Members

 

LION YEAR 2024-2025 HAS BEGUN!

And what fun we had in the Land Down Under!

 

RLLI (Regional Lions Leadership Institute)
Registration is NOW OPEN!

If you would like to learn more about Lions Clubs International, meet other Lions from around the state, and participate in interesting training sessions that don't just apply to your Lions life, but to your regular life, then you are in luck!  Registration is open for the October 28-30th RLLI, to be held in Scott, Louisiana.  The cost is $100, and you will be reimbursed for your hotel expense by turning in the proper form and receipts. Use THIS LINK to register soon as spots are limited.
 

LION YEAR 2022-23 KICKS OFF IN MONTREAL

Governors line up for the International Parade, June 25 - left to right:: 8N DG Richard Norris (and his wife); 8O GLT William Arceneaux; 8L DG Terry Harkey: 8O Norma Theall; 8L PCC Scott Harkey; 8O CC Belinda Arceneaux; 8O DG Danny Theall

International President Brian Sheehan receiveds his oath of office from outgoing International President Douglas X Alexander

Penguins, t-shirt cannons, confetti, Segways, Segway shoes - it was a truly wild celebration!

Your new Governor!

 

 

 

8-L LIONS RESPOND TO IDA DEVASTATION

Hurricane Ida left the southeast part of Louisiana with catastrophic damage including complete shut downs of infrastructure.  The governor advises evacuees not to return until this infrastructure is in place again as most areas are without power and water with dangerous electrical or gas lines needed specialized attention.  Power grids are offline, some destroyed completely.  It will be a long time before things are close to normal for many residents in that area.
However, 8L Lions are in place in Denham Springs with the Giving Bak field kitchen pumping out 3000 meals 2x for lunch and 2x for dinner.
Lion Bryan Roppolo (Shreveport Downtown) leads this crew to or near disaster areas where the need for food is great.  They serve communities and also some of the members of crews sent here from 32 states around the country to assist is restoring services and participating in search and rescue.  
It is likely they will be there until their food  trailers are depleted.  Good Job 8L Lions!

PCC Scott Harkey making his favorite breakfast (anything with tortillas!) 
 
 
The collapsed jazz club located at 427 S. Rampart in New Orleans, La., on Monday August 30, 2021, is seen after Hurricane Ida came ashore in Louisiana on Sunday August 29, 2021.
Famous Jazz Club on Rampart Street in New Orleans
IPDG Phyllis Breaux's grandmother's house in Boutte, La.
 
 

Join the 1st EVER Louisiana Lions MD8 Convention

 Phyllis' grandmother's house in Boutte, LA
Exciting times are ahead for Lions of Louisisana!  Our convention committee has been working overtime to shift gears from an in-person convention to one that is virtual.  You can get together with your fellow Lions and participate as a group, or from your smart phone on the golf course!   You must register to receive the Zoom link.   Registration (as is dictated by our by-laws) is $5.00  You can use PayPal or send a check.  Information will be sent electronically about the convention schedule as it develops.  
If you have been selected as a delegate or alternate, be sure to register as well as resopnd to the email you get regarding voting.
Go HERE to register NOW!   https://bity.ly/md-8conv
Or use the QR code!
 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REGISTER NOW!!

LCI Boosts Virtual Learning!

If you have not visited the new Virtual Events Center, you are missing out!  The COVID shut down our conventions and our USA/Canada Forum, but it did not shut down our progress.  Due to the inability to meet in person, LCI launched a virtual symposium back in April when we were in the middle of stay-in-place orders.  This first symposium and all of the virtual events that have been produced since can be found at https://lionsclubs.org/en/virtual-events-center.  If you register for one, you will be informed of all upcoming events and given a first chance to register and add it to your Google, Yahoo, or Outlook calendars.  

Many of these offerings are produced by the Young Lions Task Force and are very enlightening.  Please take a moment to view them.  Number 4 in the series on Funraising will take place live on July 30, 6 p.m.  REGISTER NOW!!

