THE Diamond-Grove Lions Club will this year focus on youth and education in keeping with the Lions Clubs International (LCI) President, Dr Jitsuhiro Yamada’s Theme: “Bringing Dignity to Others Through Humanitarian Service”.The Motto of the Lions is “We Serve”. And Dr Yamada, who was elected the 99th International President, said he looks forward to serving with a difference.

“So I hope my year as President is like any other as Lions continue to serve with tremendous enthusiasm and impact. Yet I also hope to make a difference in how we serve,” President Yamada said.
Local Club President Eric Benjamin in articulating his plans for youth and the promotion of education said closer attention will be paid to teamwork while making a difference through service to children.
Benjamin was recently installed as President when the club installed a new Board of Director during its annual handing over ceremony at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown.
The highlight of the installation was a presentation of two Melvin Jones Fellowships award to Immediate Past President Ivan Waithe and Incoming President Eric Benjamin. The awards were presented to District Governor Maxine Cummings.
Each Lion received an inscribed wall plaque and a lapel pin that would identify him or her as a Melvin Jones Fellow (MJF). In addition, their names will be displayed on a computerised plaque in the Lions Clubs International Recognition Room at Lions International Headquarters.
Lions have been helping people since 1917. That year, Melvin Jones, a Chicago businessman, encouraged his club, the Chicago Business Circle, to go beyond promoting good business practices.
He convinced the members that selfless service to others would create a better community – and a better world – for all.
Melvin Jones also saw that a network of clubs working together could do much more than individual clubs acting alone. He invited similar groups from around the United States to a meeting on June 7, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois and thereafter, the new group assumed the name of one of the invited clubs.
The ‘Association of Lions Clubs’ was born. The association was founded for the purpose of serving others and in so doing, makes the world a better place.
Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organisations, with 1.35 million members in more than 46,000 clubs and countless stories of Lions acting on the simple idea: Let’s improve our communities.
Lions Clubs International extends its mission of service every day – in local communities, in all corners of the globe.
Services provided include sight, health, youth, elderly, the environment and disaster relief.
The Lions International network has grown to include over 200 countries and geographic areas.
By Tajeram Mohabir