Ilminster Lions Club launch recruitment drive (From This is The West Country)

Ilminster Lions Club launch recruitment drive

6:10am Friday 13th July 2012 in Somerset

ILMINSTER Lions Club is to launch a recruitment drive for new members to help in its ongoing and ever-growing charity work in the area.

Club president Peter Marshall said that over the past two or three years it had not only taken on more projects but some of the club’s regular events like the summer fete, charity road race and Taunton Flower Show were getting bigger every year.

“Often the club needs to draft in families and friends to temporarily increase our capability to do what is wanted,” he said.

“The point has been reached where the club has decided to launch a drive to recruit new members.”

Peter added: “We want to create a greater awareness of what Lions is about locally. Our desire is to be able to do more with local schools, pre-schools and youth organisations to find youth leaders in service and young ambassadors.

“Our aim is to be seen as a modern equal opportunities and forward-thinking organisation. Doing so will help ensure a longterm future for the club.”

The club’s membership secretary, Dave Case, added: “I have been a club member for over 20 years. In that time we have gone from inviting people to become members to more recently people asking if they can join Lions.”

Current members live within a ten-mile radius of Ilminster. Most are motivated by either a desire to put something back or just help their community.

“We want new members to bring a willingness to get involved, show initiative, bring ideas, be leaders and bring their energy with a wiliness every now and again to just muck in to get a job done,” added Dave.

Martin Smith, who heads up the club’s fundraising activities, said the club raises about £18,000 for charity every year.

“All of this goes on good causes which can range from refurbishment of care home accommodation, donations for books for a school library, toys for a children’s play area at a hospital, special lamps for visually impaired, help for individual cases, through to a signature project such as the provision of a major piece of equipment to a hospital,” he said.

“We are currently saving hard to enable the club to make a purchase of a piece of equipment for the Beacon Centre in Taunton.”

The Lions, open to men and women over 18, is holding an information evening at Bilby’s in Ilminster on Wednesday, July 18, from 6.30pm when members will be on hand to talk with anyone who wants more information.

More details are available from 0845-8339936, by e-mailing membership@ilminsterlionsclub.co.uk or by following the related link on this story to the group's Facebook page.