News from the IPDG
Confused Charter!
On 24 October, I was pleased to be invited to represent our International Organisation at Pangbourne, Theale and District's Charter Anniversary. However, there seemed to be considerable confusion as to whether it was the 38th Charter Anniversary of the South Chilterns Club or the First Charter Anniversary of the Pangbourne, Theale and District Club and this caused great hilarity throughout the proceedings.
Why the confusion? Well, as Lion President David Armsden explained in his speech, I, as District Governor, received a request last April, from the then South Chilterns Club to change its name because the name 'South Chilterns' was not an area recognised by the general public and it was felt that naming two places that the club served would make it more relevant. He also said that they had recently made a donation to the school at Pangbourne and hoped that the parents would now identify with the club and could be a source of help and even membership, especially as tere was now a link from th school's website to that of the Lions Club. The need for members was one reason for the change and a membership drive was planned for the coming months with the first part being in Theale in November. Lion President David presented Tony Palmer with a certificate of thanks for all the work that he had put into the changeover.
In my response, I said that I had been amazed at the speed at which the name change was actioned by Oak Brook. Within a week of sending in the request the Oak Brook website had been changed! I also said that the South Chilterns Club had had a proud history but that the Pangbourne, Theale and District Lions Club had a proud future and I wished them well with their membership drive and future events. It was my great pleasure to present the "New Charter" to Lion President David Armsdon.
Farewell from your DG for 2009-10
Sadly, apart from two funerals, Bournemouth's 49th Charter and Blandford's Model Railway exhibition both on the 27th June were my last two official engagements as your District Governor. I thank you all for the hospitality and friendship you have extended to me and to John during the year and wish you all every success in the future. I do hope that in the future, it will be possible to meet up again with the many friends I have made during my year as governor. Thankyou all for giving me such a wonderful year.
Blandford Model Railway Exhibition
Blandford and District Lions Club organised their first Model Railway exhibition on 27th June. There were several layouts on display, some were models of actual railway sites, such as Exeter Central Railway Station, others were recreations of how sites may have looked in the past and the scales varied from N Guage up to O Guage. Even the Fat Controller was there, supervising Thomas, James, Annie and Clarabel and others. It was good to see a club try a new venture and I hope that it can grow in size and success in future years.
Fireworks at Poole
Following my visit to the Zone 1B Fun Day, I joined Poole Lions and visitors from a number of other Lions Clubs for a cruise around the islands of Poole Harbour. Fortunately by this time, the wind had died down and the clouds cleared away to provide a beautiful evening. Following a Fish and Chip Supper on board, the boat ventured briefly out through Poole Entrance, before returning to take up station just off a barge anchored off the quay, which provided a magnificent firework display to round off a busy but very enjoyable day.
Zone 1B Project
It was a privelege to visit and help the Lions of Zone 1B with their annual project to provide a fun afternoon for mentally and physically challenged young people on 19th June. The afternoon comprised various games and a disco in a barn belonging to one of the Wareham Club members as well as river activities. Participants 
were taken out in canoes (two were lashed side by side to provide extra stability), there were also trips in mini "tank landing craft", which could accommodate up to two wheel chairs and the Dolphin Trust who have a boat specially adapted for wheelchair passengers also provided trips up to Wareham Bridge and back. The weather was dry, but with a chilly wind blowing along the river, the participants soon worked up an appetite, which kept the barbeque team extremely busy!
Surprise for Wokingham President
During my response to the Toast "Lions Clubs International" at Wokingham's Charter on 18th June, Lion President Sue Balchin started to look a little puzzled. The realisation slowly dawned that I was talking about her and that her club had secretly plotted for her to be presented with a Melvin Jones Fellowship. I was delighted to make this presentation in recognition of the tremendous way in which Sue has supported her club over the years and also, her dedicated work for a number of other charitable organisations.
