Page 23 - Enews April 2020 Edition

Volume VII, No. 5

MINDFUL MID - WINTER MOMENTS

Convention 2020

INTERVIEW WITH PID JOYCE MIDDLETON

During our Mid-Winter Confer- U$300 mil- Lions, address skills and energy on the small and
ence, PID Joyce Middleton sat lion to in- their concerns, larger opportunities to effect solu-
down for a brief conversation crease our build bridges of tions more than the problems that
with DG Deborah Harrison and global im- understanding exist. There’s still a lot of work
The Kings and Queens E-News pact in 8 and provide to be done!”
appropriate
staff. When asked what sparked specific guidance as PID Joyce shared her personal
her interest to become a Lion, areas, in- applicable. vision for 2020 and beyond. She
she beamed, “honestly for me, it cluding When we re- is anticipating that our organiza-
was getting my family involved Vision and turn home, we tion will move towards more di-
in the local community. Specifi- Youth. are keen advo- versity. The heterogeneity of Dis-
cally, my husband moved into my “Typically cates and con- trict 20-K1 is a model for other
hometown after having lived we raise tinue the con- Districts across the USA. Utopia
pretty much all over the world. I somewhere versation at Lions Club in Texas is another
knew what the Lions did at the between U$ 50 million a year Board Meetings. We solicit for example of flourishing diversity.
the interests and concerns that
time and I knew some members globally. But here in Massachu- were identified. Although we It is a club with members of all
of the organization. So it was an setts, a state with about 7,000 may observe different approach- age groups, ethnicities, gender
opportunity to be introduced to Lions we are generating about es to service, our global causes identifications, professions and
the local community and finding U$ 1 million a year that is going are identical. Past International languages. Diversity brings many,
a place to serve with like-minded back to researchers in hospitals Directors often share the results different, important and creative
people, build friendships and that ultimately will provide relief of their assignment with incom- voices to the table. This elevates
grow.” She acknowledged that for non-sighted patients. To me, ing Directors. They may even trailblazing leaders with state - of
this humble beginning paved the this continues to be an exciting sustain their foreign relation- - the - art perspectives to influence
way for her awesome service prospect!” ships. In this way, the work fits today’s Lionism and positively
together seamlessly over the
journey. years. Ultimately, change impact the world.
Serving on Youth Programs as a evolves when different stake-
She disclosed that one of her LEO advisor, Co-Chair, MD 33 holders address the issue. “We “One of my favorite features
most treasured accomplishments Youth Camp and Exchange Ad- are Lions”, she concluded, “and about Lionism is that I can spend
as a Lion is the set of visor and Peace Poster Contest the heart of our association lies productive time with my entire
circumstances that allowed the Chair, provided other impactful in that fact that as a group of family. We share an experience
Lions of Massachusetts to raise and memorable experiences. committed individuals, we can that is bigger than ourselves. We
U$ 1 million to support Vision in The invigoration of the youth effect change and make the help to bring joy to others and we
her home state of Massachusetts. camp program with her husband, world a better place. When we have fun doing it. When my chil-
In addition to annual Lion Martin, was “exceedingly speak that same language of dren were very young, they were
contributions to LCIF, “seed rewarding”. She continued, “It service through Lionism, then involved in Lionsim with us. In
money” is allocated to six was most interesting and gratify- change is inevitable! Lions of fact, they were instrumental in
different research hospitals for ing to see young people from the world must talk to each
the development of vision aids around the world grasp what it other. MyLion is an excellent the founding of our current Lions
and treatment, prior to their means to be an American teen- platform for global club. Originally, Lion Martin and
outreach for implementation ager. And Martin and I are communication and exchange. I belonged to separate gender -
dollars. Another cherished grateful that our children have Drawing borders between our specific clubs. As 5 and 6 year old
experience is a study at The benefitted from the first-hand countries won’t get us where we children, they incessantly ques-
Ivory Institute in Boston that practical experience of growing are trying to go!” tioned why service projects were
was revolutionary for patients up in Lionism, with children conducted separately. Finally, we
afflicted with glaucoma. from around the world, In response to a question about chartered a Community Lions
“Instead of instilling eyedrops representing different cultures, her legacy with LCI, she em- club for any volunteer who wants
multiple times during the day, ethnicities, languages and phatically asserted, “absolutely! to serve. We serve together!”
there is an option of medicated religions.” I continue working! In fact, I am Reported by
contact lens that can suffice for busier now than when I was on Lion Mark DeVarel
30 days.” PID Joyce clarified some mis- The Board! At this stage of my
conceptions about the two-year Lionistic journey, I recognize
PID Joyce highlighted that Cam- tenure of an International Direc- that the picture of global needs
paign 100, the most ambitious tor. As we travel throughout the is much bigger than I ever imag-
fundraising campaign in history, different constituencies and con- ined when I was inducted. My
established a goal of raising stitutional areas, we dialog with goal is to focus my