Yvonne Pinder took just six years as a member of the Port of Spain North Lions Club to climb the director's ladder and be installed as the club's first woman president by Vice District Governor-Elect, Lion Gerard A Jackson, last Saturday night at the club's Charter Anniversary Dinner and Installation of Officers 2000/2001, at the Ambassador Hotel.
But then Yvonne, the second female to join the club, was really no stranger to the world of lionism as she had been a former member of the Diego Martin North West Lioness Club, when lionesses' clubs operated autonomously in Lions Clubs International. When the lionesses clubs were fazed out by Lions International, with options to either become a lions club or join their male counterparts in an already formed lions club, the North West Lionesses became the all female Diego Martin North West Lions Club. However, Yvonne was at that time taking a break from lionism because: "I was not getting out of lionism at that particular time what I felt I should get. There is now a big difference as we are more service oriented, and dealing with men more businesslike, not to mention the camaraderie which is there."
The former, dedicated principal of the Diamond Vale Government Primary School for 15 years until retirement in 1993, could no longer stay out of the lionistic fray and in 1994 when the Port of Spain North Lions Club started to take women, one or two started asking her to join them, and says Yvonne: "Lion Theo Oliver, my Parent Teachers Association president at the school sponsored me. The time was right as I had retired."
One year after joining the North Lions Club, Lion Pinder became a board member, and rose through the executive ranks from Tail Twister, to secretary for two consecutive years, second vice president, first vice and last Saturday night came the honour of being the first female president in this 43-member club, which meets at the Port of Spain Lions Central Den on Wednesdays. She has also been named Lion of the Year three times.
"Quality Service and Commitment" is the new president's theme. "I want to put lionism on the front-burner of every lion's life. When you join the club you become committed, barring God, work, home and children, lionism must come first in outside activities."
Another of Yvonne's goals, is to maintain and expand traditional projects, such as, the huge barbecue held every September, from which funds are raised to feed about 200 people in the Maraval area; hosting an annual camp for about thirty to forty needy children on a long week-end: "We transport, feed, and let them have picnics at the sea. Then there is our annual children's Christmas party; taking youngsters from the St Ann's Hospital School on outings with refreshment; and running a special programme "reading to speak" at the School for the Deaf in Cascade aided by Doctor John Duffy, an American specialist in audiology, who has been visiting Trinidad for the last few years and assisting with hearing aids, fitting ear molds, and generally working with the Association in Aid of the Deaf. She plans "to arouse more interest in each other's goodwill and well being and to try and woo back quality lions who left the club for one reason or another, as long as they are willing, we will convince them that they have a contribution to make."
And finally, the Lion President hopes to attract and capture the attention of progressive and influential businessmen in the club's charter area, which covers Cascade, St Ann's, Boissiere Village, Maraval, north of the Western Main Road in St James, Dibe and Long Circular "so that they can help us financially to make those in need more comfortable and at the same time they will increase their businesses that way."
Her plans for a new environmental project are "to select a needy area, especially one not kept too tidily, show people how they should keep the area clean, how to plant kitchen gardens and make a competition out of it. I am now looking for that place within our chapter area." Currently a supervisor and tutor with the Lifelong Learning Centre under the Ministry of Education, Lion Yvonne sees a need for helping the youth with their choices in life and basic good manners, and will go at it through the Leos attached to her club. "I want to stress on standards for our youth so plan to work more with them, since I have always been involved with youth as a teacher for more than forty plus years, and am still teaching Adult Education for those who did not have the opportunity to finish school."
Do you think that lions live up to their stringent eight-point code of ethics? I asked the new president since this code is repeated at every official meeting. "Not at all" was her honest reply "I think there is a need for deeper indoctrination in the details of lionism generally and what the code stands for so that they will really live up to it."
Another question I have asked for many years, "are there too many clubs in this small country of ours" brought the reply: "In some areas there are too many clubs and fund-raising becomes difficult. Just take Diego Martin, there are three in that area, you have to face the same people with your projects." Her recommendation is that certain joint programmes be undertaken while keeping each club's individuality at the same time, for example, the North Club's school projects could be joined with the Port of Spain Central Lions Club, which incidentally has steadfastly remained the lone all-male lions club in Trinidad and Tobago. But more about that in another article.
Lion Pinder enjoys lionism and stands ready to serve District 60 if called upon to do so, but in the meantime works hand in hand with her board members who operate at district level, and District Governor Elect (2001) Jackson, who happens to be a member of her club.