Projects

Club Development Committee

GLT - Lion Mike Baker

Global Service Team Coordinator - PDG Judith Goodchild

Covid 19 continued to have an impact on Service activities but life has been getting back to normal with clubs being able to run more events as well as continuing with Covid related ones.

This year GST has included not only the “Five Pillars” of Hunger, Environment, Diabetes, Vision and Childhood Cancer but has also included MedicAlert, MIAB, Prostate Cancer, Brain Tumour Research, Dentaid, Paulton’s Park Project and Speech and Hearing.

I was pleased to welcome Ian Hambleton, as Hunger Officer, Dave Ebsworth, as Prostate Cancer Officer, Sandra Manktelow as the Officer responsible for Brain Tumour Research, Beth Burnett as Medic Alert and MIAB Officer, Roger Huntley as Dentaid Officer and John and Anita Drago as Paulton’s Park Officers.  I remained responsible for Diabetes and the Environment.  I agreed to keep a watching brief on other matters so that Lions in 105SC would learn what was happening at a MD level.

Recording of Service remains less than it should be and I have written about this in Newsletters and the District Mailing.  Please, please do report all your service. 

ENVIRONMENT – From Environment Officer Judith Goodchild

The MD Environmental Photographic Competition did take place and entries were submitted in all four categories.  From these, the DG Team have selected a winner and the award will be presented at Convention.

Following the complete lack of entries for the 2020 – 2021 Environmental Poster Competition, Cabinet agreed that this should be discontinued.  It could be resurrected in the future if clubs wanted this to happen.

Clubs have continued to carry out litter picks and plant trees and I hope the latter will continue in this, the Queens Platinum Jubilee year as part of the Green Canopy campaign.  As regards Litter Picks can all clubs consider doing one in April to mark World Earth Day.

DIABETES –  From Diabetes Officer Judith Goodchild

We have a new MD Officer who has held several online meetings with District Officers. The main concern is how we should move forward now that Diabetes UK are not advocating holding “Know your Risk” sessions.  It would seem that the main emphasis will be on advising Lions about the symptoms and risks of getting the disease and what can be done to help patients.  This was what I was doing some 20 years ago when I first joined Cabinet as Diabetes Officer!

VISION – From GST Co-Ordinator Judith Goodchild

This District has always been very good at collecting and recycling spectacles.  Thank you for all your efforts.  Chichester Lions will receive them but please talk to Sue Boucher before turning up with a car full of boxes.  I recently visited them and they were very helpful.

The programme for buying Vision Testing Machines for testing children’s sight in schools has been delayed due to Covid.

CHILDHOOD CANCER  – From GST Co-Ordinator Judith Goodchild

I have heard very little about this from the MD Officer but did send a reminder that September is Children and Cancer month together with some suggestions for  providing service in this area.

HUNGER – From Hunger Officer Ian Hambleton

In July last year I was asked if I would like to become the new District Hunger Officer, this was a new position in our district, and it was a learning curve as this area and a brand new role for me to undertake. After a few meetings with District Governors team on this role, I began to understand the role better, I was also advised to take a softer approach to the Hunger, and explain to the District members what I had in mind, and the approach we should consider taking. Whilst this in mind, I took part in the MD District Hunger meetings, and listening to advise from others about their approach to hunger, and what they were doing to help with feeding others. I have continued to be a representative from our District at these meetings this year, all of these have been via zoom. My original request to clubs, was could they advise what help they were giving to the local community in their club areas. I hoped that the majority of clubs would respond, within the first few weeks of asking, however only just over a quarter of our District clubs responded to the letter I wrote, I began to understand how time consuming this was, of course the pandemic situation did not help. But I was very grateful to all those clubs which responded to the letter and there continuing support for local food banks and other outlets they support, within their Lions clubs. I still have some work to go on producing these results, but these should be available via our District web page in the next few months.

PROSTATE CANCER – VDG Dave Ebsworth

There are no decisions to be made:-

Since last year’s Convention the Pandemic has put a stop on PSA testing but several of our clubs have enrolled with The Graham Fulfiord Charity Trust and have been supplying home kits for testing in small numbers, at this stage it hasn’t really taken off.

