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Information for Sight Chairperson
Information for Sight Chairperson
The Knights of the Blind
The mission statement of the Lions Sight Preservation, Awareness and Action Program is:
to provide programs and assistance to aid people who are blind and visually impaired, and to work at eliminating preventable and reversible blindness.
The Role of the Chairperson
District Chairperson
Publications, CDs and DVDs Available
Online Resources
Sight Events
Awards
Examples of Lions' Sight Services
The Role of the Sight Chairperson
The Sight Chairperson helps to organize and implement projects that provide assistance to aid blind and visually impaired children and adults and promote awareness of blindness prevention. The chairperson provides motivation and support needed to encourage club and district participation in sight-related projects. He or she serves a one-year term and is appointed by the council chairperson at the multiple district level and the district governor at the district level. Chairperson responsibilities include:
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Setting goals. Evaluate the effectiveness of current club and district-level sight-related projects for the blind. Develop goals and an overall district plan, including procedures required to fulfill the plan. Upon district governor's approval, post and promote the plan via the district Web site, an open letter in the district governor's newsletter, e-mails, personal letters, telephone calls, or personal visits.
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Incorporating new project ideas contributed by clubs. Generate participation through new projects and activities for the blind, while also enhancing the existing local, regional, or national programs. Work with local healthcare professionals and organizations to determine community needs and provide the most appropriate services.
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Arranging seminars and workshops to provide educational resources and information on sight conservation and work with the blind or visually impaired. Invite health care professionals as speakers to help motivate clubs to participate in sight-related projects.
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Informing clubs about available district and multiple district sight-related resources for the blind.
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Reporting sight-related activities to the district cabinet and to the local media through communications with the district public relations chairperson.
District Chairperson
District Chairperson should be familiar with:
- Lions board policy as it pertains to the Sight Preservation, Awareness and Action Program
- Eye health, low vision, blindness and eye diseases, including Diabetic Retinopathy, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Cataracts, Corneal transplant, Trachoma, Vitamin A deficiency, and Onchocerciasis (Riverblindness)
- Lions Eye Bank Program
- Lions Eyeglass Recycling Program
- District and/or multiple district rehabilitation, vocational or support services for The Blind and Visually Impaired
- Lions Recreational Camps serving people who are blind or visually impaired
- Guide Dog Schools
Publications, CDs and DVDs Available
- Lions Recycle For Sight Information Kit (KITFRS), English only: contains ready-to-use samples of promotional materials to raise public awareness of your eyeglass collection efforts, including an attractive community poster, informational brochure, window cling and more. Promotional materials can be ordered at a nominal cost in quantities desired.
- Lions Eye Bank Listing: Support your local eye bank and promote corneal donation.
- "The Dilated Eye Exam" DVD (DEEDVD), English and Spanish only, is a 12-minute film focusing on the importance of the dilated eye exam to detect diabetic retinopathy affecting people with diabetes. Suitable for viewing at Lions and community events. Click here to purchase via the order form.
- LCI is collaborating with the National Eye Institute's National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) to develop co-branded Lions eye health resources. These materials are perfect for community eye health education, health fairs and speaking events. Selected for the initial co-branding phase is NEHEP's See Well for a Lifetime Toolkit -- Vision and Aging:
- Making Vision a Health Priority (will be introduced at the Seattle International Convention)
- Age-Related Eye Diseases and Conditions (will be available by the end of fiscal year 2011-2012)
- Low Vision (will be available by the end of fiscal year 2011-2012)
Free eye health resource for Lions clubs in the United States: In addition to the co-branded resources, the National Eye Institute has a broad range of materials in regard to eye health and eye diseases. The catalog of materials can be found online. Orders can be placed by email to Kym Collins or Rosie Janiszewski or by phone at 301-496-5248. You must identify yourself as a Lion in order to access materials for free.
Online Resources
- Sight Partnerships: download educational materials and resources to promote awareness and blindness prevention.
- Sight & Sound Newsletter: sent via email to sight chairpersons of record and other Lions interested in sight-related activities. Click here to add your name to the mailing list.
- Lions Newswire: stay up-to-date with the latest Lions announcements and program information.
- Lions Learning Center: online courses to develop skills for a successful leadership role.
- PR Tools: public service announcements (PSA's), fill-in-the-blank press releases, print ads and other tools can help raise public awareness of your club and district activities.
- Lion-2-Lion: resource assistance database provides Lions with an effective way to communicate locally and internationally, enabling them to collaborate on humanitarian projects. Lions can offer to donate or submit requests for resources, supplies and volunteer assistance.
Sight Events
Awards
On behalf of the Association, the following awards can be presented each fiscal year:
- Excellence in Effort Award: the district governor presents this certificate to the one club in the district that has been the most active with sight-related activities
- District Chairperson's Award - Sight Preservation, Awareness and Action: the district governor presents this certificate to the district sight chairperson who has shown outstanding leadership in promoting and supporting new and existing sight programs in the district
- Multiple District Chairperson's Award - Sight Preservation, Awareness and Action: the council chairperson presents this certificate to the multiple district sight chairperson who has shown outstanding leadership in promoting and supporting new and existing sight programs in the multiple district
Examples of Lions' Sight Services
- Partnering with local eye care professionals or organizations to conduct vision, glaucoma and cataract screenings
- Working with local preschools and schools on vision screenings
- Presenting a community awareness program about eye health and safety
- Promoting and supporting SightFirst
- Providing support to a recreational camp for adults or children with visual impairments
Contact Us
Chairpersons are encouraged to submit information and photographs of successful sight-related projects to the Health and Children's Services Department. For more information about any of the above programs or publications, please contact:
Health and Children's Services
Lions Clubs International
300 W 22nd Street
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523-8842 USA
E-mail: programs@lionsclubs.org