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December 2, 1997
Missouri Lions I'm referring to some comments heard about the Board decision to place a $6.00 annual dues increase on the ballot in Birmingham, England in July, 1998. To be truthful, I have only heard this once or maybe twice on each visit I have made since the October Board decision. Again the vast majority of Lions indicate their support just as they have at the last two conventions. 59% voted in favor at Montreal and 65% said yes at Philadelphia -- but 66 2/3% was needed. Why the $6.00 yearly increase? We have had no dues increase since 1991, that is 7 years come July 1998. If you figure a yearly rate of inflation of 3% we have 21% less purchasing power and maybe less than that because of no membership growth. Lions have been asking for more public relations efforts from the association. This has started with the contract with Ketchum Public Relations Firm. This organization is based world wide and has the ability to carry our message to the many cultures throughout the world. They will work in conjunction with Lions Clubs International Public Relations division. The approximate cost is three million dollars, of which one million was spent last year. The District Governor seminar in April is an extra cost but again this is an effort to better train our leaders. It is just a part of the Lions request for an expansion in the leadership, extension, and membership area. Paid extension field representatives are being added to help extension. A two million dollar printing press was purchased, this will pay for itself in eleven years. An upgrade of the management information division over five years at a cost of five and a half million dollars.. We could go on with more break downs, but space will not permit. I want to leave you with several thoughts. First, anybody can make figures come out to what they want to be reflected, but we all know we would be hard pressed to live in 1998 on our 1991 income. We also know that we could not expand our business, our professions or keep our standard of living at home. We can talk of cutting expenses with staff being the biggest item, but our staff to member ratio is 1 per 4,110 members as compared to two other service organizations with ratios of 1 to 2,525 and 1 to 2,838. The Board has projected a deficit of near 8 million this year. The association has net assets of approximately 42 million. The spendable portion of that is approximately 30 million. If we deficit spend to fund the programs and changes Lions have asked for, and are needed, we can do this for about 3 years. The alternative is to not move into the next century in a progressive manner, but to try to just get by which means we are starting a downhill trend. How can we maintain our organization and attract new members with that philosophy? Six, Four, Five, one or ten. The dollar amount is an estimation, but not the force and reason which we should support an increase. The reasons are clear and the force is in our motto, "WE SERVE."
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