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Lions Clubs International - Lion Phil Nathan |
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Show you care, get involved, let's enjoy ourselves |
Past International Director Phil Nathan
International 2nd Vice President Campaign
Timing is everything....
Marked in bold capital letters in my diary was the 14th September, the day when the Lions Shelter, our 'Shelter', at the National Memorial Arboretum was to be opened, the question for me was, how do I get there, and back, in between meetings in London?
I was also conscious that I had only just returned from my trip to the ANZI-Pacific Forum, the money and stock markets are in a less than perfect mood and could I take more time away and I had a Board Meeting in the afternoon!
Given the fund raising undertaken and the profile we have given to the Arboretum appeal I very much wished to attend to show my support and appreciation for the hard work that has been put in.
I knew there had to be a solution, the question was, what?
Some serious studying of railway timetables - thank goodness for the internet - revealed that if I brought forward my morning meeting, left my office at 09.20, took a taxi to Euston Station and caught the 10.03 to Rugby and changed for the train to Lichfield Trent Valley, stayed for the formal opening ceremony then made my way back to Lichfield Trent Valley, caught the 13.40, again via a change at Rugby, back to London Euston and a taxi back to the Office I could just make my company Board meeting.
Would it all work?
On the day it did, perfectly. All the transport options came together and ran to time, PCC David Firth kindly met me at Lichfield Trent Valley station and drove me to the Arboretum. I was in line in time to shake hands with HRH Countess of Wessex, who performed the opening ceremony, took as much time as I could to say hello and shake hands with as many Lions as possible who were there before PDG Alan James “ flew” me back to the station for the train to London.
A quick dash down the West Coast main Line and a traffic free run back to the Office meant I walked into the Board Meeting at 4pm sharp, composed and with all my reports and papers collated.
Was it worth it, of course.
Any occasion when Lions can celebrate is worthwhile and I believe it important that we show support for those who work hard, with enthusiasm and passion, to ensure that a particular goal is reached. The number of Lions who had taken the opportunity to attend was impressive and more than added to the pleasure of the occasion and I hope they enjoyed the event.
Thanks are due to all those made the 'Shelter' possible, who had the vision to see a particular need and the commitment to see it through.