Port Shepstone Lions’ 33rd Annual Leadership Retreat was held over the weekend of September 6 to 8 at Camp Anerley for 46 gr 11 pupils, who were recently selected as Port Shepstone High School’s 2020 Executive Council of Leaders (ECL).
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Retreat convener Lion Jeff Smith welcomed the group, Lion Peter Mc Killen gave pupils a course briefing, principal Peter Jenkins addressed them and club president Alister Love did the official opening address.
This was followed by a talk on Lions Clubs International by Lion Denis Meyer.
The group was divided into five colour-coded teams and members were tasked with various team-building exercises.
The following morning, the group were served breakfast prepared by the Lion Ladies and then it was down to business with lectures on leadership theory, communication, motivation, an innovative engineering exercise, people to people relationships and conflict management.
Presenters included Kerry Mc Killen, Selina van Wyk, Agreement Sikhosana and Lions Jeff Smith and Peter Mc Killen.
After lunch, ECLs competed in a fun, challenging ‘Amazing Race’ with Lions acting as marshals and transporting teams around the course. Sunrise Farms kindly allowed the club to utilise their farmlands for this course again, organised and run by Lions Nico De Jong and Kevin Ross.
Pupils donned elegant evening wear for the Lions’ formal dinner at Port Shepstone Country Club on the Saturday night.
The main hall and tables were beautifully decorated by Lion Lady Jenny Vogt and emcee Lion Denis Meyer did a superb job explaining the various formalities and protocols associated with a typical formal Lions gathering.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Lions’ floating trophy to the orange team, winners of the Amazing Race challenge. After a superb three course meal, guests took to the dance floor.
On Sunday, the group enjoyed an early breakfast and then it was on to morning focus with Bronson Pretorius, a workshop on goal-setting presented by Lion Alastair Warman, an inspirational talk by past ECL member Sinjyn Bunge, ECL in action and the final evaluation of the weekend presented by Lion Peter Mc Killen.
The afternoon session was dominated by an obstacle course marshalled by all Lions present.
Hats off to course convener Lion Jeff Smith and his dedicated team of Lions and Lion Ladies.
The entire project was funded by the club’s charity account with generous sponsorships and support.
Leadership development of youth is one of the core projects of Lions Clubs International and this project is one of the signature service projects of Port Shepstone Lions Club.
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