Hello Lions,                                               

I hope that everyone had a great and blessed Thanksgiving. 

Very soon the holidays will be upon us, but as you know the Salvation Army has already started their yearly "ringing of the bells" in an effort to raise funds to help our communities. I am in hopes that the Lions Clubs of District 29-O will join the other clubs of MD 29 in an effort to support the Salvation Army in their efforts on December 10th.  Please contact PDG Eddie Queen if you have any questions. 

I encourage all Lions to consider attending the 16th annual West Virginia Lions Leadership School to be held January 27-29, 2012 at Lakeview Resort and Conference Center in Morgantown. The committee has put together an excellent selection of seminars for your enjoyment and learning opportunities. Registration fee is $100.00 per person if made before December 15, 2011 and $125.00 per person after December 15, 2011. The registration fee includes Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and dinner and Sunday lunch. 

I'm asking my Zone Chairs to have your clubs contact me as soon as possible, to schedule your official visit.                             Official visits have been scheduled by 26 clubs so far, but I still need official visits scheduled by the following clubs:

Zone 1:  C-K River Cities, Lavalette, SE Huntington and Wayne             

Zone 3:  Point Pleasant, New Haven, Liberty, and Sissonville                                                            

Zone 4:  Cross Lanes and St Albans           

Zone 6:  Charleston Downtown                     

Zone 7:  Belle-Rand, Glasgow-Cedar Grove and Loudendale 

MEMBERSHIP:  District  29-O membership as of 10/31/2011 stands at 928 which is up by 14 over last year. However, membership, thus far, appears to be dropping off during the month of November.  We need to ASK, ASK, ASK someone to become a Lion. We must nurture and train these new Lions to grow and become members of our International family. Get them involved in your local service projects and that way, they will be less likely to leave your club after a few months. I've read the reports and that's what is happening. Placing the blame for this is easy because it starts with me and filters down to every one of us.  Lions, we simply have to do MORE to increase and maintain our membership. 

Remember to start your plans for your club to plant trees,. Contact Environmental Chair Jim Slamick for more details. 

The District is still in NEED of a Service Coordinator for the central part of the District. Please contact me ASAP if you are interested.

The District is also looking for a candidate to run for the office of 2nd Vice District Governor next May. Contact Election Chair, Michelle Stigall for information on this. 

I wish to THANK the following Clubs for their personal generosity and gifts towards me and my wife during my recent official visits.  Charleston Gold Dome Lions Club for the gift of cash towards my personal expenses, Man Lions Club for the gift of a beautiful Cross pen, and  Milton Lions Club for their wonderful gift of a blue Blenko Glass vase. 

Finally, Lion Jill and I wish to extend the very best to all of our fellow Lions during this upcoming Christmas holiday season and we hope everyone will have a prosperous New Year. 

“More Lions = More Friends”                   Lion DG Darrell Jennings

Well, I'm back from Seattle, and I've had a once in a lifetime experience that was truly amazing. I encourage everyone to read the July/August issue of the Lions magazine and/or read about our new International President, Dr Wing-Kun Tam on the Inter-national Website. This Lion is an awesome Leader, and I am so proud to not only have met him, but to be serving as your District Governor during his year as our International President.

I wish to report a very good turnout for the 1st cabinet meeting for the year, I felt as if a lot was accomplished. My 2nd cabinet meeting will be held on Saturday, Oct 1st at 10 am at our Fall Conference in Ripley. I am currently seeking Lions Clubs that would be willing to host the 3rd and 4th (final) meetings next year. A registration form for the Fall Conference can be found within this newsletter. The first 50 registrants will be in the running for a free registration prize worth $45.00.

Membership totals have taken their annual drop for June, and I'm glad to report that we only lost 7 members from the May totals. (A drop from 921 to 914 total members). Now is the time to make a difference for your Club, your District and your community by ASKING someone to join Lions. Remember that the District Governors Contest is based solely on Membership growth and runs through next May. See how your club is doing elsewhere in this newsletter.

And now, for some good news: I've learned that a happy club is a productive club. With that in mind, I've made some quick changes in the makeup of a few zones. Effective immediately, and per their request, the Lions clubs of Liberty and Sissonville are transferred to Zone 3 and the Dunbar club is transferred to Zone 4. I apologize for my quick tempered response to your original requests, but wanted you to know that I am open to constructive criticism and I will listen to the voice of reason While this leaves only the 2 clubs--Charleston Downtown and Kanawha City in Zone 6, I am promoting Lion Jim Slamick to "Head Zone Chairperson" with the responsibility of heading up Zone 6 and assisting all the other Zone Chairs in their efforts to help their clubs to increase membership and fulfill my Goal of 1000 net members by 2012. Lion Jim has also accepted the position of "District Environmental Chair" and is heading up our District's efforts to plant trees and fulfill our International President's goal of 1 million trees planted. How many trees will your club plant?

Plans are underway to have the 1st "Women's Conference" in our district. Female Lions will be able to fellowship and learn about the leadership possibilities for women in our Lions Clubs International Association. Stay tuned for further details as they become available and ask your female friends to become Lions. You wouldn't want them to miss this upcoming event.

I wish to report the resignation of Lion Evelyn Coleman from her long time position as a District 29-O Sight Coordinator. She was a very valuable and useful volunteer for the District. I am saddened by her resignation. Obviously, I am now seeking someone to attempt to fill her very big shoes.

Zone 8 Chairperson needed I am seeking a Past Club President to fill the position of Zone 8 Chairperson, for the southern part of the district. Clubs in Zone 8 are comprised of: Chapmanville, Danville Area, Logan & Man.

Clubs should be planning to attend the many activities taking place within our district. Events are mentioned within the newsletter, but also keep in mind the following:

Lions Day at Power Park for fun, fellowship and baseball on Sunday, August 28th

District 29-O Fall Conference on Friday, September 30th & Saturday, October 1st

Ringing the Bells for the Salvation Army on Saturday, December 10th.

West Virginia Leadership School on Friday, January 27th thru Sunday, January 29th

For Clubs that haven’t scheduled the "District Governors Official Visit", Please do so right away. Phone: 304-395-0173

"THANK YOU" Lion Cheryl (my sister on the left) and I wish to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and cards sent our way on the passing of our mother last month. They were very much appreciated.

Hope to see you all soon,

Lion Darrell Jennings, DG WV District 29-O