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Lions Clubs International - District 105M - Midland News

Ordinary People doing Amazing Things






LIONS ROAR IN SOUTH AFRICA! 


Stour Valley Member John Cavana, bottom row, centre
 


In South Africa Lions cubs are well known, very active, well attended and very well publicised. Every city and large town has at least one Lions Club and there is always a prominent sign at the town boundary saying so. In the Cape Town area alone there are around 30 clubs. Stour Valley Lions have an informal link with one of these clubs- Bergvliet (pronounced Bergfleet) Lions.

One of our Stour Valley members, John Cavana, visits Cape Town every year on holiday and spends some time working with the Bergvliet Lions on their various projects. It really is a different world down there and the Lions are very much on the front line; working in impoverished townships, helping in hospitals and supporting a ‘safe house’ for children who have been abused and abandoned. Their fund raising projects are similar to ours with book sales bringing cash in plus a major event every year when the members run the refreshment stall at the annual two-week open air Shakespeare production.

The Lions there are busy and energetic people yet they have time to meet and have a good social life too, with several gatherings throughout the year. Like us, they have been affected by the shortage of money in circulation and, again like us, they are always on the lookout for new members The picture shows Bergvliet Lions after one of their business meetings a few months ago. In South Africa as well as many other parts of the world, a high proportion of our members are women, indeed the Bergvliet Club currently has ladies as president, secretary and treasurer!

Stour Valley Lions are pleased to have this link, it allows us to see what other clubs around the world are doing and we are able to compare notes on common issues. The link also reminds us that we are a part of the largest service organisation in the world.

On a less formal note, a very real benefit of being in this organisation is that wherever you travel to on holiday or business you will be close to a Lions Club and will be able to build new friendships and see their locations in a very different and more intimate way than most visitors are able to.

We want to attract new Lions Club members - anyone who feels that they would like to be a part of the Lions and make a contribution to the community, home and away, should contact one of the local Lions or just take a look at our website www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/StourValley and take it from there.



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