JIMMY M. ROSS

PAST INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

2007-2008 LCIF CHAIRPERSON

 

Dear Fellow Lions,

 

I would like to update you on recent news in LCIF. I ask that you share this information with your club and district to help promote LCIF.

 

CSFII Surpasses Goal

Campaign SightFirst II has surpassed the $150 million minimum goal. On Worldwide Report Day February 20, National and Multi-National Coordinators’ telephone calls and reports revealed that Lions have raised more than US$157.9 million for CSFII. With four months remaining, Lions are now looking ahead to the additional challenge goal and helping ensure the future of SightFirst through continued and expanded efforts to eliminate preventable blindness worldwide. Lions’ support of CSFII is crucial in the remaining months. Visit the CSFII Web site for more information on the campaign and fundraising ideas.

 

LCIF #1 NGO Ads Available
In a special report released in July, LCIF was ranked the number one non-governmental organization worldwide. From 34 global organizations, LCIF came in first. As a result of the ranking, LCIF has received a great deal of media coverage and has also placed special ads in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and several other nationwide daily newspapers around the world. These ads are available to download online for Lions to use in their local newspapers as well. To localize the information, simply add a local telephone number and club Web site. The press release of this announcement is also online to share with your local media.

Milestone in Trachoma Treatments
LCIF reached a major milestone in trachoma treatments January 23 when LCIF Chairperson Jimmy Ross distributed the 10 millionth dose of azithromycin (Zithromax®) to 16-year-old Messeleche Tilahun. The antibiotic, donated by Pfizer Inc, is a main strategy in the fight against the blinding disease in poor, rural areas. Messeleche lives in the Awi Zone in Ethiopia, the most trachoma-endemic part of the country, where an estimated 18 million are at risk. Representatives from The Carter Center, Lions clubs of Ethiopia, Pfizer, the national trachoma program, government of Ethiopia, and other partner organizations joined the celebration and are a part of the coalition working toward elimination of trachoma in the region by 2012. Lions in Ethiopia have been integral to achieving remarkable results in the country. The 10 millionth dose comes after just 18 months of full scale intervention and points toward meeting the elimination target date. Through SightFirst, LCIF has awarded numerous grants for trachoma control, outreach and training projects in Ethiopia and elsewhere in Africa.

 

SightFirst Grants Awarded
The SightFirst Advisory Committee Meeting awarded nine grants at its January meeting. This included grant funding to continue the childhood blindness project with the World Health Organization, which has established 30 need-based centers around the world. Other grants included cataract surgery campaigns, upgrading a Lions eye hospital and establishing and equipping a teaching hospital. A total of US$9,554,378 was awarded, US$3,580,708 of which represents grants from undesignated SightFirst funds. The full list is available online.

 

Grants Approved for Lions Quest

Seven grants totaling US$364,872 were approved at the January Lions Quest Advisory Meeting. The grants enable Lions Quest programs to expand in countries currently participating in the program or to begin the program in new countries. Japan, Kenya, Canada and Turkey received grants to implement and expand the program. Pakistan and Sri Lanka became the newest countries to launch the program. The full list of approved grants is online.

 

Lions Join Coalition

Lions Clubs International has joined the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) as a sustaining member and partner to enhance the work of local communities and help youth resist alcohol and other drugs. Lions will support their mission to build stronger capacity for anti-drug efforts through the 5,000 community coalitions nationwide. Through Lions Quest, Lions can teach youth how to avoid drugs and make responsible decisions. A letter announcing the partnership was sent to the 500 other organizations in the coalition encouraging these organizations and communities to work with their local Lions club on drug-free programs. LCIF also had a booth at CADCA’s annual convention this month, the largest training conference in the U.S. for community coalition activists and substance abuse professionals.

 

New Giving Publication
A new publication, ForSight in Gift Planning, is available to those Lions wishing to increase their support to LCIF. It provides an overview of various donation programs, news updates and stories of those helped through Lions’ contributions. The publication is available online or by contacting LCIF Development Staff.

 

Increase Your Support Through an MJF
Have you considered becoming a Melvin Jones Fellow or extending your generosity through a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow? Fellows are a group of dedicated philanthropists who have changed the lives of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. To increase support for CSFII in the final months, President Mahendra Amarasuriya has issued a challenge to raise the number of Melvin Jones Fellows to 300,000 total. One Fellowship can save the sight at 167 individuals, each with a story, a family and a face. The application form is available online or credit card donations can be made securely online.

