Speech to the Leo District 412 Convention by District Governor Major Kebby Konnie,7th April 2007, University of Botswana
Now is the time
Thank you for the opportunity to talk to you this evening ,I would also like to thank the leadership for inviting me to this historic convention ,hosted by Gaborone West Leo club. I am aware of your great achievements and the great leadership that the Leo district has shown.
This is a historic convention because it is a year of milestones;
On June 7,1917,Melvn Jones invited his fellow Chicago business leaders to help lay the ground work for an organization focused on improving their communities. Today,1.3 million men and women Lions in 200 countries and geographic locations are working to make the world a better place. Its a year we as Lions are celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the Association (June 1917) .This year also marks the associations 90th annual convention. Register now to join the festivities at the International Convention in Chicago ,Illinois, USA.
Half a century ago ,members of the Glenside Lions Club in Pennsylvania ,USA, saw a need to work with the youth in their community .They began a club for teens in the local high school ,creating the first official Leo Club .There are now more than 140 000 Leos around the world. Leos attending the 2007 Lions International Convention will celebrate this milestone with the Leo conference global Conference. In 2007, we celebrate 50 years of Leo program, a pride and future of the Association.
Although always present as Lionesses and in other supportive roles ,women were officially invited to become Lions in 1987.Two decades later ,women are the fastest growing group of Lions ,making up nearly 20% of all members and taking on numerous leadership roles within the association, including 30.5% of council chairpersons .Today we celebrate 20th anniversary of women Lions ( July 1987)
For the past two decades , Lions clubs have sponsored, the Peace poster contest in schools and sponsored youth groups. The program provides children ages 11 through to 13 with a creative outlet to discuss their feelings for peace. Through the contest , Lions have made connections received media exposure and had fun. The theme of the 2007-08 contest is PEACE AROUND THE WORLD
Today we celebrate the 20th Year of the Peace Poster Program ( January 1988)
As rightful proud as we are of District 412 and our home towns and communities ,one of the most rewarding aspects of being a Leo is being part of an International Association with more than 1.3 million members. Nowhere is this more evident than at our International Conventions. This past July our convention was held in Boston and as your District Governor , I was privileged to attend. I can tell you that the International Convention is a spectacular event .Tens of thousands of Lions gathered in Boston. Every part of the world was represented with each nation proudly displaying its customs and culture. It is a wonderful time to rejoice in being a Lion , but serious work is done at the convention as well .As incoming District Governor , I participated in a six day seminar with international president Jimmy Ross and other Lion Leaders .At that seminar ,international president was very clear about what our priorities were to be and what he expected of us.
This year our largest and most important initiative is Campaign Sight First II. It is the largest because it involves all 1.3 millions Lions in all parts of the world. It is most important because it will have a global impact on one of the oldest and most devastating plagues of human kind-blindness
When you consider the millennia during which blindness has caused suffering and despair in our world ,we Lions have had relatively little time to make an impact. We began fighting blindness only in 1925 when Helen Keller challenged us to become the “knights of the Blind” in the great battle against darkness.
But, we have accomplished so much in a short time Once dedicated to the cause ,we attacked it with all our energy and in the past 80 years ,we Lions have done more to alleviate the suffering caused by blindness than had been done in all the thousand years that came before
But in an even shorter time ,the 16 years since 1990-we have accomplished more than in the previous 65 years .We have taken on the leading causes of preventable blindness and pushed back their advance for the first time in human history.
In 1990, there were approximately 40 million blind people in the world and experts predicted that the number could double by 2015.Today , the estimated blind population stands at 37 million –an actual reduction in the number of people suffering from blindness, despite a vast increase in the worlds overall population .This historic turning of the tide could not have been accomplished without Lions Club International and Lions could not have done our part without Sight First , one of the most effective and efficient public health projects ever launched.
