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Li ons of Mi ssi ssi ppi / Li ons S i ght Founda t i onMagnolia LionJune 2022Convention ReviewWhite Cane Funds: MS Lions Eye Bank Hearing and Deaf Deaf Camp DiabetesAwareness Sea and SunCamp Sight ScreeningState Office Plays Big Part in ThisYear’s State Convention Activities.The Lions State Officeplayed a big part in hostingthis year’s state conventionactivities. “The Council ofGovernors felt it was important to include the stateoffice in this year’s convention that was held inFlowood, April 29-30,2022, “ said Council Chairman Andy Kalinowkski. “We really wanted to showcase the headquarters andlet our members have anopportunity to see the office.”The almost-20-year-oldbuilding was the site forvarious committee meetings held on Friday, April29. Members were treatedto a fish fry later that evening with All-State BandManager Jeff Cannon andhis wife providing thenight’s entertainment. Theduo performed a variety offavorites and featured ourvery own Lion Paula Gray ina stirring rendition of“Down to the River.”We would like to thank theKnights of Columbus fromSt. Paul’s Catholic Churchin Flowood for preparingand cooking our “FridayNight Fish”. The eveningended with a Lions SightFoundation fundraiser conducted by White CaneChairman Charlotte Dickson and her husband PDGRichie Dickson. The coupleraffled off 15 Roosters inclose to 15 minutes andraised 2300 to add to thisyear’s White Cane Campaign. (cont. page 2)Inside this issue:State Convention1As I See It2Hall of Fame3District 30-MNews4&5District 30-SNews615 Guns in 15 Days7Thank you8Outside and under a tent, the Cannon’s performed revival-style on the grounds of the LionsState Office in Flowood. Some Lions took the advantage of the opportunity and took to thedance floor. More activities were conducted the next day to showcase the State Office.

As I See It By Kellie Wier, RN, CTBSI am honored and humbled tojoin the organization as the newExecutive Director of Mississippi Lions Eye Bank (MLEB). Itruly want to thank everyone forthe warm welcome. I also wantto thank Mike Flynt for his support and assistance in helpingme transition to this position. IState Convention Saturday morning’s general business session washeld at Table 100 in Flowood. Lions were treatedto an agenda packed with informative, motivational and enlightening presentations.Rachel McHann, a cornea transplant recipient,set the tone for the morning with her heartfelttestimony regarding her struggle with blindnessbefore she received her transplant. She said thatthere is not a day that goes by that she doesn’tgive thanks for her donor. She praised the work ofthe Lions Clubs and thanked them for their role inproviding the gift of sight.Many other interesting reports followed includinga presentation made by Tammy Johnson, withPlusOptix, regarding the importance of earlychildhood screening. She said that most forms ofchildhood related blindness could be prevented ifthey were identified early. She complimented theLions of MD-30 for taking a pro-active approachin providing sight screening for the children ofMississippi with the PlusOptix sight screeningdevices.Next, Council Chairman Andy Kalinowski recognized a special group of young individuals in attendance; members of three different LEO clubs,the Metro LEO club, the Misfits LEO club fromam grateful for his continueddedication to this organizationand those we serve, as well asfor his role as a mentor to me.Following in Mike’s shoes willnot be easy, but with your continued support and participation,we can be assured that theMLEB has a bright future.I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. Mybackground is in critical carenursing. I am a graduate of Delta State University School ofNursing almost twenty yearsago. I was first introduced toMLEB when I started with theorgan procurement organization,Mississippi Organ RecoveryAgency, over thirteen years ago.I am deeply grateful for an opportunity to stay in the state thatwe love as well as work for anorganization with such a richTupelo and the Starkville LEO club. CC Andy thenasked representatives from each club, along withtheir sponsors, to take part in a panel discussiondiscussing the importance of the LEO club, as wellas how to start and maintain a club. Membersfrom each club were then afforded the opportunityto tell the Lions what being a LEO meant to them.Following the Parade of Checks, the annual Celebration of Life Ceremony was conducted. Alwaysmoving, the ceremony recognizes Lions that havepassed away during the last year and lets Lionmembers pay tribute to their departed friends.After lunch, it was back to business, as Lionsgathered in their respective district meetings.Discussions pertinent to the district were held, aswell as elections to fill vacancies for the upcomingLions year.At the conclusion of the district meetings, Lionswere invited back to the state office for an oldfashioned Coke float and a tour of the building.Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves beforedeparting to get ready for the culmination of theconvention, the District Governor’s Banquet.One of the most anticipated events of the year isthe annual Lions of Mississippi Hall of Fame Induction held in conjunction with the District Governors Banquet. Hall of Famers, PDGs Greg Crapoand Richie Dickson had the privilege of inductinghistory of making an impact forthe blind and visually impaired.For as long as I can remember, Ihave had a passion for helpingothers, which is why I went intonursing. I can’t think of a betterway to help others than throughMLEB and your organization.Again, I want to thank MikeFlynt, Advancing Sight Networkand the Lions Clubs of Mississippi for this opportunity. I recognize that I have a lot to learn,and I intend to invest time andattention to get to know eachone of you and your clubs despite the challenges of COVID19. Feel free to reach out to meat any time; I am happy to hearfrom you. I appreciate your continued support of MLEB andlook forward to learning yourstories and sharing ours withyou.this years class which included: PDG Barron Caulfield, Past President LSF Wayne Ebelhar, PDGJimmy Puckett, Lion Charlotte Puckett, posthumously and PDG Arland “Ace“ Eilert, posthumously.Following the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,CC Andy Kalinowski introduced our Internationalguest and the evening’s keynote speaker, International Director John Youney and his wife, LionKarol.ID Youney spoke about an experience that he andKarol had while trying to visit a child who wasbeing treated for cancer. Each time they traveledto a department to see the young patient, theresponse was the same. “Oh she just left to goto ” and as they were about to leave they wouldbe thanked for being a Lion because the Lionshad purchased this piece of equipment or paid forthis treatment or provided an opportunity for thispatient or staff member The message resonatedclearly ”We Serve.”ID Youney then made several presentations: VDGGreg Palmer and Betsy Landers received International President’s Certificates of Appreciation andJim Bush was presented a Melvin Jones Fellow.Plans for next year’s convention in Columbus tobe held May 6-7th are already underway. Pleasemake your plans to attend.

Lions of Mississippi Hall of Fame Ceremony 2022The Lions of Mississippi would like to recognize the Lions of Mississippi Hall of Fame class of 2022 :(Top left) PDG Richie Dickson (left) and PDG Greg Crapo (right) present PDG Barron Caufield with his Hall of Fameplaque at the annual District Governor’s Banquet. (Top right) Past President of the Lions Sight Foundation, Wayne Ebelhar (center) of the Leland Lions Club displays his Hall of Fame plaque presented to him by Hall of Famers PDG RichieDickson (left) and PDG Greg Crapo (right). (bottom left) PDG Jimmy Puckett and his daughter Amanda Puckett Harrelsonwho accepted her mother Charlotte’s award are flanked by PDG Greg Crapo, PDG Charlotte Dickson and PDG RichieDickson. Although the Pucketts are not the first couple to be inducted into the Lions of Mississippi Hall of Fame, they arethe first couple to be inducted in the same evening. They represent the Tupelo Evening Lions Club. (bottom right) PDGArland “Ace” Eilert of the Water Valley Lions Club was inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously. PDG Barron Caulfield accepted the award on his behalf. Congratulations to these fine Lions and their families for receiving this honor.