The year started out with 34 members. In September 5 new members were invited to join the club and all have been very active in the club throughout the year. This brought our membership up to 39 members. The approval of the transfer of two members to the Sault Ste Marie Lions reduced the membership to 37. In May of 2006 another new member was taken into the club and the membership was 38. Unfortunately one of our Life members passed away in May and then in June we were saddened again with the loss of another member of the club. The membership now stands at 36 and this gave us a two member increase in membership for the year. The increase in membership was attributed to the membership chairman bringing to the club the four step program for membership. We still have a number of names on the list of people to approach to invite into the membership of the club.
A budget committee was established to prepare a budget for the coming year. The Committee established a budget of approx. $30,000.00 which was then presented to the membership for their input and approval. The budget covered all sources of funds expected to be raised by the club and an outline of where these funds would be expended. The membership approved the budget as a guideline to the year?s commitments to the community.President Garry made available to the membership a list of the various committees that would be needed for the year. All members were asked to put their names on the committees they would like to help with and if they would like to chair the committee to indicate so. Over the period of the first two club meetings most of the committee list were completed.
The 2005 - 2006 L.I.O.N. teams were established based on the previous year?s activities by the members. This establishes the membership into four teams within the total active membership of the club. All activities of the club are recorded and the members who work on each team each gains points for the team. The team with the most points at the end of the Lions year is declared the winning L.I.O.N. Team. The team is then rewarded in some manner for their efforts.
The first big event of the year was the annual Exhibition draw. Pre sales were set up at a number of places with members providing 67 man hours of time selling tickets on a $3000.00 cash draw. As exhibition week drew closer members of the club gathered to get the booth in place and prepared for exhibition week. Lion Paul Bantle agreed to chair this project along with Lion Marvis Wilm. During the week of the Exhibition 18 members provided 204 man hours of time for the sales of tickets. Total sales along with the pre sales were $6,243.10, expenses were $3,920.00 for a profit of $2,322.90. The proceeds from this project were dedicated for the purchase of the Heart Defibrillator we had purchased for the Prince Albert Exhibition grounds.
The club agreed to take on the sales of C.N.I.B. tickets for the annual C.N.I.B. Car draw. A booth was set up at the exhibition grounds and tickets were sold during the week of the exhibition. Mann Motors supplied vehicles which enhanced the sales considerably. $6,022.00 in sales was established thanks to the members of the Prince Albert Lions club and members of the Rainbow Connection a support group for the blind. Expenses for the week were $2,548.91 with a profit on sales of over $3,000.00. A donation was made to the Rainbow Connection for their efforts in the sales. During the week of the Exhibition a total of 187 man hours of time was contributed to the sales. Members of the club continued with sales in the local businesses in Prince Albert with a total 83 man hours of time given to the sales.
BARBECUESDuring the summer months the club held a number of barbecues at the Prince Albert Co-op and Sobey?s. This was done as an administrative fund raiser for the club. In total over $1100.00 was raised from the six barbecues held, four at the Co-op and two at Sobey?s. This project was a very successful way to raise much needed funds for the administration costs of the club as the project can be done with minimum of four members.
This year due to distance we decided that in order to save travel cost for the District Governor we would join with the Prince Albert Top Hat Lions and the Prince Albert Downtown Lions in the Visit of the District Governor. 22 members of our club attended the visit held at the Prince Albert Golf and Curling club in which the District Governor inducted 5 new members into our club.
The AED ( Automatic Heart Defibrillator ) purchased by the Prince Albert Lions club at a cost of $4,069.70 was received and installed at the entry of the Prince Albert Exhibition Association main building. This was placed through Lyle Karasiuk from Parkland Ambulance who would also arrange for the training in use of it. Many of the Exhibition Association staff, Volunteers and members of the Lions Club were trained in the use of it. The Lions are proud to be a part of making our community safer for the citizens.
This annual event is becoming very successful as one of our club projects. Once again the Exhibition Center building was a sell out with over 60 booths being rented out. Along with this 96 local business?s donated to the silent Auction and door prizes. A profit of $3,564.30 was made from this project to be donated to the Lions Foundation of Canada. The club also realized a profit of $1,127.49 on the concession run by the members. Thanks to the members who provided a total of 345 man hours of time to this project.
LIONS CHRISTMAS SUPPER FOR THE BLIND
The annual Christmas Supper for the Blind and Sight Handicapped was held on Dec. 5th hosted by the Prince Albert Lions Club and the Prince Albert Exhibition Association. In total 128 people were in attendance which consisted of 49 blind, 43 escorts, 7 Top Hat Lions, 4 C.N.I.B. and 10 entertainment. Sixteen members of the club were on hand to pick up those who required rides, and to serve the meals for all in attendance. The evening was very much enjoyed by all in attendance as the supper was excellent thanks to the P.A. Co-op, the entertainment by Pam Cochet, and the gifts provided by the Top Hat Lions. The members provided a total of 67 man hours of time for this project.
The club each year selects a family in need from the community who they adopt for the Lions Adopt a family for Christmas. This year a family with seven children was chosen and a committee was established to meet with a member of the family to get all the needed information on what each would like for Christmas and other needs. The committee then went about buying clothes for all as well as gifts for the children and parents. As well all the needs for food for Christmas day was purchased. Eight members of the club attended the home on December 20th to present all with their Christmas from the Lions Club. Many, many tears were shed by both the Family and the Lions over this project. Even if it is only one family at a time we the Lions can make a difference in the lives of others. It was interesting to note that the mother of these children whose father had many years ago been given a new lease on life due to the Lions who saw fit to work with him and he eventually became a very prominent minister in the area. He thanks his life to the Lions who came to his assistance.
DISTRICT EASTER BUNNY SALES
Orders for the Lions Easter bunnies were received by the club and once again over 400 cases were ordered by the clubs in the District. The Easter bunnies were then delivered to the clubs who ordered them and from here each set up their sales in the community.
EASTER BUNNY SALES LOCALLY
Sixteen members of the club provided 159 man hours of time selling Lions Easter Bunnies in Gateway mall. This is an excellent fund raiser for the club as the demand for the product goes up each year. Advertising is done through all the media?s and a number of phone calls are received about the Lions Easter Bunnies. In excess of 600 Lions Bunnies were sold by the members.
EASTER BUNNIES FOR THE HOSPITAL AND THE HOMES.
One of the most rewarding projects that the Lions do is the donation of Easter Bunnies to the residents of the homes and the patients in the Hospital. Ten members of the club spent time giving each a Lions Easter Bunny in the Herb Bassett Home, Pineview Terrace Home and Mont St. Joseph Home. Also to all the patients in the Hospital and the Mental Health center as well as all staff in all the facilities. Over 550 Easter bunnies were given out. This also provided time for the members to visit with each as many do not receive family members at special times like this. The club receives many cards of thanks for our thoughts at this time of the year and for our care of all in the facilities
The Prince Albert Lions Club in conjunction with the Youth Volunteer Department of the Victoria Hospital each year recognize the student volunteers who provide through the year 50 and 100 hours of volunteer service. The awards are ordered from Lions Clubs international and this year 33 youth were awarded certificates for 50 hours of volunteer service. As well the Prince Albert Lions club provides two bursaries to students in the amount of $250.00 each for students who are going into an educational field other than medical. The presentations are made at the year end awards program put on by the Hospital with all students and family in attendance.
EXHIBITION DRAW PRE SALES 2006
The club decided to make a change in the annual exhibition draw held each year. It was agreed that we would raffle a 500 cc Quad loaded at a value of $10,000.00 or $7,500.00 cash. Tickets were printed and pre sales started in May and through out June. To date a total of 389 man hours have been provided by twenty one members to date on the sales. Sales will continue on through July to Exhibition week.
EXHIBITION PARADE
New to the Prince Albert Lions club this year is the Annual Exhibition Parade. We have been asked to host the Parade as the former group does not have the membership to handle it. The club feels this can be good publicity for the club and that we will have the necessary members to handle it. Most of the pre planning is done by the Exhibition association and we are needed the day of the parade. Some meetings have been held to date and all looks good to date.
| ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
