O-Group Speaker at our meeting

CEO Andrew Billing was our guest speaker tonight, representing the Devonport based O-group.

The O Group is all about getting jobs. It is born out of the philosophy: from business flows employment and from employment flows opportunity. O Group is a not for profit partnership that brings together Findstaff.biz, NGT Tasmania, Business & Employment and Choice Employment. Andrew spoke about the importance of volunteers in the community and how they represent a significant part (6%) of our GDP with 700 000 not for profit organisations registered in Australia, employing over half a million people. Volunteers in Australia are estimated to put in over 500 million hours per year. Most people might think that not for profit organisations are funded by donations from households, but less then 10% actually comes from households, 30 from government grans and contributions and over 50% from goods and services provided by them.

Also mentioned at the meeting today was the mention of a planned Boot Sale for the PCYC with our help and the Mersey Lions Club. It is planned for Saturday May 30th at the Devonport Roundhouse Park on Formby Road - where we have our annual Taste the Harvest.

Another important date on the calendar was mentioned, and that is the Lions Club International Convention which (for the second time) will be held in Australia next year; July 2010 in Sydney. The previous time it was held in Australia was Brisbane 1991.

Taste the Harvest Success!

Big pat on the shoulder for all us Lions, we made the Taste the Harvest event a huge success. Not only have thirty stalls already reserved their stall for next year, we made a healthy $20K for the club, making this our main fund raiser! Geoff Phillips is replacing Steve Trewin as the new chair for the 2010 committee, and he will need all the help he can get! We specifically still need an assistant to the secretary (Margaret Muir). The taste the Harvest website will be re-done for the 2010 event, if there is an organisation out there interested in volunteering for that please let Walter know at walter AT tastetheharvest.org.au

Have a look at the photos of the Taste 2009 <here>.

National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week (NVW) is the largest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in Australia, and provides an opportunity to highlight the role of volunteers in our communities and to say thank you to the more than 130,000 Tasmanians who volunteer.

Read more about it all <HERE>.

Melbourne Convention 1-3 May

The 57th National Lions Convention was held earlier this month, 1-3 May 2009, at the Melbourne Convention Centre where 1500 delegates attended.

President Philip, Jim and Jenny attended from our club. They listened to the International Lions President Al Brandel heartily thank the Victorian Lions who cooked 600 meals a day for fire fighting volunteers in the recent fires as well as the Queensland Lions who made similar relief efforts during their floods. PM Kevin 07 thanked Lion members for supporting local communities.

Healthy snacks and plenty of good coffee was served throughout the convention complex, and the alfresco dining in the CBD provided excellent venues for Lions from all over Australia to get together.

The National final for the Youth of the Year  was held at the convention and the contestants were asked to speak about diverse topics ranging from Global Warming to Binge Drinking within today's youths, Our Tasmanian finalist, Emma Davey , spoke about people and ANZAC Day and actually WON, making us all very proud for our island state !

Jim, Philip and Jenny attended various workshops, including one on membership. It was noted that the Cleveland Bay Lions Club went from 15 members to 70 members in 5 years. Our club has the manual to their success and we may like to follow suit if we don't attract new members soon! A point was made that prospective members should be clearly made aware of what is expected of them as an active member (click to find out what it means!), including paying membership fees and participation commitments.  

A final dinner for T1 was organised at Oaks on Collins to wrap up a memorable convention.
Attendees: Jenny Rimmer, Phil & Denise Gleeson, and Jim & Beverley Pearson

Notes taken by Lion Jenny
Photos by Lion Jim----

Incoming Club Officer Information/Training Sessions

Incoming Club Officer Information/Training Sessions in the North and North West regions will be held -

NORTH WEST - Burnie
Sunday 10 May
Adult Education Centre
2 Spring Street
BURNIE
9.30 for 10.00am start
RSVP to Region Chairman (designate) John Medwin

NORTH WEST - Latrobe
Sunday 7 June
Latrobe Primary School
9.30 for 10.00am start
RSVP to Zone Chairman (designate) Kae Campbell or District Chairman Robin Pulford

NORTH - Perth
Sunday 31 May
Perth Community Centre
9.30 for 10.00am start
RSVP to District Chairman Robin Pulford

An indication of attendance at all sessions is required to assist in catering arrangements. A soup/sandwich luncheon snack will be served at all sessions.

It is anticipated that a session will be held on the EAST COAST - details still to be confirmed but probably at Bicheno on Sunday 14 June

Robin Pulford

For more details on the above contacts contact lion Bill or Walter on infosessions@devonportlions.info!