REPORT OF THE TEXAS LIONS FOUNDATION

TO THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS

FEBRUARY 3, 2006

The Texas Lions Foundation is progressing. That's the good news. The bad news is, not as fast as in previous years. Our pace this year is such that if we do not pick up the pace, we will not reach $100,000 in new contributions this year. After going the past eight consecutive years with contributions in excess of $100,000 each year, to do less this year, I believe is unacceptable. I cannot believe this Council wants to be the first council in nine years not to reach that plateau. Governors, please get with your trustee and work out a plan to achieve your districts annual goal for 2005-06.

I am providing information to help you reach your goal - (Recap of Contributions). In addition, selling your clubs on honoring their members with a Texas Lions Fellow is the key to success.

This afternoon the trustees will vote on a new constitution that will bring our organization up to date. Most of it will be house keeping, but some new provisions will be added. If passed, each of you will receive an updated copy.

YOUR TEXAS LIONS FOUNDATION NEWS
By: PDG Gid Terry, Chairman

The Texas Lions Foundation, what a wonderful and delightful way to serve our fellow Texans. That is what the TLF offers each and every Lion in Texas -- an easy way to provide a very broad avenue of service to our fellow man.  The organization was established in 1984 by Lions from Texas for the citizens of our state.

Couple of High Interest Items: At our last business session we approved a significant organization change of major importance. The trustees approved a new executive position. That was the approval of an Executive Administrator position and we asked PID Marshall Cooper to be the first to fill this new position. He graciously accepted the job and we are excited to have him on board especially we welcome his expertise in securing support funds from business and institutions involved in commerce. We are really excited to have this dynamic leader join the foundation. In his job he will not only be writing grants soliciting funds for the foundation but he will also be the single point for our clubs and districts to submit their TLF contributions.

Please note that all donations to the Texas Lions Foundation should be mailed to: TEXAS LIONS FOUNDATION, 6005 99th Street
Lubbock, TX 79424-3823. This change is effective immediately. PID Marshall will be of significant assistance to the foundation, especially in his role as a financial advisor.

Awards - This is the time of year to start thinking about recognizing our Lion leadership. The real action in Lionism is at the grass root level of our clubs. If we did not have our clubs working and the local leadership making things happen there would be no need the superstructure of an organization at the district, state, and international level.

The Texas Lions Foundation has two very special ways to honor our leaders at any and all levels of our association. The Texas Lions Foundation Fellow award is a beautiful walnut plaque with the TLF logo and an impressive scroll area for appropriate engraving. The honoree also receives a TLF lapel pin. This very special recognition plaque is $500. The second award is known as the Sustained Member Award or in some circles it is known as the "plate" award. It is a 6X9 inch silver and gold plate, which is engraved with the honoree’s name, inscribed on it. This award is an excellent way to recognize our leaders at only $125.

Contact your district trustee with the type award selected, the wording for engraving, address where to ship the finished product and a check made payable to the Texas Lions Foundation. Your trustee will forward all information to our headquarters office in Amarillo. Please submit your award request at least four weeks in advance of the presentation date.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEXAS LIONS FOUNDATION - As indicated earlier, the foundation was established twenty years ago. It is difficult to imagine how many thousand people have been helped because PID Ed Flood had the far-reaching vision to work so hard and establish this organization. Some may think that the foundation is basically an outfit that only responds to natural disasters and those folks would be half-right. The humanitarian support to Texas has been extensive and the most recent example is the outstanding education program we have placed in every public school in Texas with our video that concerns the epidemic of juvenile diabetes. We will now cover the private and charter schools. Lions of other states have seen our work and it may well be exported outside of Texas. Remember that our mission is to serve and our #2 core issue in Lionism is to assist those with disabilities.

Have a great day and enjoy the fact that your Texas Lions Foundation makes good things happen to our neighbors and our fellow Texans.

Updated February 4, 2006
Posted March 23, 2004