Lions award service at birthday celebration of founder
(L-R) Melvin Jones Fellows Jerrique Seymour, Andrew Hulse and Cordella Chollette with Lions president Ewan Jacques
(CNS): At a gathering to celebrate the birthday of Melvin Jones, who founded Lions Clubs International (LCI) in the US in 1917, the Cayman branch of the organisation presented four awards to members for their contributions and commitment to service. At the 16 January event, three Melvin Jones Fellowships (MJF) and one Progressive Melvin Jones Fellowship (PMJF) were given out.
Lions Cordella Chollette and Andrew Hulse were recognised for their work during the Grand Cayman club’s annual sight screening which took place in September and October last year. The third MJF was presented to Leo Jerrique Seymour, past president of the Leo Club of Grand Cayman for his leadership service as president and immediate past president. Lion Andrew Eden was pinned as a nine-time PMJF.
Both these awards recognise financial contributions, either directly made by the member or by someone else on their behalf. The MJF is for a $1,000 donation, with the PMJF earned for contributions subsequent to that initial amount, each new pin corresponding to a different giving level.
Jones founded the Lions Club in Chicago based on the idea that members would use their talents to improve their communities.
Ewan Jacques, Grand Cayman Lion president, commended the four awardees for their dedication and selfless contribution to the country. He described Eden as “epitomising a man of devotion and strong belief in service whose continued support of Lions Club International through the Progressive Melvin Jones Fellowship programme is exceptional”.
At the same event, the Lions Clubs of Grand Cayman and Tropical Gardens inducted three and two new members, respectively. Lion Elva Smith MJF presided over the ceremony, reminding the new members of their responsibilities as part of the world’s largest service organisation and asking them to wear their pins and vests with pride.
Lion Deborah Ebanks MJF gave a presentation in which she highlighted the four LCI centennial service challenges ahead of the club’s 100th anniversary: youth, vision, hunger and environment. In expanding on the environmental theme, she challenged those present to commit to the three “R’s” — reduce, reuse and recycle — and added a fourth, to replant.
She also encouraged everyone to attend the 2017 convention in Chicago, the birthplace of the Lions Clubs, which will celebrate 100 years of the organisation.
Category: Service Organisations
