Dear Lions,
 
As this year comes to an end, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve as Chairperson of Lions Clubs International Foundation. I am grateful to have visited many of your humanitarian projects around the world. Every day, you remind me of how Lions are able to make big things happen with the help of our Foundation.
 
This past year was a significant one for LCIF. Millions of children received measles vaccinations when the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s challenge grant was met. We celebrated the vision screening of more than 16 million children through 10 years of our Sight for Kids partnership with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. Students are learning positive life skills in 81 countries as Lions Quest continues to expand globally. Communities affected by disasters around the world - including towns flooded in Thailand, devastated by tornadoes in the USA and destroyed by earthquakes in China - were given hope through relief efforts. And, so much more has occurred through hundreds of grant projects.
 
Thank you, Lions. Your efforts are helping millions of people in many different ways, meeting the needs of your communities and global needs as well. You put your heart into everything that you do, and it shows. I am proud to be a Lion.
 
I believe that together, with your support, we can continue to make a difference around the world in the years to come.
 
Sincerely,
 
Wing-Kun Tam
Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation

Thanks to everyone who helped with the lions playground install last week .. especially to Lion Tom and the Town of Magrath staff and crew for arranging to find and install the gravel before the big Fishing Derby weekend! See this link to some photos: Album: 'Lions Fishpond Park Jun 2013' on Google+. I think it looks great and we are getting lots of positive feedback. We will install the plastic borders next week (now that they have arrived) and write the final check, but all in all .. its a wrap.

On another front, Lions Elizabeth, Tracy, Laurie-Ann and Alex and helpers competed the Lions Garage Sale II on Sat 15 Jun 2013 and managed to clear all the donated items stored in my Mom's garage and clean it all up before we made our way back home (sorry we were away that morning). Thanks, eh!

Sat 21 Jun we installed the plastic borders around the perimeter .. yay - all done now!

Have a safe and fun summer. See all you lions at our 2013-14 opening picnic meeting - scheduled for Sat 31 Aug 2013!

UPDATE: Did you miss us last month at #1? We are now planning a Lions Community Garage Sale #2 .. on Sat 15 Jun 2013 from 9-noon again at home of Lion Elizabeth Olsen. See you all there!
 
Do YOU have STUFF? Sure you do! You could donate some of that STUFF to the Magrath Lions Club Garage Sale and then come by to buy some new exciting STUFF! Event will be held at the home of Lion Elizabeth Olsen (because it may be a bit weathery and Lion Mom has a garage) Last year very few items were left over and we had it all cleaned up shortly after 3pm. The rain held off for us most of the day (except for brief droplets) and the turnout was fantastic.

Thanks to everyone who did and will so willingly donate items for us to share with Magrath. Thanks to the Lions and Leo Kids who helped price and organize and sell said items, and to Lion Elizabeth Olsen who prepared flyers to distributed around Magrath, to Lion Laurie-Ann for loading the sign in front of Town Hall .. We simply advertised: "Have items to donate? Contact a member of Magrath Lions Club (magrathlions.com) for pickup by Fri  Jun Lions Garage Sale on the 7th Jun .. Want to help? Come on Sat 15 Jun 8am we will be setting up for 9am start .. Need to shop? See you there on Saturday!" .. and they did and hopefully will next time too.

Thank you Magrath! The Lions Community Garage Sale #1 was successfully completed Saturday May 11 9:00AM-1:00PM with over $500 raised toward our many Magrath Lions Club Projects! Lots of people got neat stuff to 'treasure' and/or 'recycle'. Yay to all. Have a great summer!