Dear Club Officer,

 

I know that one highlight of every club’s yearly schedule is a visit from your district governor.  Your district may even have a traditional schedule that would lead you to expect a visit shortly after the new governor takes office at the International Convention.

 

This year, however, I have asked district governors to do something different: to postpone official club visits until later in the year and concentrate fully on working with district MERL teams during their first three months in office.  Please be flexible in your scheduling to help accommodate this request.

 

When we met in Bangkok I was very pleased with the goals and plans that the district governors presented, especially in the area of membership growth and retention.  Because these goals are so ambitious and their plans so creative, I asked the district governors to waste no time putting them into practice.

 

I want you to know that by postponing club visits or by asking vice district governors to make early visits your district governors are not neglecting their duty to clubs.  Increasing membership is vital to every club in our association and by working hard in this area they will help make it possible for all clubs in your district to perform even greater miracles of service.

 

I hope that you also recognize the importance of membership growth to your club and to Lions Clubs International and work hand-in-hand with your district governor’s plans to attract new members and retain current members in clubs throughout your district.

 

Your district governor and district MERL team are there to support your club in everything you do.  Please give them your full support during this critical time.

 

Thank you for all you do for your community and for the world community.

 

Sincerely,

 

Al Brandel

President

The International Association of Lions Clubs