My Life as a Lion

Christine outside the Waterfront

The weekend of 6,7,8 May was the convention of the British Isles and Ireland Lions hosted by Belfast Lions Club. Christine and I flew out from Birmingham early on the Friday morning arriving at Belfast City Airport around 8am. We got to the Premier Inn in Alfred Street around 9am and were pleasantly surprised that we could check in straight away.

...and me inside

With registration not opening until 2pm we were able to spend a pleasant morning and early afternoon wandering around Belfast City Centre. We finally got to the Waterfront, the venue for convention, around 4pm, signing in and picking up our packs. We then had a quick look around the various stands that had been set up and picked up some information on the Young Leaders in Service programme, a signature project for the coming year.

The band at Host Night

Friday evening was the convention host night, traditionally a night of fun and fellowship. This year was no exception although the normal party atmosphere never really materialised. We were treated to a very nice buffet meal followed by traditional Irish music and dance in the main auditorium. the food and the entertainment were very good but the layout of the eating area and the formal nature of the auditorium made socialising a little difficult.

The business session

On Saturday morning the first business session began at 9am with the International President, Sid L Scruggs III, present and the opening ceremony carried out by the Lord mayor of Belfast. The morning session covered the reports of the MD officers and a presentation by the Youth Committee. This included this year’s MD Young Ambassador, Ryan Green from Ross on Wye and last year’s winner, Shane O’Brien who had won the European Award. Both gave excellent talks about projects they have been running.

The afternoon session covered seven resolutions and presentations on long range planning and membership. There were also updates on the Lions and Moorfields Korle Bu Project Update and on the progress of the Multiple District’s endorsed candidate for second vice international president, Phil Nathan.

Saturday evening was the Banquet and Ball but due in part to price and part to tradition, a number of the Lions from my district went for an alternative meal at the Crown Bar, a National Trust owned restaurant and bar.

This year's Council

The final session of convention was on Sunday morning. It started with the introduction of this year’s Council of Governors and their partners. This was followed by a recital by this year’s winner of the music competition and the presentation of various trophies and awards. Then came the introduction of next years District Governors. This was of interest to me as, all things being equal, I’ll be taking part in tow years time in Torquay. Each DG Elect enters with their partner to their choice of music and to the noisy appreciation of the Lions from their district.

The highlight of the session was the address by the International President focussing on his theme for the year ‘a Beacon of Hope’. For a man who leads an organisation the size of a small country he was very down to earth and showed his passion for the work of Lions around the world. The session ended with the handover of the convention flag to next year’s host committee. Next year the convention is in Birmingham and I and John Barnes went up onto the stage to receive the flag.

We finished our trip with a bus tour of Belfast which took us through the areas that would have been very dangerous during the troubles and helped to show how much things have changed for the better. All in all a great weekend!

Back in England my life as a lion continued to be very busy with a fund raising meeting on Tuesday, my club’s business meeting on Wednesday, a district communication committee meeting on Thursday, Droitwich Lions Club’s charter anniversary dinner on Friday and finally on Saturday facw painting at a garden centre at an event in aid of the air ambulance. The highlight of the week was the club meeting where the club agreed to go forward with the action plan developed last month and this resulted in a member retracting his resignation.

Lion Simon Moss
@simonhmoss @MarstonGnLions @lions105m @lionsclubsorg