Lions StateMag 24 | Page 16

♥~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~♥ Dear Georgia Lions! PCC Clower presented a printed report as follows: Our Georgia Lions Lighthouse is continuing to grow our services. We have recently added two new clinics; one in Sumter County, and one in Douglas County. We now have 30 clinics all over Georgia. Our volunteers in the Recycling Center have done a great job renovating and organizing our recycling process. We still have not received approval to be a Certified Recycling Center from LCI, but we are continuing to recycle eyeglasses, hearing aids, and cell phones. We are in need of more volunteers to help us out in the Recycling Center. The Pediatric Hearing Program launched January 1st. We are now accepting children birth – 19 years old with family income up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. We are also growing the Frame Kit Program. A presentation will be made on this program at the Joint Meeting. Our Governance Committee will be presenting a revision to our Constitution for a vote of the Lions of Georgia at the Joint Meeting. The Lighthouse stands ready to partner with the Lions of Georgia to implement the KidSight USA Program as soon as the details are released by LCI. Below is a short summary of other items: Services and Costs: In this fiscal year, at our 30 clinics, the Lighthouse provided eye exams to 1203 clients and furnished 2300 eyeglasses. We provided 396 surgical procedures at a cost of $137,328.77. The hearing aid program had a total of 1183 applications processed with 388 approved. Finances: The Lighthouse received grants from LCIF, Kaiser, and Healthcare of Georgia totaling $175,000. This will enable us to purchase updated clinic equipment, expand the Recycling Center, fund diabetic eye surgeries and fund new clinics. Our Lions giving totaled $55,796.53 as of December 31, 2014. Thanks to those clubs and individuals who have supported the Lighthouse with their giving. Work is beginning on the Night of Spectacles. It will be held at the Atlanta Train Depot on April 25, 2015. We hope to see the entire Council there! The Board of Directors and Staff: The election of Lighthouse Officers will be held at the Joint Meeting. District Directors for Districts L and O will be elected at their respective District conventions. We have had some changes in our Board recently. PDG John Rudert stepped down as Treasurer, and that vacancy was filled by PDG Tim Chisholm. As a result of PDG Tim Chisholm moving up as Treasurer, that created a vacancy in his Member-atLarge position. That vacancy was filled by PDG Cathy Threatt. Lion Kristy Allison stepped down as a Member-at-Large, and that vacancy was filled by PDG Va nessa Stanley. Thanks to these Lions who have stepped up to serve our Lighthouse. The Board of Directors and the Staff of our Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation appreciate the support of the Lions of Georgia as we continue to serve more people all over Georgia. Summer Service Numbers 1Jul12014 – 31Dec2014 District L Eye Exams: 562 Eye Glasses: 1,232 Eye Surgeries: 213 Hearing Aids: 495 District I Eye Exams: 341 Eye Glasses: 842 Eye Surgeries: 75 Hearing Aids: 281 District O Eye Exams: 212 Eye Glasses: 314 Eye Surgeries: 107 Hearing Aids: 250 District N Eye Exams: 424 Eye Glasses: 650 Eye Surgeries: 83 Hearing Aids: 192 Fiscal Year Totals: Eye Exams: 1,539 Eye Glasses: 3,038 Eye Surgeries: 478 Hearing Aids: 1,219 Service Numbers Service Numbers have hit alltime highs in the past several months! With over 6,500 services projected by year end, our goal for 2014-15 is over 7,000. “When you give a little, you get a lot.” -Lion Bret Wagenhorst, M.D. Better Vision. Better Hearing. Better Georgia. 15