Tout Sent Lisyen Se' Yonn

Homecoming is about encouraging Saint Lucians living overseas to return home to celebrate what it means to be a Saint Lucian. It is a chance to reunite old friends and families who have not seen each other since they said  goodbye many years ago.  It will be and opportunity to say thanks to all our people for the tenacity with which they have held on to the culture of our native land.

Some of the activities include:
A partnership fair that will result in the twinning of small businesses, service

organizations, community groups, with individuals, families, professionals, business people and interested groups of Saint Lucians throughout the Diaspora.

Lions let us take advantage of this opportunity to  have lions in SIGHT and partner with an organization as we continue to SERVE.

 

Excerpt from the Saint Lucian Homecoming 2010 brochure

Country and Western Dance

 The Lions Club of Castries Presents

Come and enjoy an evening of Fun with the Lions 

while you support a worthy cause

Lions reach out to brothers and sisters in HAITI

Special Message from President Wirfs

on Lions Haiti Relief Efforts

Dear Lions of the World,

It is with great sadness that the world's attention is focused on the devastating earthquakes in Haiti that left 1.5 million homeless, up to 200,000 dead, and countless injured and traumatized.  It will take years for the country to fully recover, but we know that Lions will be there every step of the way.

Just like Lions have done with the South Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the Sichuan earthquake in China and other calamities, Lions and LCIF will be there for the both the short- and long-term  - providing immediate aid now but also working to rebuild communities, to restore hope and to support those affected for as long as it takes.

If there is one thing that makes Lions unique from other service agencies, it's that we commit for the long term and we work within the affected communities - through our local Lions -- to rebuild for a better tomorrow.  The Haitian Lions are our brothers and sisters, members of our international family, and we will never let them down.

As you are likely aware, Lions have already moved swiftly to provide immediate assistance despite the coordination challenges.  Lions relief tents are being shipped from Sweden; Lions from Canada on a mission in Haiti during the quake gave first aid assistance during the first hours and days; and Lions in the Caribbean area are sending aid over land and by sea.  Additionally, a coordinating committee of Lions in Haiti, Dominican Republic and nearby countries are actively planning for the next steps, and our foundation chairperson, Al Brandel, immediate past international president, will be traveling there to meet with them beginning tomorrow.

Naturally, the response by Lions to LCIF's Lions Hope for Haiti donation appeal has been tremendous.  Within days, we have already mobilized more than US$350,000.  By the time you receive this email, I am sure it will be even much, much more.  But we'll need millions more if we are to help the country rebuild, to provide homes for the homeless, to rebuild schools for the children, to rehabilitate those left disabled, and to help heal so many shattered and broken hearts.  So please donate what you can.

Lastly, I am extremely saddened to report that two of our Haitian Lions -- our family -- have perished and other Lions may have lost family members.   On behalf of Lions the world over and members of our international board, we offer our sincere, heartfelt condolences and sympathies to our Lions family who have suffered such personal losses.

To our Lions family in Haiti, I commit to you that the Lions of the world will be there for you today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, the year after that - and again for as long as it takes.

There will be more updates from LCIF Chairperson Brandel in the days to come.  Meanwhile read the latest LCIF update on Haiti, including information on how you can make a personal online donation.   I thank you all ahead of time for any further assistance you can provide.

With sympathies,

Eberhard J. Wirfs
International President

THANKS

The Zone Chairman expressed her thanks to the Lions and Leos for hosting the District Governor.  And excerpt from the letter to the Clubs follows:

Hello Everyone,
   
A sincere thanks to everyone for making the visit of the District Governor a success. She was pleased with the arrangements made, the frank discussions and the opportunity to interact with members at the end. I know it posed a challenge for us, but with your assistance we were able to host her successfully. Our decision for her to meet at least one Club the Friday night worked well otherwise we would really have been scrambling for time on Saturday.
   

I must ask you to convey my sincere thanks to your members for attending the meeting in the afternoon. I was personally pleased with the numbers and for this I am very grateful.  ............................
    

 Once again thank you and I look forward to another successful hosting of the Kids in Sight team next month.
    
    Yours in Lionism
    Lion Beverley
    ZC 3B

Feeding the Elderly

On Sunday January 17, 2010  the members of the club undertook their usual third Sunday feeding at the Missionary Home of Mother Theresa for the elderly.  

 As usual the residents of the home were happy for the time spent with them.

