The new Lion Year, which annually runs from 1 July to 30 June, started with record breaking celebrations for the Lions Club of Tokai last week.
At the first meeting of the new year held at the Tokai Lions clubhouse in Orpen Road on Tuesday 5 July two new members were inducted – Michele and Chris Smith from Bergvliet.
Jules Flanagan, who is responsible for marketing at Tokai Lions, said with the Smiths having joined their ranks, they now have 37 members – the most members Tokai Lions has had in its 45-year history.
“This is a wonderful illustration of passionate people who want to help their communities, and how those who wish to serve continue to grow,” she says.
The couple also received an award, Kindness Matters, for all the volunteer work they have done with Tokai Lions.
“Even though they were not yet members, they have been working with Tokai Lions for the past four years,” she explains.
Another cause for celebration on the evening was the first visit by the new District Governor, Charlie Flanagan. A Lions Club member for the past 10 years, he has just returned from the Lions Clubs International Convention in Montreal, Canada, where he was inducted in this role by the Lions Club International President, Brian Sheehan.
As the new district governor he is responsible for 56 clubs in District 410W, reaching from Namibia right down the West Coast, Western Cape and through to areas like George and Mossel Bay.
At the meeting, Mark Rossouw was also inducted for the second term as the President of Tokai Lions.
Commenting on his year ahead, Rossouw says they would like to serve their local communities on a scale larger than ever before. “And with a record number of members, we hope to serve a record number of people in need in the coming year. Sheehan’s slogan is ‘Together We Can’. I would like to ensure that all my members know that by working together, we can achieve bigger and greater things.”
