District Governor Lion Surinder Malhotra and his wife Lion Indu thank all Lions, partners, guests and friends for their support at the 34th Annual Convention weekend of 13/14/15 March 2009 with special thanks to the Clubs of Zone J for hosting Convention. A successful weekend headed up by the 2009 Convention Officer Lion Alan Denham.

Zone J Clubs of Bath, Radstock and Midsomer Norton, Keynsham and Frome.

Convention 2009 was held at the Holiday Inn, Filton Road, Hambrook, Bristol.

The weekend started on Friday 13th March with the Annual Golf Tournament at Filton Golf Club and the Host Night evening in the Hotel with 60/70's music. The Fancy Dress competition was won by Lion Byron Hughes who started Convention weekend with a win and more later about his Banquet and Ball impromptu microphone rendering.

The International Guests travelled from India to be at the Convention weekend. The business session of Convention was attended by 32 Lions Clubs with their 63 delegates and was opened on Saturday 14th by Chairman of South Gloucestershire Council, Councillor Brian Freeguard. Convention received Past International Director Lion A.P. Singh and Past District Governor Lion Sangeeta Jatia, both from India. The Dursley Male Voice Choir with Musical Director Barrie Cooper, provided the introduction music and seven Nations flags were presented by members of the ATC, Bath with Command Sergeant Claire Owen overseeing the parade.

Dursley Male Voice Choir		Flag Parade by the ATC, Bath

Messages of best wishes were received from the office of her Majesty the Queen, from Chairman of Council Lion Brian Riley and many cards from Lion friends.

Convention worked through the Business Session of Nominations and Resolutions. Vice District Governor Lion Martin Ruddle was elected District Governor 2009-2010 and Convention 2010 will be hosted by Hereford Lions Club. 1st VDG will be Lion Colin Duncan and 2nd VDG will be Lion Laurence Pearce.

The District Peace Poster winner, Hollie Thorp sponsored by Ross-on-Wye Lions Club was introduced to Convention by Peace Poster Officer Lion Frieda Cox. The Young Ambassadors Competition was enthusiastically organised by Lion Christine Sheldon and PID Lion AP Singh presented the District Young Ambassadors Award to Molly Cox, sponsored by the Lions Club of Frome. Molly addressed Convention with her personal story of supporting orphans in Uganda and her Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The Young Musicians Award winner was Rhiannon Symonds sponsored by Forest of Dean Club for her playing of the trombone. She goes forward to the MD Finals. 

		Peace Poster Winner Hollie with her parents and Lion Frieda
	Young Ambassador Molly addressing Convention	Young Musician Winner Rhiannon receiving her award from DG Surinder

DG Lion Jean-Marc Mathieu, District Governor of our twin District 103Nie, accompanied by Lion Reginald Atwell 103Nie brought greetings from the Lions of Normandy.

Julie Hamlen, daughter of the late Lion Bob and Joy Cook made two cheque presentations from the Bob Cook Memorial Trust to Calne Club and Bradley Stoke Branch Club for their support of two children.

		Convention received a presentation from Christine Mills, founder in 2003 of the Gloucestershire based 'Hope for Tomorrow' which has the objective of bringing chemotherapy treatment closer to the homes of hundreds of cancer patients in the region. Run by the oncology team from the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the first mobile unit was launched in 2007 to treat chemotherapy patients in Cirencester and Ross-on-Wye. It is hoped the unit(s) will eventually travel further afield, bringing the life-saving treatment to patients in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Christine Mills

Lions Jackie and Richard Williams conducted a Youth Exchange Roadshow with the audience having to fix the location of the country of origin of our 25 Youth Exchange guests to these shores in 2008. Pin-pointing these locations on a world map was quite a challenge.

	PDG Lion Sangeeta Jatia addressed Convention with the message of being creative to welcome change and forge marketing possibilities.  The key note address by Past International Director Lion A.P. Singh continued the theme of change in our organisation, to bring about a new lifestyle of Lions destined to win and create the 'Bridge of Life' and from tears, bring smiles to those 'We Serve'.
PDG Lion Sangeeta Jatia		PID Lion A.P. Singh

 

 

	Competitions Coordinator Lion Jenny Holmes addressesd Convention with the winners of the five annual District Competitions. The Scrapbook Competition was won by Glantawe Lions Club. District Fellowship Award was won by Black Mountains Lions Club Best Club Website was won by Llantwit Major and Cowbridge Lions Club The Convention Golf was won by Lion Peter Rumming of Frome Lions Club The Best Club Award was won by Keynsham as a Progressive Model Club
Lion President Pat, Black Mountains Lions Club receiving the Fellowship Award from DG Surinder		Lion President Harry, Keynsham Lions Club receiving the Best Club Award from DG Surinder

 

 

In addition to the International Presidents Certificates, the District Governor presented personal Certificates of Appreciation to several Lions within the District for their dedication to Lions Clubs International.

 

 

With Convention business concluded, it was now time to party with one hundred and forty Lions and guests sitting  down to the Banquet and Ball with music provided by 'Back to Back'.

 

Top table guests pictured left to right: PDG Lion Max Mongia, PDG Lion Sangeeta Jatia, Jenny Ruddle, Lion Indu Malhotra, DG Lion Surinder, DGE Lion Martin Ruddle and PID Lion A.P. Singh ...

 

The top table guests were joined by Councillor Brian Freeguard, Chairman of South Gloucestershire Council and MP for Bath, Don Foster. In the true spirit of change, Lion Byron was obliged to think on the spot with a rendering of the 'Hippopotamus' song with the audience joining in the chorus while the Hotel staff searched for the key to the room housing the bouquet presentations for the top table ladies. That's entertainment!

 

The Banquet and Ball music duo 'Back to Back' with guest vocals provided by Councillor Brian Freeguard ...

 

Past International Director Lion A.P. Singh and Past District Governor Lion Sangeeta Jatia conducted a 90 minute session on Sunday morning for those that welcomed Lions Clubs International news from around the world.

 

A great weekend of fun, friendship and fellowship ................ that's Lionism.

 

Ordinary People doing  Amazing Things ...

 

... and to 2010

 

 

 

District Governor Elect, Lion Martin Ruddle and his wife Jenny have great pleasure in inviting all Lions, partners and guests from within our family of Club Lions of 105W to the 35th Annual Convention at the Three Counties Hotel, Hereford on Saturday 13th March 2010. detail

To view thumbnail images of all seventy seven Convention 2009 pictures kindly taken by Lion David Edwards, webmaster Llantwit Major and Cowbridge Lions Club, winning Best Club Website Award, click here and follow subsequent download instruction for individual pictures.