GEORGE NEWS - Three George Lions Club members, Werner and Lawrine Zander and Barbara Haywood, were recently honoured with the Melvin Jones Fellowship, the Lions Clubs International Foundation's highest form of recognition of individuals' dedication to humanitarian service.
The Zanders have been dedicated volunteers of the George Lions Club for decades. Having a passion for their local community, the couple have kept up a very active involvement in the activities of the club over the years in addition to having full-time jobs up until retirement and raising three children.
Werner has been a member of George Lions Club for 38 years. He joined the Bloemfontein Club in 1981.
When the family moved to George the following year, he connected with the George Club, and in this club's 56 years of existence, he has been a member for 37. He served as president three times and on the district management committee three times.
A testimony to his commitment to numerous fundraising projects through the years is the multiple appreciation awards at club, district and international level and numerous 100% attendance awards he has received.
The funds that he helped raise made a difference in the community through various service projects, including diabetes and cancer projects, crèches, as well as the Carpe Diem School and Operation Brightsight.
His wife Lawrine is similarly zealous for the cause of the community and has served in the Lions for the past 23 years. In 1981, she joined as a Lady Lion and when the first women were allowed to become full members in 1996, she jumped right in as a joint Lion.
She became the first female president of the George Lions Club in 2001. Although she was also involved in fundraising, what she enjoyed most was to serve the community through the Lions' service projects. Like Zander, she has received multiple appreciation awards on club, district and international level and many 100% attendance awards.
Werner and Lawrine Zander with their Melvin Jones Fellowship plaques.
Photo: Alida de Beer
Barbara Haywood
Barbara has been a member of the Eden Lions Club for 15 years and is currently the club president for the second consecutive year. Her life is dedicated to the Lions and she is serving on a full-time basis.
Barbara has been secretary of the district committee for seven years. Her major involvement is with the Lions Assistance and Distribution Service (Lads) project that collects and distributes clothes among the needy.
"I work 24/7 at the Lions and I enjoy it. It's my life. Everything I do, helps someone somewhere down the line," she said.
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