Leo Club members during the holiday season in 2016.
PHILIPSBURG–December 5 is International Leo Day. Leo Clubs all over the world celebrate this day with special community projects.
The Leo Club Program is an integral part of the Lions Family, Leos also have their own global network of more than 6.000 Leo Clubs in more than 140 nations.
Leo Clubs provide young people with an opportunity for development and contribution, individually and collectively, as responsible members of the local, national and international community.
The Glenside Lions Club in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania sponsored the first Leo Club, the Abington High School Leo Club, with 35 students in 1957. A decade later, the Lions Clubs International Board of Directors adopted the Leo Club Program as an official programme of the association.
Through the Leo Club Program, young people develop and practice leadership, organisation and social skills through participation in Leo Club activities and service projects. Involvement in these activities often fosters a lifetime commitment to helping others, while enhancing the community.
Both Leo Clubs in St. Maarten – Alpha Leo Club (11-18 years) and Omega South Leo Club (19-30 years) – are already celebrating their special day with special Christmas projects.
Alpha Leo Club is collecting foodstuff at the supermarkets for its annual “’Tis the Season” projects whereby the Leos distribute close to 100 baskets filled with foodstuff to the less fortunate in the community. Notwithstanding the challenges this year after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the Leos are determined to still feed those in the community in a special way for Christmas. They also recently held their annual Talent Show for the clients of Sister Basilia Centre.
Omega South Leo Club also embarked on several community projects such as personally preparing and distributing meals for the less fortunate. Presently the Leos are diligently working on combatting bullying among the young people, especially cyber-bullying.
Alpha Leo Club will be celebrating its 35th anniversary on April 16, 2018. Sponsored by St. Maarten Lions Club in 1983, Alpha Leo Club has produced throughout these 35 years many fine, respectable, service-minded young men and women, many of whom have returned to St. Maarten after their studies abroad and are making a worthwhile contribution to the island’s development.
Some of them are Lions Club members today and some have held prominent positions not only on Club level, but also in the Lions District as District Governor, Cabinet Secretary/Treasurer, Region and Zone Chairmen, and some continue to be at the head of Lions District Committees.
Lions as well as Leos are very proud of the fact that Alpha Leo Club is considered one of the oldest youth organisations on the island serving humanity.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/71572-st-maarten-leo-club-recognises-leo-day
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