 

Cruise with the Chairperson
Support LCIF while soaking up the sun in the Caribbean. Join the LCIF Chairperson and fellow Lions from around the world for the 9th annual LCIF Cruise, which will set sail November 9, 2008 for 12 nights in the southern Caribbean. The cruise visits with local Lions in ports of call and there is a special Melvin Jones Fellowship reception on board. All of the cruises are open to the public and US$1,000 of every cruise is tax deductible. The cruise has raised over $300,000 for LCIF. To learn more about the cruise, download the brochure or email lcifdevelopment@lionsclubs.org. Space is limited.

 

Lions’ support and promotion of LCIF is crucial. I thank you for your continued dedication to LCIF.

 

Serving Through LCIF,

 

Jimmy M. Ross
Chairperson, LCIF

Dear Lion Nelson,  

I want to tell you about an exciting new Lions partnership.  

In July 2007, The International Association of Lions Clubs agreed to help the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) disseminate information about large-scale or pandemic influenza (flu).  

This new partnership includes my participation as one of four leaders of national non-profit organizations to appear in advertisements for HHS’ awareness campaign, Take the Lead: Pandemic Flu-Working Together to Prepare Now. 

Participation in this national public health campaign is an honor for Lions clubs. This national campaign coincides with our Lions ALERT emergency preparedness program. 

Last century, there were three worldwide pandemic flu outbreaks. Millions of people died. Unlike seasonal flu, humans have little - if any - immunity to a pandemic flu virus. It takes several weeks or months for public health officials to identify a pandemic flu virus strain and develop a vaccine.  

As community leaders, we can participate in a pro-active pandemic flu plan. Additional information about pandemic flu appears on the HHS Web site: www.pandemicflu.gov and the United Nations’ World Health Organization (WHO) Web site at: www.who.org. 

Lions from several US communities recently met with HHS representatives to discuss ways to develop pro-active pandemic flu plans.  I want to thank these Lions for representing the Association and for eagerly agreeing to help in the development of a pro-active pandemic flu plan.  

Sincerely,  

Jimmy M. Ross
LCIF Chairperson

----- Original Message -----

From: Lion Jimmy Ross

To: rnelson@camalott.com

Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2007 5:22 PM

Subject: LCIF Update for your Lions club

Dear Lion Nelson:

I would like to update you on recent news in LCIF. I ask that you share this information with your club and district to help promote LCIF.

LCIF, Lions Respond to California Wildfires
LCIF is working with Lions leaders in Southern California to help victims of the California wildfires. A total of US$45,000 in emergency grants and relief funding has been approved to date. Sixteen fires across the southern part of the state have destroyed more than 1,300 homes and more than 500,000 residents have evacuated.Lions in Districts 4-L6 (San Diegoarea) and 4-L5 have mobilized their emergency response team. Lions in District4-L6 have also set up an online message board for those able to offer assistance or ideas. LCIF continues to work with Lions in southern California to assess the situation and determine a course of action. An LCIF designated account has been established for those wishing to donate to the relief efforts. For updated information, continue to visit our Web site.

Year of Campaign SightFirst II
Programs like SightFirst have made Lions the international leaders in the fight against blindness. Together, we have saved or restored sight to more than 27 million people and improved the vision treatment for hundreds of millions of individuals. Several of these individuals' stories are included in two new DVDs, The Faces of SightFirst and The Year of CSFII.uring The Year of CSFII, help achieve President Amarasuriya's 2007-2008 Challenge of 350,000 MJFs worldwide. >Like an MJF, a Progressive MJF designated to CSFII has the power to save 166 individuals from blindness.

New SightFirst Publication
To promote the work of Lions and LCIF through the SightFirst program, a new publication titled ForSight has been created. Produced three times a year, ForSight is distributed to current and past international officers, partner organizations, technical advisors, SightFirst chairpersons and other supporters of SightFirst. The August and October issues can be viewed online. Future issues will be available in all official languages. This publication is especially valuable for those considering donating to Campaign SightFirst II.

Sri Lanka Hosts Lions World Sight Day
Lions clubs throughout the nation conducted vision screenings for more than 50,000 residents and distributed eyeglasses to those in need on October 7 to mark Lions World Sight Day. Lions also provided free cataract surgery for more than 1,500 people at the two Lions eye hospitals in the area. The surgeries were made possible through an LCIF SightFirst grant. Lions in Colombo, Sri Lanka, also took part in a march through the city's streets in support of Campaign SightFirst II and to promote healthy vision. A seminar on childhood blindness and press conference were also held.

