Lions International Trading Pin Club
President Larry Shaull's Message
Summer 2008
What a great year for pin traders we are having! We have just returned from our Alternate Site Meeting (ASM) in Jefferson City that turned out to be probably the largest swap ever. Our 1st VP, PDG Jim Minnich, and the entire Missouri PTC committee should be very proud of the results of their hard work and efforts. It was a truly outstanding pin swap and ASM for the LITPC. Not only did the Missouri Lions Pin Trading Club (MLPTC) put on a great show, they also presented over $4,600 toward our CSF II goal. The check presentations at the Breakfast was outstanding and we came away with over $27,000. The Hall of Fame committee made an outstanding choice for our newest members of the LITPC Hall of Fame by selecting Lion Bill Prucha of Illinois and the late Lion Chuck Weldon of California. We saw pin traders that we have not seen in years and met several new traders at their first swap. Hopefully, we will see these traders at other swaps in the future.
The LITPC has a policy stating that the ASM shall rotate from the Midwest to the West and then to the Eastern regions of the USA. Congratulations to the Colorado Lions Pin Trading Club for submitting the winning proposal for the 2010 ASM to be held in Colorado Springs. With three more conventions coming up outside the USA, in Sidney, Australia, Bosan, Korea, and Hamburg, Germany, we will need alternate site bids from the East for the 2012 ASM. While it is too early to approve a site, it is not too early to start planning. This is true also for 2013 when the Midwest will once again be in the “spotlight”. The MLPTC has set the bar very high but we know that pin traders are great at accepting a challenge and we are looking forward to future ASMs.
Our congratulations to the three newly elected LITPC Directors, PDG Nan Blakemore, Missouri, PCC Mike Gutyan, Indiana, and PCC Jerry Townsend, Mississippi. We look forward to their leadership and dedication on the Board. The entire LITPC Board is looking forward to a record-breaking year and needs each and every member of the LITPC to do their part in our quest to raise funds for CSF II. If you can sell some tickets on our quilt, please let me know and I will send ASAP. We are less than half way in our pledge to raise money as pin traders for CSF II. No one knows how big the check will be in Minneapolis, but IT IS going to be over $100,000. How far over depends on each of us doing our part! The thermometer on the LITPC web site is at $59,000 and going up each time our Treasurer, Lion Harry Fulwiler, receives another check. Web Master, PCC Phil Schrack, has promised something special when it reaches the $100,000 mark. Speaking of the web site, don’t forget to check out all of the other news and articles on our site. It is updated every two weeks with new articles and other material.
Don’t forget to order each new set of CSF II pins as they come out since all of them are limited editions and will hopefully be sold out soon. Some Clubs are also selling chances on a complete set of State pins, and several have quilts to be chanced off. Use your imagination as to how your Club can raise money toward our CSF II goal. One last point. When you get the registration form for the LITPC hotel in Minneapolis, I suggest that you fill it out and send it in promptly. The alternate hotel will not be as enjoyable and you will only have yourself to blame. Have a great Summer and I look forward to seeing you at a swap real soon.