Amid COVID-19, Lions conduct business...but not "as usual"

Lions President Kellen Willert chairs our "virtual meeting" via Zoom

It was something brand new for Belle Fourche Lions – we'd done nothing like it in our 83-year history:  a "virtual meeting" via videoconferencing through a service called Zoom.  It took place Thursday evening, April 9th, our regular meeting date and time, but the circumstances were anything but "regular."  The innovative gathering was arranged by Lion President Kellen Willert as a way of safely coming together to conduct business during the Coronavirus Pandemic, widely-known as COVID-19.

Note: At this writing 1,311 people in South Dakota have tested positive for the virus, and seven people have died – all but one of them in eastern South Dakota.

Twelve Lions participated in this meeting, which handled a "limited agenda."  Among business conducted:  members approved presenting $500 scholarships to two Belle Fourche High School seniors at a date/time yet to be determined; scheduled a Highway 34 Ditch Cleanup for Thursday, May 14th; advised members that the All-Car Rally has been cancelled for this year;  and selected Lions to fill officer/board vacancies beginning July 1st.  Read details of the meeting on our Minutes page. 

The next scheduled meeting is tentatively set for Thursday, May 28th.  Watch this website and your e-mail "Inbox" for updates.  

Be safe and be well! 

Lions International HQ office closure extended

5:17am - April 4, 2020

Dear Lion,

The Illinois State government in the USA announced that its stay-at-home order will be extended until at least April 30 to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The measures included the requirement to cease all nonessential services in the state. Lions Clubs International is identified as “nonessential.” To comply with the state mandate, the Lions Clubs International Headquarters in Oak Brook will be closed at least until April 30, 2020.

While staff will not physically be in the building, staff teams will be working remotely and available during business hours to respond to the needs of Lions. You may contact LCI staff or LCIF staff as needed.

The performance of systems may be impacted due to the increased number of people working remotely, and response time may be affected. Some of our business operations that require physical interaction will likely be limited.

More details will be provided as the situation evolves, but here is some preliminary guidance:

• For information on district and multiple district conventions, please check our coronavirus updates webpage.
• Regarding payment of outstanding dues, we recommend that districts allow clubs that are able to demonstrate they have sent or submitted payment to participate in voting. This could be via a bank statement, copy of demand draft, etc. Clubs will not be cancelled during this time based on the challenges related to receiving and processing physical checks and electronic payments.
• For Lions International payments, please utilize online payment options via MyLCI or any other electronic payment method (ACH, SEPA, Boleto, NEFT, etc.) instead of sending checks to the office.
• Please submit LCIF donations via the website instead of sending checks to the office. Please also note that grant disbursements and recognition will be delayed while the office is closed.
• There will be delays in shipping awards and recognitions, club supplies orders, as well as delays in processing reimbursements. 

We appreciate your patience during these extraordinary times and wish for the health and safety of all our Lions and staff around the world.

In kindness,

PIP Frank Moore
Executive Administrator and Secretary