After more than two decades of service with the Bienfait Lions Club, Shelley Carroll is stepping into a leadership role that will take her across southern Saskatchewan and place her among Lions leaders from across the Prairies.
Carroll officially became district governor for Lions District 5SKS on July 1, following years of leadership training within the organization. In her new role, she oversees a district that includes more than 1,300 Lions members in approximately 70 clubs throughout southern Saskatchewan. "I'm excited for it. Also a little nervous," Carroll said. "You don't learn everything, but I know I have a great team behind me, so if I don't know the answer to any questions that anybody has, I know where to find it."
The appointment marks a significant milestone for Carroll, who has been a member of the Bienfait Lions Club for 23 years.
She is also part of Multiple District 5, which includes Lions clubs in Saskatchewan, North Dakota and South Dakota. Carroll noted the red blazer she wears is the official jacket worn by district governors throughout Multiple District 5.
Years of Preparation Lead to District Role
Becoming district governor is not an overnight process.
Carroll explained that aspiring governors move through multiple leadership positions before taking on the role. "It is a stepping stone," she said. "I was second vice district governor for a year, first vice district governor last year, and now I will be district governor."
Much of the preparation came through online training sessions, along with leadership classes at the recent Lions Clubs International Convention in Hong Kong. Carroll attended the convention with her husband, Paul Carroll, who is also a longtime Lions member.
Carroll joined the Bienfait Lions Club 23 years ago after being encouraged by longtime member Ted Fai. Over time, she developed a greater appreciation for both the local and international impact of the organization. "At that time, I was just more concerned with what our club did in our town," she said.
Over the years, she has watched the club support numerous local initiatives. The Bienfait Lions Club is well known for its community dinner theatre productions, monthly bingo events and support of recreation projects within the community. "When I started at the Bienfait Lions Club 23 years ago, I was not aware of everything that happened in our province, in our country, and even internationally," Carroll said.
Growing Lions Membership Remains a Priority
One of the key priorities for Lions Clubs International is membership growth.
Carroll said the organization currently has approximately 1.4 million members worldwide and is working toward its Mission 1.5 goal of reaching 1.5 million members. "Our goal is to get 1.5 million by the end of June of next year," she said.
Recruitment is important, but Carroll noted that retaining existing members can be just as critical. "It's time to spread the word of Lions and, of course, recruit new people and hopefully retain the ones that we do have."
For residents, that effort matters because Lions clubs continue to play a significant role in supporting community projects, fundraising initiatives and assistance programs throughout Saskatchewan.
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Busy Year Ahead Across Southern Saskatchewan
Carroll is already preparing for a full calendar of district events.
A cabinet meeting is scheduled for Moose Jaw in August, bringing together Lions leadership from across the district.
In September, members will gather at the Lions Memorial Forest near Regina Beach, where trees are dedicated in memory or honour of individuals. "We'll dedicate a few more trees," Carroll said.
As district governor, Carroll will spend the next year travelling throughout southern Saskatchewan, meeting with clubs and helping share information between local members and Lions Clubs International. "I am basically the link between the international president and all of the clubs in my district, to let them know what is going on, what our beliefs are," she said.
The position involves supporting clubs, encouraging membership growth and helping local organizations access resources available through the broader Lions network.
While Carroll hopes to visit as many clubs as possible, geography presents one of the biggest challenges. Southern Saskatchewan is home to approximately 70 clubs spread across a large area, meaning significant travel will be required throughout her year as governor. "I am learning more about it and trying to teach everybody else more about it, realizing what we can do for people," she said.
Kenosee Convention Coming This Fall
One of the biggest events on the district calendar will take place closer to home.
The district convention is scheduled for Oct. 23 and 24 at Kenosee Lake, bringing Lions members from across southern Saskatchewan together for meetings, training and fellowship.
Because the district governor hosts the convention, Carroll had the opportunity to bring the event to a location she knows well. "Because I'm the district governor, it's basically my convention, so I can have it where I want," she said. "So I'm basically having it in my backyard."
Carroll spends much of her summer in the Kenosee area and believes the location will provide a beautiful setting for Lions members from across the district.
Local Roots, Global Impact
Although her new role has an international connection, Carroll said her passion for the organization still comes from seeing the impact it has in local communities.
When she first joined the Bienfait Lions Club, her focus was primarily on projects close to home. "I knew that Lions did great things around Bienfait," she said.
More than two decades later, she now has a broader understanding of the organization's reach, from community projects in southeast Saskatchewan to international initiatives focused on vision care, disaster relief, childhood cancer and other humanitarian causes. "We have grants, whether it's disaster relief or for vision, which was our major thing that we were doing. We have childhood cancer. We have eight different things that we support now."
As she begins her year as district governor, Carroll said one of her goals is to help clubs remain strong while introducing more people to the opportunities available through Lions service. "It's time to spread the word of Lions and, of course, recruit new people and hopefully retain the ones that we do have."
For Carroll, the year ahead will be about more than meetings and travel. It's an opportunity to showcase the work being done by volunteers in communities across southern Saskatchewan and help ensure that service continues for future generations. As district governor, she will also serve as the connection between more than 1,300 members in her district and the broader Lions organization, led internationally by newly installed Lions Clubs International President Mark Lyon.
Readers can also watch for an upcoming Discover Estevan feature on Carroll's experience at the Lions Clubs International Convention in Hong Kong, where she joined thousands of Lions members from around the world and took part in a record-setting tai chi event.