BELAIR--“St. Maarten Lions and Leos: Eyes for a Brighter Future” is the ambitious undertaking of the Lions Club under the leadership of new President Davey Woods that seeks to administer free eye tests to 5,000 children and distribute (where necessary) some 4,000 pairs of recycled eye glasses in a two-week period. The precise date for the start of the project will be released in the near future.
Woods announced this project and the theme for his one-year tenure at the change of board and 1970s party in Belair Community Centre on Saturday night.
The project takes up the challenge thrown out to Lions Club International in 1925 by Helen Keller to be the “Knights of the Blind in the Crusade against Darkness” and will serve as a centennial project to mark 100 years of Lionism, said Woods. For him this crusade is personal as he has been assisted with his eyesight since age six by eyeglasses.
The “Eyes for a Brighter Future” project, targeting all primary school pupils, has already been in the planning for six months in partnership with Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Education and the international Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH). All first-year high school students will also be tested if time permits.
VOSH doctors and assistants will travel to the country on their own expense to carry out the eye examinations bringing with them the recycled eyeglasses. The volunteers will also facilitate the free filling of those prescriptions that cannot be done on the stop within two weeks of the tests. The prescriptions will be filled in Canada.
When the eye test project kicks off, children will be bussed from school to Belair Community Centre where the examinations will take place.
The VOSH team will also be part of the Annual Lion Rudy Hoeve Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, February 11, 2017. People getting their eyes tested for free at the Fair will also be entitled to free recycled eyeglasses.
Throughout the current Lions year, the Club will promote to the community the need to take care of eyesight. This will encompass urging the public to get regular eye examinations, preferably every six months, healthy diets to promote maintenance of eyesight and give out information on eye related diseases.
“Our club will continue to help where it can, depending on our fundraising efforts with giving out glasses,” Woods said, referring to the Club’s customary project.
Joining Woods at the head of the Pride of Lions to carry out the eye project and others are immediate Past President Eldert Louisa, First Vice President Christ’l Larmonie, Second Vice President Alison Busby, Secretary Alphons Gumbs, Treasurer Claudio Buncamper, First Year Director Jennifer Johnson, Second Year Director Selma Baker and Director Membership Oralie Boirard. Michael van Grieken serves as the club’s tamer and Claudius Buncamper as tail twister. The new board was installed by longstanding members Progressive Melvin Jones Fellows Claudius Buncamper and Maxime Larmonie.
Appreciation
Saying farewell at the end of his term, Louisa outlined the Club’s achievements in the year. “We have truly done some great things in the past year,” he said.
Highlights of his year included capturing several staff members of St. Maarten Telephone Group of Companies TelEm to join Lions, sharing the joy of movies with underprivileged children, and the Centennial Project to relieve hunger with donations to four soup kitchens.
The celebration of the Club’s 45th anniversary was marked during Louisa’s term. He placed emphasis on “Remembering Our Lions with Pride” and did so by honouring numerous past presidents including two who now reside in Curaçao.
Louisa said the most important lesson he has learned in his year could be summed up in one word – “appreciation.” That appreciation was for each and every one who contributed to Lions and to making his year a success. He singled out a number of people in the Club as well as Leo Clubs Alpha and Omega for special recognitions.
Lifetime Achievement recognition was presented by Louisa to Wally Havertong for his 41 years of dedicated and active service. Havertong continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the Club.
Louisa named Club member Jennifer Johnson as Lion of the Year.
Club members Sunil “Sunny” Khatnani and Alphons Gumbs were induced as Melvin Jones Fellows. In keeping with the 70s theme, Khatnani exclaimed his appreciation at receiving the recognition by saying: “Far out and groovy, baby!”
Commending his successor Woods, Louisa said Woods has the Lions’ spirit in his blood and he sees Woods becoming “our future Lion Wally.”
One Lion member not present at the change of board due to prolonged illness was Chantal Schaminee-Ringeling. Club members sent her positive vibes throughout the night and a prayer for her speedy recovery was said for her by Havertong at the start of the evening.
