Livewire Newsletters
1999 Newsletters
~ July ~ August ~
September ~ October
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~ November ~ December
~
2000 Newsletters
~ January
~ February ~ March ~
April ~ May ~
~ June ~ July ~
August ~ September ~
~ October ~ November ~
~ December ~
July 1999 Newsletter
FROM THE EDITOR MADY BURNETT
Welcome to the Spenard Livewire LIONS’ Club newsletter. I am very proud to be the editor of this newsletter. I enjoy compiling it together each month. I received a certificate of appreciation at the state convention in Fairbanks because our newsletter was made available in alternative formats. However, prior to the issuance of the certificates for club newsletters, the District Governor informed the group that club newsletters must be published monthly.. This was a shock to me as I was never informed that the newsletter needed to be out each month. I apologize for not fulfilling this obligation, but I will make it a priority to fill this obligation in the many months to come.
Each month, the newsletter will feature events scheduled for the Spendard Livewire LIONS Club. The listed events will be for a two month period; the present month and upcoming month. The newsletter will also list the names of those members who signed up for dessert. These listings will enable members to have the information available for them to make plans to join in with the activities.
The newsletter will now have "THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER". This new item in the newsletter will have articles written by the president. It is hoped that this will allow further communication between the President and the club members.
Some of the features mentioned are in the first issue of the year. I hope you enjoy this newsletter. If there are any additional changes you believe would be helpful, please do not hesitate to contact me. HAPPY READING!
The President’s Corner
In this issue of the newsletter, we are listing the goals as outlined by our new president, Michael Curley, during a recent membership meeting. The membership should look forward to monthly column in the President’s Corner
Submitting
Newsletter Articles For The
Spenard Livewire "Lions Tales" Newsletter
Simply put, a newsletter would not be possibly without the submission of articles for publication. In an effort to simplify the process of submitting articles, the following submission guidelines will benefit anyone who takes on the task of putting a newsletter together. Depending upon how technology changes over time, these guidelines may need to be amended to fit the "present-day" technology, especially as it relates to computer publicati
All articles must be received by the newsletter editor not later than the 15th of each month for the proceeding months publication.
Where possible, all newsletter articles should be submitted on computer disk or in computer/typed print format (Arial or New Times Roman) so that the text can be easily scanned and converted to text.
Computer disks used for article submissions should be formatted in the IBM (PC) format option which will allow for the use of Macintosh and PC readability.
Any files submitted for publication should be saved as: Rich Text Format (a file format that is accepted by all computer platforms---Mac or PC). The majority of word-processors have available this format.
Any graphics that are submitted should be in the JPEG or GIF formats that will allow for potential Internet use.
If you desire credit (byline) for your article, please make that clear with your newsletter article submission.
Following these guidelines will help assure a quality newsletter that will put forward what the Spenard Lions are about. As always, any good newsletter needs the submission of written articles as a starting point. Please help by writing a newsletter article.
Why I Learned Braille
One day a little girl that was four years old named Breanna brought one of her favorite books to her mother to read. She asked her mother to read her the book. Her mother gladly took the book, lifted her daughter up into her lap, opened the book and began to read. As she read, the mother would run her fingers across the page. Breanna sat listening to the story "A French Girl Called Madeline". As the mother finished reading one page and turning to the next page, Breanna would quickly jump in and talk about the pictures. The two would sit one to two hours a day reading this and many books. This book, however, was Breanna’s favorite. At the end of reading the book, Breanna would give her mother a great big hug around the neck, give her a kiss, and thank her. Breanna would then jump off her mother’s lap and run to put the book away. The mother would then lean down, pick up her white cane, and proceeded on to complete her housework.
If you have not guessed by now the mother was blind. She was able to read her daughter’s favorite book by using a Braille overlayed that is made of clear plastic. This overlay works in a book that has both print and pictures. This enables a sighted person to read along with a blind person or visa versa. The daughter knew that her mother could not see and would always describe to her mother the pictures in the books that they would read each day.
The importance of being able to read and use Braille cannot be stressed enough. At the Alaska Center for the Blind, Braille is included in the curriculum. Many times when an individual comes to the center for training, they have spent a great deal of their life as a sighted person with the ability to read a printed book or write with a pen and paper. Unfortunately, as a blind person, the ability to perform the task of reading a book or write with pen and paper is no longer an option.
I was a person who read books since the age of three. I lost my sight when I was 25 years old due to diabetes (which is the number one cause of blindness). One of the hardest issues I faced when I lost my sight was the thought of never being able to read again. I then went to the Alaska Center for the Blind to begin rehabilitation training. One of my classes was to learn to read using Braille. To tell you the truth, I hated it with a passion. I hated having to relearn the alphabet, to relearn punctuation marks, and how to learn to read all over again. However, after several months of hard study, I finally was able to read and write again.
I use Braille everyday at my work site and in my home environment. I enjoy reading novels and reading work related information presented at seminars and conferences. I I cannot claim that I am the fastest reader of Braille, but neither was a speed reader as a sighted person. Having the ability to communicate again has opened my world up again. I am married to a wonderful husband, however I do not have any children. I do meet with a lot of children throughout the year. I will often times take a book such as "Madeline" and read it to them. These books may or may not have an overlay page on them, but at least I have the ability to read.
DIABETES - WHO HAS THE CONTROL?
The word "Diabetes" in the dictionary is defined as "an excesive discharge of urine". That is it. No other explanation, or further defination of the word. Diabetes is the breaking down of the pancreas which then disables its ability to safely distribute the sugars taken in appropriately and safely through the blood system.
