Spring Newsletter (pdf)
Published 5-12-208

     Although not an official statewide project of the Wisconsin Lions, almost all of the state Lions support this program which is run by several hard working Lions in the state.
   Every year, numerous Lions head to Mexico with used eyeglasses from our Eyeglass Recycling Center in Rosholt, donated fire trucks, ambulances and school busses gathered by Lions Clubs around the state, and medical and school supplies such as hospital beds and school desks.  These item are given freely to Lions Clubs in Mexico that distribute them to needy schools, orphanages and cities.  While in Mexico, thousands of used eyeglasses are given out to local residents who probably have never had a pair of glasses in their life.
   Listed below is a report that will give you a perspective what a "mission" is like.

WISCONSIN LIONS MISSION TO MEXICO NEWSLETTER
FALL 2007

Bob Showers’ Upcoming Missions

Bob Showers, coordinator
P.O. Box 637, Packwaukee Wl 53953
(608) 589-5201
reddog at maqs.net

October Mission to Matamoros
The caravan for the October 2007 mission to Matamoros will leave on Sunday morning, October 21 from Beloit The fly down people will meet in Brownsville on Wednesday, October 24. We will set up on the 25th. The eyeglass campaign will run from Friday October 26 to Monday October 29. October 30 will be a free day in Matamoros and we will head home on the 31st.

February Mission
The February 2008 mission is tentatively set up with the Rio Bravo Lions Club. The exact location will be determined during our October Mission to Mexico. The caravan people will meet in Beloit on Saturday, February 16. We will leave on Sunday morning, February 17 and meet the fly down people in McAllen on Wednesday, February 20. We will travel to our destination and set up the campaign on Thursday Feb. 21. The eyeglass campaign will run from Friday, February 22 through Monday, February 25. Tuesday February 26 will be a free day. Wednesday, February 27 we will leave for home.

Mission to Veracruz, January 2008

Gary Donaldson, coordinator
15330 Thelen Road
Mountain, Wl 54149
(715) 850-1036
donaldson at ez-net.com

The 2008 Mission to the State of Veracruz. Mexico will take place around the third week of January. Our hosts in Mexico will be the Coatapec Lions Club. Coatapec is a small colonial community 15 km from Xalapa (or Jalapa), the government seat of Veracruz. Coatapec is located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains about 1 1/2 hours from the Gulf of Mexico and is well known as the coffee capital of Mexico. Nearby Jalapa is sometimes referred to by locals as "The Athens of Mexico" because of its three major universities, museums, and vibrant art scene.

40 intrepid volunteers will be making the trip from home to Chicago to Mexico City to Veracruz to Coatapec and back. We expect to care for around 4000 wonderful Mexican people, and in return will receive a gentle lesson in humility and compassion for our fellow human beings.

February Mission to Reynosa

Bill Taubman, coordinator
N3391 Pine Tree Lane, Ripon WI 54971
(715)468-2910
Wct38 at centurytel.net

This year’s mission to the city or Reynosa on the days of Feb. 7 - 10. Everyone should plan to be in McAllen on the evening of Feb. 6 and not plan to return for home until late on the 10th or better yet on the 11th. Sometime in the next month will be sending a letter along with registration forms for everyone who has gone with me in the past. Others who want to join the group should contact me soon. We are limited to 40 people.

February Mission to Honduras

Pauline Schiferl, coordinator
P.O. Box 423 Abbotsford, W! 54405
(715) 223-6231
pschiferl at msn.com

The Honduras Eye Glass Mission is scheduled for February 16 February 28. For those interested in R & R for a couple of days, we would be staying until March 2, giving options to visit We will be joining Missionary Health Service (the Medical/Dental team) again. At this time we intend to go to the city of Olanchito the first days, February 16 21. Lions will then bring us to Trujillo the afternoon of February 21 to join the medical/dental team fort dinner at the Christopher. The morning of Friday, February 22 we will go by bus to the clinic in Chapagua with the MHS team. We will work at the clinic February 22 26. We stay in the city of Trujito while we work in Chapagua and are bussed in and out each day.

At this time am getting the glasses and medical supplies ready to be shipped in a container by International Health Service out of Minneapolis. We will take the supplies to Minneapolis at the end of October to be shipped some time in December. The Lions of Olanchito will pick up the supplies in LeCeiba as they will arrive there. They will bring them to Olanchito and after we complete that mission will bring us and the supplies to Trujillo where we will take them to the clinic.

We are in need of one or two more people, so if anyone is interested in going please contact me.

The MHS team is looking for a dentist. Any dentist interested please contact me.

Those people interested in returning immediately after the mission, a bus will leave Wednesday, February 27. 2008 for San Pedro Sula, overnight in San Pedro Sula, fly out in the morning of the 28th.

MISSION TO MEXICO WANT LIST

Lion Ron Duffe, State Coordinator
420 Grand Ave. New Richmond Wl 54017
(715) 246-2064
duffe at frontiernet.net

Want List for Mexico vehicles
(1) 1993 - 1998 handicapped bus
(1) 1996 - 1998 65 passenger bus
(3) ambulances
(2) school busses (regular size)
(2) handicapped vans or busses, any year
(1) fire truck
(1) pumper
(1) backhoe
(1) small bus or van designated for the city of Reynosa
(1) small bus or van designated for the city of Rio Bravo
(1) ambulance designated for the city of Rio Bravo
(1) utility van designated for the city of Rio Bravo 

Supplies needed in good working condition

School desks, especially small desks for kindergarten children
Medical equipment of any kind
Dental equipment designated for a town in Jalisco
Jaws of life
Hospital beds and mattresses
crutches and wheel chairs
Medical supplies (no medicines)

If you collect supply items, coordinate with your district coordinator so that these items can be loaded on a vehicle and sent down by caravan. This is preferable to items sitting in a barn or warehouse gathering dust.