Lions Club of Windsor 'in great danger' of closing by June

President Ron Coleman said he wouldn't close the branch "without a fight", and appealed for help from the community to keep the club going.

He said Windsor Lions, which was chartered in 1975, was in "great danger" of closing by June 30.

The club has helped hundreds of Hawkesbury locals over the years, and has also contributed to Australian and overseas disaster relief.

Mr Coleman said the club is in danger because the few members it has left are not able to take-up the administrative roles.

"We've also had five younger active members move interstate and these were all members who held administrative roles," he said.

The club currently has eight members, down from almost 20 only 18 months ago. Mr Coleman hoped to attract some younger members.

He needs to fill urgently the roles of treasurer and secretary, and he'd also like to groom someone to take over the presidency of the club.

"I personally am serving my sixth term as president, not consecutively, in the last 12 years and was also secretary for three years. But I run my own business and I work six days-a-week, so I'll stay on as president for the time being but I'd like to groom someone to take over," he said.

"Our current secretary has had the role for the past five years, but she lost her husband unexpectedly last year and she needs a break."

He said Lions Clubs International told him if he can't form a board the club will have to close and the members will have to transfer to other clubs.

The ideal candidates to join the board would have communication skills, both oral and written, and proficiency with numbers.

Mr Coleman said the secretary's role could entail up to five hours voluntary work per week, and the treasurer's role would require around two hours of commitment "at the most".

He said the secretary's role was more involved because there were a number of forms the club was required to fill out every month for Lions Clubs International and Lions Australia, and the secretary was also required to communicate with other agencies on behalf of the club.

"At the moment I'm in the process of trying to raise money from the Australian Lions Foundation to get a bathroom remodelled for a family in need," he said as an example of the work they do.

He said he joined Windsor Lions after seeing an article in this newspaper that reported the club was at risk of closing in 2007. He hoped the community would respond similarly to the club's current plight, and help him save it from closure.

If you can help Mr Coleman and the Windsor Lions, call him on 0409 033 696 or email windsor@lionsclubssydney.org.au.