Along with the inability to control the sugars in the body, diabetics also have to take daily injections of insulin of which the pancreas is no longer able to produce. As the disease progresses, a diabetic will frequently experience complications because of the disease. The number one cause of new blindness is due to this disease, diabetes. For many decades, diabetics were told that as long as they took their insulin, ate properly, and exercised daily they would live as long if not longer than most people. It is finally coming out that complications may or may not happen no matter what you do to try and stop the onset of those complications.
When I lost my sight due to the complication of the diabetes, I went through a great deal of guilt. I kept blamming myself that I should have done better at taking care of myself. But I could not figure out what else I should have done. I was a swimmer since the age of 15; I ate all the proper foods as I was growing (in fact I think the first time I ever went to McDonald’s was after I had been blind two years); and I took my insulin as directed by my doctor. What else could I have done??? Because I was going through such a guilt, I lost all interest in caring for myself and even did not want to continue living for very long. Then one day while I was going through my goals for a possible successful life, I realized that I had given the control to the diabetes. It had taken the control and was doing so much harm to my body that I could not make a move without wondering if I would be sick again or not. When I realized this, I made up my mind right away that I would take the control back from the disease and would do the best I could to make the best out of my life as possible. When we lose a part of our body such as our sight, we tend to let whatever disease or trauma take the control and we find it hard that we can ever be a participating member of society. By regaining our self confidence and self respect most important of all, we can be a great member of society and carry on with pride.
We all have difficulties in our lives. However, so many diabetics have been blamed for our complications for so long that it is very easy to blame ourselves. The words I will often times say to myself if I find that I am blaming myself about my diabetes is "GUILT SUCKS". Diabetes is a very nasty disease. It is still not known what causes the disease nor has the research for it been prioritized. For every cancer or AIDS patient, there is $29 spent on the research. For every Diabetic patient, there is $7 spent on research. Diabetes is also the third leading cause of death because of its complications. AIDS is the eighth cause of death because of its complications.
The main purpose of this article is to plead with all of the diabetics to not take the guilt on. By letting the guilt build, it will increase the chances of the disease taking the control away from you. We all need to stand together and take the control away from the disease and encourage research be stepped up to try and find a cure. IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT DISEASE!!! Be good to yourselves and stand proud.
25 Million Pounds
Distributed Since 1979!
Spenard Lions Pick Up 25th Million Pound
Food Bank of Alaska and Spenard Lions hit a milestone in March when Spenard Lions picked up the 25th millionth pound of food as part of their monthly food distribution program.
"We Serve!' is Spenard Lions Motto
The Spenard Lions organized this program in 1994 through the efforts of Doc and Louise Dunn. There were substantial numbers of Spenard families in need of food assistance, but there was no food relief program in the Spenard Area. When the program kicked off, the Lions served an average of 50 families and today we serve an average of 120 to 130 families, and distribute 7,000 to 1,000 pounds each month. Lions from the Benton Bay Club, International Air Crossroads, and Mt. McKinley Lions Clubs provide additional support along with volunteers from the Veterans Domiciliary.
"Live Wire Club"
The Spenard Lions Club was formed in November of 1950 and was sponsored by the Anchorage Lions Club. They are members of International Lions District49A and six District Governors were members of the Spenard Lions Club.
This is a "hands on" club that provides volunteer service and financial supportto a host of nonprofit organizations - 1 00% of all profits from fund-raising go back into the community because administrative costs are covered by Lions Club members.
Dedication to Community Service
Spenard Lions have done everything from organizing a Volunteer Fire Department in '52 to donating two bears to the Barcelona Zoo. They cleaned and developed Lake Spenard Beach and donated the Friendship Arch at Anchorage International Airport.
Over, the years Spenard Lions have given hundreds of hours of volunteer service, and have sponsored foreign exchange students, sock hops, Soap Box Derby's, Golden Gloves tournaments, Christmas Parties for needy children, youth sports teams, and Toys for Tots.
Committed to Stopping Blindness
Their strong interest in stopping blindness started in the 60's with the purchase of an eye screener for free eye checkups. They purchased a new photo screener in the 90's to help spot eye disease in children. Spenard Lions along with other Lions Clubs, took over the Eye Bank program in '67 and formed the Joint Sight Committee involving all Lions Clubs in District 49A. They donated $14,000 to Campaign Sight First, an International Lions Program, plus they provide free glasses for people in need.
Plans for the Future?
A 5,000 sq ft building in Spenard would be great! The clubhouse at Roosevelt and Taft is too small for a growing club membership and food bank program.
Up-Coming Special Events
July 28, 1999 (6:30 pm): Social Meeting and Pot Luck Dinner & Ice Cream Social
Bring your family to the Clubhouse at 6:30 pm and join us. Bring your favorite dish to share with others and a topping of your choice for the ice cream. The club will provide the ice cream and the sodas.
Monthly Events
Membership Luncheons: Every Wednesday at noon at the Clubhouse. Lunches are $6.00 per member and guests are welcome at the clubs expense. Due to the Ice Cream Social, there will not be a Luncheon on July 28th…please take note!
Board Meetings: First and Third Tuesday of each month, 5:30 pm at the Club House (unless otherwise specified).
Food Bank: Second Saturday of each month at the Clubhouse, (9 am to 2 pm).
Municipal Health Fair: August 14th---work party and photoscreening.
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