Advocate Meir Barnea
Israel Lions Commissioner for the years 2019-20
Slogan: “Evil in giving”
Positions in the club:
Among the founding members of the Rosh Ha’Ain Lions Club, chairman of the members’ committee, club president.
Positions in the Commission:
Head of the North District, chairman of the T.M.G committee during 3 years, one of the founders of the Ashdod Lions Club, third, second and first year, and head of the area.
At the world conference in Milan, Italy, Meir Barnea was appointed as Lions Israel commissioner for the years 2019-2020.
Activity as commissioner:
The 1940s committee – renewed in order to benefit from the experience of the former commissioners.
Innovation Committee – to examine, evaluate and refresh existing activity and its importance to the organization, alongside new recommended actions.
Women’s Empowerment Committee – with the aim of highlighting existing activities of the organization’s women alongside new and recommended activities.
G.L.T Leadership Committee – A leadership seminar was held at the Beit Berel Leadership Training Institute.
G.M.T membership committee – efforts were made to establish clubs in Yehud and Tel Aviv.
Commission Fun Day – took place in Ilanot Forest in cooperation with KKL-Junk, the event was attended by about 500 members.
Rychwalski Foundation Committee – at a ceremony held at the YBM House, half of the scholarships were distributed to students identified by the committee. The second half was handed over to the winners at a later date. The winners were advised to volunteer for activities in the various clubs.
Activities of the L.C.I.F Committee:
A. Completion of a grant for the purchase of an imaging room for the Italian Hospital in Nazareth at the initiative of the Nazareth Clubs.
on. A grant for the purchase of ophthalmic imaging equipment for premature infants at the Meir Kfar Saba Hospital, at the initiative of the Kfar Saba Club.
third. Grant for the establishment of the Starlight Club at the Schneider Children’s Hospital in Petah Tikva. Collection of donations from three clubs for the establishment of a playroom for hospitalized children.
d. The start of a grant run for the purchase of a laser cataract surgery device for the Wolfson Holon Hospital, at the initiative of the Commissioner and the Ra’anana Sparrow Club.
The peace poster competition – was held in Herzliya.
Europe Forum in Tallinn – in October 2019, a delegation of about twenty members went to the forum.
Accompanying the activities of the clubs – until the imposition of the quarantine, there was an activity in the clubs to which the commissioner and members of the cabinet were invited.
Visit of the President of Lions International
Dr. Tsoi, the President paid a visit to Israel, which was organized under the responsibility of the International Relations Committee, and included among others:
A. A meeting with the Lions Club in Negev B.S., a visit to the ophthalmology department at Soroka Hospital, a trip to the Lions Forest in Betir and planting trees there.
on. A visit to the “Salva” residence in Jerusalem, a guided visit to “Yad Vashem” including the lighting of a torch in the memorial hall and a tour of Jerusalem.
third. A meeting with the Lions Clubs in Hod Hasharon: a visit to the medical equipment lending center, the “All Children’s Park”, a tour of the apartment for housing lone soldiers and the ecological park.
d. A festive reception and dinner at the house of the South Korean ambassador in Israel in the presence of the organization’s representative.
Actions that were not completed due to the closure
All commission committees worked until the closure was announced. The planned activities did not take place due to the limitations of the quarantine:
Youth Exchange Committee – Agreements were drawn up for youth exchanges at the European Forum in Estonia (Tallinn), the registration of the outgoing youth (60) and the incoming youth (22) was conducted, an agreement was reached with the director of the school for young ambassadors in Petah Tikva on the hosting of the incoming youth, at the end of the traveling camp (instead of the members’ homes ).
Person of the Year Committee – The committee chose the people of the year and the model. Elected: Ms. Miriam Peretz and Shay Bandek.
The New Member’s Day Committee – a date has been set.
In the circumstances of the closure, it was not possible to hold meetings, and public activities in the local authorities were prohibited (such as lazy eye examination, Holocaust survivors, etc.).
The organization’s operations during the quarantine
In order to maintain contact with all club members, regular communication was carried out between the commission, with the presidents and all the members, in order to verify their safety and condition.
We applied to the international fund in order to receive an emergency grant for the purchase of the ventilator. The request was rejected due to the cost of the device being double the amount of the grant. We applied to the fund again and within a few days we received approval for an emergency grant in the amount of $10,000, for the purchase of protective equipment for the treatment of Corona for the Emek hospitals in Afula and Ziv in Safed. The protective equipment was purchased, and immediately delivered to the hospitals.
The 60th Conference:
Following instructions from the International Lions, to conduct the annual conference and leadership elections for the year 2020-2021 through the Internet, while maintaining confidentiality, elections for the next commission were held through the clubs and the Internet. The elections were conducted without incident.
Conference decisions:
1. All office bearers in the cabinet will participate in dedicated training before taking office, after being selected for the position by the designated commissioner and no later than July 1.
2. It is recommended that the president of an incumbent club, who has not yet passed a leadership seminar, participate in the seminar in the year of his presidency.
3. Training courses abroad will be announced to Lions members. Members over 3 years in Lions who wish to register for a course and commit to training in Israel, will submit a request for the Cabinet’s information and approval of the Commissioner.
4. A leadership seminar will be subsidized for new members and members who have not attended this seminar in the last 3 years. Repeat registrants will be approved on a space available basis and at full price.
5. Members from all clubs are supposed to participate in the commission meetings. It is recommended that members of the club management and/or at least 2-3 club members participate.
6. Cancellation of the decision of the 59th conference on the reimbursement of additional travel expenses to the commissioner for visiting clubs.
7. The conference recommends stopping the use of disposable plastic utensils at official events and calls on clubs to take a similar step.
Summary:
This year was challenging for me in terms of the goals I set for myself and the ways I took them. Unfortunately, the corona virus interrupted the realization of the goals. I thank the members of the Lions in Israel who were with me this year.