Lions Club of Tropical Gardens Installation of Officers for 2020-2021

The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens (LCTG) recently held its annual Installation of Officers Ceremony online via Zoom. Current President Lion Tonita Powell, MJF handed over the President’s Gavel to the club's 28th President, Lion Kareefa Mohammed-Jalim for the Lionistic year 2020 to 2021, which commences on 1st July 2020.

With the current COVID-19 world pandemic that we are currently facing, it is unfortunate that members could not be together in one room to share in this joyous occasion, but incoming President Lion Kareefa, said that luckily for her, she had her own pride of Lions in her household to cheer her on, as she was officially handed the reins. She will go down in history as being the first President of the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens to be sworn in at a virtual ceremony and it will certainly be the least expensive Change of Administration ceremony that we have ever hosted.

The occasion gave us the opportunity to reflect on the achievements over the past year and commit to the future with new excitement and energy. It also emphasized our collective commitment to this journey of service.

In her acceptance speech the incoming President said that while we may be physically apart, she does not want members to lose their sense of community and collective responsibility, she said that she will embrace her role and firmly believes that the world needs more kind, nurturing, compassionate, humble, faithful, confident and tender hearted people. Individuals who are not afraid to make themselves vulnerable to assist someone else and persons who completely embrace the concept of being their brother’s or sister’s keeper, she said that she stands for all of those things and believes these are some of the most important lessons that have been rediscovered by many during the coronavirus pandemic.

She continued by saying we offer service to our community because it is what we, as Lions (and citizens of the world) are called to do, not because of any recognition or accolades. This takes us back to basics as Lions – in whatever service area we embrace. We do it with kindness and perseverance, while preserving the dignity of the person receiving our help, with absolutely no expectation of receiving anything in return other than the satisfaction of doing the right thing.

The President’s theme for 2020-2021 is “Offer Random Acts of Kindness without Expecting Rewards.”

The 2020 - 2021 Board of Directors are:

• President – Kareefa Mohammed-Jalim

• Immediate Past President – Tonita Powell MJF

• 1st Vice President and Leadership Chairperson – Maxine Bravo MJF

• 2nd Vice President - Phillip Laing MJF

• 3rd Vice President – Dionne Nmai

• Secretary - Elva Smith, MJF

• Treasurer - Patricia Bazell-Taylor, PMJF

• 1 Year Director - Miriam Ebanks

• 2 Year Director - Ian Wright

• Membership Director – Norma McField, PMJF

• Program Coordinator - Ann Hunte, MJF

• Service Chairperson - Wendy Wiltshire, MJF

• Tamer - Cato Lee

• Tail Twister - Gina Berry-Barnes, MJF

• Marketing & Communication Chairperson – Patricia Muschette

The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens is dedicated to serving the community. If you are service-minded and would like to be a part of an exciting organization contact us at lctgpr@gmail.com.

Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. Its 1.4 million members in more than 48,000 clubs are serving communities in 207 countries and geographical areas around the globe. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired, championed youth initiatives and strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects.