Page 18 - Phonebox Magazine November 2015

Newport Pagnell and Olney Lions Club
The Festive Season Approaches
I guess it is something to do with age but it seems just like yesterday that we were getting ready for our busiest period of the year and here we are, it has creeped up again.
Olney Fireworks Display
November starts with our club helping The Olney Group as they put on the Town’s Annual Fireworks Display.
Our members and friends group will be managing the main entrance to the display which involves selling and checking the tickets at the gate and the approach path to the venue. With plenty of opportunity to purchase tickets before you reach the entrance, we hope that access queues will be kept to a minimum.
Town Calendars
We will again be selling our popular Town Calendars for Olney and Newport Pagnell. These are still only £5 each and can be purchased at the markets in Olney and Newport Pagnell in addition to other outlets including the Newport Pagnell Lights switch on. See our website for further details.
New this year for Olney are our Christmas Cards. Carrying photos of the town taken by some of those who entered our Calendar competition, these are brilliant cards for your family and close friends. Priced at only £3 for packs of 6, they will be a unique reminder for anyone you send a card to and who knows the town.
Help us have a Dickens of a Christmas
It will soon be that time of the year again when Olney takes on the appearance of a Dickensian Town as we celebrate Dickens of a Christmas.
We will again be supporting the event by running our three Craft Fayres and hope that as many as possible come into these and enjoy the atmosphere created by our crafts people. At only £1 admission for all three sites, you will have an excellent opportunity to purchase that really unusual and unique gift that you won’t get on the High Street whilst helping swell the Lions Club Charity Account in the process.
Charity Fashion Show
Our club members got to feel what it was like being on the set of James Bond last month 18 Phonebox Magazine
when we helped Rebecca and Kathy from Bex Boutique and Noa Noa, mount their annual Fashion Show.
This was held in the Aston Martin Showroom of Desmond J Smail in Olney and we responded to their request for help in organising the set (seating to you and I). As we were receiving the profits for the evening, we felt it only right to get into the swing of things by becoming Olney’s answer to Daniel Craig and the Bond Girls so got into our best outfits to dish out the canapes and Prosecco prior to the show. As a result of everyone’s efforts the club received a magnificent donation of £700 which will find its way into our charity account. Many thanks Ladies, your donation will be well spent.
Where does your money go?
All donations you give to Lions are deposited into our Charity account which is used for the benefit of those we decide to help with absolutely nothing going in administration. There are admin costs associated with a club but these come from our own pockets in the form of a membership fee which we pay to be in the club.
In the past year, we have donated well in excess of £11,000 to a wide range of charities, good causes and individuals. Our emphasis is primarily local (42%) with support also going to National Causes (34%) and International (24%)
Much of our International support is done through our Lions Clubs Charitable Foundation (LCIF) and recently they provided a ‘seed’ grant to Clubs near Lima in Peru who are spearheading an effort to provide safety, rehabilitation, job training and hope to young
victims of human trafficking and their babies. Lions Quest, LCIF’s social-emotional learning program for children, is active in 30 schools in Peru. Find out more about our activities on our website.
Melvin Jones Fellowship Awards
Probably the highest accolade any Lion member can receive is the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. Named after the founder of Lions International, it recognises the contribution made by individual members “for dedicated humanitarian services”.
Seven of our members, who between them have over 200 years service in Lions, were delighted to receive this award from our District Governor Meena Gupta when she visited the club recently.
Not many clubs in the UK can boast such a significant event and we can be proud that our efforts over the past few years in keeping the club alive and prospering have received such recognition from our Headquarters in the USA.
And finally
Our busy period really does extend us and we could do with some help during the November to January period. Could you help out if you happen to be free when we are taking part in our festive activities? No commitment is necessary. Simply give us your email details and we will drop you a note when help is needed. If you can help out, simply respond, otherwise ignore.
Full details of our friends group can be found on our website: www.npolneylions.btck.co.uk