Award winners for the Lions’ year of 2022-23. From left, Lions Jim McGlade, Marty Hawkins, Wayne Bent and Kim Kelly.
Westport Lions Roar
By Lion Bob Reddick
At the Westport Lions last general meeting of the Lion year on June 28, it was time to show appreciation for the hard work of volunteers and members.
The club is honoured to induct new members, Kris Klatt and Julian Bahmann. The club’s membership chairperson, Lion Kim Kelly, conducted the ceremony with the help of the membership. Lions Kris and Julian have already proven that they will be outstanding members with their hard work and enthusiasm. They will be featured in a future column. The club also welcomed Lion Bruce Blair who transferred from the Perth Lions Club.
The President’s Appreciation Awardwent to Lion Kim Kelly. Lion Kelly is a perfect example of a relatively new member that quickly got involved. She took on many jobs that were outside her portfolio but are crucial to running the club such as imputing hours of service for Lions Clubs International. Kim successfully organized both Appreciation and Recruitment events.
The Westport Lions have been lucky in the recruitment of outstanding new members, and a large part of that is the time Lion Kelly has spent with each of them explaining Lionism and expectations of the club. Kim was also responsible for creating an electronic survey that helped to improve member satisfaction.
The Lion of the Year Award went to Lion Marty Hawkins. President Bob Reddick recalled having great relief when Marty stated at the second meeting of this year, “I will organize the Santa Claus parade, and I will get my own team.” The parade turned out to be one of the biggest with many floats and participants.
Marty is known in the community for years as one of the key members of this club. His ability and enjoyment of selling tickets is unsurpassed. Lion Marty is known within this club as one of the key organizers of events. If he is not the chairperson of an event, he is often co-chair and will always willingly work in a supportive role. Marty has been a major contributor to the Westport Lions for years.
Three special awards were given out that are rarely presented in any club.
Lion Jim McGlade is the first member of the Westport Lions Club to receive the Helen Keller Fellowship Award. This award was established to honour outstanding Lions, Lioness and Leos that work tirelessly to fulfill Helen Keller’s challenge to Lions in 1925 to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.”
Lion Jim has been active in all aspects of Lionism in his 52 years as a Lion, but his passion has been sight. He has made 3 trips to Guyana and one to Trinidad and Tobago to help test for vision and eye problems. Lion McGlade is the District chairperson of sight which includes 62 clubs. Jim initiated vision screening in schools not only locally but across the zone. He was the driving force to raise over $20,000 for e-sight glasses and collecting eyeglasses for Guyana.
Lion Don Baker received the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship. The worldwide Melvin Jones Fellowship, named after Melvin Jones, the founder of Lions is the highest form of recognition and embodies the humanitarian ideas and purpose of Lionism. Lion Baker is only the seventh Westport Lion to be honoured with this award since 1946.
Lion Don has been involved in almost every facet of the Westport Lions. To name a few, he has been president, Lion of Year, started the Lions’ recycling program at his home, oversaw clubhouse maintenance and rentals and the medical assistance program. Lion Baker is active in the Reuse and Recycle Centre, medical mobility service and the Santa Claus parade. For years, Don maintained the beach property all by himself. This summer season it takes 25 people to do what Lion Baker did himself.
Lion Don is also well known in the community because of his involvement outside of Lion activities, mainly minor hockey, and the recreation committee. Don is one of those people that serves his community without fanfare or seeking recognition. Lion Don Baker is truly a worthy recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellowship.
Lion Wayne Bent was awarded a Life Membership by Lions Clubs International. Only 55,000 members worldwide have been granted this award since the formation of Lions Clubs in October 1917.
Lion Bent has been a leader of the Westport Lions Club since he joined in 1993. Whenever there was a need, Wayne would step in to fulfill that need, whether as a lead, support role or club officer, as proven by his three terms as club president. In addition, Lion Wayne willingly does all the small jobs that are required for the club to run smoothly. Lion Wayne has been recognized and awarded every major award that Lions present including the Melvin Jones Fellowship.
The last item on the agenda was the swearing-in of a new executive. Next year’s executive will be made up of second-year Directors, Wayne Bent and Bill Garland and first-year Directors, Bruce Paterson, and Wayne “Smokey” Sherwood. Kim Kelly will continue as Membership chairperson, and Marty Hawkins will carry on with his duties as Service chairperson. Gary Warriner remains as Treasurer, and David Blair will continue to be Vice President. The club’s new secretary will be Jim McGlade and Bob Reddick will hold the titles of past President and Marketing and Communication chairperson. It could be argued that the Westport Club was slow to adapt, but with great applause, Dorothy Maynard will be the first women President of the Westport Lions Club.
Westport Lions Club 