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Along the shores of Lake Michigan, the residents of Southwest Michigan
enjoy life surrounded by the beauty of nature. Our beautiful beaches and
close proximity to urban areas make Southwest Michigan a popular destination
for boaters, fishermen and weekend tourists. Just off the lake, as you
get into the countryside, you will see why Southwest Michigan is referred
to as the “Fruit Belt”. Apple, cherry, and peach orchards, as well as grape
vineyards abound. Wine making and grape juice processing is big business
here, and in many areas, as far as your eyes can see, are vineyards rolling
up and down the hillsides, planted in meticulously straight rows.
When you live
in such a beautiful, rich area, at some point, the desire to give something
back just seems to come naturally. The Lions of Michigan District 11-B2
takes the International motto of Lions “We Serve” to heart.
There are currently
47 clubs dotting the Southwest corner of Michigan in District 11-B2. Each
takes on the responsibility to serve their respective communities. Lions
serve the sight and hearing impaired by providing financial assistance
and resources to those in need. We are there to help our youth with scholarships
and sports team sponsorships We also provide youngsters ages 1-4 with
eye screenings to detect conditions of the eye that could potentially lead
to life long blindness if allowed to go undetected. Lions are there to
help the elderly, and, we are there for the less fortunate. Around the
holidays, Lions put together and distribute food baskets and buy presents
for the children and families who suffer financial hardships. In the summer,
we host picnics and outdoor activities free o f the charge to the community.
Having a vital Lions club in your community is a blessing, and it is the
goal of each and every Lion to maintain a strong club.
Lions of Michigan
also make a global impact through the work that can be done with our donations
to Lions International. With 1.3 million Lions worldwide, Lions International
is the world’s largest service organization. When disaster strikes the
world looks to Lions, much as they do the Red Cross. Lions have changed
and rebuilt the lives of tsunami and hurricane victims. Many of these people
not only lost their homes and livelihoods, they lost their families and
loved ones. In many third world countries, Lions have provided medicines
and performed surgeries to rid these areas of sight robbing diseases such
as river blindness and trachoma. Each year used eye glasses are collected
and sent with missions to areas where the daily income is about $1.00 per
day. The glasses are distributed and cataract surgeries are preformed,
returning these people to an active and productive role in society.
Living in the beautiful area that
we do, it would be easy to forget the people less fortunate. It would be
easy to say, “It is not my job”. But not for the Lions of District 11-B2,
they truly live the motto “We Serve”. Their outward generosity and selflessness
is what led me to my slogan this year “11-B2 Lions, the Pride of Michigan”
We are proud to serve, proud to be a Lion, and I am very proud to be your
Governor this year. |
