Lions Club International conducted the 2014-2015 Faculty Development Institute for Lions from Constitutional Area IV – Europe. This institute took place in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina on May 25-28, 2015. Approximately thirty enthusiastic Lions from Macedonia, Croatia, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Estonia, Albania, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria participated in this unique learning experience. During 4 days they were being taught to be Lions instructors, to sharpen training skills and increase their overall effectiveness as an instructor for local Lions training programs
Training is vital to the growth, health and future of Lions Clubs International. Yes, “We Serve”, but the quality of our service depends upon the quality of our training. Training equips Lions with the skills, knowledge and motivation to ensure that the highest possible level of service is provided. Training means developing more Lions leaders, and more leaders translates into greater service. In short, training makes Lions more effective.
Elena Ovchinnikova and Armine Oganesyan successfully completed this institute. To be considered a graduate of the FDI program they have to conduct a training event within 6 months of the institute.
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On 29 April 2015 Lions Clubs Golden Pelican and Riona (St.Petersburg) had a wonderful meeting with 18 lions members of the club of Bangalore Aasare District 317-a.
Our new friends were visiting Moscow and St.Petersburg and were interesting in getting to know more about Lions of St.Petersburg and our activities and to foster collaboration for future projects.
The meeting was held in the “House of friendship” the meeting place of the Riona Club. The exchange of gifts and club banners was done by Lion Lakshman – Cub President, Lion Bhaskar – Secretary, Lion Ramachandra - Region Chairperson region III and representatives of St.Petersburg Clubs – Past Presidents Alexander Sylko and Margarita Mudrak.
Lion Ramachandra: “On behalf of Lions Club of Bangalore Aasare, we wish to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to you and your club members for extending support and cooperation in accepting our request and arranging for such a wonderful and meaningful twinning meet at St Petersburg.
Our Team was overwhelmed by your team's simplicity and the warm hospitality . We were impressed with your service activities associated with Youth development and your efforts in developing better leaders of tomorrow.
We look forward to be associated with your team for youth exchange programs to promote ideals of Lionism and Lions Ethics in the near future”.
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In June 2003 one of the members of LC “Golden Pelican” Armine Oganesyan visited West Norwich Lions Club which is a twin club of “Golden Pelican”. During the warm meeting members of Lions Clubs of District 105 EA showed interest in the activity of the “Golden Pelican” and agreed to participate in fundraising events of the Club in favour of the Centre of Creative Rehabilitation of disabled children and orphans of St. Petersburg such as organisation of exhibition-sales of paintings and handicrafts of the children from the Centre and buying Christmas parcels with toys, handicrafts and different Russian souvenirs to support the Centre.
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In June 2003 38 Italian Lions from Bologna visited our city. They went sightseeing around St. Petersburg and suburbs, visited the Centre of Creative Rehabilitation for disabled children and orphans “Child’s Soul”, participated in the exhibition-sale in favour of the Centre and the most exciting moment of the meeting was our joint dinner in the Museum of Political History of Russia where we signed a treaty of twinning between LC “Golden Pelican” – St. Petersburg and LC “Anzola E.L. Bassi” – Bologna.
The Governor of District 108b Italy Prof. Dott. Francesco Javoni also honoured us with his presence an was really interested in the activity of “Golden Pelican”.
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In September 2002 we had a meeting with the member of LC Spånga (Sweden) Svante Svanberg and his wife. They were interested in the activity of LC “Golden Pelican” and promised to help young disabled painters from the Centre “Child’s Soul”.
On 9 November, 2002 Spånga LC organised an exhibition-sale of drawings of children from The Centre of Creative Rehabilitation for disabled children and orphans of St. Petersburg in Sweden. They sold out 6 paintings and decided to have another exhibition in spring 2003. Mr. Svanberg told us that most people who visited the exhibition liked it very much and the members of LC Spånga thought it was a good activity for the Club.
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During the correspondence with Lions Clubs of France we got acquainted with the family of Catherine and Vladimir Galouzine. They became initiators of holding a benefit concert in favour of the Centre of Creative Rehabilitation for disabled children and orphans of St. Petersburg “Child’s Soul”. Vladimir’s friend, conductor and leader of Mariinsky Theatre Valery Gergiev and other leading artists of the opera stage supported the idea.
On 18 June 2002 the Concert took place in The Mariinsky Theatre. It was held within the framework of the 10th annual international cultural festival “Stars of the White Nights”.
The success of the concert was immense, applauds made the artists return to the stage for a bow again and again. We must know the names of artists who agreed to transfer their fees for the performance to children just for the example of human kindness. Those were Vasiliy Gerello, Sergey Aleksashin, Fedor Kuznetsov, Tatiana Pavlovskaya and of course Vladimir Galouzine.
After the concert “Golden pelican” awarded Galouzine the prize “For Mercy and sincere generosity”. The award founded his hero truly.
