(CNS): The Lions Club of Grand Cayman held an Induction of New Members and Awards Ceremony recently to welcome two new members and acknowledge the work of the existing members. New Lions Sabine Calvetti and Stephney Williams were reminded of the history and purposes of the Club then recently elected Zone Chairperson Lion Walter Gooding MJF served as the Initiating Officer. Sabine Calvetti is the first Leo to transfer to Lions under the Leo/Lion Transfer Programme.
She received her yellow Lions vest and was pinned by her sponsor Lion President Deborah Ebanks MJF. Stephney Williams was vested and pinned by sponsor Lion Lee Ramoon, Stepheny is following in her father, Past President Lion George E Seymour’s footsteps by becoming a second-generation Lion.
Melvin Jones Fellowship (MJF) recipient, Lion Andrew Eden was awarded the Progressive Melvin Jones Fellowship; this is Lion Andrew’s sixth Melvin Jones Progressive award. The Fellowship which was created in 1973 is in honor of the founder of Lions Clubs International, Melvin Jones. The Fellowship was established as the Lions Clubs International Foundation’s highest form of recognition to acknowledge an individual’s dedication to humanitarian service. The Progressive Melvin Jones Fellowship Program is awarded to Lions who thereafter further their commitment to humanitarian causes.
A founding member and Charter President of the Club, Lion Tommy Hurlston, himself an MJF recipient was also awarded the Progressive Melvin Jones Fellowship for his continuing support to the Club.
Honourary Lion Margaret Ramsey Hayle was the guest speaker and after congratulating the two new Lions and the MJF recipients she spoke about the work that is being carried out with the Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS) Programme, a projected started by Lions which is now an independent programe.
Lions are supporters of this youth mentoring organization in the Cayman Islands. BBBS are the leader in one-to-one youth service, developing positive relations that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people they mentor children aged 6 through to 18 in our community.
Lion President Deborah Ebanks said it was a wonderful ceremony in which the new members were welcomed to the club.”I am happy and proud of their decision to accept membership to our Club and I am looking forward to working with them as together we continue the Lion Club’s commitment to serving the community,” she added.
Since the Club’s chartering in Grand Cayman in 1972, its members have worked on a variety of projects in the local community. Proceeds from past fundraising events have gone to activities such as free sight screening for school children, assisting financially with eye surgeries and other sight related projects. The Lions Club holds their general meeting on the first and third Thursdays of each month at the Lions Den in the Lions Community Centre, Crewe Road. Lions clubs are a group of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For more information or to get involved with the Lions Club, please contact Lion President Deborah Ebanks at 916-2151.
