VIRTUAL LIONS CLUBS – Serving Locally – Thinking Globally

meet up to carry out such activities, where practicable. Where members live local to one another they can, and do, meet up face to face socially. Where location permits, the provision of manpower to other Lions clubs may also be an advantage.

It’s nothing new! The first Virtual Club was chartered in the United States more than 30 years ago in 1990. Then, just as now, it was to provide the opportunity, where the members/potential members were dispersed over a greater area, to form Lions clubs. These clubs do not take the place of traditional clubs but, by meeting online, may make it easier for potential new members to say “yes” to an invitation to join.

Our own South West UK Virtual Club was set up with this in mind. There are potential members out there who, for one reason or another, are unable to join a traditional club. We have seen clubs close due to insufficient numbers, leaving perhaps one or two who would have liked to continue as members. The Virtual Club allows for this to happen, and for those one or two members to continue to serve their community under the Lions’ banner. Regular monthly meetings are held via Zoom, and whilst a regular date is set, with the flexibility available to a virtual club, there’s no problem in changing if circumstances dictate. The membership categories, as listed in the Lions’ Constitution, apply to virtual clubs just as any other club.

In December we were the beneficiaries of Tesco’s monthly book sale, resulting in a donation to the Club of £290.

As a club, South West UK Virtual chooses its own service and fundraising activities to suit the locations of its members. Like any other club, members can

Our first major fundraising event was our duck race at Virtual Clevedon Remembrance Day Services, followed by our attendance at the Keynsham Music Festival. As a virtual club, 75% of the charter members must reside, or work, within the Multiple District (MD). There being other virtual clubs within the MD, the focus of South West UK Club is, of course, on District SW.

The world is changing and, for those wishing to work in a different way, membership of a virtual club may be a positive choice that a potential member may like to make. Any Lions who are aware of potential new members who they feel may suit this category of membership and would like to find out more, in the first instance, should get in touch with the Club’s Membership Chairperson, Lion

Lion Roy Russell

Business Meeting & Service Awards

Lions Club of Plymouth had a very lively and active business meeting in February involving several presentations to local charities and member’s service awards.

Recently the Club awarded the Derriford Hospital Charity with a cheque to the value of £3,000.00 from a trust fund set up by the family of Reuben and Marie Heathershaw to cover the refurbishment of a room to be called ‘The Ocean Suite’ in the Maternity Department, which will help expectant mothers to recover from difficult situations involved in the stages of pregnancy. A letter of thanks was read, which had been received from Jamie Lee, the Charity Engagement Co-ordinator, with an invitation for Lion members to to attend the opening of the suite in due course.

A presentation was made to the MNDA charity, represented by Roger and Steve, from funds donated at the recent funeral of Lion Colin Stideford, a well-respected and active member of the Lions Club of Plymouth.

The highest and most prestigious award possible within the international lion organisation is that of the Melvin Jones Fellowship, which has been awarded to Privileged Lion Raymond Peter (Jim) Shipton for his unwavering dedication to Humanitarian Services within the Lions community as a member for more than 45 years.

Ray (Jim) was inducted into the then Plym Valley Lions Club from 1 April 1986 and was president on two occasions; he was a very active member of the Club and was a major instigator of many activities including the Saltram Fair, which will be remembered by most of the older-generation Plymothians. After the demise of the Plym Valley Lions Club in December 2014, he became a member of the Lions Club of Plymouth, where he has been actively involved in many fundraising activities supporting mainly local charities and worthy causes. Ray (Jim) is still very involved and organises the Christmas collections at several local supermarkets mainly supporting children’s charities, plus Skittles evenings enjoyed by all of his colleagues and families.

Geoffrey Woodland was awarded a Distinguished Service Award for his service of 46 years promoting Lions in the community. He was inducted as a Charter Member of Radstock & Midsomer Norton Lions Club, Bath, in February 1977.

With a move to Plymouth in March 1980, Geoff transferred to the Lions Club of Plymouth and was a Director of the Club from 1983 to 1999. He and his wife Pam have been very active participating in Club activities over these 46 years, to include many fundraising events over this period. Geoff is seen here receiving his award from Lions Club of Plymouth President Jill Owen.

Easter eggs make a comeback

Radstock and Midsomer Norton Lions Club, following a three-year break, is back with Easter eggs in local pubs and cafes to raise money for good causes. The Club discovered that these giant eggs were no longer being produced; sadly, the business had gone under. Our District Governor Lesley Chudley advised us at our January general meeting that her Lions Club, (Crewkerne) was making up a hamper of eggs of various sizes instead, and that these had proved very popular for the pubs and cafes who supporting this activity.

Lion Margaret Burdon and new Lion Lyn Haile set to work on making up Easter egg hampers. Margaret’s daughter and grandchildren got involved in helping to make them up, as it took many hands to get them looking perfect. The club feels that it is not overegging it to say that they have achieved the wow factor. Thanks to Margaret, her daughter, grandchildren and Lyn for their hard work, the hampers have been distributed to the local pubs and cafes, which we would also like to thank as they help us to raise impressive funds for the Club through these annual activities.