My Life as a Lion

This is the second of three posts bringing my blog more or less up to date. Part One covered February and this post will cover the beginning of March

March started with a run of club visits and charter anniversaries but the highlight of the first half was the UN Day at the Houses of Parliament.

UN day at the Houses of Parliament is an annual event started some 20 plus years ago and is one of many such events around the world that celebrate the long standing relationship that Lions have with the United Nations.

Chaired by MD International Relations Officer, Jacquie Prebble, this was a excellent afternoon hosted by The Palace of Westminster Lions Club. After introductions from Jacquie and Council Chairman Phil Robinson, Past District Governor of 105M, Roger Handcock, gave an interesting presentation on the history of Lions and the UN in this country. There then followed two presentations by Radio Four’s Sue MacGregor, a UNICEF Trustee and Martha Ware of Help2Read respec-tively. Both presented with an obvious passion for their subjects and helped to highlight the difference Lions can make by partnering with them.

As is now a tradition at UN Day, MDHQ Manager Lion Brigitte Green then introduced this year’s MD Peace Poster winner, April Cavalier. She was followed by International President, Barry Palmer who gave his address.

The President was his usual down-to-earth self as he shared his dreams with us. The surprise of the day came when he asked Lion Liam Barrett to come forward. Liam was our district Young Ambassador in 2011-12 and has since joined Marston Green & District Lions and started Medical School at Birmingham University. In his first year there Liam took part in a Global Medical Brigade to Ghana, providing medicines and education to local villagers.  This year he has been elected to lead the Brigade to Honduras.

A press release about Liam’s activities had been copied to Barry Palmer and he had asked if he could meet Liam, so calling him up wasn’t the surprise as such. However, having called him up in front of the audience in Westminster, he offered Liam the chance to address the room and tell us about his projects. This was well received and the way Liam now presents himself is a great advertisement for the Young Ambassador Competition.

The biggest surprise came when, having allowed Liam to speak, Barry Palmer presented him with an International President’s Recognition Medal, making him only the second recipient in this country after Past International Director Phil Nathan. Liam makes us very proud in Marston Green & District Lions Club and me very proud to have him in the District.

Lion Simon Moss

@simonhmoss @MarstonGnLions @lions105m @lionsclubsorg @LionsClubsUKIRE

1820 miles travelled as 2nd VDG

1500 miles travelled as 1st VDG

4500 miles  and 25Km travelled as DG

At least 1650 hours since 1 July 2011 on Lions’ activities