Then in November / December there was the shortage of blood vials and so this then hindered clubs holding events.

During this year several clubs have been in touch with a view of holding PSA test and I am pleased to say that Havant & Salisbury Lions have already started planning, they are both using different companies to assist them in running the events.  These are The Loganberry Trust and Prostate Cancer Support Organisation (PCaSO).  Other clubs are considering doing them later in the year.

My own club Reading on 14th May are anticipating being able to test 2000 men, working together with The Rutherford Cancer Centre.

Prostate Cancer UK have also suffered reducing staff and working from home. We were meant to have a meeting but this is still on hold until they are back in the office.

I am very pleased with the Prostate Cancer lapel pin it is selling slowly but are doing well at £4.50 each with stocks at National Headquarters (MDHQ in old money)

I have been in discussion with Mandy Broadbent and we will be doing an article to circulate, this will encourage clubs to look at or restart their PSA programs and push the sales of the lapel pins.  I still have serious concern  that over the last year’s, plus clubs have not been getting funds coming in  and therefore may not be able to afford the luxury of a PSA testing day in anyway.

It is very important that we try to help men get Prostate Tests done.

MEDIC ALERT AND MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE  From Medic Alert and MIAB Officer – Beth Burnett  miab@lions105sc.org.uk

I’ve answered a few queries from the public about obtaining message in the bottle.  I have also forwarded a message about Medic Alert from the MD Officer in December and a poster with information about Medic Alert and how it has supported children in the UK in February

BRAIN TUMOUR RESEARCH – From  Brain Tumour Research Officer 105SC – Lion Sandra Manktelow - s.m.manktelow@gmail.com

Due to the ongoing pandemic this year has been a quiet one for the appeal.  The good news is that the time limit of four years, which was then extended to five years, has been withdrawn and the appeal will be ongoing until the million pounds target has been reached.

In Multiple District 105 over £44400 has been raised this year to date. This compares with just under £57000 in 2019/20 and just over £50000 in 2020/21.

As we as slowly coming out of the pandemic I have been mindful that lots of clubs are beginning to become more proactive but don’t want to put undue pressure on them to organise an event. I have mentioned a good way of raising funds linked to the theme of ‘Spinning Wheels’ that may inspire clubs to have a go at fundraising.

After a concerted zoom effort last year when I made contact with most clubs in the district I have had a zoom free year! However, I have made contact with every club, via a personal letter, that has not donated this year and have received favourable response from many of clubs.

To date as of January 2022 thirteen out of fifty-six clubs have donated including five clubs in January who donated £2100 between them. So far this year clubs in our district have donated £4693.

In January the District Lions/Brain Tumour Research Officers met via zoom. Fran Stary, the lead officer, now has two deputies to assist her. They are Lynne Roberts from 105CE and Alastair Joel from 105A.

Over £2700 was raised from the sale of Christmas cards and having purchased some personally I was impressed with the variety and quality of the cards.  A number of clubs and individuals from our district have supported this initiative.  Birthday cards and mugs are also available and can be purchased from Multiple District. 

I have a number of Lions/Brain Tumour Research badges, based on the logo that can be procured for a suggested donation of £5. All the monies raised from the donations go towards the appeal as the cost of making the badges has been covered by sponsorship.

If clubs wish to donate they can do so via our District Treasurer ensuing he knows that the donation is for Lions/Brain Tumour Research.  If anyone wishes to make a personal donation please let me know and I will send them the details of how to pay.

If anybody needs support with anything related to the Lions/Brain Tumour Research partnership please contact me:

DENTAID - From Dentaid Committee Chairman  Roger Huntley dentaid@lions105sc.org.uk

Due to the Covid Pandemic, for up to date information on Dentaid, please refer to the Dentaid website.

SPEECH AND HEARING – From GST Co Ordinator Judith Goodchild

I included information sent by the MD Officer in an article for The Sentinel.

Please remember to collect old hearing aids which can be sent to Chichester or to Michael Nolan who coordinates the project

PAULTON’S PARK PROJECT From GST Officer Judith Goodchild

This event was not held in 2021 because of Covid 19.  Since then John and Anita Drago have had to resign due to John’s ill health.  It is hoped that it will be possible to run this event in 2022.  I would like to thank John and Anita for all the hard work they have put into this project over many years.  It has been a very well run and popular event.

