Members of Lions International District 410E paid a visit to Parys for their midyear conference at Stonehenge last weekend.
One hundred and thirty-six Lions from 64 clubs across the district arrived on Friday morning, with the Pretoria South Lions Club members bravely cycling from Pretoria to Parys as part of their effort to create awareness for this non-profit organisation.
Speaking to district governor Lindie van Wyk, she shared the five pillars of service and values for which the Lions stand.
Lions are all volunteers, explains Lindie, saying that it is a club-based organisation where clubs run themselves but fall within the Lions International organisation.
The organisation prides itself that it does not use a cent collected from the public for admin. All admin is member-funded, and all funds raised go directly to benefitting the community. That includes caring for the environment, hunger alleviation, improving vision, diabetes and cancer support.
Their mission is to be a global leader in humanitarian service and true to their motto – “We Serve”, says Lindie.
Lions International celebrates 106 years of service this year with the theme, Changing the World.
There are currently 1,4 million Lions in 220 different geographical locations worldwide.
In South Africa, the first Lions club started in Cape Town 66 years ago. Lions clubs in South Africa are divided into two districts.
District 410E covers the eastern part of SA, Eswatini and Lesotho. Although Parys does not have a Lions Club at present, anyone supporting the values of Lions and who is willing to start a local Lions branch club can contact Ian King at 082 455 3044. A branch club requires at least five members. The closest Lions Clubs to Parys currently are in Vereeniging and Potchefstroom.
True to the Lions’ 2023/2024 theme, Strengthen and Flourish, Lindie and her team that organised the midyear conference welcomed Lions members with a flower-decorated entrance. All the flowers were handmade from recycled plastic.
They started the conference with a cabinet meeting on Friday and a welcome and social afterwards. On Saturday night, the Lions had fun with a theme dress-up, ending a day of networking and team-building opportunities for the Lions family.
Before leaving on Sunday, they planted ten bush willows at Stonehenge as they believe in leaving a legacy where they go.
Over the weekend, Lions members also had an opportunity to judge the beautiful and creative peace posters of young artists 11–13 years old, who surprised everyone with their colourful interpretation of the theme, Dare to Dream. Vision-impaired contestants could write an essay for the competition. Lions clubs can choose to participate in the contest by inviting schools in their areas to enter. Local winners are then announced and judged at the district convention.
The first, second and third place winners’ entries go through to the multiple district competition, where the winner goes through to the Lions International Peace Poster and Essay Contest.
Whether a river or bush clean-up, collecting and distributing food to those in need, getting vegetable and eco gardens started, supporting those with cancer, or helping those who cannot afford spectacles – where there is a need, there is a Lion.
