During 2009-2010, Lions will be encouraged to take action in humanitarian service, leadership development, club membership and LCIF support through our International theme "Move to Grow".
This is a time of economic uncertainty and a time when funds are not readily available to most families for things other than necessities. That will be our biggest challenge this year, not only in fund raising, but also in membership growth.
We must choose our community projects with care that they are a priority, not only to our members, but to the general public as well. The same holds true with trying to solicit new members to our clubs. We must target those areas that are the reasons people join an organization such as ours. People want to participate in activities they enjoy. They want to accomplish something worthwhile and want to belong and feel comfortable in their environment.
We have lost some of our smaller clubs this past year mostly due to our economic situation, however, there is room to grow and expand in District A5 and our Extension Team has some excellent ideas in mind and I am sure they will be successful in their endeavors. This is a time to concentrate on making our clubs stronger by choosing those very special people we know to join our club. Quality members are the key, not quantity. Retention remains a very troubling area in our District with over 300 dropped members in the past two years. We all need to correct the reasons people are leaving our Organization.
I want to thank all the wonderful people who have stepped up to the plate this year as Cabinet members and Committee Chairs to take a leadership role in our District and will work very hard to accomplish our goals this year.
I look forward to working with all the Lions, Lioness and Leos in our District to make this the best year ever and wish you all success in all your endeavors.
Sincerely,
District Governor Lion Maurice