With Theme ‘Serve With Love’ Lions Dist 317 D Cabinet Installation ‘Chiguru’ (Shoot/Bud/ Sprout) Aimed to ‘Go Green’!
Mangaluru: Lions Clubs International (LCI), an international non-political service organization established originally in 1917 in Chicago, USA has over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.7 million members (Lions & LEO) in 190 countries around the world, including a bunch in Mangaluru. With Lions motto “We Serve”, the Local Lions Club programs include sight conservation, hearing and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations, environmental issues, and many other programs.
The stated purposes of Lions Clubs International are: To Organize, charter and supervise service clubs to be known as Lions clubs; To Coordinate the activities and standardize the administration of Lions clubs; To Create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world; To Promote the principles of good government and good citizenship; To Take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of the community; To Unite the clubs in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding; To Provide a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however, that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by club members; To Encourage service-minded people to serve their community without personal financial reward; and To encourage efficiency and promote high ethical standards in commerce, industry, professions, public works and private endeavors.
And for that matter, District 317 D Lions which is comprised of 3800 members in 97 clubs across the revenue districts of DK, Coorg, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru, has been doing yeomen service to the community, and has earned name and fame in their service to the society, by organizing various community-oriented programmes/projects. The District Cabinet Installation of Lions Dist. 317 D was held on 3 August 2019 at Milagres Golden Jubilee Hall, Mangaluru, where the “Bridegroom & Bride” Lions District 317 D Governor Ronald Gomes and First Lady of the District Anita Gomes, respectively walked through the isle of Milagres Hall hand in hand escorted by a brass band to the loud cheers and applaud from the house packed audience of nearly 1500 plus.
The crowd was predominately of Lions Club members of District 317 D, and their family members, well-wishers and friends- where the ladies came dressed-to-thrill in colourful sarees/ glittering jewellery and extreme-makeover with make-up, while the gents attired themselves with three-piece suits, and a few in casual outfits. The Installation Ceremony was one of the GLAMOROUS and GLITTERING extravaganza witnessed by everyone who graced the occasion.
Even though Ln Ronald Gomes had taken the oath as District Governor at the 102nd International Convention at Milan-Italy on 6 July 2019 and on 3 August 2019 his District Cabinet was formally installed by Lions Past International Director Vijaya Kumar Raju from Hyderabad, in the presence of Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha – Bishop of Mangalore Diocese, V. V. Krishna Reddy – Past International Director, Seetharam H.T. – Multiple Council Chairperson and Vamsidar Babu International Director Endorsee, Ln Dr Geethaprakash (First Vice Dist Governor), and Ln Vasanth Kumar Shetty (Second Vice Dist Governor) as the guests of honour.
Other dignitaries seated on the dais were- Ln Vijaya Vishnu Mayya (Dist Cabinet Secretary), Ln Harish K Shetty ( Dist Cabinet Treasurer), Ln Tharanath Shetty Bolar (Dist Cabinet Co-ordinator), Ln Ms Vani V Alva ( D G Co-ordinator), Ln Suresh A Rai (Dist PRO and Hon Chairman Installation Committee), Miss Sheeba Ullal (Dist Leo President), Ln Kudupi Arvind Shenoy (chairman of Installation Comm), Ln Ms Bharathi B M ( Secretary-Installation Comm), Ln Lokesh Bolar (Treasurer-Installation Comm), among others.
Quoting Saint Mother Teresa who said, “It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving”and based on this saying, the Lions District had drawn up their service activity plan with the slogan ‘Serve With Love’. Each letter of the slogan carries a service activity such as Save Water-Save Lakes, Environment – Go Green, Relieving the Hunger, Vision Care and Sight First, Education and Carrier Guidance, Women Empowerment, Image Building, Traffic Awareness, Health and Child Care, Love thy Nation, Organ Donation, Village Adoption and Empower Youth.
The prime aim of Lions Dist 317 D is to conserve water by rainwater harvesting and preserve the lakes around us. Also, all members are motivated to plant at least one tree during the year, take care of it as their own family member and gift the tree for our future generation. The District Pin was also designed with the Yakshagana Kireeta which is a symbol of our most adored cultural activity of coastal Karnataka. So the programme was all about to celebrate service and ‘Serve With Love’. Since the Dist Cabinet Installation logo was “CHIGURU” (in Kannada) which means Sprout/Bud/Shoot, First lady of the Lioness district Anita Gomes inaugurated ‘Chiguru’ district cabinet installation of International association of Lions Club by watering a sapling.
