Signature Projects – Making our Mark

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Signature Projects – Making our Mark

February 14, 2012 by Lion Simon Moss

Rather than bore you with tales of more meetings, I’d like to use this blog post to tell you about Lions’ Signature Projects within Great Britain and Ireland and particularly within my own district.

The Council of Governors decided last year to focus attention on two of the many projects available as Signature Projects for the Multiple District with the tag-line “Our signature on your community”. The aim is to encourage clubs throughout MD105 to take part in both these projects alongside their other activities to help establish a better national identity of what Lions Clubs do and why.

Two major themes within the work that Lions Clubs International does are Sight and Youth and the Signature Projects reflect that.

The first project is the Lions Eye Health Programme (LEHP) with its objectives :-

To encourage early detection and timely treatment of diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the appropriate treatment for low vision by regular eye health checks
To educate people at risk of eye disease and encourage them to seek appropriate treatment.
To increase awareness of the network of eye health organizations concerned with diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, AMD and low vision

As far as Clubs are involved these objectives are supported by activities ranging from distribution of the various information leaflets to appropriate locations such as doctors’ surgeries or libraries to holding awareness events in prominent locations and in conjunction with local opticians.

The second project is Young Leaders in Service which is an award scheme aimed at encouraging young people to engage in community service activities. It is open to young people between the ages of 11 and 18 and recognises service through two awards:

The Silver Service Award for young people who provide at least 50 hours of service to their community during a 12 month period
The Gold Service Award for those who provide at least 100 hours of service during a 12 month period

If I’m honest, of the two projects, this is the one that excites me the most. That’s not to say that LEHP doesn’t excite me, who wouldn’t want to contribute to saving people’s sight? But young leaders in service provides an opportunity for Lions to influence a generation!

By working with schools, colleges and other youth organisations we have a means to get young people thinking about, and then doing something about, helping others. More than that we can challenge those activities by providing projects for young people that we “older” Lions struggle with physically. And on top of all that we will bring these activities to the parents and teachers of these young people which may attract new members to Lions.

My District Governor, Neil, has asked me to coordinate signature project activities within the district and I have produced the first issue of what will be a regular newsletter which has been sent to the clubs in our area (Making Our Mark Issue 1).

So, if you are a Lion in MD105, encourage your club to take part in these two projects. If you are a person over 40 go and have an eye test whether your vision is good or not and get in touch with your local lions club for more information. If you are a teacher or a young person aged between 11 and 18, in Great Britain or Ireland, contact the local Lions to find out how you can take part in Young Leaders in Service. If you have a smartphone use the QR code below to access further information.