I provide news and updates every month in The Sentinel and will continue to do so until July.  I am then standing down from the GST role, after 5 years, but will be acting as a deputy supporting the new officer Sandra Manktelow.  I will continue to be the Diabetes Officer.

I thank DG Brian for entrusting me to take on this role. 

PDG Judith Goodchild

gst@lions105d.org.uk or judith.goodchild@lions105d.org.ukTel: 0118 981 2260

Project Portfolios Reports

Communications, Lion Tom Sayers 

PRO Richard Keeley and I continue to work to further improve the information available to Cabinet Officers and clubs. Much more information can be accessed once logged-in. The District Directory is a good example but various documents and forms are available, such as Insurance documents maintained by Insurance Advisor Steve Spencer and Financial Information maintained by Treasurer Tim Hanton. 

This year’s Convention website is simply https://2022.lions105sc.org.uk and gives comprehensive information and links to an online booking form.  

The District 105sc Sentinel newsletters, ably edited by Peter Tabb, are uploaded to the website each month and appear on a ‘Lions year’ page www.lions105sc.org.uk/newsletters with District 105D archives going back to 2006. The latest issue of the Sentinel is featured on the Home page with a thumbnail image and link to the PDF file. There is now a similar thumbnail image and link to the Council Chairman’s Newsletter.  

The Clubs page of the website is a database of club information such as the names of the officers, meeting dates/venues and links to the club website and contacts together with Zone and Region data. Club secretaries may login and update ‘their page’ to add/edit details of meetings and venues etc. It features a map of our District showing 105sc clubs. Do periodically check that the information is up to date. 

We have a great resource in our website and I urge you all to get involved in using it, promoting it and improving it. 

The baddies of the web haven’t lost any time in exploiting the Corona Virus scare and of course we are now seeing a lot of disinformation in regard to the Ukraine – there are ‘helpful’ emails giving the latest news and advice, but click on links or open attachments at your peril – they could give your PC a nasty virus. 

Zoom remains available to clubs with some regularly using it and some using it for hybrid meetings. With the steep rise in fuel costs it remains a good alternative to travelling miles.

Tom Sayers – it@lions105sc.org.uk

Marketing & PR,  Lion Richard Keeley

This month marks the first anniversary of the formation of the District 105SC Marketing Group. Chaired by Richard Keeley - District Marketing & PR Co-ordinator with Peter Tabb - Editor of the Sentinel Magazine, Jim Storey - Chairman of Fleet Lions Marcomms Committee and Dave Rose - Social Media expert, this committee has put together a number of measures to benefit District. Details are below:

Invaluable marketing and PR advice has been published in The Sentinel Magazine in monthly articles by Peter Tabb. These will continue until June this year making a library of 16 articles covering all aspects of Marketing and PR. A big vote of thanks goes to Peter for imparting this knowledge in such an interesting and engaging way.

In April 2021 a master online calendar for District and Club Events was set up at short notice. Achieved within 48 hours it has proved a popular facility posting increasing numbers of club events as covid restrictions have eased. The online version is a 12 month rolling calendar and the Sentinel Magazine is publishing  a rolling 3 month update in each issue. The online calendar is under the 'Clubs' tab on the 105SC website and is visible on the district website homepage. Click here to access.

1st VDG Dave Ebsworth & Richard Keeley carried out an audit of PR Equipment - banners, Lion Costumes, Gazebo etc. at the Central Equipment Store in Salisbury last year prior all the district equipment being moved from Salisbury to Farnborough at the end of May. Many thanks to District Webmaster Tom Sayers for providing a new permanent home for the PR pool equipment.

While the inspection proved a worthwhile exercise to assess the condition and clean much of the regalia it was disappointing to find that over 50% of the district banners have not been returned by clubs who have borrowed them over the last 4 years.

An appeal directly to Clubs and in the Sentinel Magazine & District Mailing to search their storage areas and return these equipment items was fruitless. 

