Exeter Lions Club

FOLLOW US ON OUR NEW FACEBOOK PAGE " LIONS CLUB OF EXETER "
Under new managment

1st V DG visit to Exeter Lions Club

Topsham Charter Day, Rory the Lion having a rest after the crowds had gone.
Good day raised nearly £100.

Sorry been a bit quite on facbook.
having touble with management of site, unable to transfer control to new member.
working on it, hope to be able sort out soon.

Cheque presented to Force plus £1000 to Exeter Foodbank(forgot to take photo)

MY STORY FOR FACEBOOK FROM LIONS CLUB's DISTRICT CONVENTION 2024. (The AGM of Lions from Avon, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall)
by Lion John Sims

Lions from all over the Southwest recently invaded Croyde in North Devon for their AGM and social gathering. The venue was Croyde Bay Holiday Park and this was the 5th Annual District Convention. It is also a social get together where we chat, wine and dine from Thursday evening to Sunday lunchtime putting the Lions of the world to rights.

Thursday: Arrival and unpack day with roast pork for dinner in the evening after an unofficial drinks party in our room.

Friday: A day off so we drove to Ilfracombe; rained hard and parking was 4 quid so we drove on to Combe Martin. Parked outside a coffee shop for free and had coffee and cakes. Returned to Croyde for lunch (soup and a crab sandwich) at The Thatch pub. After hosting another unofficial reception we all went for fish and chips in the restaurant wearing our fancy dress (theme Environment). Later we were entertained by a singer who led the sing along.

Saturday: AGM day (where if you want you can catch up on your sleep). After the opening ceremony we did the business needed. I had a pasty during the lunch break and a beer back in our room. Suitably fortified I returned for the afternoon session where I caught on sleep. The meeting finished early so back to the room for a cuppa and get suited and booted for the evening drinks session before the District Governor’s Gala Dinner got underway. Eventually entered a room full of ladies in their finery and men in evening suits; some wearing white jackets (tuxedos) some black – the white jacket signifies a Past District Governor. We were entertained with a disco. Lots went back to rooms for night caps.

Sunday: Many bleary-eyed people were seen eating breakfasting, packing cars or getting some (very) fresh air in an attempt to clear the boozy fumes away. Had a Q and A session with the DG and International Guest, a guy from Italy. Caused uproar and great hilarity when a chair collapsed under me leaving me beneath a table with my legs in the air; not, I hasten to add as a result of the vino consumed It seems I am prone to such happenings as I am constantly being reminded. After some searching questions, with answers leaving more questions, it became time to go home leaving several having roast lunch whilst my wife and I had sandwiches sat in the car in a lay-by near Crediton.
Got home, had takeaway for dinner with more wine, watched telly for a bit, slept a lot, went to bed slept some more, got up Monday morning full of aches and pains from my collapsing chair incident so spent a leisurely day writing this crap!

Easter is coming,
your chance to win one of Exeter Lions Club fabulous Easter Egg Hampers and raise funds for local Exeter Charities, including Force Cancer and Exeter Foodbank.

Tickets are now on sale in many local Public Houses including The Swan’s Nest Exminster, The Thatched House Exwick, Weatherspoon’s Imperial Hotel and many more.

Support your local Lions Club supporting local charities.
Easter is coming, your chance to win one of Exeter Lions Club fabulous Easter Egg Hampers and raise funds for local Exeter Charities, including Force Cancer and Exeter Foodbank.
Tickets are now on sale in many local Public Houses including The Swan’s Nest Exminster, The Thatched House Exwick, Weatherspoon’s Imperial Hotel and many more.
Support your local Lions Club supporting local charities.

CongratuIations Exeter Lions Club CIO on becoming a Model Club.
As a Model Club they showed great leadership and dedication to Lions Clubs International Foundation making in possible to award 403 grants worldwide amounting to US$7.7 million.

WELCOME BACK

Exeter Lions Club CIO welcome two new members.

Welcome back Lion John Fitzsimons after a few years away and Lion John Atyeo recently with Paignton Club.

Lion President Stephan here seen presenting the two John's with their Certificate of Membership, has started his aim to increase the clubs membership and already has another possible member lined up.

Recently the Club has taken two local families on a week’s holiday to the Newquay Lions Club holiday project at Hendra Holiday Park at a cost of over £1000. Both families enjoyed their week, and one little girl was thrilled that she could go swimming every day.

