ALOE COAST CONVENTION 2013

The Aloe Coast Convention 2013 will take place from 1 – 4 May 2013 in

East London, Eastern Cape.

East London

East London is a city on the southeast coast of South Africa, in the

Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province.

The city lies on the Indian Ocean coast, largely between the Buffalo

River and the Nahoon River, and hosts the country's only river port. The

city formed around the only river port in South Africa and was originally

known as Port Rex. The unusual double-decker bridge over the Buffalo

River was completed in 1935 and to this day, is the only bridge of its

type in South Africa. Modern day attractions include the East London

Museum housing the coelacanth, a prehistoric fish, thought to be extinct,

discovered live at Chalumna Mouth near East London by fishermen in

1938, and numerous memorial statues. The city is well known as a

surfing mecca, and its beaches are among the best in the country.

International Guest

The International guest will be INTERNATIONAL

DIRECTOR SANGEETA JATIA, from Kolkata, West

Bengal, India. She was elected to serve a two-year

term as a director of The International Association

of Lions Clubs at the association’s 95th

International Convention, held in Busan, Korea,

June 22 through 26, 2012.

Director Jatia is an economics graduate from Calcutta University.

A member of the Calcutta Midtown Lions Club since 1988, she has held

many offices within the association, including club president, district

Sight First chair, district coordinator, vice district governor and multiple

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district Leadership chair. Additionally, she served as a member of

Mission 30 and Team 20K, a GMT area leader, on the DGE Seminar

Faculty and as coordinator of the India edition of LION Magazine. She is

also a Melvin Jones fellow.

In recognition of her service to the association, she has received

numerous awards including Lion of the Year and the Ambassador of

Good Will Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a member by the

association.

Director Jatia and her spouse, Arvind, also a Lion, have two children.

Registration

The registration fee for the Aloe Coast Convention 2013 is R 880.00 and

payable by the 1st April 2013. Fellow Lions this is only an increase of

just under 5% and the Convention Committee tried their best to keep

the cost as low as possible.

Convention Venue

The Aloe Coast Convention 2013 will take place at the Buffalo Sports

Club (“Buffs”), Buffalo Park Drive, East London. Most of the activities are

taking place at the venue and the few that are not will not be too far

away. There will be plenty of refreshment points for good Lions

fellowship, and lunch will be available in the afternoons.

Accommodation

East London has several excellent hotels and many guesthouse and bed

and breakfast establishments, catering for all budgets. Details of

accommodation available will be put on the web site:

www.aloecoastconvention.co.za.

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Partners Programme

There will be a programme for partners on the Wednesday and

Thursday. The partners will be going for tea and one or two interesting

sights in town.

The Friday programme will start at 09:00 at Buffs Club from where the

partners will travel to Gonubie Main Beach, enjoy a short stroll across

the boardwalk to the general parking area where they will be collected

and have a trip around the coastline before heading for Nahoon

Boardwalk where they can look out for dolphins, whales and Oyster

Catchers and for those who prefer they can enjoy a cuppa at Footprints

(for their own account). They will then proceed to the lighthouse before

heading for the EL museum to view one of the largest South African

shell collections, the history of the Coelacanth and African history. At

13:00 they will enjoy a light meal at the Coelacanth restaurant before

returning to Buffs at approximately 14:15 to prepare for the evening

banquet.

The Saturday programme will be a brunch from 09H00-13H00 with a

guest speaker and entertainment..

Children’s Programme

Please advise the Registration Secretary of any children attending as our

Leos are eager to provide entertainment for them.

General

Fellow Lions the convention is taking place in a great city, an excellent

International Guest will be attending, the convention cost and

accommodation are reasonable, so please come and join us at the Aloe

Coast Convention 2013.