Lion - April 2018
In The News
2018-04-06 20:18:23
Pushing for Earth Day to be Every Day
Earth Day Network (EDN)—the organization that leads Earth Day worldwide—is focusing this year’s campaign on ending plastic pollution, including a global effort to eliminate single-use plastics and the implementation of uniform regulations on the disposal of plastics.
The exponential growth of plastics threatens our planet’s health and survival. Their ubiquitous presence in the oceans and our food poisons and injures marine life and disrupts human hormones, causing life-threatening diseases and early puberty.
“There is a growing tidal wave of interest in ending plastic pollution and some countries and governments are already in the vanguard. Earth Day Network believes we can turn that tidal wave into a permanent solution to plastics pollution,” says Kathleen Rogers, president of EDN.
The first Earth Day was on April 22, 1970 and inspired 20 million Americans to launch the environmental movement. The movement soon led to the passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. Twenty years later, Earth Day became an international event that mobilized 200 million people in 141 countries and lifted environmental issues to the forefront of the global conversation. Today, EDN estimates that more than 1 billion people in 192 countries take part in what is the largest civic-focused day of action in the world.
EDN works to ensure that Earth Day isn’t just a single day, but a catalyst for yearlong action. This year’s Earth Day is Saturday, April 22.
To learn more about how to join the effort to clean up our Earth, visit earthday.org.
SINKING SHACK RAISES MONEY
The Cadillac Lions Club ice shack has officially sunk. The Michigan club uses the unpredictable Midwestern winters as a way to raise money by collecting bets on when their ice shack will sink below the surface of Lake Cadillac.
This year is the earliest it has ever gone down.
A video camera trained on the shack determines when the Xs painted on each side have officially slipped below the surface—usually around mid-March or early April. But some unseasonably warm temperatures sped up the ice thaw, and the bright-yellow-and-blue shack officially went under Monday, February 26 at 4:13:17 pm.
The Michigan club has been running the contest for 11 years now. The first year it was called an ice “shanty” and they had to get special permission to keep it on the lake past March 5, when regulations said all shanties had to be off the ice. But some local fisherman weren’t too happy with the special treatment the Lions club shanty received and they sued.
It’s been a “Shack” ever since. The difference? “There’s no regulations about how long you can leave a shack on the lake,” says Past District Governor and current cabinet secretary Tim Anderson.
Anyone can place a bet. The winning guess takes home US$1,000 and second place gets US$200. “Lions aren’t always enthusiastic about selling things,” says Lion Pete Buehler, who originally came up with the idea after seeing something similar on a trip to Alaska with his wife. “But people hunt us down for these tickets.”
It’s become somewhat of a legend now in Cadillac, with local radio show hosts giving daily updates on its progress, and the fundraiser usually nets the club about US$1,500-US$1,800 after prizes have been doled out and repairs made to the shack.
“But the PR is worth way more than we take in,” says Anderson. He says they’ve gotten new members based on the good word of mouth the sinking shack has generated. “It definitely gets our name out there.”
OVERHEARD
“I became a Lion because it’s a beautiful world. I want to keep it that way.”
—LION FARRALEE MORRIS, Clearwater- Kalaloch Lions Club.
“The world needs more Lions.”
—RIAAN AND JOANIE VAN STRATEN, whose daughter was helped through the generosity of Lions.
“I came of age thinking that I was part of a group that could change the world. I still think that.”
—LION NANCY MESSMER, Clallam Bay Sekiu Lions Club.
“I think everyone should volunteer. I feel like it’s important as a human being. Help when someone asks.”
—LION JESSICA LITTLEFIELD, Lyndon Lions Club.
BY THE NUMBERS
100 Mats crocheted from “Plarn” by Lions Kris Georgeson- Hunkins and Chad Dominguez.
6,000 Miles traveled by the South Tucson Cyber Club Branch to perform vision screenings for children.
2.8 Million dollars raised by The Prescott Noon Lions since 1991 by recycling paper.
4,000 Eggs cooked and colored by New Providence Lions in New Jersey for their 49th annual Easter Egg Hunt.
495,288 Pounds of marine debris collected between 2007 and 2017 by Multiple District 19 Lions and their affiliates via CoastSavers.
45 YEARS AGO IN THE LION
APRIL 1973
What Man Has Caused He Can Cure
In April 1973 International President George Friedrichs galvanized Lions to address pollution by reminding them of their power to effect change.
Published by International Association of Lions Clubs . View All Articles.
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