LIONS - THE SERVICE CLUB VARIETY!

Ever wondered what on earth a Service Club was, or who the heck these people that call themselves Lions, are? Or are you one of those people, who know what Lions and Service Clubs are all about, and havealways wanted to be a part of them, but you never knew how to join?

You may not fall into either of the above categories, but have an interest anyway. If so, read on, if not, why not have a read anyway? You may be surprised what you find out.

Lions is a Service Club made up of people within your community with the main emphasis on doing things to improve and uplift the local area, as well as being involved in programs run nationally and internationally.

While the emphasis is on community service, having fun and building new friendships, along with learning new skills, definitely rates up there as some of their main aims. Lions has been in New Zealand since 1955, and originated in the United States in 1917. Currently there are about 500 clubs within New Zealand with a membership of around 14,000.

While every Lions club operates slightly differently, often Clubs will meet a couple of times a month and generally over a meal, although this is changing within some of the newer groups forming. They get involved in different projects to raise money, which is then distributed back to the community in the form of donations or assistance or the provision of things the community can use such as barbecues in the local park.

The Miniature Railway for the children at Avalon Park is one of the items that are the pride and joy of the Lower Hutt Lions Club.

Alongside doing projects to help the local community, they often get involved in national projects such as raising money to help people pay for liver transplants and to build a Liver Transplant House in New Zealand, or running Speechmaker Competitions for Youth to help them build their skills. They get behind skill training for teachers and in New Zealand volunteers run a camp every year for children with cancer. Beyond the national projects, Lions also provide funds and volunteer assistance in times of emergency such as earthquakes and floods, and also get behind international youth exchange programmes and even environmental issues.

As you can see, basically the list is endless and open ended. Lions Clubs are there for fun and friendship and then to extend that beyond the Club to the community and worldwide.

Some of the Lions Clubs are made up of older men, mainly because it used to be a club for men. However, they have now seen the light and appreciate the importance and benefits there are in embracing women members within their clubs. While there are still a few clubs around which are all men and of the older variety, you can find many new clubs springing up around the country which are of mixed gender and are a much younger generation changing the way of Lions for the future. As well, you will find a number of Lions Clubs that are a mixture of both of these things.

Interested in finding out more? See if you can find your way around the Lions website which can be found at www.nzlions.org.nz or visit a local Lions Club and see what they are all about for yourself.

The Lower Hutt Lions Club is a club made up of mixed ages and genders and currently run the Avalon Express and the Hutt Putt at Avalon Park. They are always willing to welcome visitors to their club whether you want to have a look, meet some new people, or even consider joining. If you are interested, have a chat to one of their members down at the Hutt Putt or Avalon Express on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, or phone either Fred on 567-8012 or Julie-Ann on 938-7535 to find out the time and date of the next meeting and come along. You will be most welcome, and may even surprise yourself by having a great time.

Julie-Ann Lennon