Published: November 19, 2009 01:37 pm      

Lion's governor says, 'Serve and have fun doing it.'

Lion’s Club District Governor Margie Nuss addressed the Gainesville Lion’s Club yesterday during the organization’s monthly meeting.

“You have strong leadership,” she said to the group. “You have people who are dedicated Lions.”

Nuss spoke about the many opportunities to serve in the community.

Her own priority for service is the project to complete eye-screening for all pre-school age children.

Nuss said that the organization, Prevent Blindness has the equipment to screen the children, and will allow Lion’s members to use the machine.

“I would like to see every child in our district have this done,” Nuss added. “It would be a great service to these children.”

A free screening for preschool children will be available in Gainesville at a future date.

Nuss challenged the club to talk about and donate money to the Lion’s Habitat for Humanity House in Melissa, during its next meeting.

Nuss said that along with serving, it is important to have fun.

“Whatever you do, have fun,” she said. “Either make it fun or don’t do it.”

“Enjoy life, enjoy serving,” she added. “If you are having fun out there serving you will have people gravitate to you.”

Texas has 16 Lion’s district governors. They meet four times each year to decide their direction and to share and compare notes about how to best lead the clubs.

“As District Governor, all that means is I am here for you,” she said. “That is my job.”

“It’s a full-time job,” she added, “so, district governors serve for one year.”

Nuss has 66 Lion’s Clubs in her district which covers Gainesville to Glenrose. She is visiting one more club tomorrow, which will make four clubs she has visited this week.

She said it is important to get out on the road and see how all the clubs are doing, to help maintain the district and to help trouble-shoot if any of the clubs are facing challenges.

Nuss said her job is also to promote Lionism and the service projects that Lion’s do, such as their school for the visually-impaired, providing leader dogs (seeing eye dogs ) for people and providing fun and learning in Texas with the Texas Children’s Camp.

Nuss has been a Lion since 1997 and usually travels with her husband, Past Lion’s District Governor Skip Nuss.

Gainesville Lion’s Club President Dean Mendenhall said Nuss is an inspiration to the club. “We read her district newsletter and it’s nice to put a face to the person.”

Nuss ended with the story of some small frogs struggling to complete a competition to reach the top of a high tower.

No one in the crowd thought the tiny frogs could make it, and told them so, but some continued to climb higher and higher.

The tiny frogs started collapsing and one by one they could go no further, except one,

The one determined little frog made it to the top of the tower.

They later found out that little frog was deaf. He didn’t hear all those people calling out, “you can’t do it.”

“Remember this frog and go out there and make a difference,” Nuss said.

“Our real goal is to serve the people and make a difference,” Nuss added. “Isn’t it great to be a Lion?”