My President Report for 2018. What a busy year 2017/18 turned out to be. We have many aspects to be proud about. I have personally been very proud and honoured to have held this role for this previous year and the first thing I’d like to say is thank you to you, all of the members, lady lions, and partners for your efforts and energy in continuing the success of this fine club.

President Andrew Stacey
At this time last year, I suggested that we aim for two (2) goals – to gain at least ten (10) new members and to increase our exposure in the community. I am pleased to say we have achieved those two (2) goals. We gained 10 new members (Marilyn, Stephen, Sylvia, Craig, Vivek, Vivien, Jess, Juan, Dimple and Sangita). It’s fantastic that they have joined the Lions family.
Unfortunately, we lost only one (1) member during this year, Maureen, as her personal study and work commitments became too great. I thank Maureen for her time in the club.
Our exposure has been dramatically increased through many events, especially those which have strengthened our relationship with the City of Adelaide, adjustments to our look with new shirts, new table cloths and a new marquee, many requested events through our website, facebook page and our reputation being spread via word-of-mouth and our re-introduction back into Rundle Mall with the Christmas cake and pudding drive.
Additionally, we have also successfully completed many other achievements, and while we have already celebrated their success at previous meetings, let’s have another look at these, in no particular order.
- Working bees in July and November, to continue the Hear Me Roar! Project, packing care packs, sewing and stuffing cushions – supporting those patients going into hospital for life-changing treatment in a small way, assisting them to be a little more comfortable and know that there are others out there thinking of them in very tough times.
- The addition of working meetings every third Thursday of the month. I’d like to thank Lion Greg Winston for providing a venue for these meetings, at the Regal Park Comfort Inn. While this is for members only, it increased and their opportunity to contribute to the club as well as have a different understanding of how the club is run and organised.
- Plaque and bench unveiling in Hurtle Square celebrating 100 years of Lions International and the contributions our Lions Club has made in the CBD for many years. This was a quaint ceremony on a beautiful November morning but I thank, again, the Lord Mayor for his attendance and officially unveiling the bench and plaque.
- New trailer and van site in the CBD. Thank you to the Lord Mayor for his assistance and support in this venture as well as Lion Ray and Lion Alex.
- The crown jewel of the 2017/18 year, the 201C1 District Convention. We are all aware of the massive effort and organisation that Lion Tony and Lion Petrea, and their committee devoted themselves to, to pull off one of the best conventions this district has ever seen.
In just one year, our members were involved in fifty-one (51) BBQs, breakfasts, award ceremonies, celebrations, and receptions or thank yous. We net fund raised $11,000 and donated over $15,000 (including recipients SAHMRI and Lions Hearing Dogs). We also donated funds to the Hear Me Roar! Project, blankets for the homeless, Fred’s Van, and the Lions Children of Courage Awards, along with many smaller donations. Then there was the continuation of our other fundraising efforts, such as the selling of mins (thanks Beck, Greg, Dean, Robin and Bob as well as their partners), Christmas cakes and puddings (thanks Dean, Greg and their partners again as well as the Rundle Mall team of Tony, Petrea, Robin, Jess, and Juan), and wine (thanks Dean).
Of course, the other way that we fundraise is through a BBQ or two (2). We actually ran twenty-one (21) BBQs in the past 12 months, and I’d like to thank all of our members and non-Lion volunteers for helping with those.
Why do we do all those BBQs and put in all those hours of fundraising? To fund our projects and award ceremonies.
Our projects continue to thrive and serve those in need – the Hear Me Roar! Project (thanks to Petrea for coordinating this as well as all members and non-Lion volunteers who got their hands dirty), the Blankets for the Homeless (thanks Warren and his merry men, Graham, Dean, Greg and Robin), Fred’s Van (thanks to all the members who helped with this) and Hutt Street Centre Breakfast (thanks Warren, Greg, Robin, Graham, Alec and Alex).
Our award ceremonies recognise the efforts of our community through the Children of Courage Awards (thanks Petrea for all the long hours and effort that goes into organising this event) and the SAPOL Citizen of the Year (thanks Warren and Greg for organising this).
While there are still ideas to further us in the future, it has been through the steps of this previous year that will allow those next steps to become reality. Thank you to everyone for your contributions in your special way, it is all appreciated and let’s look forward to another fun, productive and rewarding year.