-M5, District Governor Elect and his wife Lion Cathy, the district representative to the Children's Center for the Visually Impaired.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 12:00 PM (Noon) at our Regular Club Meeting at the Moore-Few Care Center, 901 S. Adams, Nevada, MO.

New officers include:
Past President Monte Curtis
President Cindy Johnson
1st Vice President Jason Claspill
2nd Vice President Mike Brown
3rd Vice President Kim Cook
Secretary Rudy Spann
Treasurer Wayne Reinert
Tail Twister J J Curtis
Lion Tamer Allen Mathews
1 year Board Steve Moyer, George Hold
2 year Board Tom Taylor, David Heumader

District 26-M5 Lions ~ Lions Supporting Lions

Future District/State Events, 2009-2010

17-18 Jul: Council of Governors Meeting, Warrensburg, MO

18 Jul 2009, Purple and Gold Annual Lions Football Game, Warrensburg, MO

25 Jul 2009, 10 am: First District Cabinet Meeting, in Knob Noster MO at the Methodist Church, Jubilation Center, 200 E Wimer St. Lunch will be $5.00 per person.

19 Sep 2009 – 10:00AM – Second District Cabinet, Alphapointe Association for the Blind, 75th & Prospect Street, Kansas City, MO. Lunch will be $5.00 per person.

21 Nov 2009 – 10:00AM – Third District Cabinet, Concordia Community Center, 802 S Gordon St, Concordia, MO. Lunch will be $5.00 per person.

16 Jan 2010, District Mid-Winter Rally, Blue Springs Party Place, Blue Springs, MO

19-21 Feb 2010, District Convention, Independence, MO, detail to be announced

April/May 2010 – Fourth District Cabinet, Sedalia, MO (Date/Location TBA)