4:00 pm
As I finish describing our weekend, we are on our flight from Detroit back to Minneapolis. We had a little time yesterday to relax in the room and get changed for the evening events. We turned on the TV, and heard about the flooding in the Red River Valley area. The river receded a little, but they’re not at all sure it won’t rise some more before the danger is past. We also caught some scores from the NCAA Tournament, and watched the end of the Maryland – Vanderbuilt women’s game. Maryland had been down big (18 points I think) and came back to take their only lead of the game right at the end. We commented that Vanderbuilt was like the BA boys team in the Minnesota State Tournament. They had led Chisholm all the way until the very end, and then lost a heartbreaker.
They held a hospitality room for the director and district officers and PDGs before the banquet. Debra dressed in her “whites” and I wore my black tux, and we went there and enjoyed the great cashews and conversation. We marched in for the banquet, and sat down to a prime rib dinner with cheese-baked potato and green beans, and, of course, more of those warm garlic buns. Debra nailed her after-dinner remarks; you could have heard a pin drop. Again, it almost brought tears to my eyes to see and hear her speak from the heart. She makes it sound fresh, with the perfect combination or emotional appeal and humor. Many people came up later to say how much they appreciated her (and I) coming and how wonderful they thought her speech was. After the speech, Debra and ID Chuck(ie) presented two Presidential Commendations, and announced two others that would be going to club presidents who were not present. Debra also had a Certificate of Appreciation for the Lions Eyeglass Recycling program to the long-time district chair of that project. Unfortunately, he had become ill, and was in the hospital. Debra and I then presented her bags to Lion Jerry & Cheryl, Lion Dave (the Convention Chair), Lion Gert (who has been a Lion only one week), and Lion Cheryl (the district photographer). We also presented our gifts of a Faribault Blanket and a wedge of blue cheese to DG Chuck and First Ladybug Nancy. They gave us a clock in the shape of Michigan that Chuck had made, and a VERY nice quilt that Nancy had made. We were just overwhelmed that they would give us gifts with such a personal meaning.
After dinner; they drew the raffle prizes, and held a live auction. The proceeds of the raffle and auction are used to defray expenses of the convention. The Saturday Lunch had been free of charge, paid for by the proceeds of similar raffles they had held during the year. We had never heard of any district doing that, but it was obvious that it was very much appreciated by the membership, and they really supported both the raffles and the auction. The festivities did run pretty late, but many people held in there until the end. After the main events were over, we made our way to the hospitality rooms. They had a DJ and the drinks and snacks in one room, sponsored by the VDG Bob and the Berville Lions Club. That club is just amazing! They have 125 members, with a wide range of ages, and they do so much in their community. We chatted with some of the members, and were very impressed with their dedication and enthusiasm. The other hospitality room had the desserts. We had to have a couple, of course. We enjoyed all the opportunities to chat with Lions about their club activities, and shared ideas well in to the night. It was 1:00 before we finally made it up to our room.
The 6:30 wake-up call came way too early this morning, but we managed to make our way down to the continental breakfast. We sat down with a couple of guys, who said they were just about ready to leave. We got into a good conversation though, and they hung around for quite a while. Once again, we spoke about the Dictionary Project, and they seemed interested. After they left, an older couple came and sat with us. It turned out she was a former speech teacher. Debra thanked her for not telling her that last night, as she would have been very nervous. She complimented Debra on her speaking ability, and we chatted on and on about youth exchange experiences and the importance of service. The Governor had to come and drag us out of the restaurant, so they could start the election meetings.
They convened separate meetings consecutively in the same room for each region, to elect the region chairs, and then a district wide meeting to elect the DGE and First and Second Vice Governors. Another really unique thing about 11-D2, but it works for them. Suffice it to say that VDG Bob is now DGE Bob.
After the meetings, we went again to the restaurant for a light lunch with Chuck & Nancy and Jerry & Cheryl. Debra and I split a really good Baja Burger & Fries. (If you’re beginning to get the idea that Lions eat a lot, you’re right. Sometimes it seems all we do is eat and sit and eat and sit.). After lunch, we said out good-byes to Chuck & Nancy, and went to the airport with Jerry & Cheryl, where we bid them good bye as well.
So here we are, as Debra said in her comments at the meeting this morning, tired and hoarse, but that means we did what we came here to do. Spend a lot of time talking with a lot of Lions, and sharing a lot of great ideas about how Lions can better be of service in their communities. She said that she hoped that they were tired too, because that would mean that they had done what they came there to do as well. I’m pretty sure that most everyone was.