Issue #1
Welcome to the very first issue of THE LEO. It's aim is to promote communication between Leos worldwide- with an interchange of views and ideas. If you wish to contribute to THE Leo please do so - I don't want this to just be my views. Please email any contributions to: theleo@faulk.demon.co.uk
I hope to put the Leo together once a week - but this is dependent on whether you contribute and how long it takes me to put an issue together.
If you know of a Leo who has email facilities, but has not received this issue, please let me know their email address, and I'll add them to the list of 'subscribers'. Alternatively, if you don't wish to receive THE LEO, again please let me know.
THE LEO takes the form of an email bulletin rather than a web page as many people do not have web access. If you want to add subscription details to your web page, please do so. Alternatively if you have a new link, by mailing it to THE LEO we can ensure that other webmaster know to update their pages.
As you will have noticed, this publication is in no way endorsed by International, I am doing this as a way to improve international relations, and although this first issue is only being sent to around 30 people, it is being sent to 10 countries
Whilst LEO CLUBS INTERNATIONAL work very well within their districts and multiple districts, apart form Leo forums in Europe and South America, very rarely do Leos discuss their ideas and views with Leos from other countries. The only Leo specific publication available is Leo World - which just salutes club achievements but does not deal with problems faced by all clubs: membership, finance, etc. THIS IS WHERE I HOPE THE LEO TO COME IN.
It is not all serious though - if you know any funny/embarrassing stories of Leos - please send them in.
Also please send in reports on events/charters/fundraisers/ meetings, etc. I will be reluctant to publish minutes, but I will publish a written report of what happened at a district meeting, etc. Clubs can also send in reports of what happened at their meetings, but only if something of relevance to other clubs worldwide is discussed.
My name is Adrian Faulkner and I am serving my second year as Multiple District Membership & Extension Officer. I have been a Leo for 7 years now, being an original charter member of the Leo Club of Frimley & Camberley in 105SE. In that time I have served every position in the club, and was responsible for taking the clubs membership from 2 to 10 in a year. I am also a member of the Multiple District Lions membership committee, as well as a non-voting member of the Multiple District Leo Council. I am the first Leo to sit on this committee, mainly due to the success I have had with Leo Membership under my project which is known as: LEO CLUB GROWTH.
I have yet to attend a Leo Europa Forum (let's get an article on that for our Leos outside Europe), due to the fact that as a student I was unable to afford it. I plan to go to Toulouse this summer though.. Oh...... and I have no time for any other hobbies, outside of Leos.
This one has been discussed for years, and I have really re-introduced it to promote some response. Whilst Lions have an International President to promote Lionism world-wide in all its many forms, there is no-one specifically travelling the globe promoting Leoism. Should there be? Leos have grown from their humble origins in 1957 to be one of the largest youth organisations in the world, yet our spokesperson is usually someone who is well over twice our age. Would a Leo be a better ambassador for the organisation, promoting youth and youth projects on a worldwide scale.
Cost has always been of major consideration, as is the fact that most International Presidents are since retired meaning they have the time to spare. However, the International Association for Lions Clubs has the resources and money to 'sponsor' an International Leo President, and I feel that many deticated Leos would be willing to give up a year to do the job. Can you imagine telling a potential employer, that you were not working for a whole year as you were an international ambassador for a service organisation?
An International Leo President would also act as a perfect link between Leos from all countries and cultures, and would report to the International Directors on all matters Leo. Please also remember that your sponsoring Lions Club pays $80 a year to International HQ for having a Leo Club. How is this money used to benefit Leo Clubs International, when our only communication with International is through Leo World, which certainly doesn't cost $80 a year per club. Surely some of this money could be used to 'sponsor' an International Leo President?
In the latest issue of Leo World, it details the requirements to win the new International Leo of the Year Award. It is great to see this award back after a few years of it being missing, however a closer review of the requirements shows that maybe International have got the requirements WRONG !!!
You will notice that a candiadte for the award will need to show assistance to their community OUTSIDE OF LEOS. I cannot understand why International HQ would put such a requirement in.
Why?
I know of many Leos who could qualify for such an award, who live, breath and sleep Leos - and just don't have time to do anything outside of Leoism. Whenever they help any outside organisation they do so as a Leo, and try to get other leos involved.
Whilst there are many leos who do have outside interests, surely a 'better' Leo is one who commits themselves to Leoism, who whenever they are not working is working for Leoism. Yes, Leos who have outside interests do great work for Leoism, BUT those that do nothing but Leoism, surely are more deserving, and should not be discriminated against for such a high level of commitment?
Warning !!! In the coming months you are going to here a lot more about LEO CLUB GROWTH, a project which has taken the Multiple District of the British Isles by storm.
Yes this is my project, but I am not trying to 'blow my own trumpet'. This is the result of many Lion's and Leo's unfaltering dedication, and in just 3 months, incredible results have been achieved.
In February 1995, MD105 Leos were in big trouble. They were losing clubs at an astounding rate, and membership was drastically falling, as was morale. Hard work by loads of Lions and Leos had only managed to slow the process down, rather than reverse it. We were in big trouble. Only one district 105I had gone unscathed and had actually increased in membership at an alarming rate. The rest of the Leos were upset that this could not be repeated throughout the rest of the Multiple District.
After discussions with various Lions and Leos it was agreed that a result had to be reached quick, and I as MD Membership Officer put forward my plan based on 18 months research. It was a daring plan to say the least - to set up 100 new Leo clubs in just 12 months, which would both improve the distance between clubs and increase morale as well as increase net membership.
The project was launched on 1st July 1995 with a PR frenzy. For the first time Leos began targetting Lions with a carefully prepared marketing plan regarding the sponsoring of a Leo Club. At the first MD Council Meeting of the year in August 1995, I was glad to announce that we had 5 clubs interested in sponsoring a Leo Club - not bad considering it was holiday season and the project was yet fully operational. However, during the meeting it was discovered through District Presidents that more Lions Clubs were indeed interested in sponsoring Leo Clubs following the initial publicity and that the figure was not 5 but 55.
What is yet more exciting is the fact, that this figure has now risen to 75, even though our publicity campaign has suffered a massive setback by our edition of the Lion magazine not publishing an article on Leo Club Growth.
The information on how Leo Club Growth (LCG) works is available from myself, and if enough Leos request it, I will serialise it within the Leo.
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