by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Beachburg) — Two long-time members of the Beachburg Lions Club were honoured by their peers when they were presented with a prestigious Lions International Award.
Arthur Plume and Ralph Martin were each presented with the Helen Keller Fellowship Award. The award was presented by Past-Regional Chair Ed Gutoskie during the club’s Christmas dinner Monday evening. Mr. Gutoskie has attended this annual event for so many years, that when there is an award or induction of a new member, he is the one asked to do the presentation.
Helen Keller Fellowship
“I have two very prestigious plaques to present tonight on behalf of the Beachburg Lions,” Mr. Gutoskie said, as he stood before those attending the dinner.
This award dates back to 1925 when Helen Keller addressed the international Lions Convention when she was blind and handicapped, he said.
“She gave a delivery that night that has stood the test of time and we as Lions have fulfilled that role all of these years,” Mr. Gutoskie said.
“Her challenge is that we be Knights of the Blind. We have met that challenge throughout the world.
“Not only has Lions International collected glasses for those in third world countries, it has also sent teams of experts to third world countries to equip many young people, and older ones as well, with glasses, so the challenge of being a Knight of the Blind has been met.”
This is the first time a Beachburg Lions Club member has received a Helen Keller Fellowship Award.
On the plaque is written: The Hellen Keller Fellowship is presented to Ralph Martin (Arthur L. Plume) who throughout untiring service, has given light in the darkness, warmth in the cold, compassion in the hurt, and humanity in the suffering to his fellow being. He lives his creed Service to Others. At the bottom is a quote from Helen Keller: The only lightless dark is the night of darkness in ignorance and insensibility. Helen Keller
Mr. Martin and Mr. Plume each received a plaque and a lapel pin to wear showing they are Helen Keller Fellowship recipients.
Following the presentations, Mr. Gutoskie said, “The Lions, over all of our history, have been Knights of the Blind. This is a very meritorious award and is a way of saying thank you for what you do.”
Mr. Martin joined the Beachburg Lions Club in 1978 and has been kept busy ever since.
“I’m happy,” he said afterwards. “This is a big honour.”
He has held every position in the club at least once.
Mr. Martin recalled being invited to join the club, and since he likes to keep busy, decided to accept the invitation.
Mr. Martin remains active with the club and continues to do maintenance upkeep work for the club.
“This award means I enjoy doing the Lions work and the other Lions see that,” he said. “They believe in me and know I am a dedicated member.”
Mr. Plume joined the Beachburg Lions Club in 1999 and has held every position except secretary.
“I was looking for a service club and I found this was the best one in the area,” he said.
Mr. Plume said he was “shell-shocked” when his name was called that he was a recipient of this fellowship.
“It’s the utmost award I could get,” he said.
Mr. Plume continues to be an active member within the club and currently operates the canteen. He understood at evening’s end why he was t
old to take the night off.
Mr. Plume said the work and projects undertaken by the Lions Club are done as a team, but he has headed various projects, including the bike-a-thons and highway cleanup.
Mr. Gutoskie said there is one more International Lions award that is higher than this award, but, “this one is very, very meaningful.”
Club grows by one
Prior to the presentation, the Beachburg Lions Club grew by one more member when Jim Giroux was inducted into the club. He is sponsored by Lion Tony Mercier.
Speaking to Mr. Giroux as the other Lions and guests listened, Mr. Gutoskie said, “We are known as the International Association of Lions Clubs, and this club is the Beachburg Lions Club.”
Lions International started in 1917 and is now the largest service organization in the world, he said. He spoke about the Lions emblem and that LIONS stands for Leadership, Intelligence, Our Nations Security and that its slogan is We Serve.
The colours gold and purple are associated with Lions, he said. Purple stands for loyalty to country, friends and yourself, he said. It’s also the traditional colour of strength. Gold symbolizes sincerity of purpose, liberality of good judgement, purity of life and generosity of mind, heart and very often purse strings for those less fortunate, Mr. Gutoskie noted.
Mr. Giroux was presented with various Lions Club symbols, including a vest, pin, certificate of membership and name tag.
To end the evening, the annual Christmas draw was made. Andrea Cooke won $1,000; Frank Deschamps won $300 and Kegan Grady won $200.
