Guest were greeted by neon lit centerpieces, jungle flora, light showers and upbeat music as a new board was installed for Valley Sound Lions’ 2023 to 2024 Lionistic year. The 15-member board was installed at a fun-filled ceremony held at scenic Blunder Bay, North Sound, Virgin Gorda on Saturday, 10th June and hosted by Pastor Greg George. The theme was N.E.O.N Jungle.
Attendees, a mix of Lions, Leos and friends of Lions, wore festive, neon colours and jungle and animal prints to mark the theme. Guests of honour included Kevin Fahie, current Lion Zone 2-A Chairman and incoming president of the Tortola Lions Club, Daphodil Sampson who witnessed the installation of President-elect Hakim T. Creque, Lion Club member since 2018. President-elect Creque is a two-time Lion of the Quarter winner and winner of the 2022 award for Lion of the Year.
Declared a N.E.O.N Year, President-Elect Creque noted the advent of a new era of nonprofit for the island of Virgin Gorda and promised more impactful events, larger outreach, stronger community ties, life-changing programming and over $50,000 in projects, services, and gifts.
“It is my hope, dream, and prayer that we will turn our opportunities and possibilities into stories of success as we begin a New Era of Nonprofits,” commented President-elect Creque.
The N.E.O.N year will be marked by a series of community service projects and events, some which are favourites of the Virgin Gorda community, like the Back-to-School Treat Box Giveaway (9th September, 2023), the Man Up Breast Cancer Campaign (October, 2023), Diabetes Awareness Month activities (November 2023), the 32nd Annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree and Concert (2nd December, 2023) and the Easter Monday Egg hunt (1st April, 2024).
The 2023-2024 year will see the return of global cause, Stride for Sight, the vision campaign which provides free eye screening for students and results in the purchasing of glasses for low-income families with visually impaired children, a children’s Christmas party and the popular BINGO Game series which raises money for community causes.
Newer initiatives like Legal-U, a bi-annual free legal clinic, The Bi-annual Soup Kitchen, World Hunger Day activities, The Now, Next, After Youth Forum, a month’s worth of events for senior citizens, and the erection of a watch tower at Gorda Peak National Park in conjunction with UNITE BVI and The National Parks Trust, are all planned.
“We also have quite a few surprises that you can expect,” but we’re not letting everything out of the lion’s den just yet,” said President-elect Creque.
In addition to the president, the new board is completed by Norval Young, Vice President, Sharlene Smith, Treasurer, Shanique Creque, Secretary and Two-Year Director, Ingrid Walters MJF, Tamer, Yvette Harley, Tail Twister, Sashana Duhaney, Service Director, Kimberly George, Lion’s Club International Foundation, Membership Director and Leo Club Advisor, Emily Ann Grant-Mathias, Marketing Director, Jevi Edwards, One-Year Director, Natasha Marshall, Two-Year Director and Lori Jean Stevens MJF, Two-Year Director.