Green Capes has released their 2021 Calendar for sale until November 2020.
Place your order for delivering in late November. Perfect Christmas present! This calendar has it all, function and that adorability factor of puppies.
These aren’t just any puppies, they are being trained to become service dogs and any of them could, one day, be serving in a neighbourhood near you. Green Capes supports Dog Guides and your purchase of a calendar ensures more puppies can become of valuable service to someone in any community.
As your newly inducted A5 District Governor, I offer these few words. Firstly, a heartfelt thank you for your support. With full dedication I will do my best to represent all A5 Lions. During this global pandemic, Einstein’s quote: “In the middle of every difficulties lies opportunity” resounds. Let us all take this as our challenge this coming year. As we ride the COVID 19 wave, let us be innovative and creative and let us empower each other and our clubs to redefine our services. A Lion’s purpose is humanitarian service; much needed during challenges throughout all times. Also, 2020 is our year for celebration – 100 years of Canadian service. Therefore, together, INSPIRIT, as we serve, let us shine even more. Our opportunity rises in this challenging time.
Submitted by: Lion Brenda McLay of Minnow Lake Lions
Funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program in collaboration with United Way Centraide North East Ontario/Nord-est de l’Ontario, the Minnow Lake Lions received a grant to use for assistance to seniors during this pandemic. The Lions partnered with Our Children Our Future to give out this money to deserving seniors. A lot of people may not know that many seniors are raising their grandchildren. When they thought that they were saving for their retirement for 2 people, they now have households of anywhere from 4-9 people and could just use a little bit of help. The Lions purchased grocery gift cards to give to the senior clients of Our Children Our Future and a few other seniors that the club members knew that just needed a little help. Thank you to everyone their ongoing support of the seniors in our community.
The Valley East Lions Club received $3,000.00 from the United Way Community Response Fund. The United Way was given the charge to administer the funds the Government of Canada had issued to assist seniors. These monies were used to purchase Metro/Food Basics gift cards. The gift cards were given to the Good Neighbour Food Bank and the St Vincent de Paul Food Bank for distribution to seniors that are registered with them. The related pictures are attached.
Submitted by: PDG Lion Harold Huhtanen – President The Lions Club of Sudbury members along with Lions Ray Emmell and Zone Chair Bob Lachance planted 1090 trees north of Capreol as part of the 2020 project, on Saturday. Pictured are Lions members Cyril and Rachel Southwell, Frank Perras, Ron Lundgren and President PDG Harold Huhtanen. Lion Bill Beaton did make the trip however a wrong turn saw him missing in action. Also in attendance was approximately 10,000 mosquitos and black flies. Fun was had by all.
To celebrate the 100th year anniversary of Lionism in Canada, the Valley East Lions Club undertook a project to have 3,000 trees planted. Trees were planted on various properties of Lions family, neighbours as well as farms and the non-profit organization, Whinnying in Life. A great number of the seedlings were planted by Lions along the side of the river north of Capreol to help slow erosion. Pour célébrer le 100ième anniversaire des Lions au Canada, le club des Lions, Valley East Lions, a choisi de faire planter 3 000 arbres. Les arbres ont été planté sur plusieurs parterres y inclus les Lions, leurs familles, leurs amis, leurs voisins ainsi que des fermes et un organisme à but non lucratif, ‘Whinnying in Life”. Une grande portion des puces d’arbre ont été planté par les Lions le long d’une rivière au nord de Capreol pour aider à réduire l’érosion.
Camp Ooch and Camp Trillium post video of virtual camp. (Camp Quality video not available yet) Both have been sidelined by COVID-19, however the spirit of the kids affected has not been. District A5 Governor Lion Debbra chose these two camps as her project for 2019 – 2020. Thanks to all the Lions Clubs in District A5, the camps would are well supported for when they return in 2021.
Lion Keld, provided a photo of (then 1st VDG) Lion Debbra and him above her banner at the 2019 Convention venue.
You did a great job for your year kiddo! – Lion Keld
2020 produced quite a start to the year for Lion Debbra. COVID 19 was spreading throughout the world silently passing from one person to the next during a brief time when we were unaware of its deadly path. January was the last meeting of the Cabinet and March was the end of all face to face meetings. We became familiar with new phrases, ‘social distancing’, ‘self-isolation’, ‘global pandemic’ and realized our world had changed and our ability to work within it would have to change as well.
The Convention planning, well underway was cancelled and the Convention Committee began meetings via Zoom to work through the process of shutting everything down while meeting our obligations to Lions Int’l in terms of our AGM. Interesting times.
Through it all, DG Lion Debbra encouraged Lions to continue doing what they always do – serve! But, how to do that now? Of course Lions always find a way and some of the restrictions required dictated adaptations to find a new way of serving our communities.
Did we always get it right, probably not, but, the communities we serve needed us to continue trying.
To DG Lion Debbra, 1st DG Lion Anne, 2nd DG Lion Carmen, GAT Team Chairs, Zone Chairs and Committee Chairs, thank you for your strength during this time, for finding ways to move forward and for letting all of the Lions of District A5 know, they can and will continue to serve, albeit in a new way.