Some of the thanks received.
"First family holiday for years after a tough time
Fantastic everything and more than you could ask for.
We had such a fantastic time kids loved every second and had made a memory box about there week away so good to see smiles on their faces.
everything was perfect.
Couldn’t of ask for a better holiday massive thank you to the lions for making it so special especially for the kids it was so good to spend time as a family seeing there smiling faces moments, I will treasure forever so massive thank you too all."

come and join us at Swan's Nest, Exminster, meeting first Monday in month at 7.45pm
RING 0345 8339896 for more details

ExExeter Lions ClubPeople are often shocked to find out that we pay yearly dues but.... they only work out to about a cup of coffee a week & these dues cover the cost of running our club which means 100% of the money we raise through events & donations goes right back in to our community. We're PROUD of that!

Not bad
£6542.00 raised by standing around for a few hours on four winter days marshalling Exeter Chiefs Rugby off-site car parks on match days.
This year Exeter Lions Club received this fantastic amount, split with Crediton Club, who helped out with manpower on the days.

Exeter Lions Club Handover of Presidents night and giving out cheques for chosen charities.
Children's Hospice SW £3115 and ELF £3000 plus £1500 to Callington Lions Club for help with transport costs taking Aid to Ukraine, total of £7615.00

COME AD JOIN US
WE MEET AT SWAN'S NEST IN EXMINSTER
EVERY FIRST MONDAY IN MONTHG AT 7.45PM

NEW CONCERT DETAILS

Exeter Lions Club receiving a cheque for £7722.00from Exeter Chiefs Rugby Foundation.
Since the opening of Exeter Chiefs Sandy Park stadium 12 years ago, Exeter Lions have helped with charity car parking on match days. All monies collected are shared with the other charities that helped at the end of the season.
In the 12 years over £60,000 plus has been used by Exeter Lions for local and national charities and goods causes.

LIONS WORLD SIGHT DAY OCTOBER 12th

Lions Clubs throughout the UK collect unwanted and damaged spectacles. These are then sent to Chichester Lions Club which processes tens of thousands of recycled spectacles each year. All donations are examined by a team of Lions and other volunteers in the recycling workshop. Sorted pairs of glasses may then be sent for grading and distribution by Medico France in Le Havre.

Exeter Club collected over 300 pairs of used spectacles last month

Exeter Lions Club celebrated their Diamond Charter Night. Formed in 1962 the first Club in the south west.

Still going strong, serving the community of Exeter, raising monies for local, national and international charities.

Club President Rachel Lyons has served as President of the Club for two years because of Covid and was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation.

Next meeting, at the Swans Nest Exminster on Monday July 4th at 7.45pm. All Welcome

THANK YOU

Exeter Lions Club now raised over £900 with their Easter Hamper Draws this year.
£450 for Exeter Foodbank and £450 for the Lions Ukrainian Refugees Appeal.
A further £260 , from other events, was added to the Ukrainian appeal make total of over £1200. so far.

Every penny will go straight to Lions Club in the areas for direct use.

If you see someone without a smile, Give them one of yours. Small acts of kindness can make a difference to many.

Lions serving worldwide

Since the start of the War, the Lions International fund LCIF have donated $100,000 , many Clubs from around the World have donated millions towards refugees aid. this included £500 from Exeter Lions Clubs plus £21,000 from other South West Lions Clubs, with many fund raising appeals still ongoing. Every penny going direct to Local Lions Clubs for use in refugee aid.

if you have time read this personal story from a Lions Club member in Kyiv Ukraine