In her inaugural address, Ln Anitha Gomes said, “For this installation ceremony we have picked the right name “Chiguru” with an aim to “Go Green”! Why go green? Everywhere you go people are talking about going green and how it impacts the planet. From plastic bags to chemical products, people are trying to come up with new and impactful ways that they can go green. While there are a number of ways in which to go green, there are also many reasons which are often forgotten. Taking the time to understand these reasons will hopefully motivate you to follow this very popular and important trend. Going green is a personal choice that is embraced by individuals to contribute towards the betterment of this planet and make this place a better place to live for future generations to come. While joining my husband on this prestigious occasion, I am overwhelmed to be here amidst you all on this auspicious occasion, and I will be looking forward to organize programmes that are useful for the environment and community, and hoping to have a good year ahead”
Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, the Bishop of Mangaluru diocese speaking of all the goodness Lions Club International does said, “Goodness attracts and expands goodness. In Holy Bible lot is said about Goodness, like- Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things, there is no law”.
Bishop further said, ” On 18 June 2015, Pope Francis through his message of Laudato si’ (Praise Be to You) has stressed on care for our common home. In it, the pope critiques consumerism and irresponsible development laments environmental degradation and global warming and calls all people of the world to take “swift and unified global action. Mangaluru Diocese has taken the message of the Pope very seriously for the betterment of the environment, and just recently planted over 78,000 saplings in and around Mangaluru in 124 parishes. Even during my ordination, three saplings were planted. I am overjoyed to note that the Lions Club in concentrating on the environment as their motto. It is nice to note that Dist 317 D had done lots of goodness in this area through their dedicated and committed service- and this year having Ln Ronald Gomes as Dist Governor, it is surely going to reach greater heights. I wish Ln Gomes and his energetic team all success in their endeavours/projects”.
Lions District 317 D Governor Ronald Gomes speaking on the occasion said, “Planting trees is one of the easiest and most sustainable ways to positively affect the environment. We need trees now more than ever! Trees are our lifeline to cleaner air and a healthier environment. This year we will be very much focused on the environment and will see that at each one of us plant at least one sapling to protect the environment. A cleaner and greener environment is healthier and better for having a healthy life. It is necessary to keep our environment clean because we get fresh air, reduce pollution etc. An unclean environment leads to a bad condition of a society, arrival of diseases and many more. Keeping our environment clean is a very important part of our lives these days. It is important to focus on this as we have to make sure that the environment is preserved for future generations. Let’s all work together for a clean and green environment. Let’s ‘Go Green”.
The District Lions directory ‘Karuna’ was released by Ln Dr Geethaprakash, and a bevy of Lions were felicitated on the occasion. Entertainment through melodious music was rendered by the ‘Lions Music Academy’ headed by Muralidhar Kamath and his group. It was time for the Installing Officer Vijay Kumar Raju, to undertake the proceeding of installing the new District cabinet members, which lasted for an hour, followed by a sumptuous fellowship and dinner.
A BRIEF PROFILE OF mjf Ln RONALD GOMES, the GOVERNOR of LIONS DISTRICT 317 D:
Lion Ronald Gomes is a member of one of the senior Lions Clubs of our Dist. 317-D Lions Club Mangaladevi-Mangaluru for over 24 years. He was born at Loretto, Bantwal and his early childhood was spent in Saudi Arabia where his father was in a job with world-renowned oil company ARAMCO. He graduated in Commerce from SVS College, Bantwal. Later in 1981, he joined the same company ARAMCO, Saudi Arabia. Returned to India in 1994 and started his own business “Sunray Solar Systems” dealing with Solar Roof-Top Power & Water Heaters.
In 1994 he joined Lions Club Bantwal and since 1996, he is a member of Lions Club Mangaladevi-Mangaluru. Since then, he has occupied almost all top posts at Club and Dist level – and presently he is the First Vice District Governor of our Dist.317 D He was the Parade participant at the 88th & 98th Lions International Convention in Hong Kong & Honolulu-Hawaii, USA.
He has quite a few awards to his credit- He has been awarded many Lions awards like Int’l President Appreciation Certificate for producing “Aids Awareness” Documentary Film, Best Talented Editor, Diamond Supreme Excellence Award and Most Dependable Lion – to mention a few. He was a violin player during his primary school days. He is an excellent pencil & colour drawing artist. He has acted in two films. He is also a regular shuttle badminton player. He has widely traveled – Middle East, Far East, Europe, China, Bhutan & USA
His other social activities include- Past President of “RACHANA – Catholic Chamber of Commerce & Industry”, Member of the Board of Studies in Economics at St. Agnes College, Mangaluru, Member of the Board of Studies of Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management at St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru, and For over 6 years, he was a member of the Engineering & Graduate Colleges Campus selection team of world-renowned Software Company – Infosys.
Married to Anita Gomes, who is a Bank Manager and is blessed with two daughters – elder is Computer Science Engineer who is an alumnae of SJEC & younger is pursuing Masters in Architecture in Australia.
