The Lions Club of Mitchell’s Plain has welcomed a newly elected president, with her term effective from Saturday 1 July.
Rashmiya Lucas, a Lion since the club’s inception, was elected as the new president for the 2023-’24 season and officially inaugurated at an event last month.
“I am a charter member of the Lions Club of Mitchell’s Plain. I joined since inception and an information session held in Colorado Park Community Hall in 2017,” she says. “It is the world’s largest service organisation and I wanted to be part of this great organisation and what they do globally. I have already been involved in community work and a feeding scheme for my religious organisation. Here I have the opportunity to be involved in humanitarian work as well as focus on areas like diabetes, sight, childhood cancer, environment and hunger, so it’s a broad scope of involvement and that’s what I love about Lions. Where there is a need, there is a Lion. I like being of help in whichever way I can.”
For Lucas, there have been several standout moments as part of the organisation.
“During Covid-19 time, we had a great focus on feeding. The sponsors came in well and we could manage to feed many hungry mouths since so many were unable to earn a living to put food on the table for their families. Our Club was sponsored with a gas stove, gas, as well as dry ingredients and I was the resident cook with the help of my husband, who is also a Lion. I received a Mayoral Award for Community Service in 2021. In 2022, I received the Lion of the Year award. Both was a surprise, I received it with so much humility and it encouraged me to do more,” she says.
For Lucas, her tenure will be filled with following the footsteps of previous leaders’ good work.
“I hope to continue the good work of my previous leaders and plan to recruit more members, volunteers, and sponsors and to do more collaborations. With extra hands, we can do so much more,” she says.
Her election did not come as much of a surprise, having been elected as vice president in the 2022-’23 season, with the intention of stepping up this year.
“I am thankful to each and every member who has placed their confidence and trust in me and allowed me to lead them for this fiscal year (Saturday1) July (this year) to (Sunday) 30 June (next year),” she says.
For anyone wanting to make a difference in others’ lives, joining the Lions Club is the way to go.
“Join us, become a Lion. We serve straight from the heart, kindness matters. We are a diverse bunch of ordinary people, doing extraordinary things and most of all, we have fun while doing so.”