After hearing stories of people who have stayed in Kyiv I help and support most of them in leaving the capital or moving abroad.
Russian tanks are trying to enter Kyiv: they are shooting at residential buildings, run over civilian cars and kids’ playgrounds… Ukrainian Defense stops Russian terrorists from invading the capital. Subway stations are working as bomb shelters: animals, children, people of all ages start living there hiding from the war. Sirens are calling people to save their lives and hide in bomb shelters or house basements. Checkpoints on each big intersection with people protecting their capital. Several bridges near Kyiv are blown up for the Russian tanks not to enter the city. Huge traffic jams clutter Kyiv in between the curfews. People are escaping death, leaving their homes behind, hoping for the best. Kilometers of car lines to get gas that becomes hugely expensive, but nobody cares because people are saving their lives. President, city mayor, and government remain in Kyiv staying in contact with Ukrainians and the world. They are pleading the World for help and most of the World is helping. We need the World to close the sky and hope it happens. You can see the rest yourself on TV every day. Unfortunately, this became an everyday nightmare for Ukrainians now. We dream to wake up and see the sunshine, but it is yet to happen.
Since day 1 of the war, I keep receiving messages from friends, clients, and Lion’s Clubs members checking on what is happening and how they can help. The idea of connecting those people in Whatsapp groups to give them true information, activate fundraising, and spread the news about supporting Ukrainians brings back my direction of life. Our group LIONS STAND WITH UKRAINE, now connects more than 90 Lions clubs throughout the world in their effort to serve Ukraine. Lions Poland are graciously helping the lucky refugees who fled the country with Vice District Governor Hanna Sobiech, District 121 Poland actively involved.
I created the group on March 5th, and by then there were already active actions of Lions and they shared it in my group. Pictures of trucks with loads of humanitarian help they had already sent to Ukraine. We are expressing the most cordial gratitude to Lions and Lions clubs: Leonardo and LIONS members from Livorno, Ellenor Palmer Dartford from Lions Club, Kent, UK; Lions Clubs District 124 Romania; Portuguese Lions; District 108 Ib2w ITALY; Lions Club Garfagnana, George Lakkotrypis, the president of Lions Club Larnaca in Cyprus 🇨🇾 for their special food-collecting campaign; Wexford Lions Club, Pontremoli-Lunigiana Lions Club.
I got Lions reporting from Cyprus, Ireland, Helsinki, Finlandia, India, The USA, Brazil, Canada about their fundraising campaigns and donations to LCIF, as well as directly to Polish D121.
Bernd Hildebrandt, Lionsclub Potsdam, and Uli, Lions Club Hessen have suggested organizing the hosting of the refugee families in their home towns in Germany. Lions from Edmonton, Canada are finding accommodations for displaced persons arriving there.
Our Whatsapp group helps unite German Lions Clubs from Sudharz District 111 and Alters Schloss Stuttgart in their common effort to fundraise and then purchase and deliver medical supplies to our storage in Krakow so that we can distribute them directly to hospitals named by our Kyiv Lions Club.
Leonardo, from Livorno Lions club, has announced raising 2000 Euros as well as organizing an Illusionists show in April to raise money to help Ukrainian refugees.
Active Lions from LC Göppingen in Distrikt SM 111 donate a very considerable amount, followed by Jurgen Kassel, Lions Club President of Waiblingen, Germany, who reports sending 20 000 Euros to Stiftung der Deutsche Lions, Frankfurter Volksbank to join medicine collection to Ukrainian hospitals named by Kyiv Lions Club.
Special thanks to Arthie from the Netherlands, a charity supporter and fan of Ukraine for collecting and donating a huge volume of food and clothing, as well as to Stephan Schultes from Lions Club Schrobenhausen Aichach for shipping medicine to our warehouse.
Our page post about collecting the necessary medicine has attracted Malgorzata and Richard Myers from Hampshire, UK. They gathered their business connections and purchased and donated two vehicles that they converted into medical support units and supplied them with medical kits and supplies to serve in the front-line defense.
On March 17th Andy de Schipper delivered the first load of humanitarian aid worth around 35 000 Euros collected by Dutch Lions. So Pierre Sleiman, the President of Kyiv Lions Club, is currently near Krakow, at one of the Reakiro warehouses kindly offered by Lion Stewart MacKenzie to facilitate the receipt and managing the distribution of humanitarian help. Other Kyiv Lions Club members are helping the displaced inside Ukraine with medical supplies and food items, contacting hospitals, making lists of necessary medicine, conducting fundraising campaigns, and helping Pierre with administration. Instead of donating money, we ask Lions clubs to send us medicine, food, and life-saving items that we can give directly to people.

Thank you, all the Lions involved! Your noble gesture will go far in history, defining the kind of people you are.

Exeter Lions Club, together with many other clubs throughout the United Kingdom, has made a £500 donation from local funds towards the Ukrainian Refugee Appeal, which was launched by Lions Clubs International (LCIF) British Isles.

All funds received will be given out as grants by LCIF to Lions clubs in the receiving countries, including Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and Moldova for the Ukrainian refugees.

You can donate direct to LCIF at, www.local-lions.org/ukraine-crisis-appeal, we can ensure that every penny will go to the appeal

Ukraine Crisis Appeal | Local Lions From the capital of Kyiv to the borders with Slovakia and Poland, Ukrainians are hiding in basements and shelters, struggling to find food and looking for ways to escape Russia’s increasingly violent onslaught. Abandoned cars lined the main roads out of the c...

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.