Until the world economy improves many people, especially the poor, will suffer. What does this mean for Lions? It’s an opportunity to serve even more. That’s exactly what the president of the Republic of Korea, Lee Myung-bak, told me recently. “Lions are needed now more than ever,” he said.

ONLY the brave withstood the ghastly weather to battle their way through the wintery waves for a midwinter charity dip on Sunday.

Local Lions have given Wairarapa Hospital a cash jolt, helping buy two new, top-of-the-range electrocardiograph machines for use in the acute services unit.

The Porirua Saturday morning community market is seeing an unseasonable winter boom, as hard times bite.

ONCE again the Band Aid Box has held a very successful medical clinic in the small village of Khari Khola, Nepal.

They’ve loved the 70-plus years between them that they’ve spent as members of the Ashburton Lions Club but, if you ask them what they’ve done over the years their answer is “nothing special”.

My Lions Youth Exchange trip to Italy was an experience that I'll never forget. Over the five and a half weeks I spent there, I went to all sorts of amazing and wondrous places, met people who were enormously kind and friendly, and overall had a fantastic time. I was kindly sponsored by the Waipapa & Districts Lions Club.

The Lions Club of Howick is not a weak Club; it has a membership of 30, with 20-25 active members. It has like most Clubs gained and lost members over the years. Membership growth has been by the traditional method of members seeking potential members. Through this method we have maintained a status quo for some years.