Fellow Lions, Partners and Guests
I am delighted and honoured to welcome you to the 2025 Convention of Lions District 105 South East being held at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge in Kent.
The Convention Team have worked very hard with me to make the mix of business and entertainment of interest to all - and we especially welcome first-time attendees and newer members. Our Membership team are hosting a special get-together, straight after the business session on Saturday. This is for members with under 5 years' service, and others are welcome, who have suggestions for new ways of doing things and encouraging new ideas within our clubs. This will be held upstairs in the Kentish Barn.
I have asked our speakers to talk on topics that I hope will give you more information, stories, resources and actions to use in your clubs and when having conversations with the public and potential members.
We will be welcoming our 2nd International Vice President Mark Lyon and his wife Lyn from the USA and we look forward to him sharing ideas with us.
I have invited the Chief Executive of Catching Lives, Tasmin Maitland, to open our Convention. As you know I have spent the past 8 years working with homeless individuals across East Kent to get them housed and to help them keep their homes. Catching Lives is an independent charity based here in Canterbury running a day-centre that supports people who are sleeping rough, who are hidden homeless or insecurely housed, so it seems relevant and pertinent to invite Tasmin as her charity in effect gives her clients "a voice!"
I especially thank the members of Whitstable, Herne Bay and Canterbury Lions clubs who spent a morning with Catching Lives on Thursday serving in their kitchens preparing and serving breakfast and lunch for their clients. It was an honour to welcome Vice President Mark and Lyn at this event so they could witness the excellent work Lions are doing locally to alleviate hunger and serve under our humanitarian themes.
Whilst the Lions members are at our Convention on Saturday, our partners can have a guided tour of Canterbury Cathedral right opposite our convention centre and then visit the city centre and explore. Then in the evening we will have our Banquet and Ball to celebrate!
The convention team and I thank the members of Zone 3C (of East Kent) very much for all their efforts in helping to make this an enjoyable and memorable event.
Karen and I welcome you all to our Canterbury Convention ! Have a great time !
Steve
DG Lion Steve Carley
