BSwaminathan

The Lions PrideThe Lions PrideOCTOBER 2018

Newsletter of the Lions Club of Moorabbin Inc. PO Box 1144 Moorabbin Phone 0451 283 912

Website - http://moorabbin.vic.lions.org.au Email – moorabbin@lionsclubs201v5.org Website - http://moorabbin.vic.lions.org.au Email – moorabbin@lionsclubs201v5.org Cerise de Gelder – President , Gillian Lelah – Secretary , John Lissenburg – Treasurer

Editor Sam Dalley, sjdalley@bigpond.com

Vice District Governor Kumar's VisitMembers had the pleasure of welcoming First Vice District GovernorKumar Swaminathan and Zone Chairman Bev McLennan to our AugustBusiness Meeting

VDG Kumar thanked club members for the invitation extended to him andnoted the long history of the Moorabbin Lions Club, and the fact that fourof our Members had achieved a total between them of almost 200 years ofservice as Lions. “As l look around the tables I see members who havecontributed much to the community.”

VDG Kumar took the opportunity to present Monarch Awards,Attendance Tabs, and Pins as well as exchanging Banners with PresidentCerise de Gelder.

VDG Kumar joined the Lions Family as a Charter Secretary of the LeoClub of Matale in District 306B in Sri Lanka in 1983 In 1998/1999 andlater joined the Lions Club of Hendala in District 306B Sri Lanka servingin positions including Secretary, President, Zone and Region Chairman.

In 2006 Kumar was invited to join the Lions Club of South East Businessin Wheelers Hill, and held the positions of Zone Chairman in 2009-2010,and in 2010-2011 Kumar chartered the new Lions Club of LysterfieldBusiness with 25 members. Kumar held the position of 201 V5 DistrictCentennial Coordinator.

DVG. Kumar Swaminathan exchanges Bannerswith President Cerise de Gelder.

Lion Jessie Brent received a '15 YearService Monarch Award' VDG Kumar Swaminathan with Moorabbin Lions, Craig Walker, Kathy Walker,

Charlie Smith, and Pres. Cerise de Gelder. Lions Craig, Charlie together withabsent members Jack Hellyer and David Blyth have between them givenalmost 200 years of dedicated services to Lions.

Lion Sam Dalley was presented with a'15 Year Monarch Award' by Zone 9 Chair.Bev McLellan, with Lion June Dalley atMilanos.

READING WITH 'STORY DOGS'At our September Dinner Meeting at 'Milanos' Brighton we had the pleasure ofhearing all about 'Story Dogs' Victorian Sponsorship Development Officer for'Story Dogs' Kim Croft, together with Susanne and her dog 'Bundy.'

'Story Dogs' is a reading program aimed at increasing student confidence andliteracy. Kim said that 'Story Dogs' is a national charity which was modelled ona similar US program and started as a pilot program in Australia with one dogand four volunteers.

“Now we have three hundred volunteers all around Australia – we can't do thework without our fantastic volunteers. Susanne is a volunteer and looks afterthe Sandringham area.:” Cont... Page 2

READING WITH 'STORY DOGS' Cont...

Susanne, a Researcher and Librarian, is the 'Story Dogs' coordinator forthe Melbourne Bayside suburbs of Sandringham and Black Rock.Susanne and her dog 'Bundy' a Cocker Spaniel help children atSandringham Primary School.

Kim said that all 'Story Dogs' are assessed and accredited by a PoliceDog handler to ensure that they suitable to go into a school. “It is veryimportant that we get calm, and very gentle dogs to go into schools.Once the dogs are assessed and found suitable, the volunteers do atraining program with the co-ordinators. ”

Under the 'Story Dogs' program students take part in reading sessionswith the dog and its volunteer handler who will often speak through theanimal, and encourage the child to read to the dog as part of the programaimed at increasing student confidence and literacy. It has been foundthat children who have been struggling to read suddenly feel confident infront of a dog which is non-judgmental, and is not going to bark if theyget a word wrong.

Kim emphasised that they are not educators. “Our program is makingreading fun for children – if Susanne gets a child who might be a little bitshy, she would say something like Bundy is having trouble hearing you,could you speak a bit louder, or what does Bundy think is happening inthis photo – everything you do goes back to the dog.”

She said that children taking part in the program are chosen by theteachers for a variety of reasons including literacy problems or theirfamily situation where their parents don't have the time to read to them.

'Story Dogs' Victorian Sponsorship DevelopmentOfficer for 'Story Dogs' Kim Croft, together withSusanne and her dog 'Bundy' and Lion JessieBrent.

The Lions PrideThe Lions Pride

Lions Clubs International FoundationBy Chairman Dr. Naresh Aggarwal

Dear Lions, My passion for Lions comes not from titles, buttransformation. While I no longer have the title of InternationalPresident, my new title of LCIF Chairperson gives me the samechance to transform our Association and the world.

Our Foundation empowers Lions to do the life-changing workthat impacts communities around the world. Historically, wehave focused on vision, youth, disaster relief, and humanitarianefforts. With our Foundation celebrating its 50th anniversary, wewill increase our service impact, continue our fight againstdiabetes, and expand our global causes to include hunger,childhood cancer, and the environment.

Clubs International Convention in Las Vegas, and I am confidentwe will reach our goal of raising US$300 million over the nextthree years.We must keep in mind “the Power of Each”: LCIFsupports Lions worldwide, with over $1 billion in grants since1968 and over 500 projects funded last year alone.

Yet, only 6% of Lions contribute to LCIF. I do not ask for moredonations, I only ask for more donors. Each one of us has thepower to make a difference in communities around the world.When each of us marries our service with our personal financialgifts to our foundation, we can.

And, when we invoke the Power of Each, we will. Massivechange is happening. Last year, we raised $50M for LCIF – anincrease of 28% from the year before. We served over 65 millionpeople last year via LCIF. However, we will not stop until wefulfil our motto – “Where there is a need, there is a Lion.” Thisyear, let us transform our Association by small donations frommany members. As Chairman of our global Foundation, I thankyou for your dedication to LCIF, to the global causes it supports,and to our world citizens in need, who benefit deeply from ourgenerosity of spirit, service, and giving.

DIARY DATES OCTOBER

Thurs 4th Monthly Book Sale at The Den 8.45am - 3pm Sat 13th Garage & Book Sale at Kingston Sun 14th Centre open from 8.45am – 3pmWed 17th Dinner Meeting Wednesday 6.45pm for 7.15pm at Milanos. Speakers Geoff & Peta Nuttall – “All Aboard with the Nuttalls” Sat 27th Book Sale & Working Bee in Storage Den at Kingston Centre 9am-4pmFri 26th V5 District AGM & Convention, Sun 28th Deakin University, Burwood

BIRTHDAYSBIRTHDAYSOCTOBER

13th Bill Tomkinson 20th Jennifer Tomkinson

ANNUAL BOOK & GARAGE SALE

Sat. 13th Oct & Sun. 14th Oct. 8.45am-3pm at the 'Lions Den' Kingston Centre