LCI: Your Roadmap for Success

August 2012
Dear Lion, Formulas and equations play an important part in our lives. They are powerful tools - a road map to success -- that make many things possible and others, simply easier. According to Einstein, the simple formula, e=mc2 describes the workings of the entire universe. I may not be a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, but I also have a formula, one that I know works based on 27 years as a Lion: Dedication + Preparation + Teamwork = Excellence Dedication is each individual Lion's dedication to service which is abundant but needs nurturing and growth. We need to continue expanding our service to take on new challenges, such as through the new Reading Action Program (RAP). Preparation is planning and the self-evaluation included in what I am calling "pit stops" like those in an automobile race. Teamwork involves making connections at the international level, the club level and interpersonal level, especially working in harmony with the Global Leadership Team and Global Membership Team. Having a plan and a road map makes us more effective and efficient by taking the guesswork and trial-and-error out of our quest for excellence. The Club Excellence Award and the District Governor Team Excellence Award are also tools that can eliminate uncertainty and point your club or district in the right direction. Each have criteria that, if achieved, will lead you to success. I hope that you use all the tools available to you to their fullest as we pursue excellence together as Lion leaders. Sincerely, Wayne A. Madden International President Reading Action Program I am proud that one of my first acts as international president was to cement an alliance between Lions Clubs International and the U.S. Agency for International Development that will help improve the literacy of 100 million children in developing nations by 2015. A memorandum of understanding was signed at the international convention in Busan, Korea, that creates a powerful partnership based on common goals. USAID, like LCI, believes that literacy is critical for all children and will help create a more stable and prosperous future for all. Please start now to prepare your clubs and districts for participation in Lions worldwide literacy initiative, the Reading Action Program. See Reading Action Program for information and project ideas for donating books, promoting reading and helping the world fight illiteracy. Each club that conducts a RAP project will receive a special RAP banner patch. In addition, a district governor reporting at least 50 percent club participation will receive a Reading Action Program Award. To help publicize what you are doing in a fun way, I hope to also see as many "RAP" videos as possible, and I look forward to seeing the top entry at the international convention in Hamburg. Social Media Lions never sleep. With 46,000 Lions clubs circling the globe there is always a Lion somewhere doing something that is vitally important to their community. I hope that you will join me in celebrating our service by helping to create a real-time document that will show the world the enormity of our impact. Post your club's activities on Twitter and retweet activities from fellow Lions around the world. You may also post photos on a special section of the LCI Web site. Global Service Action Campaign This month's Global Service Action Campaign, Engaging Our Youth, is well underway. Please remember that this is an ideal time to help create the next generation of Lion leaders by involving Leos and other young people in service activities.There is still time to plan and carry out additional activities. See Engaging our Youth project ideas and report your activities using the Lions Club Service Activity Report.
Club Officers Pit Stop 1 Take a good look at your club. That's the first step toward achieving excellence. Now is the time for you to be gathering information using tools like How are Your Ratings?. The feedback from your members will help you pinpoint the positive changes you will need to make to improve your club's service. Members may say that a window needs to be opened to let in some fresh air. Listen to their ideas and be flexible. Some old ways of doing things may need to be revised or discarded. See Club Pit Stop Checklist for a full list of things to do before the end of September. President Meet Presidents I intend to continue the President-meets-Presidents program begun last year by Past International President Tam. These meetings are a valuable opportunity for me to hear your ideas and concerns and to see first-hand the wonderful work you are doing in your communities. I hope to meet with as many of you as possible as I travel around the world.		District Teams Pit Stop 1 How well do you know the clubs in your district? To grow membership and strengthen clubs you need to know which clubs need the most help. Find out by reviewing the Club Health Assessment Report and the DG RECAP. Taking a close look at your district will help pinpoint the positive changes that will be needed to help clubs succeed. Listen to club officers, stay flexible and keep in mind that some old ways of doing things may need to be revised or discarded. See District Pit Stop Checklist for a full list of things to do before the end of September. Fast Start The race to the 2012-2013 World of Service Fast Start Awards is a four month sprint and the first month is already past! District governors now have less than three months to charter two new clubs or achieve net membership growth to be recognized at the Cruising Speed level or to charter five new clubs AND achieve positive membership growth to be recognized at the Passing Speed level.