Friday , March 29 2024

Saba hosts Lions and Leos Zone 2B meeting

Lions president Glenn Pileo hosted the third Advisory Zone 2B meeting his past weekend on the ‘Unspoiled Queen.” More than 63 Lions and Leos from Zone 2B, including St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius and Anguilla, came together for informational meetings, fellowship and a strengthen­ing of already tight bonds. Li­ons from Statia participated by Internet.

Zone 2B chairman Lion Eldert Louisa (centre) receives special recognition from Lions International for his work during the recent hurricane season. At left: Saba Lions Club president Lion Glenn Pileo with St. Maarten Lions Club president Lion Alison Busby at right.

This year’s Zone Chairman St. Maarten Lion Eldert J. Louisa said the focus of the Lions’ Ina.rnational programme is sight and diabe­tes, both exceedingly impor­tant in the Caribbean with its high rate of “sugar.”

“You can live with diabe­tes,” Louisa emphasized and cited a close family member who has lived with the dis­ease for 40 years. However, even this family member lost an eye to the disease because of a lack of early screening, which is vitally important. Louisa said a recent Lions programme in St. Maarten’s secondary schools revealed that about 30 per cent of stu­dents needed visual aids.

Louisa praised the Saba club, which is one of the zone’s most vibrant, he said, and pointed to the very suc­cessful “Meals on Wheels” programme started and overseen by Saba Lion Carl Buncamper. “This is a very sustainable programme,” Louisa commented.

Louisa joined the Lions 11 years ago because its goal to serve matched his personal philosophy. “I wanted to make a difference and I can do that through the Lions,” he said.

Louisa has made a differ­ence by putting his profes­sional telecom expertise to work during the recent hurricane season. The chief technical officer at TelEm could report immediately to Lions International what was needed. This sped up getting help to the island, for which Louisa received special rec­ognition from Lions Interna­tional.

The International Lions Clubs organization is the larg­est service organization in the world with more than 1.4 mil­lion members and growing: Caribbean Lionism has ex­isted for almost 50 years and Caribbean Zone 2 added five clubs this year. Membership is by personal invitation.

The Daily Herald.

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