Lions ready for busy year ahead

Dannevirke Host Lions is advancing into the new Lions year confident it has served the community well in the past and has projects and a growing membership to cope with the next year.

At its change of officers night on Wednesday, June 27 a new board was inducted by zone chairwoman Vicki Wolland but observers would not really notice much change. First vicepresident Mike Harold has been acting president since incumbent Mike Brock left midterm and both Lindy Thompson as secretary and treasurer Sheryn Harold remain in their positions. This allows for good continuity as a change of officers can cause some adjustments for a while.

Dannevirke Lions has no time to rest on its laurels with its major fundraiser for the year — its annual book sale — opening on July 23. It is even bigger and better than the record sale last year, running over a whole week ending Sunday, July 29.

Immediately following on August 5, Dannevirke Host Lions is hosting more than 100 senior citizens at its annual winter singalong and those eligible are being contacted this week to see if they need transport.

Meetings with affected parties are also being held this week to co-ordinate the annual food drive set for August 26.

The club’s past year has been busy carrying out events to support the elderly with the annual Christmas party and the Easter bun delivery, supporting the youth with Young Speech Maker and raising funds for worthy causes like the Small Holders Auction which raised $2500 to go to the rescue helicopter.

It therefore needs and welcomes an influx of new members which has occurred since the Welcome to Dannevirke morning tea organised by Ruaroa Women’s Institute earlier in the year, newcomers finding Lions a good way to meet people. Membership, with two new inductees on Wednesday, has climbed to 42 with more in prospect.

The club has been working on its Lions International Centennial Project to place an electric barbecue at the upper domain and everything is in place but awaiting responses for requests for funding on this $20,000 project.

New members and sponsors pose as follows. From left: Sponsor John Forbes, Lee Schoeman, president Mike Harold, zone chairwoman Vicki Wolland (centre), new Lion Larry Schoeman (tall), new Lion Larry Evans, sponsors Yvonne Popow, Barbara Ferguson.

The Lions’ new caravan selling sausage and onions at the latest community market manned by Andrew and Lindy Thompson with John Forbes.

Members check tickets in the raffle, above.

Past president Simon Williams hands incoming president Mike Harold the gavel and gong of office, right.