D8 ZC Report submitted to 19D Cabinet meeting via Zoom for Feb 11, 2023

Good Morning DG Deb and fellow cabinet members. 

I have completed all my DG visits with VDG Micheal Livingstone, and I am now finishing up my Zone visits. In January I had a great visit with the Sorrento Lions and look forward to their 50th Charter Night coming up on May 13th. February I visited the Barriere Lions and assisted in inducting 2 new members. They have their own induction ceremony and I was very proud to have been able to participate in it. I have my remaining visitations planned for March and April. 
I am informing clubs of applying for the Club Excellence Award as well as applying for their Treasurer and Presidents Awards. Most clubs have had an increase in membership and should be eligible for the Club Excellence Awards if they meet the remaining criteria. I think most clubs do. One thing being discussed in my travels is the costs of apparel, vests etc from the LCI store. Why is it that we can not have a Canadian store that we can order from? Chase recently ordered a yellow work vest for a new member that required a vest much larger than the ones we have in stock. The plain yellow vest was $68.95 in the LCI store, and by the time it reached Chase with the dollar conversion, shipping, duty etc the (1) vest totalled $162.85 CAD. Clubs strive for brand recoqnition and are proud to wear their Lions apparel. Clubs can not afford for spend $163.00 on just 1 vest. Many clubs are opting to have their apparel made elsewhere to conserve funds. I personally think this is diminishing our brand. We need to find a more economical way to provide clubs with LCI apparel. I think this can be easily achieved with a Canadian Distribution Store.

Respectfully submitted, 
ZC D8 Karen Bassett