LION WES SALSBURY
2011-2012 DISTRICT 1A GOVERNOR
Wes was born and raised in Northwest Pennsylvania and couldn’t wait to get away from the snowy winters and fled to Tennessee where he went to college, trained as a high school teacher and moved on to Louisville, Kentucky. There he taught History and English and coached football and wrestling. After receiving tenure and a master’s degree he was hired as a counselor at a mental health center and specialized in treating adolescents many of whom he rescued from the juvenile court system. Wes was instrumental in the establishment of county group home for first time juvenile offenders and when the group home lost federal funding he moved to Chicago to work in a large community mental health center in Uptown.
When one of his clients at the mental health center was in need of a risky eye operation, Wes turned to the Chicago Uptown Lions for referral and assistance. He was overwhelmed with the generosity of the Lions and was asked to join the club in 1993. Within months he became active in the club chairing committees and eventually holding nearly every office in the club. PDG Catherine Rondinelli recognized his potential and suggested to Lion Dan O’Reilly that he might make a good zone chair. Lion Wes was the recipient of the Richard M. Daley citizen of the year award for his community, church and counseling work.
At the district level, Lion Wes has held offices as Zone, Region and District Leadership Chair and Retention Chair, Lions View Editor, Lions Open University Facilitator, Golf Outing Co-chair, and Long Range Planning Committee Member.
On the multiple-district (MD-1) he has been the MD-1 Retention Chair and frequent facilitator at the Mid-Year Leadership Forums. He attended the Senior Leadership Forum in Portland, Oregon.
Wes is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Clinical Supervisor with more than thirty years experience. He is currently retired but expects to return to clinical practice soon after his year as District Governor is completed.
Lion Wes and his wife Marcia have been married for more that twenty-two years and live happily in the Bowmanville Community on the north-side of Chicago. In his spare time Lion Wes enjoys playing clarinet, making jewelry and playing cards with friends.
Lion Wes Salsbury’s Goals
For 2011-2012
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Help Lions of 1-A get “connected to one another” at club meetings and via the website.
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Encourage Lions to “engage in service” activities in their community.
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Recognize that how we serve others today will create the image of the future.
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Acknowledge individual Lions modeling “We Serve”.
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Support LIP (Leader Initiative Program) and LOU (Lions Open University).
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Promote Lions Quest programs in local schools and explore opportunities for Lions to mentor individual youth in their community.
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Project a positive image of ourselves and our service organization.
As these goals are being addressed it is expected that the result will lead to the expansion of services at :
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The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
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Lions of IL Eye Research Institute (LIERI)
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Vision First
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Lions of IL Foundation
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Lions Clubs International and its Foundation (LCIF)
Lions are an international network of 1.3 million men and women in 205 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world.
