LIONS TO HOLD CONVENTION HERE

The Cape Girardeau Lions Club will sponsor only its second state convention here in 1998.

"That is three years away," said Keith Deimund, president of one of the two local Lions clubs in Cape Girardeau. "But, it takes a lot of work to prepare for this event."

The entire 26th Lions District of Southeast Missouri will be involved in preparing for and helping in the convention, he said. The district governors are in the process of selecting various committees now.

The current district governor is Roy Edwards of Caruthersville. Dr. Bill Dillon of Sikeston is district governor-elect.

This marks only the second time since the Cape Girardeau Lions Club was chartered in April 1922 the state convention will be held here.

The 1930 Missouri Lions Club Convention was held here, with activities headquarters at First Baptist Church. Headquarters for the 1998 event will be at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Deimund said.

Members of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Tourism Bureau are also excited about the convention.

This is one of several state organizations that have selected the city as a site for state conventions, including as many as eight this year.

The Missouri Airport Managers Association held its state meeting here Thursday.

Other state conventions this year include the Missouri Water and Wastewater Conference next Thursday and Friday -- The Missouri Rehabilitation Associated, Missouri State Teachers and Missouri Association of Realtors in June.

One of the larger state conventions will be the Missouri State Square Dance Festival in October. This event is expected to attract more than 1,300.

Another major convention is scheduled in Cape Girardeau next April, the Missouri Baptist Convention, which will bring from 2,000 to 3,000 people to the area.

"Most of these groups spend at least two days here," said Kim Groves, group tour planner for the tourist bureau. "Based on industry averages, convention visitors will spend an average of $140 per day."

The Lions Club convention could amount to almost $500,000 to the Cape Girardeau County economy, with 1,000 visitors for a three-day stay.

Cape Girardeau offers affordable, accommodations and customized services to convention planners, said Mary Miller, tourist bureau director

"We work closely with area hotels, motels and restaurants in preparing and bidding for conventions and meetings," she said. "We're aggressively recruiting and working with these organizations."

Pending bids for state meetings for 1996 include the Missouri Republicans Convention, Travel and Tourism Research Convention, Watchtower Convention and the Missouri Association of CPAs.

"We are also bidding for the 1999 Missouri National Guard State Convention," Miller said.

Upcoming Conventions, 1995

May 18-19 -- Missouri Water and Wastewater Conference.

June 4-6 -- Missouri Rehabilitation Association.

June 11-12 -- Missouri State Teachers Association.

June 18 -- Missouri Association of Realtors, more than 200.

July 9-15 -- The Most Worshipful Masters Prince Hall Masons of Missouri, 400 to 800.

October 20-21 -- Missouri State Square Dance Festival, over 1,300.

October 26-19 -- Beta Sigmi Phi Convention.

November 4-6 -- Missouri Travel Council Educational Conference.

Conventions, 1996

February 16-18 -- Lamda Chi Alpha, 300.

April 18-20 -- Missouri Baptist Convention, 2,000 to 3,000

April 26-28 -- Rotary District Convention.

May 3-5 -- Gideon State Convention.

May 17-18 -- Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Convention, 1,000

June 8-10 -- Missouri Postmasters Convention.

July 18-21 -- American Legion Convention.

September 27-29 -- Midwest Forestry Products Show,. more than 6,000 people attend this show.

Conventions, 1998

April (dates to be announced) -- Missouri State Lions Convention.

October (dates to be announced) - Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists.