Dick Woods, formerly of the Wenatchee Lions
and now with the Willapa
Harbor Lions, is a 50 year Lion.
During his years he has brought 102 people into the Lions.
That sounds like an amazing accomplishment but Dick, a modest straight talker,
downplays it a bit saying, “That’s about two a year.”
There is no magic potion or trick to it. Lion Dick says, “The key word is ASK. You
have to ASK. ASK Have you ever heard of
the Lions? ASK Do you
know what Lions do? ASK
Has anyone ever invited you to a Lions club meeting?”
He says, “There are prospective Lions everywhere.However you meet a person just bring up the subject. ASK!”
Dick Woods continues, “In September and October on Friday
and Saturday our club sells tickets to the Rain Derby. If they get the next
year’s rain amount right they win $5,000. It’s an eleven year old project. While selling tickets outside the grocery, I
talked to a 40 year old gentleman and invited him to our club meeting. He’s “retired”
after 12 years in the military. He wants
to get involved. He wants to volunteer.
He came to last week’s meeting. He’s bringing his application to the next
meeting.
Dick said, “We did an open house last March. Everyone ASKed someone
to attend. Our Past District Governor spoke.
The meeting was only a half hour long. 10 people joined that night.”
I pressed Dick a little harder on what worked best for him
besides just ASKing.
He said, “First thing I ASK,
Do you know anything about the Lions? Then I tell a quick Helen Keller story
because everyone knows about her. I tell them about the 1925 convention where
she ASKed us to be
Knights of the Blind? We’ve been that ever since. That usually gets people
interested.
Every Lion has contact with somebody. In your work place, at
church, at the store, anywhere. If you talk to people, most often there will be
a time to bring up Lions.
You have to ASK.
I’ve been ASKing
for 50 years.”
What an inspiration!
