The Rolleston & Districts Lions Club Chartered in April 1978 with a membership of 36.
The very first project was the demolition of the Methodist Church at Springston, where the materials that we could salvage, we could sell and therefore start our project account to assist the community, this was before we Chartered as a Lions Club.
Many interesting and varied projects followed with us being able to purchase a brand new caravan, which we were able to donate to the local Rolleston Brigade of the Order of St John, which is still in use today.
The Rolleston Fireworks nights was an idea from one of our members some 40 years ago, a combined project with our club and the Rolleston Residents Association, this has now grown to be one of the greatest entertainment nights for the whole Selwyn District.
Another project was the Charity Golf match, which we ran for many years in aid of community groups.
Catering for the South Island Agricultural Field Days has been one of our main projects over the years, starting at Lincoln every second year, now as it has grown, it has had to move to a bigger site at Kirwee.
Catering is one project that started from us selling sausages in bread from the back of a trailer at the Rugby League games, at the old Rolleston Domain, where the Selwyn District Council building is now sited.
In the early years, Lions Clubs were all males, and so we would often have our wives helping us on our many fund raising projects.
Growing Christmas Trees was another great project and we would sell hundreds, sadly today Christmas is not the same, and so tree sales have dropped off.
Today our membership is around forty with two of the original Charter members still in the club, with another member being in the club for forty years and many others for a good many years
We meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Rock Bar & Restaurant in the Quarts room.
6 pm (18:00) Meet & Greet for 6.30 pm (18:30) Meal, Meeting and Fun - Usually end by 9.30 pm (21:30)
Subs for the year ar $80.00 (22c / Day) single and $120.00 Couples.
If you would like to know more about becomming a member of Rolleston & Districts Lions Club
Please contact Brian Whittington (Membership Director)
Email kiwistarsky@gmail.com Tel: 021 618 874
Or ask any Lions member whenever you see one at a project.
RAP: Would you like to know more?
Lions meet the needs of local communities and the world every day because they share a core belief - to serve their community.
Lions have a dynamic history. Founded in 1917, we are best known for fighting blindness, but we also volunteer for many different kinds of community projects - including caring for the environment, feeding the hungry and aiding seniors and the disabled.
Lions give sight. By conducting vision screenings, equipping hospitals and clinics, distributing medicine and raising awareness of eye disease, Lions work toward their mission of providing vision for all. We have extended our commitment to sight conservation through countless local efforts and through our international SightFirst Program, which works to eradicate blindness.
Lions serve youth. Our community projects often support local children and schools through scholarships, recreation and mentoring. Internationally, we offer many programs, including the Peace Poster Contest, Youth Camps and Exchange and Lions Quest.
Our Leo Program provides the youth of the world with an opportunity for personal development through volunteering. There are approximately 144,000 Leos and 5,700 Leo clubs in more than 140 countries worldwide.
Lions award grants. Since 1968, the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has awarded more than US$700 million in grants to support Lions humanitarian projects around the world. LCIF was also ranked the number one nongovernmental organization in a 2007 study by The Financial Times.
Lions help during disasters. Together, our Foundation and Lions are helping communities following natural disasters by providing for immediate needs such as food, water, clothing and medical supplies – and aiding in long-term reconstruction.
Lions are active. Our motto is "We Serve." Lions are part of a global service network, doing whatever is necessary to help our local communities.
For more about Lions Clubs, go to www.lionsclubs.org
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.
