The Lions Come To Town

The Lions Come To Town

Nearly 300 Lions will descend on Christchurch for their national convention, 12 – 14 April.

“It has been 18 years since the service club’s Multiple District annual event has been held in Christchurch so it will be great to see so many members and partners coming to support the city in the wake of what we have been through as a community,” past district governor Raewyn Clearwater says.

“The support of the other Lions districts from around New Zealand and the rest of the world [after the earthquakes] was truly amazing and much appreciated as we helped get people back on their feet.”

The convention will be based at the Chateau on the Park, with theme for the weekend "The Crusade goes On".

Friday night’s opening ceremony will include guest speaker William Pike, an inspirational young man who retains his love of tramping and the outdoors despite serious damage to his legs, including partial amputation, after being caught in a lahar on Mount Ruapehu. Another special guest will be Lions past international director Ken Bird, from Queensland.

Saturday morning is the AGM, including reports on some of the bigger projects Lions Clubs are involved in to realise money for communities throughout New Zealand.

A dine and dance will be held on Saturday night with a band to get them up and dancing.

Sunday morning is time for the Remembrance and Rededication Service - honouring those Lions who have passed away during the year, and members rededicating themselves to another year of service.

Lions are ordinary men, women and young people from all walks of life who bridge religious, political, economic and social boundaries. They are united in their desire to make a difference by contributing their personal time and talents to help other people. Their motto is “We Serve”.

In New Zealand 11,000 members belong to 400 clubs in seven districts. They are part of a worldwide network of 1.3 million Lions in over 200 countries or regions.

They are community volunteers who roll up their sleeves to help young people, elderly, the ailing, the needy, their communities and their environment. In terms of their time on projects and money raised, it is estimated Lions contribute more than $100 million each year for charitable organisations here and in the Pacific.

The prestigious Financial Times in Britain has voted Lions the world’s best “Non-Government Organisation” to work with. Lions have worked in partnership with the United Nations on various humanitarian projects since it was formed after the Second World War.

ENDS

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