Al Vredberg District Governor H: (269) 982-0075   W: (269) 982-1152  C: (269) 208-2998  F: (269) 982-1152 E-mail From the desk of the District Governor

PENDING LEGISLATION:
We were made aware of pending legislation here in Michigan at the Council of Governors meeting in Lansing. This legislation may significantly affect your club or neighboring clubs fundraising efforts. Regardless of whether or not your club is directly affected you should notify your club membership and ask all members to call, email, and write to notify the Michigan representatives of both political parties and the bill’s sponsors as to how this legislation could impact fundraising for our philanthropies and projects. This legislation would significantly increase fees charged for events such as Texas Hold’ems, Bingo’s etc. to as much as $250.00 FOR EACH DAY of the event for licensure.

Michigan House Bill 5121 (2009)

Sponsors Harold Haugh - (primary) Jimmy Womack, Jim Slezak, Andrew Kandrevas, Lesia Liss, Woodrow Stanley, Roy Schmidt, Douglas Geiss, Vincent Gregory, David Nathan, Wayne Schmidt, Robert Dean, Jon Switalski, Dan Scripps
Categories Gaming, bingo and charitable gaming Gaming; bingo and charitable gaming; millionaire parties conducted by nonmembers of charities; increase fees and provide for expedited license. Amends secs. 3a & 4a of 1972 PA 382 (MCL 432.103a & 432.104a) & adds sec. 4b.

ADOPTION OF NEW POLICIES:
Also, the Multiple District has adopted the policies listed below. Note: The IRS will ask on the tax form 990 whether or not your organization (Lions Club or Lions Foundation) has these policies in effect, therefore it is recommended that all clubs/foundations adopt these policies: To adopt these polices you need to pass a motion to adopt them and record them in the meeting minutes at your next meeting. They are: 

Maintaining your Club’s Tax Exempt Status:
While we are on the subject of the IRS, did you know that it is predicted that by May 2010 more than 500,000 501cX clubs/foundations will lose their tax exempt status for failure to file IRS Form 990 (990, 990EZ, or 990N)? Make sure that your club is not one of those clubs loosing their tax exempt status by filing your tax forms by November 15th, 2009. 

The penalty for not filing on time is $20.00 per day even if no tax is owed!!!  In April our district, 11B2, will be featured in the Lions Pride Magazine.  We are looking for an 11B2 Club to feature in this issue. Tell us what makes your club unique, and why it should be featured in the state newsletter. It can be unique in service to the community, how you go about increasing membership, or something else that you have done. 

The MD11 Convention will be held at Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island on May 21 and 22, 2010 Here is what we know so far… The room rate will be $89.00 + tax, children under 18 are free (the STD rate is $159 per night). Last year 260 attended the convention, the least represented district was 11B2, and the most represented district was 11C2. (Hopefully we will make a better showing this year.) On Saturday morning there will be a Breakfast followed by the business session, leaving the afternoon open for families. The last day to register will be 30 days prior to the convention.

Membership Update:
It is official, IPDG Linda and her Council of District Governors had a great year with 2009 being the first time we have had positive state membership growth since 1983. Here are the current stats for the 2009-2010 year: For 11B2 the July report shows us with a net membership loss of 8 Lions. We know that  embership month will be the month of October, what will your club be doing to encourage membership growth? Will you be holding a ‘Guests Night’ to acquaint potential new members with Lionism? Will you be bringing them to the Fall Conference to acquaint them with the Lions Philanthropies?

Commitments are being made to hold a membership drive in Cassopolis. On September 30 at 10:00 am we will be holding a club "restart meeting" at the Cassopolis Public Library. This will be followed on October 7th with new member canvassing from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and on October 21st at 6:oo pm we will be holding an orientation and a new member induction prior to the R2Z2 Zone meeting at 7:00 pm If you have some spare time and want to help with this effort and go out with an experienced canvasser to become better at recruiting qualified potential new members please contact Zone Chair PDG Jerry Likes at
H 269-944-5706 for details on where and when to meet - we can use "your" help!

Fall Conference, Friday October 16th starting at 4:00 p.m. till ~ (sometimes referred to as the Parade of Checks):
The Lawton Lions Club has agreed to host the 2009-10 Fall Conference at their club house. After much discussion due to scheduling conflicts the 11B2 Cabinet agreed to hold this event on Friday evening for this year rather than continuing to search for an inexpensive venue with Saturday availability. What are the pluses? We keep the costs low during these trying economic times and on top of that your weekend will be free for family and other events. At this time we are planning to invite all of our District Projects to attend and provide overviews of their organizations. We plan to open the event to guests at 4:00 p.m. with several hours allowed to visit with each of the projects and or one of the seminars that we will be holding. Following this we will have an inexpensive dinner with a key note speaker and IPDG Linda Bosma will care for the presentation of several remaining awards from her year as Governor. For now please note the “Make Checks Payable to” information contained in this newsletter regarding Club Checks issued for these projects and also let’s mark the dates on our Calendar: October 16, 4:00 pm till ~. I’m sure you will be hearing more about this event from our Fall Conference Committee shortly.

Recognition and Awards: The time is fast approaching to begin nominating individuals for outstanding efforts associated with Leadership, Presidential and other District and or Club awards. As many of you know the recipients of these awards receive them for ongoing humanitarian efforts, not only for their current Lions efforts which are often substantial, but for other humanitarian efforts within the community as well. As either a Club or District officer it is our responsibility to ensure that we recognize these individuals for their outstanding efforts. The first round of these awards needs to be in its final submission state and submitted by the November 15 deadline. To that end it is not too soon to establish an Awards Chairperson and Committee in your club to begin putting together the paperwork. Contact any Cabinet member for assistance (Zone Chair through District
Governor).

ROSTER BOOK update:
What a devil of a project this is! We will have them finished and out for bid soon. We will advise you via the Newsletter when they are available. (P.S. to 1st VDG Don – Get a committee together to do this project!).

Club Visits and Zone/Region meetings are being arranged.
Give any of the Cabinet members a call or an email to arrange as to when you would like them to attend one of your club meetings or other functions. If you are having a major anniversary celebration we will also work to assist you in obtaining a key note speaker for the event. Most recently I visited with the Decatur Lions. If you see one of them you may want to congratulate them and ask how their new Foundation: Decatur Lions Community Service Foundation which is putting together programs to help with education within the community and also a food pantry to serve those less fortunate. They are just one example of how the power of a small group can gather together to work towards common goals in achieving greatness:

DG Al