Lions District Governor Praises St. Maarten Club as model for regional service organizations

GREAT BAY--Lions District Governor Hyacinth Jeremiah has praised the St. Maarten Lions Club for its community service initiatives and organizational performance, describing the club as an example for other Lions Clubs throughout the region. His remarks came during an official visit to St. Maarten on October 6, which included meetings with the country's leadership and discussions on strengthening community engagement.

Jeremiah, who serves as District Governor of Lions District 60B, visited the Lions Clubs of St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, Saba and Anguilla, which together form Zone 2B of the district. His annual visit focused on reviewing the clubs' activities, assessing their community impact and discussing challenges facing service organizations.

During his stay on St. Maarten, the District Governor paid courtesy visits to Governor Ajamu Baly, President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams and Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina. The meetings provided an opportunity to discuss community service, leadership and continued cooperation between the Lions organization and public institutions.

The St. Maarten Lions Club, under the leadership of President Elton Richardson, also held discussions with Jeremiah concerning its planned activities for the 2026-2027 Lions year.

These discussions addressed the organization's priorities in several areas identified by Lions Clubs International, including vision, hunger, youth, environmental protection, diabetes, cancer awareness and humanitarian assistance.

Richardson said the visit allowed both Lions and Leos to exchange ideas with the District Governor concerning ongoing initiatives and opportunities to strengthen their contribution to the community.

“Our Clubs, Lions and Leos alike, experienced healthy discussions with our District Governor, who displayed keen interest in knowing our planned activities for this lionistic year 2026-2027 and ways that we would continue to have a positive impact,” Richardson stated.

The discussions also covered the club's annual fundraising activities, including the Wally Havertong Lions Christmas Bingo Spectacular and the Father's Day Car Raffle. Both initiatives generate revenue used to finance community service projects undertaken by the organization.

Jeremiah explained that annual visits by District Governors traditionally involve reviewing club performance, examining established objectives and determining whether local clubs are meeting the standards and priorities of Lions Clubs International.

However, he noted that the scope of these visits has expanded to include more detailed discussions about the practical impact of service projects and the ability of organizations to sustain their operations.

Among the challenges identified were difficulties in securing consistent financial support, maintaining membership levels and adapting to changes in the operating environment, including technological developments.

The District Governor observed that nongovernmental organizations and service clubs increasingly face competition for volunteers and financial resources, making organizational sustainability an important consideration.

Despite these challenges, Jeremiah expressed satisfaction with the performance of the St. Maarten Lions Club and its contribution to the community.

“I am pleased to report that the Sint Maarten Lions Club remains an example. It is a Club that can share best practices with other Clubs in the Region, ensuring continued meaningful service impact to the communities that we serve,” Jeremiah stated.

The District Governor also participated in a live interview on the PJD2 radio program Viewpoint with Wendell Moore, accompanied by St. Maarten Lions Club President Elton Richardson and First Vice District Governor Davey Woods.

During the interview, Jeremiah discussed the objectives of Lions Clubs International, his priorities for the current service year and his observations following the visit to St. Maarten.

His itinerary also included sightseeing activities and a visit to the Lions Roundabout on A.T. Illidge Road.

The St. Maarten Lions Club expressed appreciation to several local businesses and institutions that supported the District Governor's visit, including PJD2, Oyster Bay Beach Resort, Baker Suites, Princess Juliana International Airport and the offices of the Governor, President of Parliament and Prime Minister.

Lions Clubs International is a worldwide service organization with approximately 1.4 million members in more than 50,000 clubs operating across 200 countries and geographic areas. Established in 1917, the organization supports community initiatives through volunteer service, fundraising and humanitarian activities.

The St. Maarten Lions Club continues to participate in these international service efforts through locally organized projects and fundraising initiatives addressing community needs.

‍