President Choi Stays in Place for 2nd Term

First we lost our 1st International Vice President, Judge Haynes Townsend in November.  After 3 years of planning, he was only 8 months away from taking office.  There was a scramble, then Past International President Doug Alexander was selected to stand in for the late Judge Townsend...... then COVID-19 happened.  It shut down our conventions, it stunted our outreach, it wreaked havoc on LCI plans.  In the midst of the chaos, President Choi brought stability by agreeing to stay in place as our president for a second term when we hope things will have normalized.  If you have never seen his theme video - please watch it here:

 

District 8L at Texas State Convention

Incoming District Governor Tina Hickey, and 2nd Vice District Governor (elect) Debbie Schillings along with incoming Council Chair for MD8, Scott Harkey and outgoing District Governor, Terry went to Longview to attend the Texas State Convention.  The convention offered training for all those involved!  Since there was no Louisiana State Convention, no International Convention in Singapore and USA/Canada was called off,  Past International President Jimmie Ross sent a special invitation to any District Governor Elects to come and take the oath with our Texas Lions.  The group already mentioned was accompanied by Phyllis Breaux, incoming District Governor from 8S, and Sheila Breaux, Incoming 1st Vice District Governor from 8S.  Sheila's daughter, Allison, also attended.  The convention started on Thursday and extended through Saturday night where the pair of governors indeed did take the oath of office.                    

Texas has 16 districts and they elect their council chair on a rotating basis from each district.  It was very impressive to see the council meeting set up with outgoing DGs, DGEs, FVDGEs, and SVDGEs!  Each class of DGs have their own colors.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISTRICT 8L EMERGENCY GRANT

Our district applied for an emergency grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation for emergency medical equpment to asssist in the COVID-19 pandemic in the Caddo Bossier area.  To know more, watch the video here!

 

A Message from Our IP

 

JOIN US SUNDAY

District 8L Cabinet meeting will be April 26 at 3 p.m. on ZOOM. 

If you were not sent an email invitation, contact lionsdistrict8L@gmail.com and mention you need the invite.

4th Quarter DISTRICT NEWSLETTER here..

 

No News is Good News?  Well sorry - we have Good News that is New News!   

Check out the January District 8L News

AND Multiple District 8 Newsletter

 

 

NEW CERTIFIED GUIDING LIONS

Red River Certified Guiding Lions
l-r President Debbie Schillings, Krissy Shelton, and 1st VDG Tina Hickey

Downtown Lion Susan Todd

Minden Certified Guiding Lion - 2nd VDG Jerry Madden

 

​CHEVRON AWARDS FOR 2019-2020

Richard Wilkinson (Manfield) receives a Chevron Award for 25 years of service.

 

Lions in attendance receiving service awards were (left to right) Lion Brent Cooley (10 years); Lion Barney Ware (15 years); Lion Dick Todd (25 years); Lion James Branch (30 years); Lion Dr. Fred Cabaniss (40 years); and Lion Paul Kitchens (45 years).

Lions Joe McMurray, Sherrie McMurrah and PDG Mike Trainor of Minden Evening received service Chevron Awards and in addition, PDG Mike, and Connie Craft became Certified Guiding Lions!


l-r: Terry Harkey, Connie, Craft, Mike Trainor, Joe McMurray, Sherrie McMurray


Lions John Cole and Wayne Carter (Gibsland Lions) receive Chevrons for their many years of service

 

 

OCTOBER LIONS CLUB ANNIVERSARIES

October brings cooler weather (sometimes) and fall activities,
but also three clubs in our district celebrate their chartering date!  

Natchitoches - chartered October 7, 1943

Shreveport Downtown - a founding club!!  October 19, 1917

Minden - chartered October 22, 1925

 

Downtown Preps for "Rhapsody"

Please consider purchasing a couple of tickets from the Downtown Lions Club for the upcoming "Rhapsody in View" concert by Centenary Choir. 

 

REGISTER NOW!!!!

8L REPRESENTING AT.....