Reading celebrate 45 years of Service
The Lions Club of Reading celebrated 45 years of service to their local community and the wider world at their Charter Lunch held at Goring and 
Streatley Golf Club on Sunday 13 June. I was priveliged to have been asked to present long service chevrons to Lion David Hitchins, the club's only remaining Charter Member, for 45 years of service to Lionism. As well as a distinguished lionistic career with Reading Lions, David also served his District in a number of capacities, notably as Governor in 1974-75 and the Multiple District as Chairman of the Council of Governors in the following year. I was also pleased to present chevrons for 10 years of service to Lionism to Lions Ken Chudy, Graham Dore and Clive Doyle.
40th Birthday Celebrations
I was very pleased to have been able to attend two 40th Charter Anniversaries, the Lions Club of Slough on 6 June and the Lions Club of Newbury on 11 June. I congratulated both clubs on achieving such significant milestones in their history and also for the contributions they had made to their local communities during that tme. Cakes had been baked to celebrate both occasions, the Newbury cake having been baked by Lion President Judith Colby. Charter Member Lion Alan Brown helped Lion President Judith to cut the Newbury cake in the presence of the Mayor of Newbury and myself.
International President's Certificate
I was pleased to have made an extra visit to the Lions Club of Henley on Thames on 7th June to present the International President's Certificate of Appreciation to Lion Ian Tritton. This was in recognition of Ian's exceptional work in attracting new members to join the club and was very much aligned to International President Eberhard Wirf's theme, "Move to Grow". The presentation was made in the presence of the Mayor of Henley on Thames, who was visiting the club on that ocasion.
Blackmore Vale Lions Club Charter
At this Charter, I was proud to present Lion Richard Frost with a special award for all his work with the Balackmore Vale Lions Caravan Rally over many years. This consisted of a model caravan mounted on a wooden plinth with an attached plaque thanking Richard for his work. Also, at this Charter, I presented PDG Bill Reed with chevrons for 40 years of service to Lionism. Bill was already a Lion when he moved to Dorset and joined the Yeovil Club (105SW), before helping to form Sherborne (105D) and then, with the late PDG Bernard Bloodworth, the Blackmore Vale Club, of which he is still a member. There followed presentations of three Melvin Jones Fellowships to Lion Treasurer David Birt and Past Presidents of Blackmore Vale, Lions Ian Simpson and Brian Blackwell.
New Melvin Jones Fellows
I made an extra visit to Newport Lions Club in May so that I could present three Melvin Jones Fellowships to The President, Lion Mark Orchard, the Secretary, Lion Denis Pierce and Lion Malcolm Harding. It was a very pleasant evening and an honour to help recognise these Lions who between them have given over 85 years of service to lionism.
PR and Marketing Workshop
On 22 May, some 25 Lions from 105D, as well as a number of others from 105W attended an excellent PR and Marketing Workshop organised by the Multiple District PR Team at the Inn at High Post, between Salisbury and Amesbury. This event provided us with an excellent insight into how we can better promote our clubs and my thanks to the MD Team for organising a superb event from which, I am sure, all the attendees benefited.
Woolmer Forest take advice from Convention
At our District Convention, our International Guest, PID Dr Patti Hill, said that if we needed help with a task, we should never be afraid to ask our neighbouring Lions Clubs for help and it was almost certain that they would say, "Yes, we can do that"!
Woolmer Forest Lions decided to try this out and so, on Sunday 11th April, Lions from Alton, Fleet, Hart, Loddon Valley, Meon Valley, Petersfield, as well as Woolmer Forest, together with myself and Region Chairman Roger Munday a
rrived at Headley Village Hall to help distribute about 2,000 leaflets to homes in various parts of the Woolmer Forest area. These invited residents to attend an informal evening of drinks and nibbles, where they could learn about the work of the Woolmer Forest Lions Club, in the hope that some may decide to join the club and help with its excellent programme of humanitarian projects in their local community and, the wider world. I am sure we all wish Woolmer Forest every success with this membership drive.
Update: I have been advised that Woolmer Forest now have six prospective members as a result of this initiative. Well done !
What a superb Convention
You may already have seen the report linked to the Home Page of this Website and I would like to thank so many people for giving me such a great Convention.
