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A warm welcome was given to the new Huron Shores Lions Club at its
charter night Saturday evening at the Whitney Crawford Community Centre
in Tiverton.
Clubs from around District A-9 were on hand as the new members were
inducted, the executive installed, the charter presented, and the new
banner unveiled.
The Huron Shores Club, sponsored by the Ripley and Tiverton clubs,
encompasses the area between Amberley and Boiler Beach Road, just south
of Kincardine. It has 27 members, including president Jean Karikas,
first vice-president John Cammaert, second vice-president Brenda
Bateman, secretary Ann Thompson, treasurer Ron Finlay, membership
chairperson B.J. Finlay, two-year directors Don Cass and Barb Simpson,
one-year directors Glenda Webster and LouAnne Dudman, tail twister Bruce
Dudman and lion tamer Janet Cammaert. The remaining members are Brian
Berg, Sylvia Berg, Lori Cornell, Stephen Cornell, Bill Dudgeon, Geneva
Heaman, John Heaman, Jan Johnstone, Marilyn Meldrum, Heinz Peper,
Danielle Pilon, Bonnie Ritchie, Carol Robinson, Karen Robinson, and
Keith Robinson.
Karikas was especially pleased to see such a big crowd, welcoming the
new club.
"In the 1950s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'I have a dream'," she
said. "In 2003, B.J. Finlay said she had a dream to establish a club
between Kincardine and Point Clark. B.J. and Ron Finlay took up the
challenge and in November, 2006, we held a membership workshop in Point
Clark."
She said that with the emotional and financial support of the Ripley and
Tiverton clubs, and the encouragement of district governor Ron Elliott
and past district governor Ferne Osborne, the Huron Shores Club became a
reality. "We are going to make this club the best it can be," said
Karikas. "We will assist other clubs and we will make Lions
International proud."
Osborne explained that if the district sees a big empty space which
needs a Lions Club, it canvasses the area to see if there is enough
interest in forming a club. Some members of the new group are
transferring from other clubs because the Huron Shores club is closer to
where they live now.
"There are a lot of people along the shore area who are willing to serve
but do not belong to existing clubs," said Osborne. "This club is
different because it will meet only once a month whereas other clubs
meet twice a month. Clubs complement one another. They can get together
and do projects - many hands make light work."
The induction of the members included a candle-lighting ceremony in
which the purple candle represented Lions International and the yellow
candle represented the new club. Each member lit a candle, and then
received a certificate and pins. Installation of officers was done by
Charles Liddle who was the Guiding Lion for the new club.
Guest speaker was Carl Young, international director for District A-9. A
presiding justice of the peace for the Ontario Court of Justice, he and
his wife, Lion Elizabeth, are members of the Claremont District Lions
Club. He has held many offices and also served as the director and
vice-chairman of the board of the Lions Foundation of Canada, and the
director and chairman of the board for Lions Camp Kirk. He has received
numerous awards and is a Melvin Jones Fellow.
He was also a great joke-teller, warming up the crowd before offering
his serious message about support for the new club.
"Charter night is the beginning of a journey of service for the Huron
Shores Lions Club," he said. "I bring greetings from our International
president on this special occasion."
Young said the current president's theme is "Move to Grow" and it is
represented by the gingko tree which is resilient, long-lived,
sustainable, and its seeds must be planted, watered and nurtured. "It's
the same for the members of this new club," he said. "Service to the
community is paramount. The only asset we have, and our most important
asset, is our members. Here we have 27 new members, with the potential
for this club to grow."
He urged the new members to commit themselves to Lionism and service to
their fellow man. "You will learn that you are able to develop talents
and skills you could not in your personal and business lives," he said.
"The hook is you will have a feeling of fulfilment that comes when you
do something for somebody else with no gain to yourself. You are
rewarded by the thanks and plaudits of your community."
Young said the Lions motto, "We Serve," means lending a hand, helping to
raise funds, and making the world a better place in which to live. "All
people are capable of true greatness, and true greatness is service to
your fellow man."
MC Murray Yungblut read greetings to the Huron Shores club from
Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb, MPP Carol Mitchell, Huron-Kinloss mayor Mitch
Twolan, and other Lions dignitaries. "Collectively, this new club has
160 years of Lions service," he said.
District governor Ron Elliott (L) presents a certificate to Marilyn
Meldrum
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Jennifer Farrell of the Kincardine Scottish Pipe
Band pipes in the Huron Shores Lions Club members
The celebratory cake sports the symbol of the Lions International
president
Huron Shores Club president Jean Karikas (L) and District A-9 governor Ron
Elliott cut the cake
Ron Finlay (L) presents a certificate of appreciation to Lions Elizabeth
and Carl Young, international director
Past district governor Ferne Osborne (L) fastens a charter pin on the
lapel of John Cammaert
B.J. Finlay lights a candle during the induction of new members
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