32nd Charter Anniversary

It was a great evening of celebrations when, on Saturday, May 23rd, the Gibraltar Lions gathered with representatives of other Spanish Clubs Presidents including His Excellency Governor of Gibraltar and Lady Fulton as guests of Honour and the Presidents Rotary and Round Table. The event took place at the Rock Hotel. marking the 32nd Charter anniversary.

The Master of Service Past President Lion Luis Neish commenced the festivities with “God Save the Queen” followed by the Gibraltar President speech which was followed by a toast to The Queen given by Charter member Lion Leslie Wahnon, pleased to propose the toast to our guest and members was Past President Louis Neish and last but not least the toast to Lions International given by Lion John Goodyear Membership Chairman, followed by a superb feast prepared by The Rock Hotel worthy of a Royal occassion.

A highlight of the evening was the Lion song (There is a lion in my head...) arrangement and singing by the Valerga Brothers, the hotel resident band, joined by all present and which exceeded all expectations and was thoroughly enjoyed by both lions and the guests.

The evening was concluded with fun and dancing. Presentations, in the celebrations, were made by Eduardo Fernandez Hinojosa (Gobernador del districto 116B, Jose Manuel Garcia Cabellos, Vice Gobernador del districto 116B who will be the next Governor in the year 2010-2011, and Manolo Jimenexz Charter Member and Past President of the Estepona Club. (District 116B entails All South of Madrid including the Canary Isles). A Lions Certificate of Appreciation to LION FRIEND Issaac Toby Tobelem in gratitude for his good fellowship, courtesy and high etical standard in the dealing of the hotel industry when referring to Lion Projects was awarded. The Gibraltar President on this occasion had this to say:

“Normally, our Charter Night is well attended by our members. But on this occasion – as you will no doubt have noticed – the number is small due to unavoidable and quite justifiable absences. But it should not detract from the importance and our enjoyment of the occasion.

Our Club, one of the most successful in Gibraltar, is proud of the reputation it enjoys – and, quite frankly, deserves – in our community. Our motto is to serve – and this we do through the valuable contribution of the voluntary efforts of our members and the gratifying support of sponsors and friends. [Some of whom are here with us tonight].

We are usually known for our charitable activities but as part of the International Association of Lions Clubs- but the ambit of or service to the community is far wider, as you will have seen from the Code of Ethics reproduced in the menu cards. Alas! Not easy to achieve! The spirit may be willing but the numbers are weak!

Nevertheless, we have much to be proud of.

This year we have had, apart from our normal fund-raising and charitable activity, the Introduction of

• the Lions Message in a Bottle [a project we finance and launched with the axiom “one life saved makes it all worthwhile”];
• the collection and recycling of used eye-glasses [3,000 + collected so far. These are sent to Cheshire Lions for sorting,cleaning and distribution]; and
• the collection of used stamps [sent to the Royal National Institute for the Blind].

And we are just about to introduce a new service for our Senior Citizens which will be called “Get Closer to your Loved Ones”. [This will enable them to establish once-a-week free contact with relatives and friends from our Club premises].

I am confident that the forthcoming projects and activity for 2009 -2010 under the new presidency and board of directors will receive the full support of our members and those I like to call “Friends of Lions” and will be both rewarding and successful – benefiting those we serve.

Symbolically, the lions in our emblem face the past and future - proud of the past and confident of the future.

Let us therefore continue to be mindful of others and to serve to the best of our abilities.”