GR Lions Club

USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum-Atlantic City
2025-09-18 - 2025-09-20
A 3 day forum with over 80 seminars being offered along with motivational meal speakers
Information forth coming

Executive Board Mtg @ noon
2025-09-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Detroit)
Exec Board is meeting via zoom at Noon.
Zoom link and agenda will be sent the Monday prior to the meeting.

District 11-C1 Project Night
2025-10-02 17:30 - 20:30
Have you ever wanted to learn about the various Lions projects around the district or state?
Here is your opportunity to learn in just 6 minutes, yes, like speed dating but this is speed learning about any or all the district/state projects in one place.
There is a dinner and silent auction too.
More information will be forth coming.

GR Lions Luncheon Mtg - University Club at GVSU, Dr. Nicole Caiin
2025-10-07 12:00 - 13:30
Our guest speaker will be Dr. Nicole Cain.
Please come by 12:00 pm BUT RSVP to Cheryl no later than Sept 30 at 10 am!!!!
Proposed topic: Do you struggle with brain fog, hair loss, or difficulty keeping muscle, and wonder if your hormones are to blame? Maybe you’ve done self-assessment checklists and suspect a thyroid issue, but your doctor only ran a TSH and said all is normal. Here’s the reality: it’s possible to have a thyroid imbalance even if your TSH is ‘normal.’ You don’t have to be a doctor or holistic specialist to understand and support your thyroid. As people in business, our health, endurance, and resilience impacts our ability to show up both personally and professionally! In this 20 minute talk, you’ll get straightforward, research-backed, practical strategies for real thyroid health. You will learn why TSH is just one piece of the puzzle, what deeper thyroid tests tell you, and how small, manageable changes can powerfully boost your energy and confidence.

Service Project Oct 14th, Meals on Wheels
2025-10-14 09:00 - 11:00
The October Service Project will be held at Meals on Wheels West Michigan
on Tuesday, October 14 from 9-11AM

Location:

Meals on Wheels Western Michigan
2900 Wilson Ave SW Suite 500
Grandville, MI 49418

Please RSVP to Sherah Eavey via text 616-322-4668 no later than 10/13

each person attending the volunteer opportunity to complete the steps below at least one day before your scheduled volunteer opportunity. Everyone will need to:
1. Click this unique link for your group (even those who have volunteered with us)
2. Create Account (in the top right corner of the sign in screen)
3. Complete all steps to creating an account
4. Click sign up on the volunteer event reserved for you group
5. Watch the Food Safety Video

Full Board Mtg at 8 pm
2025-10-28 20:00 - 21:00
Full Board is meeting via zoom at 8 pm.
Zoom link and agenda will be sent the Monday prior to the meeting.

Social Outing at Northfield Lanes
2025-11-03 16:00 - 17:00
Come join us for a fun social time while bowling at Northfield Lanes at 4-5pm. The bowling costs are covered. Northfield Lanes, 2222 Plainfield Ave NE 49505
If you don’t want to bowl, join us for a drink or dinner after bowling at your own expense at The Score approximately 5:30 pm. The Score, 5301 Northland Drive NE, Grand Rapids 49525
Hope to see you there!

GR Lions Luncheon - gra250
2025-11-04 12:00 - 13:30
HONORING OUR

PAST, INSPIRING

OUR FUTURE

Join us as we mark two extraordinary milestones: Grand Rapids’ 175th year and the 250th anniversary of America. This celebration is a journey through our shared heritage and a call to shape the future together. It’s a time to honor where we’ve been, recognize who we are and imagine all we can achieve as a community united in purpose and pride.

RSVP to reserve your spot by Oct 28 to Cheryl

Service Project-ABVI
2025-11-18 18:00 - 20:00
Help wil be needed in organizing the CCTV reading devices, the kitchen and helping to store glasses for recycling
RSVP to Kelly Phelps: tkphelps@charter.net or text 616-260-9108

Exec Board Mtg @ noon
2025-11-25 12:00 - 13:00
Exec Board is meeting via zoom @ noon.
Zoom link and agenda will be sent the Monday prior to the meeting.

Luncheon Speaker Kelsy Vining MSW, Dir of Adavancement at Familly Promise of West Mi
2025-12-02 12:00 - 13:30
Family Promise of West Michigan is a community-driven nonprofit helping families overcome housing crises with dignity and compassion. We prevent homelessness, provide emergency shelter, and help families build a future filled with stability and hope.

Hope to see you there.
RSVP to Cheryl Dec 19

Holiday Shopping-canceled
2025-12-06 07:30 - 10:30
Canceled due to unforeseen circumstances

Holiday Get Together
2025-12-13 18:00 - 21:00
Join us at Blythefield CC
Details to follow as to the time and to rsvp to Kim Gary or Rob Lalley if you plan to attend

GR Luncheon Speaker is Ben Anema
2026-01-06 12:00 - 13:30
The GR Lion will have Ben Anema is our luncheon speaker.Attorney Ben Anema will discuss legal topics as they pertain to AI data centers popping up around the nation, including GR, Lowell and others
RSVP’s to attend by 12/18/25 to Cheryl
Please arrive by noon

BDD & Drive 4 Vision Brainstorming @ Noon via zoom
2026-01-13 12:00 - 13:00
Exec Board is meeting via zoom @ noon is canceled.
Instead the BDD & Drive 4 Vision will be using this time for a brainstorming time.

