Information for Diabetes Chairperson

Diabetes Chairpersons serve at the district and multiple district levels and are appointed by the district governor or council chairperson, respectively. Diabetes Chairpersons support Lions and Leos engaged or interested in projects to reduce the prevalence of diabetes and improve the quality of life for those diagnosed. They may collaborate with leadership throughout the organization, including the Global Service Team (GST).

Learn

Become the topic expert for your district/multiple district by learning about diabetes.

Explore Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which challenges the world to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages.
Become familiar with the various types of diabetes: Type I, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes.
Learn more about obesity and its effects on overall health.
Explore Lion Portal, LCI/LCIF’s social media sites, and the annual Leo Video Contest to learn more about how Lions and Leos are addressing similar challenges in their communities.

Discover

Bring your knowledge to the local level by exploring how diabetes and its related conditions are directly impacting your district/multiple district.

Conduct a Community Needs Assessment with a special focus on diabetes.
Contact your national diabetes association, local department of public health, or similar organization, to learn about the needs in your area and which populations are at greatest risk of diabetes.

Plan

Based upon what you have learned and discovered, submit a plan of action, including recommended service goals for diabetes, to the district governor/council chairperson for approval. In this process, you may wish to:

Meet with organizations already working on diabetes to discuss how you might support, expand upon, or compliment their ongoing work.
Collaborate with the Youth Camp and Exchange chairperson to organize a Youth Camp that includes youth with diabetes.
Discuss your service plan with the GST Coordinator and other leaders, including other programmatic chairpersons, for their feedback. It is possible they are already implementing a project that would benefit from inclusion of a diabetes service element.

Act

Inspiring Lion and Leo clubs in your district/multiple district to serve and report their service to Lion Portal will be critical to the success of your plan.

Become aware of Diabetes Resources.
Guide clubs in your district/multiple district through the “Learn, Discover, Act” journey as it pertains to diabetes.
Build awareness of the need, the goals and the service plan by offering a diabetes-focused seminar and hands-on service activity during district/multiple district convention.
Promote funding opportunities offered through LCI and LCIF that might support club/district diabetes projects.
Formalize partnerships with other organizations to enhance local impact.
Organize a district/multiple district donation to LCIF for diabetes and diabetic retinopathy to increase global impact.
Establish and maintain open communication with the district governor, council chairperson and Global Service Team (GST) leaders.

Celebrate

Encourage clubs to thoroughly report their diabetes projects using the Lion Portal.
Keep the district governor/council chairperson and GST Coordinator informed. Discuss and evaluate progress of the action plan and goals.
Share news about diabetes projects with the Public Relations Chairperson.
Celebrate progress and success by recognizing all participating clubs.

Contact Us

Lions Clubs International
Phone: 630-571-5466
Programs@lionsclubs.org