Why become a member?
People join for many reasons.
Often its to support the local community; make new friends ; and learn new skills
Can anyone join the Paddock Wood and District Lions Club?
Simplistically yes. Anyone over 18, man or women, can join, and you don’t have to live in our area (Five Oak Green to Staplehurst, Yalding to Lamberhurst), though our fundraising activities, and the majority of our charitable donations are within it.
We have no national, political or religious affiliations.
How frequently do you meet, and where and when?
We meet most months on the 3rd Monday of each month. We currently meet at the Star, at Matfield, and meetings start at 7.30pm , and last a couple of hours, or so.
Whilst all try to attend, its not essential to attend every one, as we all have other draws on our time. For example, family commitments, holidays, health issues, and work demands to name few
What other time demands are there?
Firstly there are regular (monthly?) optional social events, l (eg Walks, a Brewery visit, and ten pin bowling, but new things are always being arranged) alongside an annual Charter Night event, where the club celebrates its formation; a handover event at the end of the Lions Year (June), often a lunchtime meal, where the new club officers take up the reins for the forthcoming year.
Of course, we run a number of fundraising activities through the year which need our efforts. Whilst these change , currently the main ones are to help with our Duck Race on one or two Saturday morning, (Paddock Wood or Staplehurst), help marshal our 10k run, in East Peckham ( A Sunday morning in early August); to help at the Paddock Wood Carnival(Sunday), and Music evening ( Saturday) both in early July, and to help with our Santa Sleigh collections in December (usually a couple of evenings in December c 4.00-8.00pm)
In addition there are other things that you currently could get involved with, for example, organising a quiz night, promoting Easter Egg Draws in pubs.
Is there anything else I should know?
Well the main one is that we pay a membership fee.
Alongside that there is the cost of the social events which you choose to attend, and a monthly draw, which you can enter if you wish. At meetings, most have a drink , sometimes coffee, and there’s a draw to help club funds but tickets are just 50p.
In addition, we have Tail Twister who fines members 10p! for any misdemeanour!
How do I become a member?
We injvite any prospective new member to attend a meeting to see if they like it, and think its for them.
If it is we then ask them to attend 2 more meetings, by which time you will have made some new friends, one of whom will formally invite you to join, and sponsor you. You officially join the club, (and the Lions organisation) at a club meeting, where in a very short and simple 5 minute process you are inaugurated. And that’s it