Press Releases

Camas Lions Make their Mark on Diabetes

For immediate release: Contact: Stephanie O’Dell

Camas Lions Make their Mark on Diabetes with Pledge To Increase Diabetes Awareness on World Diabetes Day

CAMAS—In honor of World Diabetes Day, the Camas Lions will host a series of Facebook Live events on Saturday, November 14, World Diabetes Day.

In October, LCI President, Dr. Jung-Yul Choi asked Lions around the world to unite in raising awareness and educating people so we can make a difference in our communities towards the fight against diabetes. Diabetes affects nearly 10% of the world’s adult population—and so many more that are undiagnosed. Dr. Choi went on to request that Lions continue serving safely by serving virtually. He asked clubs to participate in a variety of virtual activities to promote diabetes awareness, prevention and care.

The Camas Lions took this request seriously and formed a committee to develop an online educational event to raise awareness about the prevention of Type 2 diabetes. “Diabetes is a global epidemic, but it’s also a personal disease that impacts the family, friends and neighbors of those living with diabetes,” said Camas Lion, Leslie Chasse. “We want to be part of the solution, and we believe we can be when we unite with Lions around the world to combat this disease.”

On November 14, several Camas Lions are taking to social media to present their own spin on a pre-diabetes self-assessment. "We want to personally reach the people we care about with this important message about some warning signs of pre-diabetes," says Camas Lion, Herb Andersen, "We're hoping our friends and family see how much we care about them and will seek medical advice if they think they might be at risk."

For a chance to catch a Facebook Live event or to view the videos once they are posted, follow the Camas Lions Club on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CamasLionsClub/.

Support for World Diabetes Day is part of Lions International’s commitment to fighting diabetes through education, increased access to care, and advocacy for research that leads to new treatments and technologies that can change lives. Since Lions International announced their global focus on diabetes in 2017, nearly 15,000 Lions clubs have hosted more than 35,000 projects, serving over 10 million people in their communities.

If interested people miss the live events hosted by the Camas Lions, the Lions will also promote other diabetes risk assessment tools. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) developed an online risk assessment tool, which helps predict an individual’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes within the next 10 years. IDF estimates that as many as 212 million people, or half the adults currently living with diabetes, are undiagnosed. Most cases are Type 2 diabetes, which is largely preventable. IDF predicts the number of people with diabetes will reach 629 million by 2045. Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organization, has teamed up with the IDF to screen one million people for Type 2 diabetes and increase awareness about this disease that affects one in 11 people.

Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. More than 1.4 million members in over 48,000 clubs are serving in 200 countries and geographic areas around the globe. Since 1917, Lions have strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects, and we are able to extend our service impact through the generous support of our Lions Clubs International Foundation. We are focused on supporting sight, hunger, the environment, childhood cancer and our new global cause, diabetes, to help address some of the biggest challenges facing humanity. Lions have set an ambitious goal of helping 200 million people per year so we can bring even more service to more people than ever before. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit lionsclubs.org.

The Camas Lions Club has 32 members and meets every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 6:00PM via Zoom Cloud Meetings. For more information or to get involved with the Camas Lions Club, please contact Membership Chair Rachael via email at LionsofCamas@gmail.com Attention Membership.

For more information about the World Diabetes Day event, contact Committee Chairs: Leslie, or Stephanie via email at LionsofCamas@gmail.com. Attention Diabetes.

Flower Power!

For immediate release contact: StephanieOdellCamas@gmail.com

Aug 2020

Camas Club Finds Strength in Online Fundraising

Camas, WA – We've all been feeling the many ways COVID-19 has changed American life. Many of us are struggling to adapt to new, remote ways of working, learning, socializing, and basically functioning. This is not only impacting our personal lives, but our lives of service. It changes how we meet and learn, how we serve our local communities, and also how we fundraise.

With restrictions on social gatherings, impacts have ranged from mildly inconvenient to completely debilitating. One such impact was felt by the Camas Lions Club. Camas Lions depend on their Fourth of July BBQ at the local fireworks display for the majority of their funds for the remainder of the fiscal year. This is the one major event where they raise funds that go to support sight, hearing, hunger, scholarship and other areas important to the club. Due to COVID-19, the Fourth of July event was cancelled and the club lost their biggest fundraiser for the year.

The club had to quickly decide how they would deal with the rapidly unfolding reality of restrictions. During the fiscal year budgeting process, the Camas Lions finance committee explored several options ranging from shutting down out-going expenditures due to lack of funds to full steam ahead! The club chose to proceed full steam ahead! "Our causes are just too important to us to put off or to cut back, even for one year," says Club Service Chairperson, Brian Scott. "No one in the club wanted to give up on making a difference to those in need, especially now." Camas Lions didn't want to cut their level of contributions for any of their worthwhile causes. The tricky part, where will the money come from?

Membership brainstormed a myriad of ideas. One such idea was online sales. Club Secretary, Stephanie O'Dell researched options for items they could sell online and various platforms available. She narrowed down the recommendation based on time of year, ease of use, and items that wouldn't compete with other Lions’ online sales. She selected Fall Flower Bulb sales through a reputable source, Flower Power Fundraising. "When choosing an option, Flower Power Fundraising already had the online store framework, we just had to add our information," Stephanie said. "It was so quick and easy to get started!" Camas Lions are also conscious about being good stewards of the planet, so many of the members appreciated an earth-friendly option. An added bonus is Flower Power Fundraising would ship the bulbs directly to customers reducing in-person contact and allowing members to broaden their customer base from local sales to national sales.

