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Warminster Lions' Year
JULY:
1st: Start of The Lions Year (same for all Clubs). A 'Handover' ceremony takes place (on or about this date) between the outgoing & incoming Presidents, usually at an evening function such as a Barn Dance. All Lions & partners are expected to attend. Helpers for Flossie (the Candy Floss Caravan) & the Teddy stall are required to support fetes etc
AUG:
Usually a quiet month but Club meeting held as usual (first Tuesday). It can however be busy if Flossie is required at fetes and if a Young Musicians Concert is being held in September.
SEPT:
Things start to pick up after the holiday season with preparations/planning beginning for Garrison Fireworks Night (q.v.); the Town Carnival (q.v.); and the Christmas Float (q.v.). If a Young Musicians Concert is held (the first was on 14th Sep 2001) all Lions are likely to be required to help (and partners to support!). Flossie can still be in demand e.g. for the Fun Day in the Park.
OCT:
In 2001, a Charity Shop was acquired for a couple of weeks in Oct & this requires a lot of support - however this fund-raiser could occur more or less at any time in the year as it depends on availability of suitable premises. World Sight Day (2nd week) is supported through activities organised by the Welfare Committee. Collecting during the Warminster Carnival procession (usually later in month) requires able bodies to tote collecting buckets and all hands to help sort the money afterwards. One of our neighbouring Clubs Gillingham, Mere & Shaftesbury (GMS) has its Charter Night Dinner this month.
NOV:
5th (or nearest Saturday): Garrison Fireworks Night: Lions & partners required to support this Army-led event with Flossie, Hot Dogs, Burgers & drinks.
DEC
The Christmas Float is a major undertaking requiring collectors for two weeks worth of evenings (e.g. from 7th to 22nd) during which some 16 routes are covered in and around the Town. An end of Float party is usually held.
JAN
A quieter month. There may be a post-Christmas party.
FEB
Bone of Contention: this is an annual grudge match against Salisbury Lions centred on Skittles and bar billiards & similar games. A good turnout is required.
MAR
The District convention takes place this month: you can express an interest in attending with your partner. Preparations for the Giant Easter Egg Raffles may start now if Easter is early.
APR
The Clubs Charter Night is usually held around the 20th. Lions & partners are expected to attend and are encouraged to bring guests.
30th : Deadline for information for/ammendments to the Club Handbook to reach the Secretary
MAY
Our annual 'Meet the Lions Evening' is an opportunity to tell representatives of the Town & interested parties what we have achieved over the preceeding year. It is also an opportunity to meet possible new members. All Lions & partners are expected to attend. A sponsored 'Walk for Sight' is held.
JUN
The fete season usually means a busy time for Flossie & the Teddy stall.
CONTINUOUS: The Bookshop in George Street is our major source of funding and requires a regular rota of helpers for Lion Marcus. 'Race Nights' are usually staffed by Fund Raising Committee. Whist Drives & Safari Lunches/Suppers are organised and there is usually a Treasure Hunt once a year. Two monthly Club meetings are usually designated Dinner Nights with guests such as the District Governor: attendance is particularly important at these events. The Ladies usually organise a social event called 'Mens Night' during the year. Other clubs Charter Nights can occur more or less throughout the year & our members are encouraged to attend. |
Introduction to Warminster Lions
One of the most active local charities since their formation in 1964, the Warminster Lions are part of a world-wide network of Lions clubs which exist to serve their communities on a voluntary basis; to promote good citizenship; and to create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world. Perhaps the most well known of the Lions' fundraising activities is the Christmas Carol ‘run’ covering some 16 routes through the town and surrounding villages. Another mobile fundraising effort is ‘Flossie’, the Lions’ mobile Candy Floss Bar which many will recall having seen – if not patronised – at local fetes and the recent Garrison Fireworks display. A new venture last year was the raffling of Giant Easter Eggs with the help of various businesses in the town. But the Lions’ main regular source of funds is the second-hand Bookshop in George Street.
The money raised by the Lions is used principally to help people in the local community, but also, in line with the Lions’ world wide perspective, to help those in need in other countries, particularly the Third World. Over the last Lions’ year nearly £13000 was donated by the Lions to a range of medical and social causes including:
Sponsoring specialist treatment in America for a local 3 year old girl
Providing Hospital Visitors Packs (for Salibury & Bath Hospitals)
Dorothy House
Hope and Homes for Children
Special Olympics UK
One of the Lions’ continuing themes is support for the visually handicapped. This goes back to 1925 when Helen Keller spoke at a Lions’ convention in the USA and challenged the Clubs to be ‘Knights of the Blind’. One result of this challenge was the invention of the ‘white stick’, the internationally recognised symbol which alerts us to the presence of someone who might require our assistance to cross the road or navigate some other obstacle which most of us can take in our stride. Over the last year the Lions have donated £500 for Eye Camps, temporary treatment centres in the Indian sub-continent for people suffering from various diseases of the eye, including cataracts. And through collecting unwanted spectacles through collecting points at local Opticians and other shops, including the Bookshop, last year the Lions were able to send well over 2000 pairs to the British Overseas Optical Mission for distribution to some of the poorest countries in the world.
Other activities include the Lions Youth Award scheme through which teenagers who are making significant contributions to the local community are recognised and rewarded. The Lions also have strong ties with the young people of Warminster through the help they provide local Primary schools on Drugs and Alcohol awareness through The Advisory Council for Drug and Alcohol Awareness (TACADE) programme. And this year saw the first Young Musicians Concert at the Athenaeum organised and funded by the Lions to give young people in the area the opportunity to play at a prestigious venue and local people the chance to appreciate and encourage them.
Further details of the Lions International Organisation can be found on their web site www. Lions.org.uk: Warminster Lions Club can be contacted through the Secretary Roy Williams on 219110. |
Lions - Background
More than 43 000 strong, local Lions Clubs are part of the world's largest voluntary service organization with 1.4 million members serving in more than 180 countries and areas. The association is both non-political and non-sectarian.
Founded in Chicago Illinois USA in 1917 by insurance agent Melvin Jones and others, Lions Clubs International has ever since offered business and professional people a way of sharing their success by helping those less fortunate than themselves. The association became international when a club was formed in Canada in 1920. A highlight of its early history was a speech at the 1925 convention when the legendary Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become "Knights of the Blind in the Crusdae against darkness". They responded and Lions are now best known for their sight-related programs including SightFirst the world's largest blindness prevention program.
While Lions speak many languages and profess many religious and political beliefs they all subscribe to common objectives and ethics.
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