Lions Club International has 44,000 clubs in 189 countries around the globe, it was formed in 1917 with the object to create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world. In total there are more than 1.4 million ordinary people dedicated to selfless, non-political, non-sectarian community service. Lions Clubs International is the largest such service organisation. In the British Isles the membership has grown to 20,000 in 1,000 clubs, they donate 5.7 million hours and 88 million pounds to humanitarian causes each year!.

Wroxham and Hoveton are but 19 of those 1.4 million. We have a super time raising money for local charities as well as helping Lions International do wonderful things. We also have some great days out and about. We still have some tickets for The Thursford Spectacular on Sunday,
8th December and if you would like to come along please contact our shop in Hoveton for details. We would like to introduce our organisation amongst the clubs and groups in the Marlpit readership - would you like a presentation from one of our members? Can we help a worthy cause you may know of, we anonymously help individuals in need - you may know of one, please call us?

The Lions Shop, in the precinct in Hoveton was opened 2½ years ago, it relies entirely upon donations of saleable items, we give the proceeds to mainly local charities. All those who kindly donate items for sale have the opportunity to enter a monthly draw, last month £100 was sent to 'The Special Care Baby Unit' in the new Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, thanks to
Mrs Jermy of Wroxham.

In the 2½ years several dozen different charities of your choice have also been helped. We will publish the winner every month in future. Do you have any spare foreign stamps - we need as many as we can lay on hands on. Please help, then you can enter the draw!

The Kiosk, during the summer months our members sell Tombola tickets in the precinct in Hoveton, this year we have raised best part of £4,000 so far! Thank you all who have donated, especially the regular customers.

World Sight Day - Thursday, 10th October, we have chosen October for this entry in the Marlpit, as it is a month which Lions world-wide focuses attention on sight related problems. Did you know that every 5 seconds one person in the world goes blind and a child goes blind every minute!! It is shocking but even more shocking is that so much of it is preventable. Among other things the Lions Clubs in the UK last year sent 300,000 pairs of reclaimed spectacles to those in need. We have collecting boxes for these in the Chemist and the surgery, please turn out your drawers!

Thank you for getting this far!, would any of you like to do a little more for your community?, would any one like to be on the roll call and help form a local branch of Wroxham & Hoveton Lions Club? Please give me call if you would like any further information, a presentation or a word about a needy cause.

Lion President David Pye - davidpye@lineone.net

For the those online try www.lions.org.uk with other links to world Lions Organisations