The annual State Convention of Kansas Lions will take on a “Down Under” Australian International Flavor as they play host to Lions International President Barry & Anne Palmer, June 5-7, 2014, at the Four Points by Sheraton Convention Center in Manhattan.
Lions International President Barry J. Palmer, of Berowra, NSW, Australia, was elected President of Lions Clubs International at the International Convention, in Hamburg, Germany, July 5-9, 2013.  President Palmer was a real estate company director.
A member of the Hornsby Lions Club since 1976, President Palmer has held many offices within the association, including club president and district governor. He has served on numerous committees and as the Host Committee Chairperson for the 2010 Lions Convention in Sydney, Australia.
In recognition of his service to the association, President Palmer has received many awards, including six International President’s Medals and the Ambassador of Good Will Award. He is a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow.
In addition to his Lion activities, President Palmer is a recipient of the Australian Medal issued by the Australian Government, the Australian Childhood Cancer Research Award. He was a Pioneer Volunteer at the Sydney Olympics & a member of the New South Wales Paralympic Committee.
President Palmer and his wife Anne, also a Lion and a Melvin Jones Fellow, have three children and eight grandchildren.   
The Kansas Lions Council of District Governors conducts four meetings each year to assess progress towards goals for community service by the 6,500 Kansas Lions & Leos (school students) who serve in the 270 clubs from all parts of the state. In addition, most of the State Committees and Lions Foundation Boards will meet to evaluate annual goals for service to Kansas communities.
The Kansas Lions Council of Governors is the controlling authority of Kansas Lions.  They are: DG LuRay Watts of 17-N (South Central); DG Jess Larison of 17-S (South East), DG Jerry Loney of 17-O (North East); DG Al Urich of 17-I (North-Central); and DG Linda Looney of 17-L (West).  The Council Chairperson is Beverly Nichols of Overland Park.   
The International Association of Lions Clubs is the world’s largest community service organization with 1.38 Million members in 46,500+ clubs in 206 countries of the world.  In Kansas there are 6,500 Lion and Leo Club members serving in 270 clubs, all dedicated to serving their hometown communities.