The Diabetes Awareness and Camp Seale Harris Committee is composed of three or more members from each District in the Multiple District. Each year the committee for the previous year will submit a list of proposed members to the council of Governors for approval at the first meeting of the new Council.

The Diabetes Awareness Program is a major commitment of Lions Clubs International. Diabetes is a leading cause of new cases of blindness in the U.S. The objective of the program is to reduce the incidence of blindness caused by diabetes through detection, education, and research.

Southeastern Diabetes Education Services, (SDES) the organization operating Camp Seale Harris resident camp for children having diabetes, is supported by Multiple District 34 in cooperation with foundations, corporations, gifts and SDES organized fund-raising activities. SDES programs teach children, ages birth thru seventeen years – and their families, how to practice intensive diabetes management while also providing encouragement and motivation. Volunteer physicians, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, and educators serve as volunteers. In addition to Camp Seale Harris, SDES operates a children’s day camp – Camp Sugar Falls and provides services to local community education and support initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Become familiar with aspects of diabetes detection, education, and treatment, and the effects of untreated diabetes resulting in blindness and other diabetes related complications.
2. Establish liaison with local diabetes organizations and the medical community for assistance in planning diabetes screening and education activities.
3. Raise the level of diabetes awareness by coordinating diabetes testing and education in the district.
4. Encourage all clubs to inform the public of the need for education in diabetes management so as to reduce the incidence of blindness caused by the disease.
5. Be available for public forums and presentations to Lions Clubs, at Zone and Region meetings, Conventions and Conferences.
6. Solicit Lions Clubs to provide funds for children to attend Camp Seale Harris and other Southeastern Diabetes Education Services programs. Work with schools and local health professionals to locate children in their community who may benefit from the services of Southeastern Diabetes Education Services.
7. Encourage Lions to visit Camp Seale Harris – especially to assist in the registration of campers on opening day, and to visit other programs of Southeastern Diabetes Education Services.