Leos Roar

Leo Numbers Jump 10% With the ongoing support of all Lions, Lionesses and Leos, there are currently 104 active Leo Clubs with about 2,300 members serving their communities across our Multiple District. This represents an increase of more than 10% since the beginning of the current Lions year. In the world today there are 5,987 active Leo Clubs with more than 155,000 Leos working alongside Lions to make our world a better place! Congratulations to Q3 Leo Chairman Jan Evans on the successful formation of the newest Leo Club in Australia, Golden Valley Keperra. Our newest Leos were welcomed at a successful formation meeting in February. Also, congratulations to the Leo Club of Central Queensland in Q4 which received its Charter from District Governor John Lindsay at a ceremony in February. A new club has also been formed at Smithton in T1. Through their unselfish acts of kindness, Leos qualify for Lions Young Leaders in Service Awards and I congratulate Leos Maria Sawiris, Alicia Jeffree, Andrew Nichol and Lisa Phanthavady on receiving 50 Hour Silver Seal Awards from N2 District Governor, Geoff Hobart, on his recent visit to Ambarvale High School Leo Club. Congratulations to the Lions Club of Campbelltown City Inc. for their ongoing support of the Ambarvale High School Leo Club and their support of our future Lions leaders.

During the 2011/12 Lions year we have created further opportunities for Leos across Australia to develop their leadership skills by creating initiatives and incentives through the Outward Bound Leo Leadership Development Program. This three-day program in partnership with Outward Bound Australia has been specially designed for Leos by Outward Bound Australia to help develop practical skills in leadership.
The first course is from 9-11 June at the Outward Bound facility in Namadgi National Park ACT. Full details and an application form are available from State Leo Coordinator NSW Gail Hart – gailhart@bigpond.com.

National Leo project to provide all Leo Clubs across Australia with a purpose

Leo Clubs across Australia will be encouraged to adopt a national project each year and participate in Lions Clubs International’s Global Service Action Campaign for Youth. This year Leo Clubs will be encouraged to do a fundraising project or participate in the World’s Biggest barbecue with funds raised assisting the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation.

Creation of Leo zones in MD201

The Creation of Leo Zones in Australia will provide further opportunities for leadership development for Leos. Once formed this will be a world first!

Creation of MD201 Leo Club program advisory panel

The panel made up of Leos will work with the Leo and Youth Outreach Committee to discuss their feedback and suggestions on the Leo movement in a similar way to the LCI Leo Club Program Advisory Panel. Once established this will be a world first!
In May this year, Leos from across Australia will assemble in Perth to attend the MD201 Lions Convention and participate in special events which will culminate in the 2012 Leo of the Year Final on
Saturday 5th May from 10.05am to 12 noon, when the 2012 MD201 Leo of the Year will be named.
Our 2011 International and MD201 Leo of the Year, Leo/Lion Tom Porter from Twin Cities Leo Club in Q2, will co-host the event, a highlight of a Leo’s year. Tom will give an inspirational report on his year while the judges retire to choose the Overall Winner and Public Speaking Winner.
I encourage all conventioneers to attend and support our inspirational Leos!
With an ageing Lions membership, we must ensure the future of our great organisation by encouraging more young people to join our Lions family as Leos, to develop into the leaders of tomorrow!
If your Lions Club is considering sponsoring a Leo Club, stop considering – DO IT!

Further details on the International and MD201 Leo program are available on the Leo website at www.lionsclubs.org.au/leos, or obtain them from your District or State Leo Coordinator or myself.
With your continued encouragement, we will support our International President, Wing-Kun Tam, when he says, “Leos are the future of our family, and therefore they form a vital branch of our family tree. It is time to elevate the significance of Leos within our family of service”.

For our organisation to grow, we must see Leos as future Lions and encourage them to join our great organisation after their Leos service through the Leo to Lion Program.

Say G’Day to a Leo today.

Youth are our future – but they are also our today.
Martin Peebles
Leo and Youth Outreach Committee Chairman