KAPITI PAKEKE LIONS CLUB (INC.)

Kapiti Lions Clubs Monster Book Fair

2008 Update

Mr Cresswell, Chairman of the Bookfair Committee stated that the Combined Lions Clubs annual bookfair will be held on 11 October in the Waikanae Memorial Hall. The collection, sorting, pricing and packing operation has been running since May and a couple of thousand books have been processed. More books were needed to reach our target of 60,000 books.

Proceeds recipients of this years bookfair would be Kapiti Youth Quest, Kapiti EMS, Ronald McDonald House, and Waikanae Cancer Auxilliary.

Books can be dropped off in Paekakariki at Paekakariki Fruit Supply, Beach Road and the BP Service Station on State Highway 1; Lembas Cafe in Raumati South; Coastal Mowers and Cycles, Raumati Beach; Remax Leaders Real Estate, Parapaeaumu Beach; Coastlands Rimu Road entrance, Paraparaumu; Bohama Motors and Chem Dry, Waikanae.

2007 Bookfair sales hit new record

The 2007 Lions Bookfair has eclipsed previous records and is expected to clear close to $40,000.

Organising committee chairman Peter Cresswell says the 2005 project netted $30,000 and last year a new record of $35,000 was set. But this year is better again,” he said.

“This will brings the total we have been able to give away, since the Combined Lions Clubs of Kapiti took over the project in 1998, to almost the quarter of a million dollars,” he said.

This year’s Bookfair saw a significant public response. A large queue had formed well before the 8am opening and the hall was very well patronised throughout the day until the 8pm closing.

“The project has become an integral part of the Kapiti Coast scene where people turn up to recharge their home libraries for the forthcoming year.”

Peter said the final figure on what can be paid out won’t be known for a few days as there are bills to pay. But he is confident Kapiti Emergency Medical Service, the Alzheimer’s Society Kapiti Coast, the Paekakariki Surf Lifesaving Club and Drug Arm Kapiti will benefit from close to $40,000. “We can’t thank Kapiti Coasters enough for their great turnout once again. They donated 55,000 books, then came back and bought different titles ” he said.

“We are also grateful to the Kapiti Observer, the Radio Network and Beach FM for promoting the project and also to the business community for its support, which we will acknowledge in another forum.”

I would also like to acknowledge the Lions from the five Kapiti Clubs who spent six hard months, collecting, sorting, pricing, packing and putting the whole project together, Each is an unpaid volunteer whose reward is in knowing that worthy organisations will significantly benefit from their work.

History

For several years now the Lions Clubs of Kapiti, Parawai, Kapiti Pakeke, Kapakapnui and Waikanae Lions Clubs, have managed and organised the “Lions Annual Monster Book Fair” as a joint charity project venture.

A Book Fair Management Committee, comprising representatives from all of the five clubs, is responsible for managing and facilitating the event involving collecting sorting and storing donated books received at various collection points throughout the region, administering advertising, publicity and sponsorship, managing committee finances and being totally involved in the preparations and activities on the day of the event. The Fair is normally held in October or November each year at the Memorial Hall, Elizabeth Street Waikanae, on a Saturday only from 8.00am to 8.00pm inclusive. It is not uncommon to have 60,000 books available for sale on the day of the Fair.

Previous recipients: