Leos leap into service Convention highlights - Lions Clubs New ...

Lions funding new community facilityA joint venture between Lions and the Christchurch City Council will see a new transitional communityfacility built on a council-owned site in Colombo Street, St Albans.Lions will fund the building, which isexpected to be open by July and will beavailable for community use for the nexttwo to five years.The site was previously the St AlbansResource Centre, which was badlydamaged in the 22 February 2011earthquake and was demolished atthe end of last year."Having the site clear and ready togo provided us with the opportunityto work with the Lions on thisinitiative", Christchurch City CouncilGeneral Manager CommunityServices Michael Aitken said. "Thebuilding will provide meeting spacefor local community groups andlow-impact recreation activities.It's great to see this positiveinitiative going ahead, with otherfacilities and buildings closed dueto earthquake damage."202E District Governor MaryGriffiths said this was a practicalway the organisation could contributeto the community."We know that as Christchurch moves intoa state of rebuild and recovery, it's nowmore important than ever to have a placefor community groups to come together,discuss and plan for the future."PDG Phil Lynch and Digby Prosser fromChristchurch made a presentation aboutthe project to the MD Convention, alsoshowing a moving slide show of thedamaged city."The earthquakes are still part of ourlives and will be for a long time to come,"Phil explained. "The city centre is like awar zone. 600 buildings have gone andthere are 600 still to go. No photos orimages you have seen do justice to thedamage. We are very proud as Lionswith what we have done so far. Weare still providing support. For many ashower and flushing toilet would be aluxury. Our long-term goal is to look afteras many people and community groupsas possible.""Our family of Lions can help all otherfamilies," Digby told the Convention. "TheCity Council has lost 60 percent of publicbuildings - halls, community centres, etc.We have found a near-new relocatablebuilding that will provide a space for up to50 people for meetings and activities thatmeet their needs, an opportunity for thecommunity to help itself."The building will be funded by the LionsEarthquake Fund and ownership will beretained by Lions; CCC is undertaking theinfrastructure and land costs and willprovide the day-to-day administrationand maintenance longer term. Acommunity committee, includingLions, will be established to superviseits management."This is a wonderful opportunity toassist a community with needs. It isa pioneer partnership of earthquakeresponse and will profile Lions inthe community. Plans have beendeveloped and the next phasesare to establish the building onsiteand ensure it is operational withinthree months."The Earthquake Committeeencourages Lions Clubs in thevicinity of St Albans to support thisproject in practical ways - possibly toassist with furnishings and groundswork, though CCC will provide thesubstance of this."W h e n t h e r e q u i r e m e n t f o r t h i stransitional facility ends, probably intwo to five years, Lions will uplift thebuilding and look at options to placeit into another community in need,where the building can be best utilisedaccording to need.Mayor Bob Parker thanked Lions for theirgenerous contribution to the project. "TheSt Albans community centre is sadlymissed by the locals who used it. This is awonderful initiative that will greatly benefitthe community."LION, South Pacific Edition | May/June 2012 7