Outstanding Lion member passes

The Lions Organization in Belize and The Belmopan Lions Club is mourning the loss of one of its long standing members, an outstanding Belizean, Ali Kisling. Kisling died today Monday, shortly around 9:30 AM in Belmopan.Just last year, Kisling was awarded by the San Pedro Lions Club during the 34th anniversary for his outstanding and selfless support to the Lions Club in San Pedro and for his lifetime dedication to the organization in Belize. Kisling was known to the Lions in Belize as the “Belmopan Ambassador to San Pedro”. He was a well-liked, respected and most importantly, loved and appreciated by the San Pedro community.
Kisling was very instrumental in starting the Lions Quest Program in Belize and he hardly missed an official function hosted by the San Pedro Lions Club. Kisling will certainly be missed. The San Pedro Sun joins the Lions Organization and the San Pedro community in extending heart felt condolences to the Kisling family, the Lions Organization in Belize and his friends.

San Pedro Lions Club's fine bank stolen

A very important and symbolical item was stolen from the San Pedro Lions Club on Thursday December 2nd. There are certain items that remain a constant at all Lions Club. For the most part, the items are symbolic and used during all official functions hosted by the club. Amongst these items are the Gong and Gavel; used by the President of the club as a symbol of authority.
Another very significant item to the Lion’s Club is the tail twister’s fine bank. The tail twister is the individual who is tasked with the duty of maintaining harmony within the club during all official Lion’s functions.

The tail twister fine bank is a small bronze lion, used to collect fines imposed by the club’s tail twister if an offence is committed during a meeting or official function when in session. The San Pedro tail twister fine bank is the first and only fine bank ever owned by the club since its foundation some 35 years ago. Needless to say, this item holds symbolic and historic value to the club.
This item was stolen from the San Pedro Lions Club. Reports are that the item went missing on Thursday night December 2nd, just before the Lions Club membership meeting. It unknown what the motives are for this mischievous act and what an individual would possibly gain from stealing the item.

According to the San Pedro Lions Club Den Caretaker, Gonzalo Lara, sometime around 6:00pm on Thursday evening, he had prepared the Den located on Barrier Reef Drive, for a regular membership meeting. The gavel, gong and the tail twister’s fine bank were placed on the head table. Lara stated that the only instance he left the items unattended was when he went to the storeroom (located on the same property). It was not until the meeting had started sometime around 7:20pm, that he noticed that the item was missing.
If anyone knows or has any information that would lead to the recovery of the San Pedro Lions Club’s tail twister fine bank, you are asked to please contact the President of the San Pedro Lions Club Melanie Paz at 620-1281.

US $10,000 Grant awarded to Lions Zone 59 to aid Hurricane Richard victims

-Press Release - Belize Lions Zone 59 - November 2, 2010 - The Belize Lions Zone 59 is pleased to announce the disbursement of a grant of US$10,000 to be used for relief supplies to the victims of Hurricane Richard. The money was secured through the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) Disaster Relief Fund which is available to any district or zone after a disaster.

Immediately after the passage of Hurricane Richard, The Belize Lions Zone 59 expressed to the Prime Minister of Belize, Hon Dean Barrow, that as a service organization in Belize, we were ready to assist in bringing some immediate relief to the victims of hurricane Richard.
Following the announcement of the initial assessment of the damages, The Zone Chairman, Baldemar Graniel, immediately contacted Lions International and provided them with the necessary documentation to secure the grant. On Monday November 1st, LCIF contacted the Zone Chairman to inform him that the monies have been approved and ready for disbursement.
LCIF has a board-established grant criterion and emergency grant funds must be used only to provide basic necessities such as food, clothing, blankets, bottled water, and medical supplies for those affected by the disaster. Because monies must be utilized by the Lions, the organization will be working very closely with the Government of Belize, through the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), in identifying areas that are more in need. In the immediate days ahead, the Zone Chairman, Lion Graniel will be consulting with the Presidents of the Club to work out a methodology of disbursing relief supplies.
The LCIF grant will complement the efforts of various other Lions Clubs following the aftermath of Hurricane Richard. The Lions Club International Foundation, along with the Belize Lions Zone 59, continues to pledge its full support to all those Belizeans affected by Hurricane Richard and we remain committed in making our community and country a better place to live. On behalf of the Belize Lions Zone 59 and the people of Belize, we also wish to thank LCIF for awarding us with the much needed grant.

Lions Board Of Directors 2010-2011 Installed.

On Saturday night, August 21st, 2010, the San Pedro Lions Club held their installation ceremonies for the upcoming Board of Directors for the fiscal year of 2010-2011. Friends and Lion members, including a few from the Louisiana Chapter, joined at the Lions’ Den to celebrate the special occasion. The new board for the Lion Year 2010-2011 is as follows: President: Melanie Paz, Vice President: Marina Kay, Treasurer: Abel Guerrero, Board Secretary: Jorge Aldana, Membership Chair: Enes Anderson, Tail Twister: Rigoberto Kumul and Lion Tamer: Jan Brown. The club also elected four directors that will serve as advisors to the board. They are Francisco Verde, Tamara Sniffin, Francisco Palma and Zone Chair of the Belize Lions Zone 59 Chairman: Baldemar Graniel.

Louisiana Lions Donate to the San Pedro Poly Clinic!!!!

Mack, Keith, Kevin, Glen and Casey are five members of the Louisiana chapter of the International Lions Club. Mack and Keith have traveled several times to the island, donating many items to the Poly Clinic II with every trip. This trip was no exception, and their friends, who were first time visitors, got to witness the handing over of some much needed medical supplies and blankets and towels to the Clinic!

Lions Board of Directors Installation this Saturday!!