DISTRICT GOVERNOG AUDIT CLUBS IN ZONE 3B

District Governor 60B, Lion Shirley Quetel-Hendricks, MJF visited Saint Lucia to audit the Clubs in Zone 3B. Her visit began on Friday January 15, 2010 with the Audit of the Gros Islet Club. The Saturday was devoted to the other Lions and the Leo Clubs.  she examined the  financial statements and the processes and procedures applied by the Clubs in the conduct of their business.

The Audit of the Leo Club of Castries was conducted with the Board of Directors  and Lion Liaison for the Leo Club.

 

  




 In her thank you note to the Leos she wrote  

"My dear Leo President and Members, It was a joy meeting and fellow-shipping with you  .......  I urge you to continue serving and caring  - and yes seek out others to join you  and make us all stronger in our quest to help the tired  and worn"

This audit of the Leo Club was was followed by the Audit of the Lions Club of Castries 

The District Governor indicated that she was very pleased with the work that the Clubs are doing in the Zone. She urged the Clubs to build a relationship with the Public that they serve and inform them of the activities that are being undertaken.  However like most organizations today, all the clubs were faced with the issue of growth.  She challenged each member to  set a target to bring in one member by the end of the lionistic year.  

 The Clubs Audits continued with the Micoud, Pitons and Vieux Fort Lions Clubs.  The Audits were followed by a Zone Meeting where clubs reported on their activities from September to December and to receive the report of the Zone Chairman. 

The President of the Lions Club of Castries presenting her report to the Zone

The President of the Leo Club of Castries dramatized her presentation.  The presentation was well received by the Meeting

The District Governor addressing the meeting

 Members of the Head table enjoying a light moment during the District Governor's address

The Tailtwisters Lions Linda and Webster brought humour to the meeting

To close the meeting all joined in singing the District Governor's theme song 

 Go Light Your World"

  The Zone Chairman Lion Beverly presented the District Governor with a token from Zone 3B

 

 District Governor saying thanks

 

Lion Lyndell moved the vote of thanks before the group picture

The day ended with socializing and a group picture

Birthday wishes

 to all our Lions who celebrated birthdays in January 

Irvine James

Thomas Ambroise

Lesley Ann Modeste

Lana La Force

Birthday Greetings

The President, Board of Directors and Members of the Lions Clubof Castries wish our Lion Secretary, Lesley Ann Modeste a Happy Birthday

Lions Clubs International Foundation to Provide Relief for Haiti

LCIF has awarded a US$50,000 Major Catastrophe Grant to help provide for immediate needs for victims of the devastating earthquake. LCIF is in contact with Lions in Haiti, as well as neighboring Latin American countries and Lions leadership in the area, to assess the situation and determine immediate needs and how Lions and LCIF can best assist.

A powerful 7.0 earthquake devastated the island nation the evening of Tuesday, January 12. Much of the capital city of Port-au-Prince has been destroyed, and it is estimated that 3 million people, nearly one-third of the country's population, has been affected by the earthquake. Precise casualty numbers are unknown at this time, but up is estimated that around a hundred thousand people could have lost their life. Countless buildings and other infrastructure have been decimated. Rescue efforts remain ongoing at this time.

As with past disasters, Lions worldwide are supporting LCIF relief efforts in Haiti. Within 24 hours, Lions worldwide have pledged over US$250,000 to help. Online credit card donations totaled US$13,000, and the Lions of Norway have pledged US$86,000, the Calgary Korean Lions Club in Canada contributed $1,000, Port Carling, Ontario, Canada Lions sent US$500. These are just a sampling of Lions contributions. Immediate relief efforts will center on providing water, food, medicine and other essential needs.

Those wishing to offer additional assistance in other forms than monetary donations, may post their offers of assistance or other available resources on the Lions 2 Lions Web page.

Donors can assist Lions in the immediate area and Lions Clubs International Foundation in responding to this disaster with a designated donation to the "LCIF Haiti Earthquake Relief" Fund.

Once more information is known on this disaster and Lions' and LCIF's response, it will be posted on this Web page.  Please continue to check back regularly for updates.

U.S. donors can:

    * Donate online at www.lcif.org/donate. Select Disaster and include “LCIF Haiti Earthquake Relief” in the comments section.

    * Make a credit card donation with a MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Fax the following information to LCIF: name, address, phone number, credit card type, credit card number, expiration date, and amount of the donation. If you are a Lions member, please provide your clubs information. LCIF's fax number is (630) 571-5735.

    * Mail a check to LCIF. Make the check payable to Lions Clubs International Foundation, noting "LCIF Haiti Earthquake Relief" in the memo field. Please send the check to LCIF, 300 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, IL 60523, USA, Attn.: Donor Services.

Donors outside the United States can:

    * Donate online at www.lcif.org/donate. Select Disaster and include “LCIF Haiti Earthquake Relief” in the comments section.