Social Media Training took place via Zoom at the July with 37 Lions throughout District registered.

28 logging on for the session. The session detailed many tips on increasing visibility for clubs using Facebook together with guidance on  how to avoid some of the pitfalls of social media.  The session lasted for over an hour with many  of  the attendees imparting their invaluable experience in addition to the teaching points made by Richard Keeley.

Prior to the workshop session a support page was put together on the District website containing  over 150 downloadable support images for social media. Also contained are a number of excellent links to copyright free imagery and videos from LCI and other sources. Also included are a selection of user guides. All  can be easily downloaded and used for club marketing and PR purposes. 

This 'Graphics for Social Media'  page has subsequently been updated  with regular fresh material from across the globe . It is accessed directly by clicking here. or through the District Website it is found at: www.district105sc.org.uk>Clubs>Marketing

The Zoom Social Media training session was recorded and is available directly by clicking here, or accessed through the 'Marketing' tab under 'Clubs' on the District Website.

Proof to the power of social media came in the form of a request received from MD PR Team after seeing club and district social media pages. They asked for pictures and a report about the Zone 2E Funfest and Farnborough Lions ROAR 2021 entry. These were supplied and published in the December 2021 LION Magazine.

The Marketing Team continued plan to  assist  clubs with recruitment and membership material  culminated with the recent publication of the 'District 105Sc Infographic'  to illustrate in words and pictures 'what fun it is to be a Lion'

Three downloadable versions are available online which can be modified with individual club contact details using Microsoft Word, have club details added via self adhesive label, or just to proclaim 'There's a Lions Club Near YOU!'. Being available as a download the handouts can be printed locally on home printers or at local print shops in the quantities your club needs and to the budget available.

Click here to access the Infographic web page, or visit Lions 105SC.org.uk/Clubs/Marketing and click the 'Recruitment Handout Template' link.

Work with the GAT has continued throughout the 2021/22 Lions year. 

The next initiative from the Marketing Team will be to produce an online user guide for recruitment concentrating on getting the best out of print media, local radio and social media. Examples will be available of what has worked well in past campaigns so these examples can be adapted for your club use. Work on the Recruitment Package will commence after Convention, be finalised in April and published in early May 2022.

It's been a busy time for the Marketing Team in the last year. They have created a number of exciting innovations that will be of lasting benefit to our District. This year marks 10 years since Richard took up the reigns of District PRO so now with a strong team of Marketing & PR team members to continue the role he is stepping back from his cabinet position at the end of June.

Insurance - Lion Steve Spencer 

LCIF Report - Lion Ann Huntley MJF, District Coordinator

Clubs have had another difficult year raising funds for the causes that call upon their help. As the world continues to try and live with the Covid virus and return to a more normal life, the natural world has still dealt devastation upon communities through flood, hurricane, fire, tornado.

Lions Clubs International Foundation is our charity. As clubs and individuals, we donate to the Foundation and when needed grants can be applied for from Oakbrook to help with large projects and of course when an area of the world is hit by natural disasters, an emergency grant is often issued to begin to support those who are at their lowest, further grants will often follow. Although we do collaborate with partners occasionally, the first people on the ground will be our fellow Lions who will keep track of where the grant money is going. In the last few months alone, emergency grants have been issued to help in Madagascar, Mozambique, Uganda, and cyclone Ana victims in Malawi, 

The International Convention in Montreal will see the end of the Foundations largest capitol drive, Campaign 100 which had the aim to raise $300 million over three years, obviously the campaign has been extended for an extra year due to the pandemic and as of 18^th February 2022 $257,333,076 has been donated which is 85.5% of the target. 

In the period 2020 – 2021 Lions in 105SC donated $29, 905.41. As of 21^st February 2022, the amount is $17,892.87. Thank you if you or your club has donated.

Congratulations if you are a Lion who has received a Melvin Jones Fellowship during the last year.

I have continued to attend zoom meetings with my fellow LCIF Officers of 105 and sessions from Oakbrook. I try to vary my contributions to the district newsletter and worked on two special editions during the last year.

