Lions hear past district governor from Idaho

Westside Eagle Observer/Susan Holland
Members and guests of the Gravette Lions Club discuss membership at their Jan. 17 regular meeting. Guest speakers were Steve and Kathy Donahue from Grove, Okla., who spoke on that topic. Pictured are Gravette Lions Al Blair (foreground, back to camera), Sue Rice, Snooky Garrett, guests Steve Donahue and Kathy Donahue, and local members Cela Gaytan, Linda Damron and Jeff Davis.
Westside Eagle Observer/Susan Holland Members and guests of the Gravette Lions Club discuss membership at their Jan. 17 regular meeting. Guest speakers were Steve and Kathy Donahue from Grove, Okla., who spoke on that topic. Pictured are Gravette Lions Al Blair (foreground, back to camera), Sue Rice, Snooky Garrett, guests Steve Donahue and Kathy Donahue, and local members Cela Gaytan, Linda Damron and Jeff Davis.

GRAVETTE -- Kathy Donahue was the speaker at the regular meeting of the Gravette Lions Club Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center. Donahue is a Past District Governor from Idaho now living in Grove, Okla. She and her husband Steve were guests at the meeting, and he also made brief remarks.

Donahue said she is still working as a membership coordinator for Lions Clubs in southwest Idaho and eastern Oregon through Zoom meetings and has started one new club. Donahue's focus was on membership during her term as district governor, and she writes an article each month in the district newsletter. In the last article, she outlined specific ideas about ways to increase membership, and the next article will highlight ways to keep members engaged and excited.

Donahue suggested looking ahead and thinking, Where do you want your club to be in five years? In ten years? Why do you want new members? and How do you plan to get them? She recommended having a specific membership event and setting up a table with membership information at area events.

To keep a club going, you need younger members, Donahue said, and club member Cela Gaytan expressed an interest in working with students in Gravette schools to start a Leo Club. Donahue said another option would be to form a club branch, as only five members are needed for that.

Steve Donahue spoke up to say that you don't always have to have meetings but can get youth involved by doing projects.

"Look around and find a service that needs to be performed and do it," he said. "There's something everyone can do in Lions Club," the Donahues concluded.

In the business meeting following the speakers' presentation, tail twister Sue Rice read a few rules of good manners from Grandma's day that are still valid today. Treasurer Linda Damron gave the monthly financial report, and members voted to give a $50 donation to Habitat for Humanity and a $100 donation to Mid-South Sight and Hearing.

President Jeff Davis and treasurer Damron reported on their trip to the Lions Mid-Winter Forum in Russellville the previous weekend and gave a few highlights from some of the two panel discussions and six breakout sessions that were offered.

In other business, a report was given on the club's successful pecan sales, discussion was held on a possible block party fundraiser, and an announcement was made that the Lions state convention will be held April 21 and 22 in Fayetteville.

The Gravette Lions Club meets at 12:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center. New members and guests are always welcome. Lunch is available.

photo Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer Kathy Donahue, a past district governor of Idaho Lions Clubs now living in Grove, Okla., speaks to members of the Gravette Lions Club at their Jan. 17 meeting. Donahue and her husband Steve were guests of the local club and gave suggestions for recruiting and retaining members.
photo Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer Steve and Kathy Donahue, of Grove, Okla., speak to members of the Gravette Lions Club at their Jan. 17 meeting. Kathy is a past district governor of Lions Clubs in Idaho and gave the local club several tips on recruiting and retaining members. She is still working with Lions Clubs in Idaho and Oregon to increase club membership.