Service From The Heart!

As usual, breakfast came early, we really had to sleep fast. The breakfast was to honor the Melvin Jones fellows in the district. After breakfast, they had a very nice memorial service and then a closing ceremony where DG Ellen presented many awards. Debra’s remarks again were that we were both very tired, but that was a good thing. We had done what we came to do: spend a lot of time talking with a lot of Lions, and having a great time!

The trip home was eventful, but everything turned out fine. We had checked our luggage with Air Canada in Sudbury, so went to the domestic baggage claim in Toronto thinking that was where our luggage would be – no luck. We heard an announcement over the intercom that people making connections to the US needed to pick up their luggage upstairs at the international baggage claim, so we went up there – again no luck. We talked to an agent, who told us that since we were flying NWA out of Toronto, our luggage would be over at Terminal 3, where NWA flights left. We got on the bus, and got to Terminal 3, found the baggage claim area, but again no luck! We talked to the attendant, who said sometimes it takes up to an hour or two for luggage to get there, so we went back to waiting. After about two hours, we asked her again. This time she said she would call to do some checking. We went to the deli at the airport and split a sandwich and chips. When we got back to the baggage are, we were very glad to hear that she had found our luggage. It had been delivered to the wrong place, but it was on its way! The two sky rolls soon arrived, and we were off! Good thing we had a nice long layover!

The Cabinet meeting was first thing in the morning. Debra had half a bagel with cream cheese, and I had a bran muffin and some scrambled eggs from the breakfast buffet. The cabinet meeting was brief, consisting of reports from the Region and Zone Chairs. Debra spoke briefly and then opened the floor for questions. This time there were a few, which Debra handled in her usual straightforward but tactful manner.

After the Cabinet meeting, we visited with some of the Lions at the breakfast buffet they had for the Lions who weren’t on the Cabinet. The Opening Ceremony followed, consisting of a “Parade of Banners”, speakers talking about the Lions Foundation of Canada and Canadian Dog Guides.

After the Opening Ceremony, they had seminars scheduled. Debra and I presented one on Disability Awareness. We went over some of the causes of visual impairment/blindness and then talked about implications as far as travel, literacy, and employment. Some good questions were asked, and the seminar seemed to go over well with the Lions. We hung around and chatted with several Lions after the seminar, and got many positive comments over the course of the weekend.

For lunch, we were led into the banquet hall by a bag-piper in full regalia. After the traditional marching-in music, the bagpiper left the banquet room to the tune of “Mary Had A Little Lamb”. That had everyone in stitches. Lunch was served buffet style, we had the pasta salad, and split a piece of chicken. The highlight of the Luncheon was a speech given by a 15 year old girl, who was the winner in her age/language category of the district’s “Effective Speaking” contest. She really did a great job, making the case that kids in her generation shouldn’t be viewed as negative stereotypes, and that they were very interested in making a difference in the world. She really “called out” the adults, and challenged us to look beyond the eyebrow ring and red hair. Very gutsy, and very, very effective. After lunch, Debra conducted a World Wide Induction Day Ceremony. There were two Lions who had been members only a short while, so Debra had them come up along with two members who had been Lions over 50 years. She had everyone stand and reaffirm their oath. It made for a very nice ceremony.

After the extended lunch there was free time. We visited with some Lions, then went back to the room to rest a while and begin packing.

DG Ellen hosted a reception for the Cabinet and us before the banquet. After the reception, we marched into the banquet, again with bagpipes. This time he exited with “Old MacDonald”, he was great! Dinner started with a squash soup, then pork loin, vegetable medley (wax beans, green beans and carrots) and more of the roasted potatoes. For dessert we had a delicious layer cake with a nice light frosting, whipped cream, and garnish of strawberries.

After dinner, Debra & DG Ellen presented several Presidential Commendations and one Leadership Medal. Debra presented her bags to IPDG Myra & PDG Hillary, Convention Chair PDG Barry, and the two ladies who had come up during the World Wide Induction Day Ceremony. We then exchanged gifts with Ellen & Bob. We gave them the usual Faribault Blanket and Amableu Cheese. (We were very glad to hear from DG Ellen that she loved blue cheese). They gave us a clock, an Inukshuk, and a paper weight with the “Big Nickel” all made from nickel ore. It’s was very nice to exchange pieces of our home towns with them.

After the banquet, they held the finals of the “Idol” contest. Everyone was really having a great time, and the singing talent of the Lions who participated was amazing. There was actually a tie after the final round, so the judges had them perform one more song each, with the winner being decided by audience applause.

We went to the Schumaker Club’s hospitality room after the Idol contest, and stayed up till the wee hours (2:00 am) solving all the problems of the world of Lionism. That was a great time, just shooting the breeze with a half dozen Lions over some good scotch (Johnny Walker - Green Label).

Everything went very smoothly today, as we arose at 3:45 am in order to leave the house by 4:45 and catch a 6:05 flight. The first leg was a United flight to O’Hare, then another to Toronto. We had a short layover in Toronto, so we grabbed a quick sandwich and bottle of water. The weather got progressively worse as we progressed, and by the time we got to Sudbury a cold windy rain was coming down. We noticed that first-hand as we deplaned from our turbo-prop and walked across the tarmac to the Sudbury Airport. Once inside, we were greeted by DG Ellen, and IPDG Myra and her husband, PDG Hillary. We grabbed our two sky rolls off the luggage carousel (we had to check them because the Air Canada flight from Toronto to Sudbury had stricter carry-on rules that domestic US flights) and bolted across the street to the waiting limo. Once inside, we met the driver, Lion Steffan. It turned out that the “limo” was one used as the family car at funerals, but that only added to the experience.

It was a short drive into Sudbury and the Radisson Hotel. We got checked in to our very, very nice two room suite. We had two baths, a living room with Jacuzzi and a gas fireplace, and Sleep Number Beds!! There was a desk and office chair in each room, as well as two televisions. There were two bottles of Canadian wine and a huge basket of fruit and candy waiting for us. A person could get used to such nice treatment.

The Friday night activity was a dinner with the PDGs from the district. After unpacking and resting for a short while, we dressed in our formals, and headed down to the “Notre Dame” room. IPDG Myra introduced us around, and we sat down to an especially nice dinner of roast veal, roasted potatoes, and asparagus, delicious! Debra gave some brief remarks thanking them for the invitation, and expressing greetings from the LCI Officers and Board of Directors. She opened the floor for questions, and PDG Mike asked if she could influence LCI to increase the PDG Pension. Of course there is no such thing, but Debra shot right back that she thought maybe they could double it! Everyone had a good laugh, and we knew we would feel very much at home for the weekend.

After the PDG Dinner, we went to the ballroom where they were holding the Friday night social. What a great turnout of Lions, all having a great time renewing acquaintances and enjoying the “Idol” contest they were having. Friday night was just the preliminary rounds, and they had some very talented singers participating. They also had very nice silent auction with a good variety of items ranging from a recliner chair (that IPDG Myra bought) to sweatshirts, mugs and hats. We started to fade around 11:00 pm, and explained that we had been up since 3:45, so called it a night.