You know that Sight First has provided millions of cataract surgeries ,built hospitals and clinics ,trained eye-care workers and distributed medicines that have all but eliminated river blindness in some parts of the world. In the process ,we have saved the sight the of 27 million people and become indispensable leaders in the world .In the process ,we have saved the sight of 27 million people and become indispensable leaders in the worldwide fight against blindness. Some examples in our district where Sight First has worked ,constructing and equipping are ;
In Zimbabwe -3 eye clinics built for US$ 1.2m in Lupane ,Gwanda and Vic Falls
In Botswana -1 eye clinic at Mochudi at the cost of US$ 109,000
In Malawi –At Liliongwe and Blantyre at a cost of US$ 3 million
This is the money that was raised in 1988-1990 with no help from Africa. Out of US$ 150 m raised then ,Africa has got the biggest percentage
Did we contribute to this initial US$150 raised in 1988-1990?Of course by being a part of this global service club organization…..We do not have to do it ourselves as Malawi, Mozambique , Botswana or even Zimbabwe. It does not matter whether the money we raised here benefits us in our own countries. We do things not for ourselves but for the entire humanity. We are International Lions. We are Lions of the world.
And now the money is almost finished
I tell you this because the world again faces a crisis and has presented Lions with a great challenge and opportunity. Once more ,without further action , the worlds blind population could double by 2020.But Lions will take action .Through campaign sight first II , we will raise a minimum of US$ 150 million .This will ensure that Sight First can continue and expand on its extraordinary record of success.
As Lions of Africa, we have been given an opportunity to participate this time. Aren’t we proud to be part of this history? The campaign has already achieved great success, raising US$76 million even before the start of this first year of intensive fund raising. But there is much more that must be done .Less than two years remain to raise an additional US$74 million and the time to act is now
Our early success has been due ,in large part to the overwhelming passion with which Lions responded to the campaigns program .The success of Sight First II will mean that 37 million people , who would otherwise be blind ,will see- because of what we Lions do this year and next .
Our District has a target of US$150 000 and so far US$ 79 500 has been raised .
Through Campaign Sight first II ,we will be able to save the sight of entire cities and nations. Think of it…
That is ….as many people as three times the population of Kenya
More than the population of all the District 412 countries i.e. Botswana, Malawi , Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
The numbers are large and impressive , but they are more than notations on some grand scoreboard of service. The countries you have just imagined are filled with people-people just like those we serve in our home communities. they are ; Men and women who will continue to work and provide for their families
Children ,who will grow and learn and take their places in their communities
Grandparents , who will see their grand children for the first time
We cannot let them down. Serving as knights of the blind is our most deeply held value of our organization.
If Lions accomplish so much in such a short time, think of what you Leos can do. You all know how to raise funds –you are Leos and you do it successfully year after year. But Sight First II is something different .It requires commitment over and above our usual service. It calls for partnerships with Lions clubs and extra ordinary action
Our success together cannot be achieved by goodwill alone. We need to have a plan that would have a global impact and would change the world for years, even for generations to come
I ask you to invest in the future of our world .Some of you know people who can personally give donations , they be individuals or corporate .Lions have received extra ordinary gifts ,of US$100 000 like the 38 Lead Gifts. But how many of our members of your communities could give even US$100.00? With gifts like these ,your clubs and yourselves could get recognitions from LCI.
Together with your sponsoring clubs involve your communities. What makes your home town special? What kinds of people live there? Are they the kind of people who care about their fellow human beings and want to lessen the amount of human suffering in the world. I am sure they are and you can invite them to make a difference in the world
Please work closely with your sponsoring Lions clubs. They can provide any advice or information that you need .adapt and tailor it to the needs and customs of your club-but do not delay! Every minute lost means that somewhere in the world , another child has fallen victim to blindness. Most people are cut off from their livelihood .More people are consigned to live out their remaining years in darkness, dependent on the care of others
You can change this. With your help ,fewer and fewer people will suffer this terrible fate. Working together , we Lions will change this.
The time to act is now .The world is waiting for our help
Thank you
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