News from the District Governor
Hi there fellow Lions
Welcome to my second newsletter, I do hope you have all had a good summer break. Despite me appearing to have a quiet month of August, by the end of that month I will have visited 3 clubs, attended 4 district committee meetings and 2 zone meetings and enjoyed two social occasions - one the Fleet Lions Beerfest 2010 and Zone 3F picnic. It's great to come across a positive can do attitude among the members at all these events. Mike and I also managed to get away for a 4 day break in a lovely apartment near Clovelly, North Devon over the Bank Holiday weekend.
One thing I meant to write about last month was Mike's chosen charity for this year. Those of you who were at the MD Convention in Leeds could not have failed to have been moved by the presentation on Music and the Deaf (www.matd.org.uk). This charity for young deaf people headed by an inspirational speaker - Dr Paul Whittaker OBE - who is himself deaf, can currently only operate in the north of England but is seeking the opportunity to extend south and give children in this part of the country the same opportunities. If you wish to support this charity, Mike would be delighted to receive contributions made payable to Lions Clubs International District 105D and marked on the back ‘Music and the Deaf'.
Zone 3F Picnic
Zone 3F Chairman, Doreen Norton wanted to organise a Zone social and the clubs in the Zone agreed on a Zone picnic. Well it seemed to be a good idea, especially as it was held in August so hopefully there would be a very good chance of the sun shining. The sun was certainly shining in Bracknell when Mike and I left, however the weather became very cloudy as we drove to Manor Park Country Park and by the time we arrived, yes you guessed it was raining, and it continued to rain with little let up. This did not deter the Lion club members who kept dry under the Gazebos. The venue for the picnic was spectacular, rolling fields for miles and miles. The site was equipped with a large barbeque which despite the rain, the embers flamed easily. It is always the case that food cooked outdoors tastes very different to the same food cooked indoors. A really good time was had by all and a big thank you to the organisers on behalf of myself and Mike.
It is now time for a reminder about the District Service to be held in Douai Abbey in Woolhampton on Sunday 17th October at 15:00. This is the annual Service of Re-dedication to service for Lions in this District. Please invite your Mayor or other Civic Dignitary to represent the area you serve. The service of course is free but afternoon tea will be available after the service at a cost of £6.50. PDG Patrick Hamblin and his committee from the Lions Club of Reading who are organising the event will be delighted to hear from you as soon as possible to help with planning the catering.
District Convention 2011 - The Celtic Experience - has received its first booking and payment in full. Remember that the Host Committee, consisting of members from Burnham and Bracknell Clubs, are offering a totally free weekend including accommodation, meals and functions (but not drinks!!) to a lucky person who books and pays in full before 31st December - truly an Irish crock of gold for the lucky winner.
District Leadership Workshop 20th/21st November
Watch out for the flyer from DO Graham Drayton for the new District Leadership Workshop based on the now defunct Emerging Lions Institute which has now been devolved to District level.
The venue is Wokefield Park where the 2010 convention was held. Cost is £100 all inclusive for the weekend. The presenters are all familiar faces in this district and are all LCI trained and approved to deliver this workshop. It is a fact that in the first two months of this year we HAVE lost members through misunderstandings or arguments within clubs - this workshop will equip you with some of the skills to avoid or overcome these issues.
For those of you who would love to know what goes on at a Lions Clubs International Board Meeting you have the opportunity on Friday 1st October to see the board in action in Edinburgh. Further details and application form were on the centre pages of the last issue of the Lion Magazine.
New members in July 2010
We welcomed 7 new and welcomed back 2 reinstated members into the organisation in July but unfortunately lost 9 as well. Those new members are:
- Thomas Chapman and Suzanne Redpath - Wincanton
- Sara Hale - Trowbridge
- Douglas Holmes, Beverly Holmes, and Colin Manuel - Southampton
- Christine Rutherford - Ringwood and Fordingbridge
- Jon Savage - Newbury
- Andrea Hall - Reading
Welcome to a marvellous organisation and especially District 105D and the clubs you have joined.
Hendy's Haunts - September
2nd VDG Roger and I are now getting club visits into some order and I will be writing to clubs in the next two weeks offering dates for those visits. Other functions scheduled for September are:
Sept 4th/5th Train the Trainer Workshop - Solihull
Sept 6th Zone D Meeting - Romsey
Sept 11th GMS Charter Anniversary
Sept 12th Fleet Charter Anniversary
Sept 16th Burnham Birthday Celebrations
Sep 18th Swanwick Charter Anniversary
Sept 22nd Wokingham OV
Sept 29th/Oct 3rd Council of Governors - Edinburgh
The Regional teams have now all had their first, if not second meetings, and the Regional plans are underway. The leadership members from each Region have also met and there is now a list of workshops that any club can ask for, and with the help of the District Team and the regional teams can be delivered at local level.
Fellow Lions, I ask you to take up the challenge and organise a leadership workshop either at club or Zone level. We will also be holding ‘welcome to new Lions seminars' locally with the Regional teams involved in the delivery. Within the seminar the new Lions will have the opportunity to meet other Lions from neighbouring clubs whilst in a relaxed atmosphere and increase their knowledge and experience of Lions Clubs International both locally and wider afield.
Waitrose Discs
At a Zone meeting last night a very good idea was shared by the president of Henley-on-Thames club. Those Lions clubs who have a Waitrose supermarket on their patch, can apply for the collection of the Green Discs. Some clubs have been turned down due to the fact that they applied for the collection of discs for Lions charities. This club had great success due to the fact that they were specific in the cause that the green disc was collected for e.g. money towards Christmas parcels. An easy way to fundraise while serving the needy in your area, and promoting your local Lions club. Give it a try, a little effort with a big reward.
And finally
The International President's focus this year is on service and this month I leave you all with a question: how many of your club's activities are truly service activities or have we become the world's best fundraisers?
Regards
Lions Brigid and Mike
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