What a great turnout for the cabinet meeting in Stephenville - 72 Lions! Thank you, Thank you. I tried to speak to everyone but I know I missed a few. I am so glad you decided to come. I truly enjoyed visiting with you. Thanks to the Stephenville Lions Club for being great hosts and to the trainers for their good work as well.

     Mark your calendar now for October 30, 2010. That is the date for the 2nd cabinet meeting. It will be held in Abilene and is to be hosted by the Abilene Elmwood West Lions Club.

     In the last newsletter I told you that IP Scruggs' theme is SERVICE and that he wants all Lions and Lions Clubs to participate in LCI's four special service action campaigns. I also explained the August theme of engaging our youth. Now for the October themeSharing the Vision. Since 314 million people worldwide suffer from low vision and blindness, Lions all over the world are challenged to plan vision health projects and to work with the visually impaired. Many Lions already celebrate World Sight Day in October. This service focus reminds us of the opportunities to organize a vision screening, to volunteer at a nearby Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center, or to organize an eyeglass collection or any other activity to benefit the visually impaired in our community.

       If your club hasn't ordered the Peace Poster Contest Kit, now is the time to do it. With school starting up soon, it is time to talk to an art teacher, a counselor, or a principal for those students who are 11, 12, or 13 years of age as of November 15. Only one kit is needed for each contest. For a little over ten dollars, your club can inspire students in your community to compete with students all over the world. This years theme is "Vision of Peace." Clubs can sponsor more than one contest in either the same or multiple schools and/or youth groups by purchasing more than one kit from the LCI website clubsupplieslionsclubs.org. Clubs will send one poster per each contest sponsored for judging on the district level. These international peace posters should be in my hands by November 11. This is a great way to involve our youth and give visibility to our clubs in our community. I am glad eight clubs participated in this contest last year and hope that more clubs will consider joining their ranks this fall.

      For those clubs who are anxious to hear about the topics and guidelines for the youth contests, feel free to check the state website. The new topics should be posted soon. Juniors and seniors are eligible for these contests.

     Great news11 new members and 1 transfer Lion have joined District 2E-1. Remember that many people want to become a Lion and are just waiting for a Lion like you to ask them. Thank you, Sponsoring Lions and New Lions, we are a stronger district thanks to you.

     Just a reminderdon't forget to do the Service Activities Report when you send in your club's MMR on the LCI website.

      For clubs that have not yet scheduled a date for me to come for a visit to your club, please give me a call. All clubs - be sure to let me know if I can help you or your club in any way.

     As we start off another great year in Lionism, let us remember some valuable words of wisdom from the Lions Club International Code of Ethics:

 "To be careful with my criticism
and liberal with my praise;
to build up and not destroy."

Thanks to all of you for what you do as Lions.

Yours in Lionism,
Hugh E. Stroud