Welcome New Lions
Congratulations to our newest club in Iowa. The Mount Pleasant Lions Club returns Lionism to Mount Pleasant. The new chartered club replaces a club that ceased operations a few years back. Work continues on finishing up the Charter applications for clubs in Polk City, Guttenberg, Corning, Waukee, Ely, Fairfax and Bellevue. If you have relatives, friends or business associates in any of these towns whom you feel should be contacted about joining a Lions Club, please let the State Office know. Teams are available to come and work in any area to start new clubs. This is an exciting and rewarding part of sharing what we do in Lionism. If you would like to help start new clubs, let Global Membership Coordinaotr PDG Connie Inman or SA Gary Fry know. We started 2 new clubs in 2012-13. How many more this year?
Mid Winter Lions Leadership Conference
The 2013 Mid Winter Lions Leadership Conference will be held January 17-19, 2013. The location is the Holiday Inn Airport in Des Moines. Registration information and schedule of events can be found in recent issues of the "Iowa Lion". Electronic copies of the "Iowa Lion" can be found on this site under the "iowa Lion" tab. Second year International Director Dave Hajny and his wife Marie from Ennis, Montana will be our special guests. Officer training and special entertainment will also add to this year's conference. Make plans now to attend.
IOWA LIONS FOUNDATION UPDATE
We as Iowa Lions have an opportunity to help meet the needs of our Iowa Lions Foundation by making an individual donation. For a donation of $20 or more you receive an "I Gave" pin. This year's pin is orange. A new pin is issued each year with this being the sixth year. Pins from the first five years are available from the State Office for $20 or more each. Contact your Iowa Lions Foundation Trustee or the State Office to become a donor to support the Foundation.
As we end the tax year and if you are looking for a non-profit charity to donate money, have you thought about donating to the Iowa Lions Foundation? The Iowa Lions Foundation is a 501c3 tax exempt non for profit corporation. Donations are tax deductible. For donations amounting to $1000 in a three year period, Warren Coleman Honorary Awards, can be awarded. If you are already a Wareen Coleman recipient a progressive program now exists. For additional donations in $1000 increments pins showing your level can be obtained. For more information contacy us at the State Office.
NEED A NEW SOURCE TO RAISE FUNDS? TRY LION MINTS
The State Office is the official distributor of Lion Mints for the State. There are four flavors available: peppermint; wintergreen, fizzy fruit and a sugar free spearmint. If you need mints please let us know. Mints can be picked up in Ames or shipped directly to you for a $5 shipping charge. Lion Clubs of Iowa receives money to help meet the budget from the sale of these mints. For more information contact us at iowalions@aol.com or 515-232-2215.
BEEP BASEBALL WORLD SERIES
Your Iowa Lions Foundation was a major sponsor for the "National Beep Ball World Series" held in Ames, July 22-28, 2012. The Committee under the leadership of PDG Gary Shriver provided the best World Series format in the 33 year history of the event. The World Series provided $12,400 to the Iowa Lions Foundation. Congratulations to PDG Schriver and his very able crew with special thanks to VDG Don Maynes and ZC Donna Wood for their work in coordinating all the volunteers. Thanks also to the many Lions Clubs and Lions who purchased "Beep Balls" and the many who worked the event at many different venues. All in all it was a tremendous success.
STATE CONVENTION
The 2013 MD 9 State Convention will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Cedar Rapids June 6-9, 2013. ID Joe Al Picone and his Partner in Service Merle will be our special guests. Sunday morning breakfast will featur Gary Dauphin (Voice of the Hawkeyes) and John Walters (Voice of the Cyclones) Trainings for Club Officers and Zone Chairpersons will be held Saturday afternoon June 8th. A vote on a rewording of the Lions Clubs of Iowa Constitution and By Laws will highlight the annual business session. Get your reservation in now. Make plans now to attend this fun filled learning event June 6-9, 2013 in Cedar Rapids.
STUDENT MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE AT A COST SAVINGS
At the International Convention in Chicago an amendment was passed that could be a big help in recruiting younger members. Any person 18 years of age or older and enrolled in an educational institution can join a Lions club and pay only ˝ of the regular International dues of $41 per year. This applies to students in Campus Clubs, but also applies to students in all clubs as long as they are a student. We have started our first Campus club in Iowa and hopefully we will have more campus clubs to report soon. Campus club members do not pay a new member fee and their dues is roughly $35 a year. Paying the membership fees might be a gift idea for some person 18-30 enrolled in higher education. This also would be a way to keep our graduating LEOs in Lions while they prepoare for their adult life.
Tree Planting Opportunity
2011-2012 International President Dr. Tam set as one of his priorities to plant over 1,000,000 trees worldwide. Here is an opportunity to help your community and be part of this worldwide effort. We recently became aware of a summer program called “Trees For Kids/Trees For Teens”. It is a conservation education and Tree Planting grant program. The Iowa DNR provides grants for up to $5000.00 for tree planting on school property or other public property. They are looking for schools that may need trees, and volunteers to help organize or help the students plant the trees. If you, or your local club may be interested in helping a school plant trees through this grant program, please contact Laura S. Wagner, Operation ReLeaf/Trees for Kids Coordinator, department of Natural Resources, Forestry Bureau, Wallace State Office Building. 502 E 9th Street, Des Moines, 50319-0034. Telephone number is 515-281-6749.
FAMILY DUES BREAKS AT STATE AND INTERNATIONAL
Since Iowa has a candidate for International Director, the Iowa portion of dues will increase by $1 per member as of July 1, 2011. This increase will continue until the Campaign Fund has a balance of $50,000 or three years whichever comes first. Thi $1 is assessed to every member and is not subject to the family dues reduction. Full member dues will be $18.65 and family/student dues will be $9.83 per year, payable 1/2 in July and 1/2 in January.
There still seems to be some confusion on the Family Dues issue. At the International Convention in Boston in 2006, the delegates passed an amendment to the International Constitution. This amendment provided for a family dues structure. Up to five Lions in the same family, living at the same address and belonging to the same Lions Club are eligible. One member of the family is designated as the head of household and up to four more can be listed as members in the same household. The dues for the first member is currently $41 per year and for the other members of the family it is currently $20.50 per member. The “Family Dues” rules apply also to State of Iowa dues which are currently $18.65 per year for the first member and $9.83 for additional family members. TO QUALIFY FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERSHIP IN IOWA, EACH CLUB SECRETARY MUST SEND THE NAMES OF FAMILY MEMBERS TO THE STATE OFFICE. Failure to do so will mean no family discount on State Dues. Most of our Districts have adopted a District dues of $5 per year. ALL DUES BILLINGS TO THE CLUBS ARE BASED ON CLUB MEMBERSHIP AS RECORDED BY LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL AS OF JUNE 30TH AND DECEMBER 31ST EACH YEAR. If you have any questions please contact us at your State Office.
COME SEE US!!!!
Tours of your State Office are available upon request. While here you can see how your State Office functions. We do have a conference room where you could hold a meeting. If your Club is looking for a "road trip" meeting, come visit us.
