THE Lions Club of Demerara Lioness, more often than not simply referred to as ‘The Lions Club’, had its start almost 25 years ago; and its 24 members describe themselves as a group of selfless people who work very hard without thinking of a reward.

The Club usually celebrates two anniversaries, because it started as a Lioness Club but later became a Lions Club.
Members like to celebrate the differentiation between the two because, had it not been for the group that started the Lioness Club, there would be no Lions Club today, its former president, Nafeeza Rodrigues, told the Chronicle recently.

The Club celebrated the first anniversary last June 24, and is planning for their ‘quarter century’ celebration on December 2. “Our 25th anniversary is coming up, and we want to tell the public thanks for their support thus far,” Rodrigues said.

She spoke to this newspaper from the home of member Erena Persaud in Bel Air Park. At present, the Club has no office, but is working very hard with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to secure a piece of land for construction of the club’s office. “We want to have our own den, and we are hoping to achieve it very soon,” she said. So, in the meantime, members would operate out of the homes of other members.

There are roughly 400 persons in Guyana who serve as ‘Lions’, and these can be found in different clubs across the country. Lions Clubs can also be found in many countries across the world, although the headquarters are located in the United States.

The Lions Club is one of the biggest service organisations in the world, and in order to function as a club, there must be no less than 18 persons who are service-oriented and financially fit. This is because a person has to pay for membership, and is expected to finally contribute to every project.
According to Rodrigues, all services, skills, and finances are offered on a voluntary basis. “For example, if you have a fish fry… if you don’t get members to clean the fish, you can’t get the work done; if you don’t get them to season it, you can’t get the work done; if you don’t get someone to fry it, you can’t get the work done.”

“Of course,” Persaud joined in, “you can pay to have these things done; but this would cut back on the proceeds, and so nothing substantial would be left.”

Motto
According to Rodrigues, Club members are people who have been charity-oriented throughout their lives. They are dedicated, committed, and have the art of discerning who really is in need.
“He or she must be able to go about and look at the needs of the less fortunate, and be able to access the situation. They must also be good resource persons. Our motto is to serve. We serve humanity who is in need of basic needs.”

According to Rodrigues, the other Lions Clubs in Guyana have specific boundaries in which they operate, but this one sees members travelling the length and breadth of Guyana.

Fund-raising activities are what basically brings in finances, in addition to contributions from members. Furthermore, the Club also collaborates with Food for the Poor and corporate Guyana. In fact, quite a lot of companies help out.

“The president and members would like to express thanks to all who support us. It’s always good to acknowledge people’s support. We are still looking for the continued relationship with corporate Guyana and from the public. We would like to encourage service-minded people to come forward and join “Lionism” if they are willing to share their time, expertise, talents and, of course, their finances,” Rogrigues expressed.

Persons in need of help, or those who wish to make a donation for the needy, can write to Lot 10 C Belvoir Court, Georgetown, or can call telephone numbers 609-9251 or 621-4622.

The Club wishes to thank the following persons and businesses: Twins Manufacturing Chemists; Pharmagen Enterprises /Medicare Pharmacy; Geddes Grant (Guyana) Ltd; Mike’s Pharmacy; Sudeen’s Enterprises Inc; SMS Pharmaceutical Supplies; Medicine Chest Pharmacy; Edward B. Beharry & Co. Ltd; DeSinco Trading Ltd; Sterling Products Ltd; ANSA McAL Trading Limited; Bryden & Fernandes Inc; H. A. Snacks; C & V Shipping; Beepat’s; Rising Sun Cattle Ranch; Tandy’s Ltd; Banks DIH; JR Burgers; Church’s Chicken; Nigel’s Supermarket; Toucan Industries; National Milling Co; IMEX; Sunfoods; Neil Kumar – National Sports Commission; Vic Persaud – Office of the President; Ayube Haniff – Auditor; Karen Persram–Karen Persram’s Optical; D. Singh & Sons; Bounty Farms; Survival Supermarket; Nabi & Sons Company; NCERD; Ministry of Health; Prittipaul Singh Investments; Patrick DeGroot; Beverly Harper; Ramsay Ali; Frank De Abreu; Andrew De Abreu; Michael Khan; Robert Ramcharran, and Chabi Bhookmohan.