We believe in and follow
the Lions Clubs International Mission: We Serve
April and May 2010 News
The Bemidji Lions Club adopted its 2010-2011 Budget. The new budget calls for a $600 increase from the year before. The total budget for next year is projected at $16850. One new project has been added to the budget and that is a Lions International sponsored project--Project New Hope at $200.
The mission of Project New Hope is to provide Veterans and their families the education, training, and skills necessary to manage their lives after wartime service. There are three Minnesota retreat centers which are set up for weekends for Veterans and their families. Lions International has teamed up with Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, and Friendship Ventures to support this very worthwhile venture. Lion Dick Labratten spoke on Project New Hope at one of our club meetings.
The Bemidji Lions Club once again had a very successful Pancake Day on Tuesday, May 4th. Over 500 hungry pancake eaters were fed, with over 70 Lions and friends working the kitchen and waiting tables for the appreciative crowd. Many thanks to the American Legion for allowing us to use their downtown facilities once again. Many thanks to the many businesses and individuals who donated to our Pancake Day. Gross receipts was about $4500, with about $1000 in expenses. We are very thankful to the Lions for their contributions in time, money and talent in making Bemidji a better community in which to live and work.
On Saturday, June 26th The Bemidji Lions Club will be sponsoring a charitable auction at the Beltrami County Fairgrounds on behalf of participating non-profit organizations from the area. This major event will be professionally administered and is expected to draw a large audience. The Bemidji Lions Club will provide the professional auctioneer, secure the facilities at the fairgrounds, manage the intake of eligible auction items, provide the marketing and publicity, account for all auction proceeds, and distribute the earned funds to each participating nonprofit. We sincerely hope that you will join us in this exceptional event.
Annual dues are due by July 1st for the new Lions year. This year's dues are $66.
Installation of officers will be at the June 30th Lions Meeting. Trey Bowman has been elected the new President for 2010-11.
March 2010 News
The Lions Club of Duluth presented a wonderful weekend for the Lions of 5M-10 on February 5-7 and guests from around MD5M. The entertainment for the Friday night ice breaker was a chorus of men from Teen Challenge, an alcohol and drug recovery program. Besides presenting some great music, some of the clients shared their personal stories--the lows and the highs.
On Saturday morning we all sat down to breakfast with International Director Ron Johnson from Maine. Lion Ron answered questions from the group in a direct, forthright manner and the questions were numerous. The rest of the morning was taken up with seminars, including club web sites, computer operation, Diabetes Awareness, Leader Dog for the Blind, Can Do Canines (formerly Minnesota Hearing& Service Dogs), and Membership recruitment and retention.
On Saturday afternoon we sat down for the regular business meeting which had Lion Val Martindale of the Ft. Frances Lions nominated as District Governor and Lion Peggy Michels nominated to First Vice District Governor. Saturday evening was formal night when we officially welcomed International Director Ron Johnson and his wife Lion June to 5M-10. Several awards were presented to area Lions, including Lions Jim Gorman of the Blackduck Lions Club and Wayne Tieman of the Bemidji Lions Club. Lion Jim received the Melvin Jones Fellowship; Lion Wayne received the Outstanding Club President Award and the International President Certificate of Appreciation. These awards were fantastic!!! The evening concluded with entertainment from the band Wild Rose. Sunday morning rose bright and early with a memorial service in honor of those Lions who have gone on to greater service. Bemidji Lions honored were late Lions Ken Hausauer and Don Bye. Everyone cast their ballots for next year's leaders--Lion Val Martindale for District Governor; Lion Peggy Michels for First Vice District Governor, and Phil Jarvis as Second Vice District Governor. The vote was unanimous.
Speakers for the Sunday morning brunch were from the Minnesota Eye Bank. The 2010 convention was officially closed with $85,295 raised at the Parade of Green. The members of the Duluth Lions Club deserve a hearty vote of thanks for the great weekend. Next year's midwinter will be held January 28-30, 2011 in Thunder Bay Ontario. The next convention for Lions will be the Multiple 5M District Convention at Mahnomen on April 23-24-25.
February was a busy month for the Bemidji Lions. At the Buena Vista Logging Days on February 6th, 17 Bemidji Lions served between 700-800 flapjack meals. We ran out of supplies. Lion Alan Colliander donated an attachment he made for the power drill to stir the pancake batter. It was a good time. Later in March Liz Letsen and Suzanne Thomas of the Dickinson Family donated back to the Club $400 for our help. Thank you Buena Vista.
