LIONS GATHER IN CITY FOR WEEKEND STATE CONVENTION

Approximately 700 members of the Missouri Lions Club will be in Cape Girardeau this weekend for the 75th Missouri Lions Club State Convention today through Sunday.

"We think they are going to be overwhelmed," said Laurie Taylor, convention co-chairman. The other co-chairman is Dr. Keith Deimund, who is also the Lions district governor.

The convention, which will be held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, is sponsored by Lions Club District 26D in Southeast Missouri. Lions from Ste. Genevieve to Caruthersville have been involved in planning the event.

The Cape Girardeau Noon Lions Club made a bid two years ago for the state convention to be held in Cape Girardeau. This is the first time in 50 years that the convention has been held here.

"We're happy to have the convention in Cape Girardeau," said Charles J. Stotz, a public relations chairman for the convention. "It gives us a chance to showcase Southeast Missouri Lions Club District 26D and Cape Girardeau."

Today's events are designed for Lions district governors.

A number of activities, club meetings and training seminars are planned, including a golf tournament Friday morning at the Cape Girardeau Country Club and tours of historic Cape Girardeau sites.

Special committee meetings and seminars will be held Friday morning and afternoon, with the first regular convention session set for 4 p.m.

The second convention session will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday with the third and final conventions session at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Kajit Habanananda, a charter member of the Bangkok, Thailand, Cosmopolitan Lions Club, is the keynote speaker Saturday night. He will become president of the International Association of Lions Club. He was elected first vice president of the international group in July.

Habanananda, an international consultant, has held a number of Lions Club positions and has received numerous awards, including the 30 Years Perfect Attendance Award and the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest honor bestowed by Lions Club International.

The guest speaker for Saturday's Lions model luncheon is Dr. Jim Robertson, a motivational speaker who is blind.

Many of the organization's philanthropic projects will be discussed. Lions organizations support a number of projects dedicated to assisting the vision and hearing impaired, including the national Leader Dog program, the Mid South Sight and Hearing project in Memphis and the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation in Columbia.

The Lions hearing van will be in the convention center parking lot offering free hearing tests to the public.

"The weekend is just jam packed with activities," said Taylor. "And there will be an additional 675 people in town this weekend. Businesses should be pleased."