REPORT

Having fun and serving others …

The beginning of the momentous year 2000 abounds with meetings, balls and concerts. For the Lions of the ‘Pro Futuro’ and ‘Pillory’ clubs, it was a time to combine business with pleasure. Under the banner ‘We serve’, they were having fun and collecting money for worthy causes. The ‘Pro Futuro’ Lions Club, whose president is Bożena Golusińska, patronised a delightful charity concert of carols and pastorales, performed in the National Museum by Hanna Banaszak and the ‘Poznańskie Słowiki’ choir (Poznań Nightingales) conducted by Prof. Stefan Stuligrosz. The guests listened to both old XVIII-century and contemporary carols, rounded off with the Austrian ‘Silent Night’, which the Professor defined as having gained an international citizenship.

After the concert, the Lions went off to a reception at the ‘Pod Lwem’ restaurant, where an 1867 edition of a work by Schiller - presented by the vice president of Europa Forum, Krystyna Szmeja - was auctioned. 2,400 zł was collected in the champagne bucket, and the book ultimately and deservedly ended up in the hands of Krystyna Szulczewska. Profits from this event will be donated to help children with cerebral palsy.

The ‘Pillory’ Lions Club, of which Jacek Walasek is the president, this year invited its guests to the IV Charity Ball in the ‘Meridian’ restaurant. First, the guests were warmed up by the hits and Latin American rhythms of Maryla Rodowicz (with backing singers and band). This was followed by an auction of works of art (created by Krystyna Piotrowska, Andrzej Okińczyc and Józef Walczak) and jewellery offered by the ‘Yes’ company. A prize lottery brought the evening to a close, with a trip to New York (funded by the WCT Travel Agency) as the main prize. Yet the happiest person at the ball was Małgorzata Węgrzyn, the director of Kobylnica children’s home, who received a cheque to the value of 30,000 zł from Plus GSM. She said: ‘It is the most extraordinary, the most wonderful co-operation, not just at one event, but throughout the whole year. It is specialist medical help. The presence of ‘Pillory’ LC has been with us every day for five years. One phone call is enough.’

Beata Machowska-Kaczmarek