Membership voted to proceed with the fundraiser. The club set a stretch goal of $4,000 in sales; Camas Lions would get 50% of all sales, so they planned to earn $2,000 for the club. The club set up the store (which took less than one hour) and launched the fundraiser on August 6. The club used social media such as Facebook, NextDoor, and Instragram to post advertisements. They also set individual goals for each member. Members used email to reach out to family and friends. Other members that were still seeing people in-person at church, at work, and in their neighborhood, collected traditional "paper" orders, as well.

At the conclusion of their fundraising event, Camas Lions Club surpassed their sales goal of $4,000! Feeling fired up about the success of the flower bulb fundraiser and the relative ease of use for online selling, the club has now focused their attention on selling premium nuts and snacks using the Terri Lynn fundraising platform. Visit their online store at: https://camas-lions.terrilynn.com/ to order gifts and treats just in time for the holidays!

Photo: Customer, 2nd Vice District Governor, Debbie Mansell, planting the bulbs she orde

CAMAS LIONS CLUB TEAMS WITH TRIANGLE RESOURCES IN TREASURE HOUSE CLEANUP

For Information Contact:

Casey O’Dell 360-772-4497 LionsOfCamas@gmail.com
PO Box 545, Camas, WA 98607

For Immediate Release

August 12, 2019

Camas, WA – Camas Lions Club will team up with Triangle Resources on Saturday, August 17 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM to remove old hedges, and provide general cleanup services for the local Inter-Faith Treasure House. This project came about when members of the Camas Lions Club visited the Treasure House to learn more about the services they provide to the Camas-Washougal community. During the visit, they were made aware of an urgent need at the facility.

According to Camas Lion Club President, Casey O’Dell, “We are impressed with the operations and services the Treasure House provides to people in our community. We want to do our part by lending them a helping hand at their facility. Community service projects like these are right up our alley.”

When local business, Triangle Resources, was approached about the project, they were happy to come on board as a sponsor of the project. “We are grateful Triangle Resources is donating their service fees for the hedge removal project. When groups volunteer their time and businesses make contributions, it allows us to utilize funds on programs that directly help the needy,” said Treasure House Director, Nancy Wilson.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. The Camas Lions Club has 28 members and meets every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 6:30 PM at Los Potrillos Restaurant on 192nd in Camas, WA. Lions clubs are groups of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For more information or to get involved with the Camas Lions Club, please contact Membership Chair, Stephanie O’Dellat 360-608-3395. For more information about the Camas Lions Clubparticipation in the upcoming Treasure House Clean-Up Project, contact Club President Casey O’Dell at (360) 772-4497.

Treasure House established in 1969 and provides assistance to needy families in the community. Treasure House is the primary social service agency serving Camas and Washougal. They offer a range of services provided by trained staff and volunteers. For more information or to get involved with the Inter-Faith Treasure House, please contact Director, Nancy Wilson at 360-834-4181.

CAMAS LIONS CLUB CELEBRATES 80 YEARS OF SERVICE

For Information Contact:

Leslie Chasse 360-600-2007

LionsOfCamas@gmail.com
PO Box 545, Camas, WA 98607

For Immediate Release

May 7, 2018

Camas, WA – Camas Lions Club will in part be celebrating its 80year anniversary by hosting a festival style beer garden at the Hoops 360 3 on 3 2018 event August 17 – 19. Hoops 360 is an entertaining basketball event that will be held on the corner of Birch & Fifth Ave in Downtown Camas. In addition to the 3 on 3 competition, participants can take part in the slam dunk contest, three point contest, skills contest, free kids basketball clinic, or enjoy basketball themed movies at Liberty Theater, wine, local brews, food, live music and more!

Since the club’s chartering in 1938, its members have worked on a variety of projects in the local community, such as building the community swimming pool at Crown Park and constructing the Adirondacks at Camp Currie. Proceeds from past fundraising events have gone to college scholarships, eye exams and eyeglasses, and hearing aids. The club is currently scheduled to be at the Camas Mother’s Day Plant & Garden Fair on Saturday, May 12, where they will be giving away free children’s books to support the Lions Club International initiative, Reading Action Program, a 10-year commitment to increasing reading and literacy rates. This program is a call to action for Lions clubs around the world to organize service projects and activities that underscore the importance of reading and address specific needs related to illiteracy within their own community.

According to Club Treasurer, Casey O’Dell, “We are proud of our club’s 80 years of service to the community. The Lion club members thank everyone who contributes to this important work. You are truly helping Lions make a difference in our community.”

The Camas Lions Club has 32 members and meets every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 6:30 PM at Los Potrillos Restaurant on 192nd in Camas, WA. Lions clubs are a group of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For more information or to get involved with the Camas Lions Club, please contact Membership Chair, Stephanie Starke at 360-608-3395. For more information about the Camas Lions Club participation in the upcoming Hoops 360 3 on 3 2018 event, contact Club President Leslie Chasse at (360) 600-2007.