Chairman’s Report-2014

Western Australian Lions Drug Education Foundation-

Fellow Conventioneers
Visibility- Western Australia Lions Drug Education Foundation, aka WALDEF, has been involved in the community by promoting awareness of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse by developing prevention activities within local communities. We have given presentations at several club meetings this past year, and we encourage your club to invite us along to a meeting. We are in your Lions directory.
Participation- By participating in National campaigns in line with the aims of the Australian Lions Drug Awareness Foundation in the form of donations to ALDAF, who sponsor the “Tune in not Out” program, aka TINO, which is an award-winning web-based program designed for young people and developed by young people. Our donation to ALDAF made it possible for the TINO website location to be prominently displayed by google.
Projects- WALDEF has been very busy in our 2013/2014 year as we have campaigned for our “Dear Me” documentary not only throughout WA but, with permissions granted, Australia wide.
We have been featured in the West Lion and the International Lions Magazine, out of the US.
SUPPORT NEEDED- We have received support from our local clubs, as well as, clubs outside of WA. A big, “Thank YOU” to those clubs who have sent donations. We have approx. $30K to go.
The production company is finished with the first draft of the documentary. Our producers, while preparing to shoot at the Kerobokan prison as soon as they have permissions again, will still be using young Australian talent to conduct the interview with Andrew and they will edit these in when they have been able to obtain this footage.
Promotional- We have ordered, received, and distributed new wristbands and our brochures to the clubs in our district via the zone chairman and mail outs which had a sampling of brochures that can be ordered for any events. We used both at the Ballajura Harmony Day and the wristbands were very well received.
On a very sad note, we lost one of our dedicated directors, Ros Davis, Ros served on the WALDEF foundation several years and will be missed. We also want to thank our retiring directors Sue and Allan. Sue was first to bring “Dear Me” the documentary to the WALDEF table and it has been a fantastic and worthwhile project to undertake.
Near Future-We will continue to focus on the documentary and will announce to the clubs when we will be in their area to present the documentary screening. We are looking, once again, into a logo change, one that will be more recognizable for our foundation. We will continue to promote our foundation by attending conventions and doing presentations at club requests. We will be funding convention bags , distributing brochures and information, providing tidy bags and lanyards. We will continue to strive to make a difference.

New Car Tidy bags available

With the change to our logo we will be producing new versions of the car tidy bag that have been provided free of charge to Lions Clubs International throughout Western Australia.

If your Club want some bags please let us know at waldef@westnet.com.au

WALDEF Home

‘Drug Abuse is as insidious as a deadly spider’s web …’

Drug abuse is as insidious as a deadly spider’s web.  For children and young adults drug abuse often starts through experimentation with cigarettes and alcohol, then marijuana and ecstasy tablets.  That young person then starts to be drawn further into the web of using drugs – often involving a dangerous mixture or cocktail of drugs – until their addiction becomes entrenched in their life.  At this point the web becomes a prison, and the deadly spider can overcome their victim.  The potential of an overdose – often a fatal overdose – in some lonely dark alleyway is now a very real possibility.

‘Community Drug Education’

Lions Clubs in Western Australia have always been interested in becoming involved in community drug education initiatives.  As a result of this the Western Australian Drug Education Foundation (WALDEF) was formed with the following objectives.

–          To promote an awareness of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse.

–          To develop primary prevention activities, especially in local communities in an “Awareness” Programme.

–          To encourage and facilitate personal, social and community action in support of the prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse.

–          To participate in national campaigns in lion with the aim of the Australian Lions Drug Awareness Foundation Inc.

–          To become involved in the formation of partnerships with governmental health professionals, drug educational agencies and drug aware community groups (LDAG’s).

–          To actively promote and support counselling and rehabilitation programmes.

‘Future Focus’

The Western Australian Lions Drug Education Foundation (WALDEF) has the following future objectives.

–          To encourage Lions in Western Australia to become actively involved in LDAG’s.

–          To encourage participation in the School Drug Education Project and activities in schools.

–          To develop a partnership with the Health Department and Education Department where programmes relate to drug awareness.

–          To seek and promote suitable drug awareness resources for schools, parents and community agencies.

‘Try Hugs Not Drugs’

Many Lions and other people across Australia and the world have a badge, tee shirt or other article with this symbolic message emblazoned on it.  This was a very successful project-promotion of WALDEF.

Other WALDEF successes include the “Drugs in Perspective” one-day workshops, mainly for Lions members and local educators, conducted in many parts of Western Australia.

The overall goal of these workshops was to provide participants with information about drug use and an opportunity to practice the skills required to plan and implement local activities designed to minimise the harm associated with drug use.

The stated objectives were:

–          Increase participants knowledge of drug use and drug use problems;

–          Increase participants confidence and competence to address local drug use problems;

–          Discuss methods of drug education;

–          Consider Lions and other community members roles in minimising the harm associated with drug use; and

–          Motivate effective local community action by Lions and community members.

These objectives have since been adopted by other community groups and drug awareness education agencies in WA.

Links:

Australian Lions Drug Awareness Foundation

http://www.lionsclubs.org.au/aldaf/

Local Drug Action Groups

http://localdrugaction.com.au

Drug & Alcohol Office

http://www.dao.health.wa.gov.au/

Tune in Not Out

http://www.tuneinnotout.com/