Fellow Lions, Lioness-Lions, and Leos,

April has been an incredibly busy and inspiring month across District 24-L, and I continue to be amazed by the energy, passion, and commitment of our Lions. As International President A.P. Singh reminds us through his theme of making service meaningful and heartfelt, and as we continue to focus on our own district theme of “Navigate to the Future,” I see both of these ideas coming to life in every club visit, service project, and new opportunity for growth. When we serve with passion and purpose, we not only strengthen our communities—we strengthen Lionism itself.

In my travels this month, I had the pleasure of attending the Woodstock Lions Club’s 85th Charter Celebration. What a special event and what a remarkable legacy they have built through decades of service to their community. Their commitment truly exemplifies our Lions motto—“We Serve.” It was inspiring to reflect on the generations of Lions who have made a lasting impact and to celebrate the future service still to come.

I also had the privilege of inducting two new members into the Mason Neck Lions Club—two new Lions full of energy, fresh ideas, and a desire to make a difference. In addition, through the outstanding work of Lion Cathy Cutright and the support of our District Extension Team, we have officially started a new club in Colonial Beach, Virginia. Twenty-one new Lions are ready to serve their community, and I had the pleasure of seeing their excitement firsthand. Their Charter Celebration will be held on May 6th, and I know they will do amazing things.

On April 25th, I had the honor of joining multiple Lions Clubs at the Rappahannock Education Farm to plant tomatoes as part of Lions International Service Week in support of our global cause of Environment. A film crew from Maryland was also there to capture the Lions’ partnership with the farm as part of an Lions Clubs International Foundation telethon story. This partnership demonstrates how local service can create a larger impact—supporting hunger relief, environmental sustainability, and helping our communities better understand the power of Lionism.

That same day, more than 30 of our new members joined Lions around the world for Worldwide Induction Day. This live event featured International President A.P. Singh personally performing the induction and challenging each new Lion to pursue service they are passionate about—service that touches their heart, impacts their community, and makes them a Lion, not just a member. That message aligns perfectly with our district’s focus on building strong, engaged Lions as we Navigate to the Future. Special thanks to Past Council Chair Glen Logan for organizing this outstanding event for our district.

Earlier in the month, on April 15th, we were honored by Lion Daniel Marney Elkins with an outstanding presentation on Artificial Intelligence and Lions Virtual.org. His session challenged our district to think outside the box and explore how emerging technology can support membership growth, leadership development, service planning, and public visibility. As we look ahead, embracing innovation will help us better serve our communities and strengthen our clubs for the future.

I also want to thank all the clubs that participated in our March Madness Membership Drive. Our district welcomed 55 new members, with 16 clubs participating. I am especially proud to announce that McLean Fil-Am brought in 12 new members—the most in all of Virginia! Congratulations to McLean Fil-Am. All participating clubs will be recognized at our MD-24 State Convention. I challenge every club to continue focusing on membership because more members truly mean more service. Let’s finish this Lions year strong.

Speaking of convention, our MD-24 State Convention is this month in Bristol, Virginia, and I encourage each of you to consider attending. We have outstanding training sessions focused on service, leadership, membership, and technology; a hands-on service project supporting homeless veterans and domestic violence survivors; the State Bland Contest; and the opportunity to meet incoming International President Mark Lyons, our convention guest. Most importantly, it is a chance to support our incoming District Governor Chuck as he prepares to lead District 24-L forward. Registration is available on our website.

I would also encourage you to join us in Washington, DC, on Memorial Day to march in the parade alongside Lions from Virginia, DC, Maryland, and Delaware. Dorothy and I participated last year, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. To march in honor of our veterans while proudly representing Lions was incredibly meaningful. Following the parade, there will be a barbecue at PDG Woody’s home for fellowship with Lions from across multiple states. PCC Glen Logan is leading this effort, and more information is available on our website.

Through the dedication of Lions across our three Virginia districts, we also submitted an application for a $5,000 Lions Clubs International Foundation Disaster Preparedness Grant. If approved, these funds will help purchase Disaster Preparedness Kits for clubs to use in community education, engagement, and partnership-building. This effort represents a strong statewide collaboration and helps position Lions as leaders in preparing for and responding to disasters across Virginia.

Finally, please save the date for our upcoming officer training. Past Council Chair Wilma Murphy is coordinating training for incoming Presidents, Vice Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers, Membership Chairs, and Service Chairs on June 6th in a virtual format. Zone Chair training will follow on June 13th in person in Remington. Strong leadership is the foundation of strong clubs, and this training is an important step as we prepare for the new Lions year.

Thank you for all you do for Lionism, for your communities, and for each other. Together, by serving with heart and by embracing new ideas and opportunities, we continue to honor A.P. Singh’s challenge to be Lions who serve with purpose while we Navigate to the Future. Let us continue building stronger clubs, stronger communities, and a stronger tomorrow—because where there is a need, there is a Lion.

Yours in Lionism,
DG Dan