Lions launched World Sight Day, now its in 10th year, to recognize the importance of eradicating preventable blindness around the world. Lions clubs around the world held local activities on World Sight Day to educate their communities about the need to preserve sight.

Key Partnerships for Lions Quest
The U.S. State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs awarded LCIF a second 5-year US$1.255 million sub-contract to provide teacher training and curriculum support for Lions Quest drug prevention in schools in Russia for the first time, as well as expanding current Lions Quest programming in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine.

Lions Clubs International has joined the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) as a sustaining member and partner to enhance the work of local communities and help youth resist alcohol and other drugs. Lions will support their mission to build stronger capacity for anti-drug efforts through the 5,000 commnict coalitions nationwide.

Grants Awarded at the October Board Meeting
More than US$3.48 million in grants were approved at the October 2007 LCIF Board Meeting. A total of 52 grants were awarded to Lions clubs all over the world to assist many humanitarian projects. This includes a grant for US$1 million to continue the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International partnership. Through the partnership more than 100,000 Special Olympics athletes have had their vision screened and 44,000 athletes have received glasses or sport goggles. The deadline to apply for Standard, Core 4 and IAG grants for review at the next board meeting is January 18.

Holiday Giving Ideas
This holiday season, give a gift to the world with your gift to LCIF. Your gift of stock, property, will bequest or monetary donation will help LCIF continue to fulfill its mission worldwide.

NEW: Donations by credit card can now be made online. Consider making a gift in another's name to recognize a family member or fellow Lion this holiday season.

Effective through December 31, 2007 (in the US), if you have a traditional or Roth individual retirement account (IRA) and are 70.5 or older, you can now exclude from your taxable income distributions of up to $100,000 per year that are made to LCIF. Contact the LCIF Development Department (lcifdevelopment@lionsclubs.org) for more information on the various types of annuities offered by LCIF, the IRA rollover, or gifts of property or stock.

I thank you for your continued support and dedication to LCIF. Also, I'll be soon sending a message about recent efforts in fighting the pandemic flu.

Serving Through LCIF,


Jimmy M.Ross

Dear Fellow Lions,

I enjoyed visiting with many of you during the International Convention and I look forward to continuing our service together this year as LCIF Chairperson. We have much to accomplish this year in order achieve our Campaign SightFirst II goal as well as spread the word about LCIF. In this message, I would like to update you on a number of LCIF news items.

 

LCIF Ranked Best NGO Worldwide

In a special report released Thursday, July 5, 2007, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) ranked best among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide. From 34 global organizations, LCIF came in first for its execution of programs, demonstrated accountability, communications internally and externally, program adaptability to the surrounding community, and understanding the goals of its corporate supporters. The assessment was published in the Financial Times' Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy special report. The full story can be read online at http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lions_lcif_times.shtml.
 

Vote NOW to Help Eradicate Preventable Blindness
LCIF has been selected by American Express as one of the top 50 project ideas in The Members Project, an exciting initiative that brings American Express Cardmembers together to do something good for our world. Join Cardmembers across the country to vote for LCIF's incredible idea to eliminate preventable blindness, presented to American Express by the Diamondhead Lions Club in Mississippi, USA. For every vote LCIF receives, US$1 will be donated to LCIF by American Express up to US$5 million. Cast your vote NOW for LCIF at membersproject.com http://www.membersproject.com/Health_Fitness/723. LCIF is Project ID #723. You only have until July 15 to keep LCIF in the top 25! Please share this information with your friends, family and co-workers so they can vote for LCIF. To learn more visit the LCIF Web site at http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lions_lcif_amex.shtml.
 

Grants Awarded at June Board Meeting
More than US$2.4 million in grants were approved at the June 2007 LCIF Board Meeting. Lions clubs from all over the world were granted funds to assist many humanitarian projects, such as partnering with Lions in Malaysia for a clean water project (Korea), equipping a rehabilitation center for the disabled (Italy), upgrading the kitchen and dining room at an Easter Seals camp (Canada) and constructing a clinic and vocational center for the disabled (Honduras). Read the complete story and view the entire list of approved grants at http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lions_lcif_newgrants.shtml.

 

There are number of new materials, including a new DVD and CD of LCIF publications available to you to help promote LCIF in your club and district. A list of these materials can found at http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lcif_pr_tools.shtml. I look forward to this year and thank you for your continued support and dedication to LCIF. LCIF is able to fulfill its mission of helping Lions serve worldwide through your support.

 

Serving Through LCIF,

 

Jimmy M. Ross