Book ends

This week is book-ended nicely by Lions activities. Last Sunday I attended a presentation about a programme called "My Ideal Club" which is being rolled out across our District. It seems to be an updated and extended version of the "Project Refresh" that was all the rage a few years ago. Well, it was all the rage among the powers that were but I don't recall it working up too much enthusiasm at grass-roots level. I have a suspicion that this latest project might go the same way. There are a number of "mentors" already in place and more are being found. Sunday's do was primarily for club members who are interested or might be interested in becoming mentors for other clubs.

Last Sunday involved looking forward but next Saturday we shall be more concerned with looking back. Brighton Lions will be holding their 60th Charter Anniversary dinner and dance. Once again I have been involved in printing the menu cards. We - I - do this so that each attendee has a card with their name on the front (it acts as a place setting) and their specific choice of menu printed inside (when there is a choice of menu). Using a mail-merge programme on the computer makes the origination comparatively easy, but each year I manage to forget that every menu card has to be printed separately. The card just doesn't feed correctly through the printer unless I load just one sheet at a time. Still, I have now got that finished and the cards are sorted into table plan order ready to be passed over to the room decorators. Now I must reply to the District Governor's email. He is writing his speech and wants to know what Brighton Lions were doing 60 years ago. One interesting point is that the Club's first charitable donation, presented at that first charter night, was a gift of £100 to St Dunstan's. Coincidentally, this year our Multiple District has pledged to raise £75,000 for St Dunstan's to pay for a day room at the charity's new centre. Brighton Lions will make a donation this Saturday of £100 for each year of the club's existence and will hand the DG a cheque for £6,000.