District Convention on Friday March 27 & Sat 28.
2026-01-23 08:00 - 17:00
SAVE THE DATE!
The 11C1 District convention will be held on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2321 East Beltline in Grand Rapids! (Just north of Woodland Mall)
This year’s convention will have fun for everyone with a Country/Western theme! We will welcome International Director Robert “Ski” Marcinkowski from Alaska, host breakout sessions with interesting topics, celebrate this year’s accomplishments and have fun with friends!!!
Registration information coming soon – mark your calendars to join the fun!
Thank you~
Deb Davis
debdavisrockford@gmail.com
616-723-1178

Full Board Mtg at 8 pm via zoom
2026-01-27 20:00 - 21:00
Full Board is meeting via zoom @ 8pm.
Zoom link and agenda will be sent the Monday prior to the meeting.

Betsy Ford - Dale V. Ford, Grand Rapids Monuments Man
2026-02-03 12:15 - 13:30
Betsy has given numerous talks about the Monuments Men and was chosen by the Monuments Men and Women Foundation to participate in a class given online through Atlas Obscura and to represent the families of the Monuments Men and Women in remarks at the gala given for the families to celebrate the opening of the Monuments Men and Women exhibit at the National World War 2 Museum in New Orleans, LA.
RSVP to Cheryl Monday, Jan 26 if you plan to attend.

Exec Board Mtg @ noon via Zoom
2026-02-24 12:00 - 13:00

Grand Rapids Luncheon with District Governor Earl Howell
2026-03-03 12:00 - 14:00
Come join us for our monthly meeting with guest speaker, District Governor Earl Howell.
See you at noon for lunch.
RSVP to Cheryl by noon Feb 24, 2026 if you plan to attend for lunch.

Full Board Mtg Via Zoom at 8 pm
2026-03-24 20:00 - 21:00

11-C1 District Convention & service Project
2026-03-27 05:00 - 2026-03-28 21:00
2026 11C1 Convention Service Project
A kitchen counter top appliance and food drive!
Our Spring Service Project for 2026 is a project to help homeless Veterans transition to
housing.
Community Rebuilders will be our Partner. It is a Grand Rapids outreach program to help those
that have fallen between the cracks. They have a Veterans division headed by Jim Anderson.
Their service area is regional and their connections to other veteran service organization is
impressive. A large Number our fall Homeless Veteran backpacks were distributed by them to
our regional veterans. Mr. Anderson has arranged to educate us on the organization and its
mission at the convention.
In our conversation of Veteran’s needs, he mentioned when a homeless veteran transitions to
housing, he has very little to bring to their new home. He tells me they are constantly looking
for counter top Kitchen appliances to get them started. I saw a need and volunteered Lions
help. They are looking for things like: Toasters, Coffee Pots, Toaster ovens, can openers
(electric and hand held), pots and pans sets, Silverware, blenders air fryers, crock pots and
especially microwaves. New is not necessary. Used, clean and in working condition is
acceptable.
He called back a few days later to explain they also give food boxes designed for 3 days to a
week of nonperishable food items and always needed donations for those as well. He
suggested: Soups, Mac & Cheese, Ramen Noodles, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Canned Chili, Tuna,
pasta Noodles, Canned Vegetables and/or fruit, crackers, Canned Meats and/or Stews, Cereal.
So, a kitchen counter top appliance and food drive! Collected March 27, 28 at 11c1 convention.
Get your club, neighbors, local businesses to contribute. Give up your old stored appliances.
Get them to me, a district officer, or someone attending the district 11c1 convention. Jim
Anderson will have a truck to take them from the convention hotel to Community Rebuilders
Center after his breakout session talk. All of us can help fill up the truck!
Lion Bob Hohendorf
11c1 Svc Chair
616 881 3012
rhohendorf@gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello Lions of District 11C1!

IT’S CONVENTION TIME! YEEHA!
District Convention 2026

That’s right – it’s time for the District Convention! And this year, you get to dust off your cowboy boots and hats for a root-tootin’ good time!

This year’s convention will be Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Grand Rapids! Our special guest will be International Director Robert “Ski” Marcinowski and his wife, PDG Janis, joining us from the state of Alaska! (With our weather recently, they would feel right at home!) Email was sent out with further information

Join your fellow Lions as we ‘strap on the feedbag’ and ‘stirrup’ some great fun with great Lions friends! We’re not horsin’ around – well, maybe we will just a little!

Questions? Ya’all can give me a call! Or a text! Or an email! Shoot – send it via Pony Express!

Take care and we hope to see you at this year’s Round Up of GREAT LIONS!

Lion Deb Davis

Lions District 11C1 Cabinet Treasurer

District 11C1 Convention Team Member

debdavisrockford@gmail.com

616-723-1178

Full Board Mtg @ 8pm Via Zoom
2026-05-26 20:00 - 21:00
