Following the cabinet meeting discussed in my last post, my next meeting was the first of the organising committee for 2012’s Multiple District Convention. Every year Lions hold conventions at three different levels, District, Multiple District and International. These conventions are attended by delegates from clubs. At district level these delegates vote on various resolutions affecting the district and elect the district governor and two vice district governors for the forthcoming year. The multiple district convention is a similar affair but larger and the international convention is larger still and delegates elect the international president and vices.
Next year’s Multiple District Convention is being held in Birmingham, or more strictly Solihull, at the Metropole Hotel near the NEC. The convention will run from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th May 2012, although the Council of Governors are there on the Thursday as well.
The convention will start on the Friday Evening with Host Night. This is a social occasion where lions from throughout the British Isles and Ireland can get together with old friends or make new ones. Somehow I ended up being chairman of the organising sub committee for the event and will be holding my first meeting later in the month. The host night is often a fancy dress event and next year we’ve picked an Olympic theme.
Among the other things that have to be organised for convention are
- Registration of delegates and distribution of convention papers
- Organising trips for non-lions
- The convention business sessions on Saturday and Sunday morning
- The District Governors’ Banquet and Ball on the Saturday night
All of this is being organised for an expected attendance of between 500 and 800 lions and non-lions. Further information and a booking form for the hotel can be found at the MD Website
Wednesday 24th August was my fifth zone meeting of the month and happened to be the first for my zone, zone D, this year and was hosted by my club, Marston Green & District Lions. The social part of the evening was a game of Family Fortunes hosted by me with chocolate as prizes.
Worcester Cathedral from the boat
The weekend included the summer bank holiday and Christine and I travelled to Scotland to visit her sister. We had a good day at the Edinburgh Fringe and I would heartily recommend Jason Cook as a comedian to see. We travelled back on the bank holiday Monday so that we could attend a river cruise organised by Worcester Lions Club. This was a dinner cruise on the Severn with good food and excellent company. It finished with a spectacular view of the end of Worcester Festival fireworks and a bit of a disco.
Despite feeling a little fragile the next day, my life as a lion continued on Tuesday evening with the monthly meeting of the DG’s Team. This was followed on Wednesday by a presentation entitled “So you want to be a DG” held for lions in the district who may be considering putting their names forward. It covered the duties of the roles of DG and VDG as well as the cost of doing them. Hopefully it will result in candidates for 2nd VDG for next year.
That wraps it up for this week’s blog. This weekend coming is the first training session for the 2nd Vice District Governors from around the multiple district. Should be very interesting and the first opportunity to meet the Council of Governors for 2013/14, provided we all get elected of course.
Lion Simon Moss
@simonhmoss @MarstonGnLions @lions105m @lionsclubsorg
330 miles travelled so far as 2nd VDG
94 hours since 1 July 2011 on Lions’ business
My Life as a Lion 
Glad you enjoyed the boat trip:-)