LEFT TO RIGHT:  DG Terry Harkey, PDG Scott Harkey, 1 VDG Tina Hickey, Cabinet Treasurer Krissy Shelton, DG friend Barbie Hertz, new friends The Mays, Cindy and Lion President (North Shreveport) Steve Umling all enjoying the Saturday lunch at the 2019 Forum

More Service Chevrons!  Leesville had 4 members present receiving 2017-2018 recognition for their time as a Lion.  Left-right: Bill Pardue, Julien Ray Stevens, Trey Coker, Rand Alford

Four of our Minden Lions were recognized with service awards at today’s club meeting and were presented with pins/certificates by Lion District 8L Governor Terry Harkey. Pictured (left to right) are Lion District Governor Harkey, Lion L. Allen Holland (50 years of service), Lion Henry Bridges (15 years of service), Lion Secretary Charles Purdy (45 years of service) and Lion Buddy Thomas (35 years of service). Congrats to these fine Lions!

 

Ten (of 21) clubs in our district screen children's vision. I just want to recognize these Clubs!  Also, CONGRATULATIONS to MY club - North Shreveport, for screening the largest number of all the clubs in the state!!! You make me so proud!ize those clubs here, and also 

 

Service Recognition for Bossier City Lions 

Left to right: President-elect Jimmie Whitten, George Herbst 35 years, Homer Stout 25 years, Morris Haskins 10 years, DG-elect Terry Harkey, Dianna Smathers 20 years, Henry Burns, 20 years, PID Stan Palmer 45 years.  Congratulations and thank you for your years of service to our organization

LAST WEEK BEFORE LCI CONVENTION! 

District Governor-elect Made it by Mansfield...

Another week, another couple of clubs....


 

Happy Anniversary Leesville Lions Club
​Chartered June 17, 1942

 

 

More Club Visits...  Can you guess the club?




 

JUNE EDITION - Out NOW!

 

 

District Governor Elect Meets 8L Clubs

July 1 begins the new Lion Year and Lion District Governor Elect Terry Harkey is not letting any grass grow under her feet.  She is scheduled to meet all the clubs (before she is actually sworn in on July 8 in Milan, Italy) to share the goals she is hoping th district may achieve.  (Apologies to Minden and Florien where she forgot to get a picture, but she'll BE BACK!)
Simsboro Lions Club participates in a selfie after the May 20th meeting.




One of the perks of visiting, viewing Ruston Lions Club inducting a new member


Ruston Lions following their May 28th meeting at the Northern Louisiana Medical Center.

 

 

MD8 97th STATE CONVENTION Highlights

As the final bell rang Sunday morning, the multiple districts were introduced to their new District and Vice District Governors who will assume their respective positions July 1. The District Governors for 2019-2020 will be sworn in July 7th in Milan, Italy.  


From left to right:  8L Terry Harkey (Scott); 8I C. C. Prudhomme; 8O Norma Theall (Danny); 8N Lambert Ratard (Francoise)  - not pictures 8S Willis Luke

1st Vice District Governors

Left to right: 8S (Moose) Phyllis Breaux; 8L Tina Hickey; 8O Gerard Credeur

2nd Vice District Governors

Left to right: 8O (William) Belinda Arceneaux; 8L Jerry Madden; 8S Sheila Breaux (Chris)

The Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation has several new trustees to help with the coming year

Left to rigtht:  8L: Debbie Schillings, 3 year trustee; 8L Tina Hickey, filling 1 year trustee remaining term; 8O Bob Andreport   8S Chris Breaux, 3 year trustee

District Governor Tony Simpson presented the 2018-2019 Leadershp Medal to Lion Debbie Schillings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISTRICT 8L LONS BREAK GROUND

From left to right: Bud Byd (NSLC), Tom Pace (NSLC), Sherrie McMurray (Minden Evening), Henry Burns (Bossier), Jerry Madden (Minden), Mike Trainor (Minden Evening), Bob Martin (ARS President), Scott Harkey (NSLC), Steve Umling (NSLC) and Ward Bryant (project architect) PHOtO COURTESY OF TOM PACE
From staff reports
Shreveport Times
USA Today Network

The American Rose Society held two groundbreakings on April 5  Both are part of the Great Garden Restoration Project of the American Rose Center.  This is a five-year plan to completely renovate and design "America's Rose Garden," which will tell the story of the rose in America when complete.

