Lions and Leos joined meeting on St Maarten

Lions and Leos from Saba, St. Eustatius and Anguilla ventured to St. Maarten over the weekend to join the local Lions and Leos for the second Lions Zone advisory meeting that was chaired by Zone Chairman Franklin Wilson, who hails from the Saba Lions Club. This reports The Daily Herald. It was one of the largest turnouts ever, with some 96 Lions and Leos attending this meeting in which all the clubs shared the work they carried out during the period of November until now, and also to indicate what’s still planned for the balance of the Lionistical year, which ends on June 30.

The Saba Lions Club has been excelling with its programmes such as the feeding programme “Meal on Wheels,” which was honoured as one of the best feeding programmes in the world by Lions International at the 95th International Convention in Hamburg, Germany. Another programme the club carries out in partnership with the Dutch government is the “Youths at Healthy Weight” project, which the Leos also assist with by motivating youngsters to drink water instead of sodas. The youths’ expression programme, in collaboration with Child Focus and its annual Santa’s Parade and giftgiving, is another project the club carries out. The Saba Leos, while assisting the Lions, also have their special Movie Night programme, where they show movies at the Eugenius Centre on Friday evenings and thus create funds to carry out muchneeded youth projects.

The Anguilla Lions have also been busy in collaboration with their Leos, who are presently hoping to get some more members on board.

The St. Eustatius Lions are having some problems and the clubs in the zone have all agreed to assist where possible to ensure that the St. Eustatius Lions, which are celebrating their 35th anniversary this year, continue to serve their community for many more years.

The St. Maarten Lions Club highlighted various recently held projects like the sixth annual Lion Rudy Hoeve and Telem Annual Health and Wellness fair, which had more than 3,000 visitors, the Student Excellence Awards, in which 18 schools participated and students were awarded for their contributions in the social and academic field, the seniors island tour and boat cruise “Home Sweet Home,” assisting more than 10 youngsters and those in need with eye glasses, assisting fire victims, sending Milton Peters College (MPC) students to the Math A-lympiad, the joint project with the Rotary Club of St. Maarten, which the Lions are very proud of, and, naturally, the formation of their new Omega Leo Club later on this month.

The St. Maarten Leo Club didn’t let the Lions outdo them and also completed various projects such as its grand “’Tis the season” project, the talent show at the Sister Basilia centre, a donation to the MPC school survival hunt and support for the Pantophlet basketball tournament held recently in March. Also, the Leos are in full swing preparing for their annual upcoming basketball tournament amongst the primary schools to be held this weekend at the Melford Hazel Sports Auditorium.

At the end of the meeting, all Lions and Leos shared some good laughs with each other over a lunch prepared by Allen’s Bistro, before heading back home.