1January 2017

Multiple District 105

Multiple District Lioness Chairman 2015 to 2017 - Angela HowardIssue 9

January 2017

’Greetings everyone, I know from reading your reports that clubs haveonce again had a very busy time in the lead up to Christmas with manyactivities ranging from helping with Santa’s Grottos, running Christmasstalls, making up Christmas shoe boxes, providing food parcels andpresents for families in distress to Carol Singing and much more. Afterall the hard work throughout December I hope every one had a lovelyChristmas with their families. As we say goodbye to the old year and ringin the new one, may I take this opportunity to wish all Lionesses andtheir families a very Happy New Year, and one that will see our Lionessmovement go from strength to strength.Having come through a very challenging year last year with great resolve

and dignity, a year that brought us all even closer together and even more determined to show ourstrength and that we are here to stay, let us now look forward to a year of positivity and celebration.As we make plans to celebrate our 40 years of service, we have so much to be proud of and a goldenopportunity to promote Lionesses, rebuild our organisation and make new and exciting plans for asuccessful future. A great place to start will be at our annual Lioness Conference in February, lastyear for the first time we witnessed representation from every club, it was wonderful to see andknow that every club was involved and had the chance to ask questions, voice their opinions andmake plans for the way forward. Please do not let this be a one off, let us make every endeavourto repeat it again this year. The Advisory Body and the Host Committee are working really hard tomake sure you have another great weekend.As you see from my diary dates I am starting 2017 out and about and quite busy already, and I amsure more dates will soon get filled up. I look forward to meeting more Lionesses over the comingmonths, seeing old friends and making new ones, sharing in your plans for the future and the funand fellowship of being together.

January 201715th – Lioness District Meeting - SE21st – Lioness Lions Club of EA – Meeting29th – Lioness Advisory Body Meeting at MDHQ

February 2017 5th – District EA Cabinet Meeting17th to 19th – MD Lioness Conference25th – Lioness District Meeting - EA

Helping families face dementiaAdmiralNurses

2January 2017

29th Multiple District 105 Lioness Clubs Annual ConferenceFriday 17th to Sunday 19th February 2017

The VenueHuntingdon Marriott Hotel

Kingfisher WayHinchingbrooke Business Park

HuntingdonPE29 6FL

Only a few weeks to go now before the most special event in the Lioness Calendar, last year we went toConference with great uncertainty about what the future held for Lionesses. Many Lionesses attended theConference and as a result something happened that we have waited a long time to see, for the first timeevery club was represented which showed the strength and unity of our organisation. During the followingmonths our united front has continued and not only surprised, but proved to our fellow Lions that we arehere to stay.With the approval by the Council of Governors of the new proposed Guidelines, Lionesses can now lookforward to making plans for a bright future. Our future is in our hands and our Lioness Conference gives usthe opportunity for us all to come together once again and give every Lioness the opportunity to be involvedin all the discussions and plans to take our organisation forward and make sure we continue to serve. I hopethat every Lioness Club will endeavour to make sure they have representation at Conference even if it is onlyone member, but it will be wonderful to see as many Lionesses there as possible again.The format for the week-end will be very similar to last year giving everyone plenty of time to relax, enjoythe facilities and meet old friends and new. In the Marriott Hotel, Huntingdon, we have a lovely venue whichis central and easily accessible and only to eager to meet our needs.The programme for the week-end allows everyone to arrive on Friday, check in from 3.00 p.m. and haveplenty of time to relax, a free choice of where they eat either in the hotel or if you are feeling moreadventurous to go out and eat in the local vicinity.Saturday, after breakfast, sees the prompt start at 9.00 a.m. of the 1st business session. The Advisory Bodyand I are working hard to make this a full day for everyone, with of course the regular business formalitiesand the official launching of the new Agreement and what this will mean for Lionesses and their sponsoringLions Clubs. Hearing details of a new project for the Multiple District to consider supporting. An entertainingreview, in celebration of our past 40 years of service. The day will come to a close, keeping in tradition, withan entertaining guest speaker. Then you will have time to relax, get your glad rags on, get into party mood,and enjoy the dinner dance. After a lovely meal entertainment will be provided by our fabulous duo “TheNightshades”. Music I know we will all recognise and enjoy, you can either dance the night away or sit andtap your feet and sing-along to the music, the choice is yours!Saffron Walden Lioness Club who are organising the Grand Prize Draw would greatly appreciate your supportin helping to sell the raffle tickets and if your club would also like to donate a raffle prize, they would bedelighted to hear from you.Don’t forget the Multiple District Competitions, only a short time to go now and the race is on to see whichclub will be our final winner of the Travelling Lioness Competition. The Scrapbook Competition and the PhotoCompetition are excellent ways to promote your club and all the great work you do. Your old scrap books willalso help to make a wonderful display on the 40 year Ruby Celebration Stand.We want to see and meet as many Lions, Lionesses and any of their family or friends who would like to cometo Conference, everyone is welcome. Please don’t wait any longer, send your booking form off today and letus make this the best Conference ever!!Booking forms are available on the Lionesses MD105 Website at:http://www.lionessclub.org/lioness_docs/Booking%20Form%202017%20Conference.pdf

For full information about the Lioness Clubs in the British Islesplease refer to www.lionessclub.org

3January 2017

held a cuddlytoy tombola on theevening ofthe “Christmas Light-up”. A cuddly toy wasgiven for each ticketdrawn. A total of£60.05p was raisedon the evening.The popular soup

and quizevening waswell attendedand the “GroveGirls” wereagain thewinner. Inexcess of

£250.00 was raised from the quiz, the raffle and thesale of jewellery.The sale of our Christmas Novelties has once againbeen a success, with in excess of £500.00 beingraised. Grateful thanks to all our knitters and tothose who have purchased the novelties.The Lionesses are also raising money for the“Chemotherapy Bus” that visits Thetford twiceweekly enabling some to have local treatment andalso to help fund the “Blood Bikes”, a voluntaryservice that is the unseen emergency servicedelivering blood and urgent medical suppliesbetween hospitals and other sites.

decorated a tree for the localMethodist Church ChristmasTree Festival. The theme wasChristmas Carols or Songs. Themembers chose ‘Ding DongMerrily on High’ (lots of bellsand angels). Half of anydonations given by visitors willgo to the East Anglia Children’sHospice ‘nook’ Appeal.

donated £52 worthof groceries to the local Food Bank. Those eligiblefor donations come from the Town and surroundingarea. The photo shows Lioness members withPresident Margaret and David who is the coordinatorfor the Food Bank.

Lionesses Chris Riley and Chris Carr ofat Tesco

Northallerton, the bucket Collection wasthe beginning of our fundraising for TheChristmas Tree of Hope. This is ourannual fund raising event in which weinvite local businesses to make adonation and send amessage to friends,

customers or supporters to wish them a MerryChristmas. We have also visited Sainsbury's Store inOctober and November is Bag Packing in the new Marks& Spencer Store, and December a bucket collection atStrikes Garden Centre. Our Christmas Tree of Hope thisyear is supporting Autism Research Trust and “Fun WithChill With”. Autism Research Trust raises funds topredominately support research at the A.R.T. centre,they believe that by investing in high quality researchwe can make a difference to the lives of those affected by Autism nowand in future generations. “Fun With Chill With” is aimed at those affectedby Autism, Asperger Syndrome, ADHD or other hidden disabilities.Everyone is welcome at the exclusive soft play centre for Parents andCareers to relax and meet other families in a welcoming environmentbased at Kidzplay.

Several members of

attended their local service,which once again saw thepavements lined with local people as they watchedthe service at the Memorial where Lioness PresidentGill proudly laid a wreath on behalf of the Club. Thesound of applause echoed slowly down the road asthe young soldiers from Carver Barracks led theparade into St. Mary’s Church for the service.

4January 2017

THE PRIDE OF SWAFFHAMLioness Bridget Spooner very kindly held a Big Coffee Morningat her home to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, whichwas well attended by Lionesses and friends, and made over£200 for this worthy cause. (see photo). We again this yearheld a Prize Bingo Night for Children in Need.

President Nicola Claxton hosted a HarvestSupper for us at her home where we were treated to a 4 course

meal made by Nicola using produce she has grown on her allotment.A lovely evening was had by all. We also recently enjoyed a trip toWest Acre Theatre to see the film “Florence Foster Jenkins”.On Remembrance Sunday we took part in the parade and our wreath was laid at the War Memorial.Sadly I have to report that Lioness Susan Ashford, our Club Secretary and 3 times past President of ourClub, passed away on 11th November. She was a well-loved and enthusiastic Club member, getting involvedin all aspects of Club life, both social, welfare and fund-raising. Anything we did, Susan volunteered for,and she will be greatly missed by us all.Our Christmas Tree was in St. Peter & Paul’s Church in December, and we had a stall at the ChristmasFayre in the Assembly Rooms.

have been, during the run up to Christmas, taking part invarious bucket collections and bag packing at local Supermarkets and Garden Centres..We have been busy keeping Residents entertained at the Orchards and Rivendale with our Carol singingand pass the Turkey Game, the twelve days of Christmas Play, a Quiz as well as lots of chocolates andprizes. Everyone having a enjoyable time. Our recent Coffee morning where we had Tombola, cakes,mince pies, books and jewellery in the Town Hall, was very well attended the money raised will go toSupport Dogs as well as Lioness Local Charities.Lioness Netta has produced a selection of Toiletries neatly presented for the Women's Refuge. These willbe available for all New admissions and Lioness Netta and Lioness Chris visited the Refuge where the giftswere gratefully received.We are all looking forward to another busy year with lots of things already in the planning.

New member Helen White was

badged up by Vice District

Governor Jackie Robinson and

President Pearl Barton

At Paddock Wood and DistrictLioness Club FormationAnniversary Lunch

Afternoon Tea in Dover Murder mystery eveningChristmas Festive Fair

Christmas Festive Fair

DEAL & DISTRICTLIONESS CLUB

A reminder to Clubs to send news of any significant Birthdays andCelebrations, as well as the Sad News, to the Lioness MD Almoner.Chairman Angela, the Advisory Body and all Lionesses like to know.

5January 2017

In 2017 the MD105 Lionesses reach their 40thAnniversary. It is hoped thatthe Lionesses across the UKcan hold a

on 3rd June 2017to celebrate this occasion.Let’s make it a BIG ONE!

had a very busy December with their Santa’s Grotto at Junction 32 RetailOutlet. Santa arrived in time for Breakfast every Saturday and Sunday in the LP4 Cafeteria and then hestayed in his Grotto throughout the day so children could call and see him andget a present to put them on until Christmas Day.Almost 400 children visited Santa with some families coming back more thanonce as they were so pleased with Santa and their presents . . . indeed onesatisfied customer said:“Please pass on my thanks to the best Santa I have ever seen during the last 38years I have been taking my children and grandchildren to see Santa. He was socomfortable around my grandson and funny too. Also he was happy to hear what

Charlie had to say. Also a big thank you to allSanta's helpers who also appeared to be enjoyingthe Christmas spirit.”Santa’s helpers included Mrs Clause, Mary Christmas and of course theChristmas Elf and on one occasion Rudolph even made a guest appearanceas he was helping the Lions with their bucket collection on the gate whilstwaiting to take Santa back to Lapland at the end of the day.

welcomedresidents from Kings Courtto their Macmillan CancerCare Fundraiser. Several

quizzes encouraged guests to work together toname celebrities and to guess the hidden vegetablein a bag. Home made cakes, tea and Christmasnovelties were on offerfollowing the quiz. Inexcess of £34.00 wasraised, which will bedonated to MacmillanCancer Care.

In December it has nowbecome an annual event onthe Calendar and severalLionesses went to help theSalvation Army with their“Toys and Tins” collection.This involves the Lionesses

wrapping the Christmas presents whilst themembers of the Salvation Army put together thefood bags. Each disadvantaged family receivesthree presents for each childand a large Christmas Bagfilled with food items.Listening and singing alongto the Christmas musicwhilst enjoying great funand laughter, the work issoon completed and we can enjoy a well earnedcup of tea and biscuits. We leave with a real ‘feel

good’ factor knowingthat over seventy fivelocal disadvantagedfamilies will have ahappy Christmas.

6January 2017

The next edition of the Lioness MD 105 Newsletter is scheduled to be published in March 2017.The deadline for copy will be the 25th February 2017. (One week after Conference!)

Lion John Fox (MD 105 Lioness Newsletter Editor) JOHN.FOXDLS@GMAIL.COM

have been very busy of late: our homemade cakestall and chocolate tombola on Light-up Day were well-supported and for oncethe weather was very kind to us. Staying withthe Christmas theme, we spent an enjoyablemorning making angels for the Lionesses’ treeat the Salvation Army Christmas Tree Festival.It was also on display at the Angels Festival atTrinity Methodist Church, where Lionessesprovided refreshments, ran a bric-a-brac stall.Sandy also ran her jewellery and scarves stall. Some of us enjoyedthe Rock and Roll Panto at the Wolsey Theatre, and festive

Christmas lunches at the Holiday Inn, not to mention lunch at Pattie’s andmulled wine and nibbles at Sue’s.At our December meeting we welcomed Jenny Morcambe from theDisability Advice Service based at Martlesham. She gave a short talk aboutthe importance of this service, following which President Val presentedher with a cheque to help with this important, mostly voluntary, work.We would like to wish all the Lioness clubs a happy, healthy andprosperous New Year.

On 17th December LP Sandhya Gandecha participated in alocal community association at their Christmas party for peoplewith disabilities by dressing up as Santa bringing smiles tochildren's faces. Many dignitaries support this event especiallythe Worshipful Mayor of Harrow Mrs Rekhaben Shah.

LS Raksha Sumaria got an appreciation letter fromorganising Macmillan coffee morning at her house raising£600.

On Thursday 22nd, we went to wrap Christmas gifts for StLuke's Hospice, Harrow.

On Boxing Day, organised

a joint Musical Evening with LionsClubs of Kingsbury, Kenton andBelmont in aid of Arpan (towardsfreedom from child sexual abuse).Over 250 people attended and weraised quite a tremendous amount!Thank you to all supporters, donorsand well-wishers!

Lioness ClubLondon Golders Green