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Before July 15, secretaries submit (by mail or computer only) Form
A-1 to International Headquarters. A computer then scans the aligned boxes
and totals the number of clubs participating in activities and the number of
Lions service hours. The computer also converts all currencies into US
dollars.
High-tech Results
The Form A-1 s provided by thousands of club secretaries were
computer scanned. The activities provided valuable information about Lions
clubs worldwide. As a result. Lions can boast about their contributions to
their communities and humanity.
This year's secretaries received their official 2000-2001 Form A-1s
with the April 2001 issue of the Update newsletter.
Secretaries with access to the Internet can complete and submit Form
A-1 online. Available in the Member and Officer Reports / Directory
Information section of the Lions Web site (www.lionsclubs.org), secretaries
can either:
- print Form A-1 as it appears on screen, complete the form in ink and
mail it to International Headquarters;
- complete Form A-1 as it appears on screen and submit the form
electronically to International Headquarters.
Both the paper and electronic versions of Form A-1 have been
specially formatted for scanning by a computer. Therefore, only information
from official Form A-1s (both the paper and electronic versions) will be
scanned for the 2000-2001 worldwide activities report. Information on
unofficial, altered or faxed Form A-1s cannot be included in the final
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LIONS DONATE TIME AND TALENTS
Each check mark on a Form A-1 represents a successful Lions club
service project.
Donate 1,000 Hours of Time
In Michigan, Davidson Lions Club Secretary Jo Poe reported that the
club's 26 members donated 1000 hours for a recycling project.
"We have a trailer located in the middle of town" states Poe.
"We recycle paper, aluminum, and phone books. One trailer full of paper
is worth about US$800 (depending on current paper prices)."
In addition, the local telephone company contacted the Lions about
recycling their excess phone books. "We raised almost $1 3,000 last year
through recycling," states Poe. "We've been doing this for at least
10 years."
A Large Monetary Donation
The Form A-1 submitted by Secretary Robert Lewis of the McGregor
Lions Club, Minnesota, indicated that the club donated US$117,000 for a
community center.
"It was a two year project," states Lewis. "Our club had
a metal building which we used for club meetings and BINGO sessions. We owned
the building and donated it to the town (population: 400). We rented out the
hall for weddings and parties but only during the summer months."
All 85 club members volunteered their time and talents to insulate and
upgrade the metal building. One club member is an architect; another is a
kitchen rebuilder.
Eight hundred hours later, the new McGregor Community Center had two
meeting rooms with seating for 250 people, a new roof, a tiled floor,
remodeled bathrooms, and a new kitchen.
A Variety of Community Services
Club Secretary Monica Palmer, Kingston Mona Lions Club, Jamaica,
reported that her 46 fellow club members served:
- street children - by donating funds to a local facility for street
children;
- parents - by presenting lectures about child abuse at local schools;
- blind students - by creating audiotapes of university textbooks;
-those with AIDS - by donating funds to an AIDS hospice;
- the elderly - by funding the purchase of prescriptions for persons in a
geriatrics home;
- the environment - by planting trees around local schools and hospitals;
- the disabled - by painting disability signs at parks, banks, and parking
lots.
One Large Community Project
Lion Dick Moon, secretary of the Cayuocos Lions Club, California,
noted one large project on his club's Form A-1 - a skateboard park.
"Our planning committee included kids ages 10-23, parents, school
authorities, and county authorities," states Moon.
To finance the park, the Lions organized a one-day fundraiser. "In
the morning, we had a breakfast, then a rummage sale, followed by a silent
auction, a live art auction, and a dinner/ dance," he states. The Lions
raised US$13,000.
With funds in hand, members volunteered 800 hours of time to build a 40
foot by 70 foot wooden skateboard park.
"The project has been well-received by the community," states
Moon. "The skateboard park features half-pipes and quarter-pipes. All
skateboarders must wear helmets and knee pads. Admission to the park is
free."
Moon added that the park created an unexpected bonus. "It's
provided great public relations for our club."
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