Who Are The Lions Club Of East Anglia Lioness?
The Lions Club Of East Anglia Lioness is a new-generation type of Lions Club that covers a wide geographical area, with members across Essex and Norfolk. It is designed to appeal to people that, through location or work, are unable to attend a traditional Lions Club. Our club's concept allows all to be involved in the work of Lions, as and when they are able. We hold our club business meetings and most socials on Zoom once each month, although we do try to meet in person socially at least once a year, as well as at our Anniversary Charter.
Our Club
We meet once a month on Zoom for a business meeting where we can discuss fund-raising ideas, and where we would like to donate funds to - allowing club members to meet regularly without a lot of travel and expense. We have members across East Anglia.
We have a second meeting also on Zoom where we can just socialise and spend time together in a fun activity.
We have fun when we fund-raise too. If we didnt have fun, what would be the point?
Why as Volunteers do we pay dues?
In this day and age there are many administration costs involved - even when volunteerring for charity - event fees (for example boot fair pitches or school fair stalls); insurance (to keep us and all our customers safe) or materials to make items to sell. Some of these costs are unavoidable and must be paid.
By each member paying dues to the club and the organisation as a whole, these costs are covered and every penny we raise is put to charitable use.
Club Members
Moira Grundy (Immediate Past President)
Sandie Briault (President & Director) [30 year service chevron]
Angela Howard (Secretary) [District CE Officer for Childhood Cancer & Zone 4B Chair]
Tony Briault (Treasurer)
Mark Grundy (Health and Safety Officer)
Robyn Banks (Club Administrator (service hours on Lion Portal)) [MD Data Protection Officer, Districts CE, CW & SE Data Compliance Officer]
Louisa Briault (Vice President) (Social Media)
Margaret Fox (Almoner)
John Fox MJF (Minute Secretary)
Richard Banks (Website and Fundraising)
Past Presidents
2023-2024 Moira Grundy
2022-2023 Robyn Banks
2021-2022 Angela Howard
2020-2021 Angela Howard
2019-2020 Sue Wharton
2018-2019 Sue Wharton
2017-2018 Sue Wharton
2016-2017 Angela Howard
The Club was Chartered August 2016
The Lions year runs from 1st July to 30th June
So, come and join the largest voluntary service organisation in the world, spanning almost 48,000 clubs across over 210 countries & Geographical areas.
For more information about our club see the links below;
6th July 2024 President Changeover
After the Heybridge School fete we held our bbq changeover. Hilarious I know considering the torrential rain and rather cool temperatures. But it never puts us off! Our outgoing President Lion Moira spoke and presented our new incoming President Lion Sandie with the chain of office. Lion Moira wished Sandie an enjoyable and successful year.
Promoting the club 17th April 2024
Mark and Moira did a talk at church on 17th April for the Wesley Guild, and at Knit and Natter on 18th April to promote the club and raise awareness.
At Knit and Natter the ladies had been asking what Mark and Moira did as Lions.
All 18 Message in a Bottle have been given out, as well as a lot of the Message in a Wallets, a few more people would like one. Chelmsford Lions helped us out by giving us 20 more, that they had acquired when Witham Lions close, thankyou
DG Bulletin 10th April 2024
At our business meeting on Tuesday 2nd April on Zoom, we had the pleasure of hosting our District Governor Paul Southerton.
One of the reasons DG Paul wanted to come to our meeting was to present to the club our 'Club Excellence Award' from Lions international. Only 8 given out in our district!
To qualify for the Club Excellence Award, clubs must meet specific requirements in four categories:
- Membership (induct at least 1 new member, Rick)
- Service
- Leadership & Organizational Excellence
- Marketing.
President of that year, Robyn received a pin, and the club received a patch.
This award is recognition for the work by the club in Lions year 2022-2023. For more information on the Club Excellence Award
Sandie also received a 10-year service chevron, and DG Paul also presented the club with his pennent.
DG Paul gave us a good write-up in his section of the District newsletter. If you want to read the full bulletin then see link below.
Handover President Collar Robyn to Moira 2nd July 2023
At a BBQ at Sandie and Tony's, Robyn gave a short speech about her year, and how pleased she was with all we had achieved, and wished Moira all the best for her year ahead
7th March 2023 Zoom monthly business meeting
Tonight is our monthly business meeting on Zoom and we have the 2nd Vice District Govenor Lion Colin Talbot attending
29th October 2022 Rick badged up in Zagreb
Welcome to the newest member of the Lions Club of East Anglia Lioness, Lion Richard, who was badged up today 29th October 2022 at Europa Forum in Zagreb by International President Lion Brian Sheehan!
