Lions Clubs

Hi everyone:

I am interested in starting a Lions Club in SL? Lions Clubs are service clubs with men and women who would like to help better their community. It is the worlds largest service club with nearly 1.4 million members in 205 countries / geographic areas and 44,000 clubs. While Lions on a local level provide many services and donations to the community, Internationally our focus is on eradicating preventable blindness in the world.

It seems to me that SL provides an unique opportunity to serve. Because I am basically new to SL I need help. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to kick this off. All we need are 20 charter members to begin the club. Typically Lions Clubs meet at least twice per month, share some fellowship, have fun and work on ways to be of service to the community.

Does anyone have any thoughts on how to get started? Would anyone like to be a charter member?

To learn more about Lions Clubs you can visit www.lionsclubs.org

Thxs.


Dan Lyon
District Governor
Lions Clubs International
District 4-A3

www.lions4a3.org

Have you used the search function to see if there is already a group or groups in existence?

SEARCH button, bottom of your viewer, GROUPS tab.

P.S. Thanks to the Lions for their community work. A friend of mine was unable to afford glasses and they helped him out. From that point on, all my former glasses were donated to the Lions.

Yes...I have search and nothing came up. It would be hard for me to believe I am the first "Lion" in the world to come up with the idea to start a club here. That being said at 45 years old I am on the young side for Lions...haha

And yes Lions do great service including providing eye exams and free glasses for those in need. And thank you for your eye glass donations. They are processed and then go to help people in thrid world countries.

Not an easy question to answer...

I think your best approach is to get in world and look about and learn as much as you can.

Look for other charity groups and not-for-profit organisations and see what they are doing. There are many such groups in SL and they raise awareness as well as money and provide support groups within SL. IM any groups you find that you think may be able to advise you.

I can think of Relay (Race) for Life and the Make a Wish Foundation.

When you spent some time in SL, the potential for the Lions will become apparent to you and you will be able to plan a way forward.

Keep checking back here, because I'm sure someone who has been involved in this sort of thing will post.

If you've not looked at it already, Simba, this page may be of interest to you:

http://secondlifegrid.net/slfe/non-profit-use-virtual-world

Thanks for the responses thus far. And yes I have been to the Non-Profit area you linked for me. Technically Service Clubs are not "Non-Profits". They fund raise and provide services for them. But in SL this does seem to be the best place to start..

Here is what I envision:

A SL Lions Club that meets twice per month. IE The 1st and 2nd Tuesday at 7pm SL time.
They would run a meeting just like any other Lions Club meeting minus the meal that usually is invovle in real world.

The club would establish a board of directors and officers. As the need arises they will set up committties and do community service in their own communities. They will fund raise in their communities too as well as hold fund raising events in world.

The club would have it's own Island for a meeting place created by it's members.

The only challenge I see is the collection of dues (usually $7-8 USD per month) and funds raised. I'm not sure how you do the money side of things.

Any more feedback?

bump

Just a general point that 7pm SL time on a weekday would make it rather difficult for many people from Europe to attend your meetings, since it's either 3 or 4 am the next day, depending on where in Europe you are. Dunno if that's an issue?

Thanks for the input. Actually, the clubs would set the meeting time that's best for them. I am here merely to organize and play the role of what we call a "Guiding Lion". In the long view of things we coould have several Lions Clubs with people from all over the world in each club or some of the clubs could be based on the language the club wants to use. The possibilities are endless.

Are there any other "virtual" Lions Clubs like this?

Lions Clubs International has approved what they call a Cyber Club. A Cyber Club meets and conducts club business on-line via email, IM, and perhaps video conferencing. But to answer your question, I have not found any service clubs in SL.

If any of you are interested in being a Charter member of this new club and would like to assist me in getting this started, please email me at [email]liondanlyon@gmail.com[/email]

Ah, that's the tricky bit. My question isn't "are there any other service clubs in SL". It's "Are there any virtual Lions Clubs"... anywhere. OK, they have provision for "cyber clubs", but what's an example of one?

Seems like there should be a Linden that might be interested in this or know of existing/similar things.. Blue, maybe?

You could try asking Blue about this, Simba - he might (or might not) have some good pointers for you. Office hours can be found at http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Office_hours. Expect it to be crowded so get there a few minutes early and be ready to fight a little for his attention.

I think it's a great idea. Only in SL can you have a Lions Club where all the members really ARE Lions.

I think it should be a membership requirement, like those Shriners hats.

Time for a ferret club.

Funny Lindal. Lions don't wear funny hats...but they do wear shinny vests. So I suppose when the club meets everyone could put on a vest. Many clubs no longer wear the vests, but it might be a good thing for the SL Lions Club.

No, no, no...you're failing to see the possibilities here. Forget the funny hats and the shiny vests...get LION AVATARS.

I'll put on my tiger av and crash your meeting.

I did get it : ) That would be fun too!!

For those that are interested. We are moving forward and starting a Lions Club in SL. Thanks to everyone for their input. It has lead to connections with others who want to see this happen.

If you are interested in serving your community, those in need in SL community and the world as a whole through and with th ebacking of the #1 rated Non-Govermental Agency,Lions Clubs International, please email me at:

[email]liondanlyon@gmail.com[/email]

All we need is 20 charter members to kick things off. I will email you with a time of our 1st meeting.

Also, in world, add me as a friend. Simba Jaggernov

Thanks!!

It's a good club. They do good work giving eyeglasses to the poor in various parts of the world.

But the thing is, without having an official charter, you might run into trouble with the actual Lions Club organisation.

If not, then the main thing would be to become a part of THIS community first - get to know SL and its people basically. Same as if you moved to a new town, and wanted to set up a Lions club chapter in it.

If you want to explore the SL world a bit, maybe join the Forum Cartel group and begin going to various events. And/or join NCI. Both are ways to get to know the community. But not the only ways.

Thanks for the input Clarissa. We do have permission from Lions Clubs International and we will have an official charter. I am a District Governor (4-A3) and I am working with a Past District Governor from the Carolinas.

We will be holding two informational meetings next Wednesday August 5th at 9 AM and 6 PM SLT. If anyone is interested in learning more about Lions Clubs and would like to serve your local community, the SL community and internationally, please come to the meeting or email me at: [email]liondanlyon@gmail.com[/email]

Add me as a friend and I will give you the landmark for the meeting.

I see you got some press too ^^. That was fast - good job and good luck with things
http://www.metaversejournal.com/2009/07/31/lions-club-and-second-life/

Wow...very cool.

That's great. Congrats. Just making sure.

I see a lot of brand-name er, borrowing in SL. I keep waiting for corporations to catch onto that. Lol. Also a lot of orgs. that name themselves after orgs., so it's good to know yours is the real deal.

May I ask, what types of things do they/you wish to do in SL? I mainly know Lions Clubs for their eyeglasses charity and I know they help communities but not how they do. And then I'm curious how it translates to SL.

I know I can come to the meeting, but this gives you a chance to tell *everyone reading.*