    * Make a credit card donation with a MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Fax the following information to LCIF: name, address, phone number, credit card type, credit card number, expiration date, and amount of the donation. If you are a Lions member, please provide your clubs information. LCIF's fax number is (630) 571-5735.

    * Mail LCIF a U.S. dollar check drawn on a U.S. financial institution. Make the check payable to Lions Clubs International Foundation, noting "LCIF Haiti Earthquake Relief" in the memo. Please send the check to LCIF, 300 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, IL 60523, USA, Attn.: Donor Services.

    * Make a direct deposit of local currency into an existing LCI account. Send a copy to LCIF via fax to (630) 571-5735.

    * Do a direct wire transfer. For assistance with this option please contact LCIF Donor Assistance at donorassistance@lcif.org.

For questions, please contact LCIF at donorassistance@lcif.org or (630) 203-3836.

Donations from U.S. residents are tax deductible. Donations from residents of other countries are tax deductible as permitted by individual country's tax laws.



LIONS  do take up the challenge and support our sister Island.

Lions partner with Lady Gordon Opportunity Centre

The St. Lucia International Association Partners with Castries Lions, to help the Lady Gordon Opportunity Centre

The St. Lucia International Association (SLIA) and the Lions Club of Castries have partnered to help the Lady Gordon Opportunity Centre. This Centre is a learning institution situated at Ciceron which offers an inclusive educational programme catering to students with hearing impairments, as well as, those diagnosed with mild to moderate learning disabilities. Initially the school’s population was forty five (45) students most of whom were hearing impaired, but currently it has a population of seventy five (75) students with ages ranging from five to fifteen years. There are ten (10) teachers, three (3) teacher aides all hearing impaired and the class size is ten students per teacher.The school strives to develop the “whole person” and so extra curriculum activities which develop the artistic and creative talents of the students, have been included in the school’s curriculum.
The school’s partners also donated kitchen equipment for the school’s kitchen and home room.

 

These home appliances are to help to teach the older students essential “life skills.” In addition to the equipment, the name of the school and its motto were painted by members of the SLIA. The next stage will be to paint playground games tailored to the different age groups of the students. These will not only help with gross and fine motor skills, but also with thinking and learning.

Mrs. Linda Preville, the Principal of the Lady Gordon Opportunity Centre expressed her gratitude and that of her staff and students to the two organizations for coming together to help make a difference to the lives of those attending the institution.

International President's Message - January 2010

Be Seen and Be Heard to Be Successful

by Eberhard J. Wirfs

".......   Communication enables Lions to rally club members around a project, to bond members with one another and to Lions, and to raise our visibility in the community and thereby increase membership. Any Lion can be a communication specialist; you don’t need a background in public relations or don’t need to serve as the club’s public relations chairperson. Provide material to your club bulletin and be sure to read your bulletin. Read the LION and then give it to a neighbor, friend or leave it at the doctor’s office or library. Browse the Web site of Lions Clubs International to stay current on the wider world of Lions. Put notices about your club activities in your church bulletin, boast to your alumni publication of your Lions connection and mention Lions when making small talk across the fence with neighbors or when leaning across the aisle on the train to work.

During the last two weeks of January I am asking clubs to adopt a Lions in Sight initiative. Continue to save sight during the course of the year but for these two weeks make sure Lions are in sight of the public. It’s easy to do. Display your peace poster entries, plan a Lions Crew at Work or Green Team project, arrange a cultural event such as a dance, music program or international food fair, organize a vision screening to promote Glaucoma Awareness Month or sponsor an eyeglass or hearing aid collection.

Be seen and heard. Clubs need not use a cookie-cutter approach: different cultures or even varied educational backgrounds necessitate diverse styles of communication. But please let your voice be heard and your Lion vest, pin or banner be seen. Our roar should precede us so people will follow us."

Lions in Sight @ Yahoo! Video

LIONS - Make yourself VISIBLE, while making a difference in your COMMUNITY

Club Reminders

Lions

District Governor's Visit - January 15 - 17, 2010

Region Meeting  - Region 3  January 31, 2010 - Grenada

Multiple District Convention - May 19-23  -
St Marteen

Lions International Peace Poster Grand Prize Winner

Lions International Peace Poster Grand Prize Winner - 2008/09

 "Peace Begins With Me"

 

Yennie Shyu - 12 years old

California, USA

Sponsored by Milpitas Executive Lions Club

Lions Club of Castries Insight event for January 2010

Greetings

From the President, Board of Directors and Members of the Lions Club of Castries