Leroy goes to Europe

Lion Jane Armitage, Multiple District Young Ambassadors Committee Chairman, tells of a new departure

Under the chandeliers of the Palace in Bucharest, we introduced the Young Ambassador Award (Multiple District 105) to our European Lions friends at Europa Forum this October. We explained how the Young Ambassador of the 21st century scheme was born out of Youth Award and how the late International President Bert Mason had been its founding father. His initial priority was the acknowledgement and celebration of the achievements of young people and we have continued this aim.

Thankfully, our European friends agreed that promotion of Lionism through candidates, their projects, friends and family was one they could share, together with raising the profile of local Lions Clubs and the wider family of Lions.

We talked them through the rules as we know them, including information about the knock-out rounds, the judges and how candidates can be prepared for each round, and reminded them that young people who have competed in the past have been involved with youth work including guiding and scouting movements, environmental projects, school projects including mentoring and support for the bullied, and how their work can be enhanced by the winning of donated bursaries. We, here in MD105, continue to be grateful for the sponsoring by Winterflood Securities, who pay for all our bursaries and are the major donor to the Young Ambassador award.

We told them how young people, through entry to the Young Ambassador Award, could publicise their work in the local community, build confidence through speaking in public, grow their personal development and meet other like-minded young people by attending a Lions Youth Camp.

To remind you, as we reminded them, all Clubs are eligible to put forward a candidate. The diary for the year goes across the Lions year, but could be based on the following suggestions:

1. Begin the search for candidates in March/April through

• Schools

• Youth clubs

• Scouts and Guides

• Hospitals

• Police groups

• Churches

• St John Ambulance Brigade

• Red Cross

• Other youth organisations

2. Complete all paperwork in preparation for Zone and Region finals in September/October.

3. Organise District Finals in January.

4. Compete in Multiple District Finals in February.

5. The MD winner qualifies for a place at Europa Forum for the European Finals in October.

To remind you, Young Ambassador candidates are judged on:

• Their community service activity.

• Personality and demonstration of leadership qualities.

• Their proposed use of the bursary.

• The ability to speak about their service activities.

• Commitment to take part in the Multiple District Finals weekend, which is a mixture of work and fun, including an informal “ice-breaking” evening, an activity like bowling and a Gala Dinner with entertainment by them followed by a disco.

And the winner needs to be committed to:

• Addressing MD Convention

• Attending a Youth Camp

• Representing their Multiple District at Europa Forum in the European Final.

The first European Final will be held at the Europa Forum in Cannes during the first weekend in October 2008. A European Committee has been formed, which comprises the host countries of Europa Forum from last year (British Isles and Ireland), this year (Romania), next year (France) and the year after (Finland), with two other invited countries, Belgium and Germany. Belgium and Germany are already running a similar competition and are very enthusiastic in their support of the launch into Europe. The Chairman of the committee for the first three years will be from MD105, to pass on our experience of running the competition here.

And what do we as Lions gain from Young Ambassadors?

• Inspiration from young people and the amazing things they get up to.

• Inspiration from their energy and commitment and willingness to have a go.

• New young friends, who, with their parents and friends we would hope to involve in Lionism in the future.

So if you haven’t been involved with Young Ambassadors up to now, commit your Club to taking part in the future. Join us at Europa Forum in Cannes in October 2008 and support our young people, who above all are the future of Lions.