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Nederlands

A. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL COMMITTEE

It’s main task is to profile the club as an ideal forum of discussion, tackling themes of social and cultural nature, adding surplus value to the club’s reputation, to attract interesting potential members. It organizes presentations and debates, visits social and cultural events and/or associations and launches cultural projects, sometimes combined with fundraising activities, carrying out the club’s charitable mission. This committee’s president (chairman) is responsible for the relations and contacts between the club and the District’s Social and Cultural Committee.

Because of the overlapping responsibilities of the Social and Cultural Committee with those of the Activities Committee, our club has chosen to merge both. This allows us to optimally benefit from the club’s organizing talents. Both committee’s function of president (chairmen) is maintained: the Social and Cultural Committee’s president supervises the social and cultural aspects whilst the Activities Committee’s president supervises the festive, more playful subjects.

B. RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE

To apply for membership, one has to become invited/introduced by existing members. This measure does not have the intention to assure the club’s exclusivity, but to pursue careful selection, which is necessary because at Lions one normally obtains a lifetime membership. Please do not feel discouraged by these measures. It is obviously not prohibited to contact us via the website or even by addressing individual members personally to express your interest in joining us. We do have a Recruitment Committee to evaluate ‘Membership Application Proposals’. It aims to offer traineeship to new members according to Lions tradition, goals and diligence. It’s main objective is to assess new applicants and it formulates it’s advice on taking new members on board. The potential member’s social commitment as well as a range of other elements indicating the candidate’s social position in society, will be taken into consideration.

Why become member of Lions?

for friendship: Lions fulfils man’s need for friendship;
for professional development: all types professions are represented at Lions;
for personal development: becoming member of Lions increases interpersonal contacts and personal growth;
for development of leadership: develop relationships with both local and international community and business leaders. Lions is a group of people who are successful leaders in their business;
for the benefit of your local community: make a difference everyday in your community, social commitment is one of Lions’ fundamental policies;
for combining business with pleasure: make new friends by participating in our programs, community service projects and events;
for Lions’ international aspect: it’s worldwide presence enables international contacts and friendships;
for the multi cultural aspect: Lions keep an open mind and encourage tolerance amongst and respect for all ations, cultures, religions, races, political and other ideologies, languages and ethnics

C. SOCIAL COMMITTEE

The Lions’ motto is: “We Serve”. It is any Lions Club’s primary directive to commit itself to always try to socially support those less fortunate. Numerous projects that are launched to help overcome specific problems and needs, mostly private initiatives, are facing financial problems. As result, they often turn to service clubs such as Lions, to help them support their cause.

However, some social shortcomings can not be solved purely by money alone. Money can not provide children at the orphanage with a warm, homelike feeling. It can’t buy the happiness the disabled experience after spending the day with some volunteers in an amusement park. Lions also encourage this kind of social commitment. Our club’s Social Committee stimulates financial help but also emphasises the importance of regional social projects with activities that have a positive impact on people’s emotions and happiness.

Lions Club Gavere Rhodeland is a young club, and has chosen to support ‘Hachiko’ as it’s first social project. ‘Hachico’ is a program that trains dogs to help physically and visually impaired people perform their daily tasks (http://www.hachiko.org). Nowadays we organize more projects that focus on children and their social and material improvement.

There is a close cooperation between The Activities Committee and the Social Committee: the first provides the means, the latter makes sure those means are well spent.

D. ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

Because a service club’s social function is it’s main objective, a well organised fundraising is necessary. The Activities Committee’s part is crucial in this matter. On a regular basis actions are launched on events such as stock exchanges, exhibitions, cultural events,… which requires flexible members with an alert state of mind.

But also yearly and therefore recognizable activities are part of this very active committee’s agenda, e.g. the ‘KRIS KRAS DOOR RHODELAND’-packages, our ambitious golf tournament, …

During the open meetings different speakers, all specialists in there own field, are invited on a regular basis. Everyone is welcome to attend these interesting dissertations. We always try to address topics which connect to our social purpose. Please consult our agenda for more info.

And, last but not least, Lions Gavere Rhodeland regularly offer our precious spouses a little taste of what we are up to during our Lions evenings. This increases involvement which opens perspectives in terms of being able to count on the ladies’ support for activities where lots of hands make light work!