A great honour for Richard, Robyn (as his sponsor) and UK Lions
3rd July 2022 Handover President Collar Angela to Robyn at Sandie and Tony's
Angela thanked the club for their support and all that they had done during her time as president
Our incoming President Robyn was excited by all our club had planned for the next few months
Club aims for 2022 onwards -
Blankets for HARP homeless charity – especially in Southend-on-Sea.
Members and Club supporters knit/crochet 8 inch squares. We sew these together to make adult single or double blankets.
Clothes for charity shops
Unwanted clothes are donated to Charity shops for onward sale. This may be the HARP, Havens Hospices or Salvation Army.
Spectacle Cases
Collected and sold in connection with the SWANS.
Spectacles
We collect then send to either MD HQ in Brimingham or Chichester Lions. From there the boxes are forwarded to a Medico Office in France for onward transmission to Africa where they can restore sight to people in need.
Supporting The Liam Taylor Legacy - RIP Fish with Bleed Control Kits for pubs
Liam was sadly taken by knife crime.
Supporting Julie Taylor from The Cafe in St Peter's Hospital in Maldon
We crochet or knit worry worms for Essex emergency services to utilise when out and about. They are for children and young people to help deal with any worries or concerns they might have.
We also knit Baby blankets, hats and gloves
We collect printer cartridges
Social Media
November 2021 Louisa takes over the Social Media
First Club Zoom Meeting
On 18th August 2020 We held our First Club Zoom Meeting
We meet twice monthly, once for our business meeting, and then two weeks later for a social meeting
Due to the geographical location of our members, spread around East Anglia, this is the easyest way for us to hold regular meetings
June 2020 Sue received an LCIF Bronze Medal
Sue received an LCIF Bronze Medal to recognise her work as District Co-ordinator in 2018-2019
- Sue to continue to support Ipswich Hospital with the emergency toiletry packs. These are now being distributed and used throughout the hospital, including the Maternity Unit. They are also going to Bluebird Lodge in Ipswich, a community hospital for the elderly and Aldeburgh Community Hospital.
- To continue to support and work with The Oaks Children Centre in Felixstowe on a regular basis.
- Angela now supports Jimmy's, a homeless hostel in Cambridge with toiletry packs. They have asjed for 30 packs a month.
- Recently Sandie and members in Witham and Maldon have donated food to The Cafe which is situated in the grounds of a local hospital in Maldon. This enables them to provide much needed subsidised meals and food parcels.
- Tony and John have collected and sent off another several hundred pairs of spectacles to be recycled. These will then be off to third world countries to support the Lions Sight Project. That will be 2000 this year!
First quarterly face to face meeting
18th August 2018 to 29th January 2020 quarterly face to face meeting moved to President Sue's house at Felixstowe.
14th April 2018 a quarterly face to face meeting started at The New Times Pub at Tiptree because it was decided that online meetings (Chat Room) were not working.
A fortnightly news letter is introduced from 15th Aprill 2018 to August 2018, which went monthly from September 2018 to June 2020.
1st July 2017 Angela Hands over the Presidents Collar to Sue
Immediate Past President Angela Hands over the Presidents Collar to Incoming President Sue on 1st July 2017. Followed by afternoon tea, sausage rolls, scones, cakes, sandwiches and strawberry and cream meringues, all home made. As you can see Ella joined us for the celebration before she travels to Witham for the next part of her journey around East Anglia. A big thank you to Gillian and Allan who hosted the event in their garden.
Agree to support the School in Africa and Toiletries to Hospitals
6th May 2017 at the 3rd Club meeting held at the Ipswich Hotel, we had a talk by Rosie’s daughter in law Chris Brewster. We agreed to support the school in Africa with gardening equipment, and donate bags of Toiletries to hospitals, and support woman’s refuges (see Fundraising and Donations page).
18th June 2018 a satellite image of the area around the school that we helped in Africa, was presented to the Village (see Fundraising and Donations page)
20th October 2016 First Online Club Meeting (Chat Room)
1st October 2016 First Club Meeting at Ipswich Hotel
It was decided that club meetings would be held online
3rd April 2016 First Facebook Post