My Life as a Lion

… but I’ve been away on holiday and had little or no internet access.

Now that I’m back from leave, “My Life as a Lion” is back on with a vengeance.

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After the spring bank holiday weekend my Lions activities recommenced with a visit to Marston Green Cricket Club to discuss sponsorship of their U11s for this season. A very productive meeting with their new fund-raising coordinator, Lucy, which may well result in a charity cricket match/fun day in September and a venue for our membership drive in October.

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The last few days Lions’ activities have all been about change. The Lions’ year runs from the 1st of July to the 30th of June so we are approaching the end of the current year and looking forward to the new one.
On Tuesday of last week was the last meeting of this year’s DG Team. Present were this year’s District Governor, Martin, his first and second Vice District Governors, Neil and Paul, and me as second Vice District Governor Elect. Much of the meeting was taken up with trying to help Neil fill the remaining places on his cabinet for next year.
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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. (more…)

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Apologies for the time since the last blog but two extended weekends with friends and family had to come first. in the three days in between I went to three very different meetings to do with Lions.

Tuesday evening was the last Long Range Planning Committee meeting of the Lions’ year. This is the committee that I will be chairing from July as 2nd Vice District Governor. I’m happy to say that we now have a completed the first version of the new five year plan for District 105M. I will reveal more once it has been published but I can say that it covers the areas of Membership, Service Activities and district administration.

On Wednesday it was my club’s social meeting. Earlier in the year we started the My Ideal Club process to review our activities and structure. This week we reviewed the output from the earlier exercise. A smaller than expected group of us reviewed the feedback on events and service activities. The draft plan that we formulated will be presented to our next business meeting.

Finally on Thursday I attended the last Finance and Administration Committee meeting of the Lions’ year. I will be on this district committee next year and, if all goes to plan, chair it the year after. It is a fairly dry committee but vital to the smooth running of the district and its finances.

Coming up this weekend is Multiple District Convention in Belfast so next week their should be reports of much fun and fellowship.

Lion Simon Moss
@simonhmoss @MarstonGnLions @lions105m @lionsclubsorg

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Further to my previous post I have just found out that the Zone Project Night raised just short of £1,200 so very well done to everyone involved.

Lion Simon Moss
@simonhmoss @MarstonGnLions @lions105m @lionsclubsorg

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A bad case of flu has kept me away from my club’s monthly business meeting and a club fund raising meeting this week. It also prevented me from adding to this blog.

By Saturday I had finally recovered and was able to attend a charity night being organised by the clubs in my zone, Zone D, which was a night with entertainer, Robbie Mac. The event was held in a room which was really too big for the number of people, around 100, who attended. I’m afraid Robbie was not my cup of tea but several people got up and danced and seemed to have a good time.

The most important thing though was the money we were able to raise for the two charities being supported, Solihull Young Carers and Birmingham Crisis Centre. Thanks to ticket sales, donations and generous support for the raffle on the night I would estimate that we will be able to donate at least £350 to each of the charities so well done everyone.

Lion Simon Moss
@simonhmoss @MarstonGnLions @lions105m @lionsclubsorg

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Friday evening saw Christine and I heading to The Catshill Club near Bromsgrove to attend Bromsgrove Lions Club’s Black Country Night. A full house were thoroughly entertained by Dave Bartley, The Black Country Wordsmith, excellent soprano Nicky Moran and, of course, Aynuk. A Bostin’ night out with an excellent ploughman’s and a few pints of Theakston’s Dark.

Saturday morning and it was off to Marston Green Library for a 10:15 start of my club’s litter pick. Seven club members and six local volunteers spent a pleasant morning in the sunshine cleaning up the village’s streets. As you can see in the picture we collected quite a bit of rubbish despite the council having once again done their own litter pick just before our advertised event.

 On Saturday evening Christine and I went to Wharton Park Golf Club to attend Kidderminster & District Lions Club’s 36th Charter Anniversary Dinner. For the uninitiated each Lions Club receives a charter from Lions Clubs International when they are formed and most choose to celebrate the anniversary of this event with a formal dinner. It is an opportunity to meet old and new friends and to pat ourselves on the back for the good we do during the year.

Finally on Sunday my club was manning a shop in the Touchwood Shopping Centre in Solihull as part of a week long effort by the seven clubs in the Solihull borough. The shop was an empty unit donated for the week by the centre. Information about Lions was on display in an attempt to attract new members. My shift was 1pm to 3pm and I’m afraid to say that no-one came in during that time although some did read the information.

Lion Simon Moss
@simonhmoss @MarstonGnLions @lions105m @lionsclubsorg

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