Firstly, PDG Fred Massey and the Host Team from Fleet Lions for all the organisational work that they have been putting in for almost two years now. And of course we must not forget their partners and many other members of the Lions Club of Fleet for their work over the weekend itself, particularly Lion Ian Johnson for his work on the IT at Convention and non-Lion Danny Lewis who was the sound engineer for the business session and also provided the computers for the IT Workshop, so ably organised by Lion President Tom Sayers.
Then there was my International Guest, representing Lions Clubs International, PID Lion Dr Patti Hill from the Edmonton Host Lions Club, Alberta Canada who inspired us all with her wonderful address to Convention and convincing us all (if we ever needed to be convinced) that "yes, we can do that". And of course we must not forget her husband, Lion Greg Holmes, who delighted the partners of the District Officers by telling them about his life and travels as the Partner of an International Director. Blackmore Vale Lions and PID Patti between them lost no time in administering a little Dentaid treatment to your long suffering Governor!
My thanks also to Mr Ian Murdoch from Moorfields Eye Hospital for bringing us up to date on progress with the eye teaching hospital in Korle Bu in Ghana, being built with help from the Lions of MD105 and a grant from Campaign Sight First. Then there were the Workshops run by Lion Brigitte Waterfield from MDHQ, Sarah Bone from the Diabetes and Wellness Foundation, our District Webmaster Tom Sayers for his IT Workshop and Kumar Acharya from District 105A, for giving us some great tips on how to form a new club.
Then of course, there were the displays in "The Street", which was open to the public, giving them an opportunity of an isight into the work of the Lions of 105D, so my thanks to the District Officers and outside orgainsations for providing them. And, of course, a very big thankyou to all the companies and organisations who provided sponsoship for our Convention.
But, most of all, my sincere thanks to all the Lions of 105D for attending and helping to make the weekend such a great occasion that I shall remember with fondness and pride for many years to come.
Five new members at Maidenhead
I was delighted to be asked to participate in the induction of not one, but FIVE new members, when I visited the Lions Club of Maidenhead on 23 February. I hope each of these members will enjoy a long and fruitful lionistic career with the Maidenhead Lions. I also hope that they, together with other recently inducted Lions in the District, will take full advantage of the next New Lions Orientation session to be organised shortly. During the meeting, Lion President Peter also presented a cheque to John Goodchild for the Partners' Charity, the four Air Ambulances of 105D. This was the second donation the Club had made to the Partners' Charity this Lionistic year and is very much appreciated.
Visit to Warminster Lions
During my visit to Warminster Lions on 2nd February, I was priviledged to be asked to present chevrons for 40 years of service, all at the Warminster club, to Lion Marcus Folker. This presentation came just a few days before Marcus's 93rd Birthday. Lion Marcus is still very active in the club, particularly in his work for their bookshop. My congratulations on this wonderful achievement and my best wishes for a very happy Birthday! I was also pleased to be able to present an International President's Retention patch to Immediate Past President Gene Shave.
Melvin Jones Fellows
I was very pleased to be asked to present two Melvin Jones Fellowships at Loddon Valley's Charter on 30th January. These went to Lion Guy Elliott and Lion Geoff Wheeler, both Charter Members of the club, in recognition of 34 years of valued service to the club. At the presentation, a letter from Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan, was read out. This praised Lion Geoff for his many years of service to the St John's Ambulance Brigade and congratulated him on receiving the highest honour that a club can bestow on a member. The pictures above show (Left) Lion Guy receiving his award with Lion President Tim Boulsbee on my right and, (Right), Lion Geoff receiving his award.
Convention 2010
Have you booked yet? We have an exciting new venue and a great programme. Fleet Lions and myself are working hard to ensure it's the best Convention ever. I look forward to seeing you all there.
Important Diary Dates 2009-2010:
19-21 March District Convention, Wokefield Park
25 April Spektrek organised by Petersfield Lions
29 April - 2 May MD Convention & 60 Years of Lionism in the British Isles & Ireland Celebrations, Leeds
28 June-2 July International Convention, Sydney, Australia
