Cuban Lions of West New York create a new chapter at Union City High School: Leo Club UCHS

Members of Leo Club of Union City pose with their brand new banner, designed to the new club by the West New York Lions Club, a member of The Lions Club International. The ceremony took place on June 5, 2012 at the spectacular high tech theater of Union City High School. Congratulations!

“It is a historic day for The Lions Club. It is a day in which we pass on to a new generation the traditions and human values that uphold our club, dedicated to built communities on the basis of helping each other and promoting understanding and kindness among all”, proudly said Dr. Rolando Díaz, Presidente of The Cuban Lion Club of West New York. “This event could not be possible without the invaluable help of Luisa Mendez and Mileydis Tinoco. Luisa brings back our club to Union City, since she was the catalyst promoting and successfully bringing our club to Union City years ago, and today to UCHS. Ms. Tinoco is our advisor at Union City High School. She is an example of what great teachers are all about, and we are extremely grateful to both of them”, concluded Dr. Díaz before regional and national members of the Lions Club. He also acknowledged and thanked UCHS Principal, John Bennetti, underlining the significance of having someone who welcomes every positive initiative which impacts our community in a favorable way.

Dr. Díaz President of the West New York Cuban Lions, World Languages Teacher Mileydis Tinoco and World Languages Supervisor Luisa Mendez proudly pose next to the brand new banner of the Leo Club in Union City on June 5, 2012.

UCHS senior Jorge Paneque is sworn in as president of the Leo Club of Union City on June 5th 2012. Paneque, an exemplary student and a prominent writer at his young age, won the second prize at the José Martí Hudson County Essay Contest in 2012. He is a leader among his classmates who voted for him to be the president of the first Leo Club in Union City.

Lions Clubs International is a service membership organization of 1,368,683 members world-wide, was founded in the United States on June 7, 1917 by Melvin Jones, a Chicago businessman. Jones asked, with regard to his colleagues, “What if these men who are successful because of their drive, intelligence and ambition, were to put their talents to work improving their communities?” Jones’ personal code, “You can’t get very far until you start doing something for somebody else,” reminds many Lions of the importance of community service.

The Lions motto is “We Serve.” Focal Lions Club programs include sight conservation, hearing and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations, environmental issues, and other programs.

Lions meet the needs of local communities and the world. The 1.35 million members of their volunteer organization in 207 countries and geographic areas are different in many ways, but share a core belief – “community is what we make it.”