MOOSE JAW - The Lions of Saskatchewan is hosting its provincial conference in Moose Jaw and will pursue a “special service project” that supports 1,000 people across the province who may require hygiene projects.
Lions Serving Lions Saskatchewan District 5SKS is hosting its annual convention at the Temple Gardens Hotel and Mineral Spa on Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26. Roughly 130 people from across Saskatchewan and other provinces and states are expected to attend.
The convention — the first time the provincial one has been held in Moose Jaw — has the theme of “Focus on Service.” It kicked off on Friday night, while most events occur on Saturday.
Of interest, on Saturday, Lions’ ambassador Daniel Marney Elkins will — by Zoom from Europe — discuss service from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., while Toby and Bernie Boulet — the parents of deceased Humboldt Bronco player Logan Boulet — will discuss why organ donation matters from 11:15 a.m. to noon.
From 1:45 to 2:30 p.m., Lions members will march from the Spa to the Timothy Eaton Gardens as part of the STRIDES For Diabetes Walk to support Diabetes Canada. Then, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., attendees will participate in a “Cases for Kindness” project as part of the convention’s service project.
“We’re excited to be doing this,” said Heather Vermeersch, district governor for Lions in southern Saskatchewan.
Organizers are thrilled to use the Spa and Timothy Eaton Gardens for the two-day event, while they are encouraging residents to participate in the service project and learn more about the Early Bird Lions Club in Moose Jaw since it could always use new members, she continued.
Vermeersch is excited to hear from Marney Elkins because he “is a phenomenal (motivational) speaker,” while the Boulets’ discussion about their son would be “a sad story but a good story.”
The “Cases for Kindness” project is unique because it’s the first time such an initiative has happened at a provincial convention, said Vermeersch, who suggested the idea because she wanted to do something that was service-focused because the Lions’ motto is “We serve.”
A fellow Lion showed her a similar kit after attending a conference in the United States, which triggered the idea in her mind. So, the district governor applied for — and was successful in acquiring — a grant through the Lions Clubs International Foundation to purchase supplies and rent the building.
The initiative will see Lions’ members take used recycled eyeglass cases and fill them with bandages, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, an emery board, wipes, and a comb. The organization will then distribute the kits to shelters and community groups across Saskatchewan that can give them to people going through “a rough patch.”
“It’s kind of a fun project that will affect people across the province, so I’m excited about that,” Vermeersch said
Moose Jaw cadets are assisting with the project, but the organization is also inviting residents and service groups to help as well. The organizing committee’s thinking is that this project may spur other groups to pursue similar community initiatives.
Meanwhile, the Lions organization is holding a diabetes walk because that is another area to which it pays attention. A representative from Diabetes Canada will speak to participants, while Lions members will bring donations they collected from either their clubs or the public.
Residents should attend the conference and support the project because it’s a good opportunity to learn about Lions since it’s the largest service organization in the world, with over 1.4 million people in more than 200 countries, while the organization “is strong and mighty in Saskatchewan,” Vermeersch said.
“… we’re doing something to bring kindness to other people, which is what Lions is all about, so it’s a great chance for community people to do some volunteer work,” she added.
Visit the district website for more information.
