Dear Lion Bejugam,
I'm writing to share good news. Our net membership growth continued through February, reaching +22,879 compared to +14,042 for the same period last year. New club formation is also surging ahead reaching 1,002 new clubs compared to 841 last year, the best results in 12 years. The momentum continues in March since we've now crossed plus 25,000 in the first two weeks.
While our results are impressive, my Move to Grow theme is really about moving in new directions and responding to the evolving needs of both our communities and our members. Because if we respond to our changing world -- and pursue the opportunities it presents -- membership will take care of itself. So let me highlight some important new ways in which we are moving. |
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| Family & Women Membership |
First, our noteworthy membership results are being fueled by more clubs inviting more qualified women and family members. Women now account for 22% of our membership, surging to over 290,000. And it's happening in every part of the world. For example, I was in Japan last week - where historically women's membership lagged other areas - and was pleased to learn that four multiple districts there are up in membership substantially, and 90% of that is due to women and family members joining our ranks.
And with regard to family membership, we know that in many parts of the world more and more people want to volunteer and serve alongside their family members. It might not be a viable option for every club, but certainly every district should have room for family-based clubs ─ clubs that might need to meet at different times and pursue different types of service projects that can involve the whole family. It appears that many clubs are responding to this opportunity, since we now have more than 164,701 members, or 12.5% overall, as part of a family unit. Read more about how family membership works, and its benefits.
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| Leo Clubs |
We've also worked to Move to Grow our Leo clubs, rebranding all the Leo club materials and creating the LeoZone section on our web site. The new materials are certainly more appealing, but more importantly, we are now speaking to young people in their language and in ways they prefer to communicate - especially through the internet. For example, our new Leo Facebook page boasts 1800 members. It's a special place where Leos can come together online, share ideas and connect with Leos in other countries. Leos now also have their own online membership database - the LeoMMR - so we can all communicate better with each other. E-mail Leommr@lionsclubs.org if your district or club has Leo clubs that are not online or for more information on Leo efforts.
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| Technology |
Even older people like me, or shall I say 'mature' people, can take advantage of new technologies to communicate. In January, I participated in several online webinars - seminars done over the internet - with more than 300 DG Team members in North America, Japan, and South Asia and Africa.
In the course of three hours, over three sessions, I was able to travel across many time zones, from California to Tokyo and back, to interact with our DG Teams without even leaving my office.
I'm now hearing about Lions clubs and districts all over the world that are using webinars, and even online video conferencing, to get more work done and to connect with more Lions. And even LCIF, our foundation, has made more use of technology by raising $140,000 online for Haiti in a few days and in posting daily updates on our relief work in Haiti.
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So, as you hopefully see, my Move to Grow theme is not only about growing physically but about growing in new ways as an organization, to set new sites and goals to achieve, and to move in new directions to ensure we remain the world's largest, most active and attractive service club.
I am convinced that we are moving in the right direction. The results so far speak for themselves. But again, let's continue to move even faster so we can make this the greatest year in our history, one that puts LCI on the path to an even brighter future as we stretch ourselves in new ways and MOVE TO GROW.
With cordial regards,
Eberhard J. Wirfs
International President
MOVE TO GROW
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Years End Ginkgo Award Winners
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Constitutional Area 1 Beverly Bodem, 11 E2 Bernice Kulp, 14 K George Kirkwood, 14 R
Constitutional Area 3 Jaime Hinojos Aguayo, B 1 Carols Martinez Trejo, B4 Roberto Ortega, D 2 Mario Ruiz Salinas, D 5 Ramón Colmenares, E 3 Demócrito Saback, LA 2 Luis F. Calafell Roig, LA 6
Constitutional Area 4 Gerhard Reithmaier, 114 O
Constitutional Area 5 Constitutional Area 6
Aftab Nagori, 305 S3 Bhupesh Bansal, 321B1 Gopi Dhuwalia, 322 B2 Mandira Chanda, 322 D Nanda Garg, 322 E Jawahar Bihani, 323 G1 Vinod Verma, 323 H1 Alwyn Patrao, 324D5 Ramesh Kosuri, 324C5 |
Online Webinars with Japan
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