My Life as a Lion

Monday 8th August was a day off from Lions, apart from circulating a few mails around the district. On Tuesday evening, however, I went to my club’s fund raising committee meeting.

Most Lions Clubs a re organised into a number of committees with the principal two being Community Service (sometimes called Welfare) and Fund Raising. There are also usually committees for Social activities and Membership. This year I am chairing Social for my club, although I don’t actually have a committee.

I am also a member of the fund raising committee. As the name implies this committee plans and organises the fund raising activities of the club. The main focus of this meeting was the preparations required for Christmas where we take Santa around the streets in a sleigh collecting money and providing some Christmas magic for local children. This is our main fund raising activity of the year which is why we have to start planning in August if not sooner.

The following evening was my club’s business meeting. Unfortunately our President, Tim, had to go to Bahrain on business so the meeting was chaired in his absence by 1st Vice President Pauline. It was the usual mix of banter and business and we were joined for the evening by Zone Chairman Ray on his official club visit.

Yesterday, Thursday, was another zone meeting for me, this time zone B which includes Birmingham Chinatown, Birmingham Edgbaston, Birmingham Handsworth, Birmingham Handsworth Ladies, Moseley & Kings Heath and Sandwell Lions Clubs. The meeting was held at the Ramada, Oldbury and was chaired by new zone chairman, Praful. It was a little disappointing that only two of the clubs, Moseley & Kings Heath and Sandwell, sent representatives but it was still a lively and stimulating meeting.

I suppose that, having described three visits to Zone meetings I ought to explain a little about zones and regions. Lions Clubs International has divided the world into a number of administrative areas called Multiple Districts (MDs) and these are often countries or American states. These MDs are then further subdivided into districts. In the British Isles and Ireland (MD105) there are 13 districts. My district is 105M and covers the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Northamptonshire and part of Leicestershire and a bit of Staffordshire. It is divided into 3 regions and each of these has 3 zones with roughly 7 clubs in each.

The purpose of this structure is to facilitate communication, both up and down, between all levels of the organisation. Probably the most important role in the district is that of zone chairman. It is certainly one of the busiest as the zone chairman is expected to visit each club in the zone twice, hold four zone meetings during the year and attend four cabinet meetings to report on the welfare of the clubs in the zone. For a more visual look at the structure in my district go to www.lions105m.org.uk/cabinet.htm or www.lions105m.org.uk/clubs.htm.

That’s it for this week although I will be spending most of tomorrow, Saturday, helping my club provide face painting and games of chance at a fete being organised by Gorse Farm and Autism West Midlands

Lion Simon Moss
@simonhmoss @MarstonGnLions @lions105m @lionsclubsorg

152 miles travelled so far as 2nd VDG
62 hours since 1 July 2011 on Lions’ business