Membership falls but club rises again
1990s
The 90s wasa period of decline and recovery.
The Lions Clubsawits membership fall during the late 80s and early 90s hastened by the disastrous results of kiwifruit returns. Alargenumber of itsmemberswere involved with the industry, mostly as growers, and were unable to continue.
However, a period of consolidation occurred and gradually membership wasrebuilt.
The club had a contingent of 18 at the International Convention in Brisbane in 1991 and this proved to be not only a rewarding experience for thosewhoattended, but provided amuch-needed boost and served as a catalyst for the rejuvenation of the club.
Its first “cat pin”, which the club produced for the 1988 District Conventionbecame the 1991 model (only thewording waschanged) for the International Convention, and it proved to be a very popular and sought after pin.
The Katikati Club also liked it and itwasrewarded tobecomeits club pin and gained first place in the Club Trading Pin Contest “The Best Club Pin in theWorld” at the International Convention in Minneapolis, 1993.
The “Local Guide andDirectory” as itwasthen calledwasgrowing from its small beginnings andbecamea very professional publication. Back then the directory wassold door-todoor for $5.
The club also maintained two outlets in town for its sale.
The Club’s earlier association with theA&PSociety wasrenewed and the Lionsbecame actively involved each showday.
The Club celebrated its 25th Charter Anniversary in 1995 with Dave Shrimpton as president; only three charter membersremained; in addition, Carlos D’Aubert, Bob Delbridge, and Brian Peart were also in the Club at the time.
In 1996 the Club hosted another District Convention—“Artists and Models”.
1996sawthe club’s first female member, Rosemary Holland, who transferred from Rotorua Sulphur City.
Three otherwomenjoined the Club in the late 1990s.
Lionsmembersenjoyedmany barbecues and impromptu dinners and special progressive dinners by bus. Dave Murrayownedthe bus companyand so the clubmadegood use of the transport. They usually visited three venues, often no longer used packhouses.
Not only didmembersenjoy something to eat (and drink), but participated insomehighly imaginative activities, including the famous, or should that be infamous, “horse races” .
Citrus Projects, The Lone Diners, Steptoe Auctions, Christmas activities, Quickfire Raffles, Inter-Club Quiz nights and numerous donations tomanyorganisations meant that another decade sped by and thenew millenium approached.
Newmillenium— Year2000
Thenewmillennium had arrived. A contingent of Lionsmembers decided the Lindemann Lookoutwas the place to see the first beamsof light hearlding the newdecade. However, it poured with rain with mistdown to200mand theysawnothing so it wasoff to club secretary SteveGrace’s place for breakfast.
Club membership in the year2000 was33.
Newpresident Bob Delbridgewas at the helm and the clubnowonly had one female member. The Lions had their first and only wedding whenJeanette Tasquier and Bruce Browngot married.
Sonny Bell becamethe second DistrictGovernor andwas installed into this position inHawaii in 2000.
Agroup of eleven enthusiastic tourists from the Club also attended the convention. For the third time the Club hosted aDistrict Convention “A NightWith The Stars”, in 2006.
Sara Patrick becamethe first female president in2006-07 followed closely by Virginia Gordon in 2008-09.
Amajor project wasthe provision of bleacher seating for thenewTECT Action Centre at Katikati College.
It cost $73,000 andwasprovided by the club, together with assistance from the Lloyd MorganTrust.
Lone Diners continued to grow, the Christmas Parade captivated the communities’ interest and the Lions Directory and the Steptoe Auction (with five auctions running simultaneously), remained major fund-raising activities.
The club continued to play amajor part in helpingmanyyouth activities and assisting with funding formany health and welfare requests from the community.
Membership at the endof the decadewas 44.