The groundbreaking of the Great Garden Restoration Project and the "First Circle" is the beginning of a commitment of the American Rose Society National Board of Directors.

The groundbreaking was held as part of the board meeting and planning conference of the American Rose Society National Board of Directors.  The groundbreaking marks the beginning of the first garden work, as all other work to this point has been preparation for beginning construction of new gardens

Members of the local Lions Clubs also broke ground on their Ability Ramp, Lions Pavilion and Lions Gate which will improve access for people with disabilities to the gardens.  This area will feature a sensory garden with native plants, a seating area with information on the history of Lions CLub.

This is a Legacy Lions Club Porject in celebration of their centennial birthday.  This garden is significant to the American Rose Center as it adds both access from the Klima Rose Hall and the garden road into the gardens for those with disabilities,

[The Times included a photo of the American Rose Society officers and project staff, but for thispublication, the Lions photo is included.]

From left to right: Bud Byd (NSLC), Tom Pace (NSLC), Sherrie McMurray (Minden Evening), Henry Burns (Bossier), Jerry Madden (Minden), Mike Trainor (Minden Evening), Bob Martin (ARS President), Scott Harkey (NSLC), Steve Umling (NSLC) and Ward Bryant (project architect) PHOtO COURTESY OF TOM PACE

From staff reports

Bank of Montgomery Partners with Lions

Nancy Simmons, Bank of Montgomery - Benton manager received the first Lions Eyeglass Recycling box from Bossier City Lions President Henry Burns.  BOM, as it is known, has agreed to have a recycling box in each branch in our area.  Now when someone asks you where can they take their eyeglasses, you have a known location to point them to.

More Eye Screenings!

Image may contain: 12 people, people smiling, people standing

Members of the two Minden Lions Clubs were back in action Wednesday, this time conducting children’s eye screenings at First Baptist Church Minden’s Weekday Center. The Lions screened 57 children for uncorrected refractive errors and eye misalignment. Optometrist referrals will be recommended to parents, if necessary. Pictured (back row, left to right ) are Lions Jerry Madden, Todd Buffington, Brigham Cheatham, Tommy Cheatham, Kent Gibson, Jim Frazier, and Mike Trainer. Pictured (front row, left to right) are Weekday Center Director Kim James; and Lions Sherrie McMurray, Janice Clark, Tommy Davis, Rick Buckner, and Jake Chapman. The next eye screening event will take place Friday morning at Glenbrook School in Minden.

 — with Sherrie McMurray, Brigham Cheatham, Tommy Cheatham,Mike Trainor and Jake Chapman.

 

 
By

 Minden Press-Herald

 -
 

 

 Mar 4, 201

Lions Clubs perform eye screenings

Members of both Minden Lions clubs joined forces this morning to conduct no-cost eye screenings at Minden Montessori. Lions used their new Plusoptix diagnostic eye camera, which can detect uncorrected refractive errors and eye misalignment in a matter of seconds. The camera will advise a “pass” or “refer” result for each child screened. All 21 students passed without the need for optometrist referral. Lions Club members helping with the screening at Minden Montessori were: Mike Trainor, Jerry Madden, Sherrie McMurray, Tracy Campbell, Janice Spears, Ryan Gatti, and Steve Cropper. (Right) Gatti reviews the eye screening machine.

 

 

Don't Miss This!
Registration HERE:  

THIS WEEKEND!!​

District Governor Elect training!  
LOUISIANA LIONS CHILDREN'S CAMP
Saturday, November 17 - 8 a.m. - Sunday, November 18

 

 

District 8-L Technology and Social Media Conference
Friday September 14th & Saturday September 15th
Hilton Garden Inn Bossier City, LA
2015 Old Minden Road
Bossier City, LA 71111

 

 

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.
Lions Clubs International News
Connect with Us Online