On February 3rd we heard from Steve Hanson, regional director of Timber Bay. He announced the new center at 234 Gerald Lane with tennis courts, 40 staff members and volunteers serving more than 200 young people per week. The Bemidji Lions donated $300 to timber Bay.
On February 10th, our speaker was Pat Mason, conductor of the Bemidji Chorale. The organization is in its 31st year and has had two pieces of special music composed for the group. The Bemidji Lions donated $200 to the Bemidji Chorale.
On February 17th the club heard from Bailey Drews, BHS student who had participated in the Hugh O'Brien Youth Seminar. Each year the club pays the expenses for a BHS sophomore to this excellent leadership experience.
On February 24th the club heard from Kevin Nichols, executive director of the Boy Scouts of America Voyageurs Area Council. this is the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. The area council has 155 units serving 4,000 youngsters in 18 counties. The club donated $300 to the Boy Scout Council.
Wednesday, March 24th is Induction of New Members. There are a prospective 5 new members of the Bemidji Lions Club. We're always looking for new members.
February 2010 News
Six Lions and spouses from the Bemidji Lions Club will be attending the 5M-10 Midwinter Convention at Duluth February 5-6-7. They are Lions President Bob Batchelder, Lion Dick and Bev Labratten, Lion Joe Love, Lion Jack Naastad, and Lion Wayne Tieman. The convention will be held at the Duluth Holiday Inn. About 200 Lions will be in attendance.
There are 54 Lions and Leo Clubs with over 1200 members in District 5M-10, which is in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Ontario. The 5M-10 Midwinter is held every year for the purpose of unity and promotion of Lions International goals. The Lions follow their motto "We Serve" through volunteerism and financial support.
Lions International supports and promotes many charitable endeavors. At each midwinter convention, clubs and Lions members make donations to many charities and organizations. Bemidji Lions President Bob Batchelder will present on behalf of our club, checks totalling $5100 at the Sunday morning Parade of Green. The following Lions International charities and organizations will receive checks from the Bemidji Lions:
| Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) | $ 500 |
| MN Lions Eye Bank Inc | $ 400 |
| Spring Point Project Diabetes Research | $ 500 |
| Multiple District 5M Hearing Foundation | $ 400 |
| Hearing & Service Dogs - Minnesota | $ 300 |
| Leader Dogs for the Blind | $ 500 |
| Lions Quest - USA and Bemidji School District | $2500 |
This $5100 is included within our annual budget of $16,250. The other $11,150 is given to many Bemidji community organizations and individuals.
Be sure to come! The Lions will be flipping "Jacks" (Pancakes) for the 27th Annual Buena Vista Logging Days on Saturday, February 6th. The Bemidji Lions Club has volunteered many years to serve a logger's breakfast. The whole day is a nostalgic trip back to the logging days of old. Breakfast is just one of many things to do that day. We're looking forward to another good day and we hope for many eaters.
January 2010 News
The Beltrami County Extension of the Salvation Army wishes to thank the Bemidji Lions Club for the time contributed for ringing the bell for the Christmas Kettle Program. The Bemidji Lions rang the bell during the week following Thanksgiving at the Paul Bunyan Mall. Over 30 Lions members volunteered.
The total amount collected for the 2009 Christmas Kettle Program was $18,613.58, which was over $4000 more collected than the year before. Thank you everyone!!!!
December 2009 News
The L10 Newsletter for December 2009 (3.3 MB - this file will take a moment to load)
The Bemidji Lions have been involved in recent Christmas projects.
A total of $950 was collected from Bemidji Lions Club members for the annual Holiday Gifts for Kids. This surpasses the amount given in past years by many times. Thank you Lions for your generosity!
Another project is the annual Holiday Gifts for Kids. The Lions have collected a vast assortment of toys, clothes, and cash ($550 and rising) for Christmas gifts to children in the Bemidji area. Many children will receive Christmas gifts through this annual program.
A third project was to answer the telephones for the December Lakeland Public Television pledge drive. The Bemidji Lions answered the telephone for a two hour period on Tuesday, December 1st. The club now holds the record for the most pledges made in a two hour period with 57. We raised over $3000 during that two hour time slot and brought in many new members for Lakeland Public TV.
The Lions also rang the bell for the Salvation Army during the week after Thanksgiving. This is the annual Christmas Kettle Program that the Lions have done for many years. 32 Lions volunteered for two hour time slots to ring the bell. Last year the Bemidji Lions collected over $2000 for their bell ringing, and it appears that we easily topped that amount this Christmas season.
Many thanks to the Lions for their service to our community. We follow the Lions International motto "We Serve".