At the age of 29, Alexander Dodell is the youngest president that the Tölzer Lions Club has ever had.
But the problems are the old ones: Corona prevents any activity that could generate income for the club.
Donations were made anyway.
Bad Tölz - Normally the Franzmühle parish house would be a magnet for all bookworms and bookworms these days.
Because actually the popular book market of the Lions Club Bad Tölz was supposed to take place there.
But again the event had to be canceled, as Alexander Dodell reports with regret.
The 29-year-old Tölzer has been the new president of the club for a few months - by far the youngest ever.
New president wanted to "do volunteer work, without a political or religious background"
Dodell became a member three years ago - “out of an interest in volunteering without a political or religious background,” he says.
Dodell himself is quite politically interested.
In the most recent local elections, he ran for the city council in fifth place on the SPD list.
Dodell grew up in Tölz, graduated from the Gabriel-von-Seidl-Gymnasium and then studied economics and business administration.
He is now active in the real estate industry.
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Alexander Dodell, new President of the Tölzer Lions Club
© Pröhl
In the summer months there were face-to-face meetings, now the club evenings are taking place online again
In the past club year, the 29-year-old President Constanze Elger was already on his side as vice-president.
In July he took over the chairmanship.
Fortunately, in view of the low incidences, it was possible to hold club evenings and lectures in person during the summer months, he says.
But now they have switched back to online events.
"Even if we are all vaccinated, many belong to a certain age group that needs to be protected," says Dodell.
And he doesn't want anyone to put themselves in danger just because they feel pressured to attend a club night.
Club has had no income for two years
The hardest hit for the club is that "we have basically had no income for two years," says the new president.
The book markets, which normally take place twice a year, all had to be canceled.
Projects and needy individuals could only be supported through the financial commitment of the members.
For example, there was help for the Tölzer Tafel when buying a new refrigerated vehicle.
“We have been supporting the Tafel for 21 years,” says Dodell.
But also the children's home "Villa Südwind" in Reichersbeuern or the AWO with the holiday home in Vorderriß were happy to receive donations.
Overall, however, these are "difficult times," says Dodell.
The next book market is to take place in summer 2022
He now hopes that the next book market can actually take place in summer 2022 - also because the warehouses are full.
"At the moment we can really only accept very few book donations," he says.
They will soon be at least a little bit emptier: The Lions Club is planning a book donation for the Tölzer Tafel on one of the next Saturdays.
Anyone who would like to support the work of the Tölzer Lions Aid Organization can do so: There is an account at HypoVereinsbank, IBAN DE91 700251756150280905.
