Retford Lions on the front line since 1980s
Possibly Retford's best known charitable organisation, the Retford Lions have been on the front line when it comes to fundraising for causes at home and away for over 25 years.
Without doubt they are a familiar presence at various events and in many different guises.
But who are the Lions, where do they come from and what are they all about?
Most people know who they are, having seen them at galas and around town at Christmas time. But no-one seems to know for definite why they took on The Lions tag.
"We do know that at the start, the organisation as we know it was formed from a number of several other smaller groups, who were working independently of each other," said spokesman Mike Helsby.
"One of these was called the Association of Lions Clubs and it appears that we took the Lions bit from them. But that's as much as we know."
A presence in Retford since the 1980s, The Lions as a worldwide organisation have been around for much longer.
It all started in 1917 when a former American freemason Melvin Jones decided to put his charitable ideas into practice, structuring them into a club dedicated to the welfare of others.
He was famously credited with saying: "You can't get very far in life until you start doing something for someone else" – a principle that has, over the years, led to thousands of people right around the world receiving help both during and after emergencies and others receiving a much-needed boost at various times in their lives.
From humble beginnings, the Lions have, over the years, evolved into a massive organisation with more than 1.3 milion members – all dedicated to following the same ideals originally voiced by Jones.
In Retford, the club was formed in 1980 when eight members of the North Notts Lions Club living in the area decided to form a new club. They recruited a further 12 new members and the club was chartered in the March of that year.
Membership currently stands at 22 including eight lady members. Around the globe, the Lions operate from 45,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas.
It is widely known as a community service organisation and its members are always to be found whenever and wherever there's a need.
One such occasion cropped up three years ago when the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004 caused massive devastation in Indonesia with a huge loss of life.
"Within hours, Retford Lions made contact with several other clubs in the area some 250 miles from the worst affected areas on the west coast to ask what direct help we could give," said Mr Helsby.
"Their response was immediate. The proposed project was to build a six-classroom school for 250 six to 12 year-olds at a cost of 23,000."
"With the support of the people of Retford, the money was raised in six months enabling our colleagues in Medan to oversee the building of schools in two separate villages – one with six classrooms and another with three."
The Lions Clubs International remains a community service organisation dedicated to the idea that the men and women who live in a community are in the best position to know who needs help and why.
The organisation is both non-political and non-sectarian and membership is by invitation with attendance at meetings expected on a monthly or a fortnightly basis.
More often than not they can be seen at galas and events, raising money for worthy causes.
Visitors to Retford's Charter Day will no doubt have seen them raising money in King's Park, when they launched 2,000 plastic ducks for a race down the River Idle.
And they also organise the annual planting of daffodil bulbs around town as well as making sure Father Christmas is seen by as many people as possible through December.
Added Mr Helsby: "All the funds raised from the general public are used for charitable purposes. Administration costs are kept strictly separate and are paid for by the members themselves."
"Every group has a fundraising committee, which plans a wide range of events from concerts to galas. It's all about raising funds fo help local groups and individuals while providing entertainment at the same time."
Retford Lions will be present at the Flu Vaccination Event in the Buttermarket of Retford Town Hall on 11th, 12th and 13th October to collect unwanted spectacles which will then be sent for recycling for use in underdeveloped countries.
They will also have Message in a Bottle emergency containers for issue free to anyone who still does not have one.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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