There will be another LCIF Day in Europe on June 11^th, 2022, so please start thinking of something your club could do to not only raise funds for the Foundation, but also increase awareness of those in your community of the work the Foundation does, you may end up with some new members as well! Thank you to the clubs who took part in 2021.

On behalf of those who during these bleakest of times have suffered on top of trying to cope with a major pandemic, thank you. Please do get in touch if you need further information, or indeed look on the international website.

Your donations enable Lions around the world to live up to our motto, ‘We Serve.’

Youth Projects, Lion Rob Armstrong-Collett

1.1Progress against Objectives:

The members of the youth team have been keeping in contact with each other this year to support each other with the various youth projects on offer to clubs.  The team has also provided assistance to various clubs throughout the year, to provide information and promote a range of projects and provide specific advice in relation to particular projects, to assist with participation.The projects have also regularly publicised and promoted in The Sentinel and District mailings.

Despite the difficulties that have continued with Covid restrictions, which has affected some level of engagement, there has been a good level of commitment from clubs to promoting the projects and engaging with schools and youth organisations, with participation secured in all of the youth projects.

Young Leaders in Service

Clubs have continued to engage with Young Leaders in Service, with requests for awards received from several clubs and awards have been issued to young people who have completed the required level of service.

Changes have been introduced to YLiS this year, to enable an award to be issued for service within a less than 12 month period (rather than at the end of a 12 month period), to better align with other youth initiatives such as Duke of Edinburgh which are often completed in a 6 month period and enable joint award ceremonies. The number of service hours for the various awards and that only 1 award may be issued to an induvial within a 12 month period remains unchanged.

A new YLiS leaflet to reflect the changes has been produced and was issued in the District Mailing and a new club guide was issued to clubs via zone chairs.

Peace Poster

The Peace Poster competition has operated again this year and the LCI competition received 5 entries from 4 clubs.  The competition was judged by members of Fareham Lions Club and the winner was Malia Pishpit (13 years old) from Les Beaucamps High School (sponsored by Guernsey Lions).

The Junior Peace Poster Competition has also been judged, with entries for the years 3 & 4 and years 5 & 6 both coming from Cranford Park School and sponsored by Yateley and District Club.

The 2022-2023 peace poster competition has been launched, with the theme ‘Lead with Compassion’.  This has been uploaded to the District website and kits are now on sale from MDHQ until 1^st October 2022.

At the Cabinet meeting on 9^th January 2022 it was agreed to suspend the junior peace poster competition for the next 2 years due to a very little support from clubs for several years (including this year).  After 2 years it will be decided whether to reinstate the junior peace poster competition.The LCI peace poster competition however is unaffected by this decision and will continue to operate as normal.

Young Ambassadors

Young Ambassadors has operated again this year, with 1 candidate (Chloe De Gouveia) nominated for this year’s competition, sponsored by Jersey Lions Club. A Zoom district final was held on Saturday, 15^th January, where everyone who attended found out about Chloe’s commitment to and work with St John Ambulance.  At the District finals, Chloe went through the normal interview process, to allow the judges to find out more about Chloe and her work and to give Chloe an insight into how the District Finals would operate.Chloe was confirmed as the winner at the District finals and progressed to the MD finals, held on 18-20^th February via a virtual forum.

The 2022 Young Ambassador was announced as Khan Odita, sponsored by the City of Liverpool Lions Club (District 105CN).

ROAR

ROAR was a popular and well supported project in 2021, with 13 clubs from the District taking part and positive feedback has been received.  A YouTube video has a been circulated of highlights of the 2021 MD finals.

The 2022 ROAR project has been launched and the District’s ROAR Officer has been attending regular MD meetings to discuss progression/promotion, with information, posters and roadmap circulated to clubs and virtual training offered via Zoom.  Many clubs have been in touch with the District officer and have or are currently going through the training for the competition. It is hoped that with the level interest shown from clubs that is an indication of a high level of support and engagement for this year’s competition and that this will be converted into entries by the closing date of 30^th June.

ROAR will continue to be promoted in The Sentinel, to promote participation and to offer assistance for any clubs considering taking part.

Youth Exchange Camp

Due to the continued Covid restrictions and related uncertainties, youth exchange camps have not taken place this year.