The Gleaner NA Specialty Edition

THE WEEKLY GLEANER | OCTOBER 11 - OCTOBER 17, 2021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | FEATURE 18 Dimple Willabus BROOKLYN, NY: T HE USA/CANADA Lions 45th Annual Leadership Forum was hosted in Des Moines, Iowa. This year, the forumwas held at the Veterans Memorial Community Center from September 9-11, 2021. The Lions of Iowa put together many events including: seminars on various topics, pin- trad- ing, the Forum store- Items for sale, Stride- Diabetes Scavenger Hunt, exhibitions, silent auction, and more. There were several speakers, including Jessica Cox- the first armless pilot, Michelle Ray- author, and Brooklyn’s own Lions International President- DouglasX. Alexander along with performances from several youth. To kick off the event, there was a flag pa- rade. Volunteers from various countries and states carried a flag which represented their respective homeland or state. Some 1,500 Lions attended the event. In order to interact safely, Lions were given colour-coded lanyards with their name and sections to sit for lunch and dinner. Each table seated six persons instead of the usual 10 to keep their distance as per CDC COVID 19 protocols. Throughout the forum, Lions got familiar with each other from attending the same sem- inars, sitting at the same table, travelling in the same shuttle- bus or staying at the same hotel. Overall, the forum did live up to its theme, ‘cultivating leaders!’ Many Lions talked about attending the forum for the first time while others shared their journey and experience from years of being seasoned attendees! Many thanks to the host committee and the general chairpersonWendy Cain-Lions of Iowa for their leadership, while underscoring the importance of cultivating relationships and partnerships on the journey towards becoming a more impactful Lion! The next USA/Canada Leadership Forumwill be held in Calgary, Canada, from September 15-17, 2022. LIONS LEADERSHIP FORUM Cultivating leaders! FLAG BEARER. Queens Community Lions Club member Dimple Willabus carries the Guyana flag at the Flagraising Ceremony, Des Moines, Iowa TEAM LIONS NYC: District 20- k1 Governor Anthony Cochran with Lions Club members from Brookyn and Queens, NY, at the convention in Des Moines, Iowa. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS ADVERTORIAL NEW YORK, NY: THE CONSULATE General of Jamaica, New York, has announced a list f 12 nominees for this year’s Heritage Awards. Additionally, this year will feature a new cate- gory of recognition, honouring the contribution of Jamaican musicians in the genre of Reggae – a landmark of Jamaica history and popular culture. “With the devastating impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on all of us, especially our vulnerable communities, the selfless efforts demonstrated by our awardees are not only inspiring but de- serving of the highest commendation and rec- ognition. Indeed, our awardees have risen to the occasion and have worked tirelessly in building the resilience of our vulnerable communities at home and in the Diaspora,” noted Mrs. Alsion Wilson, Consul General and host of the event. “As they say, Reggaemusic is theheartbeat of the Jamaicanpeople,”quippedCGWilsonacknowledging thebuzz inthecommunity surroundingthis year’s list of honorees, spanning thegamut fromIndustryand Commerce to Small Business, Remittance Services, Healthcare, Law, Information and Entertainment. The list of honorees is as follows: Rexton ‘Shabby Ranks’ Gordon – Reggae & Dancehall Musician; Gopal Burgher – Partner, Burgher Gray, LLP, Attorney at Law; Dr. Devon D. John – Chief of Renal Transplantation,Westchester Medical Center; Dennis Hawthorne – CEO, Dennis Shipping Company; Dr. Hazedean Smith – Fire Chief, Charlottesville Fire Dept, Virginia; Phillip Feurtado – CEO, Feurtado Shipping Company; Windel ‘Gyptian’ Edwards – Reggae & Dancehall Musician; Dominic McKenzie – Reporter, SpectrumNews; Shawn French – Owner/Golden Krust; Oswald Reid – BrandManager, Iberia Foods Corporation; Harry Bhoorasingh – Senior Country Manager, JN Money Services and Christopher Roberts – Co-Owner, The Door Restaurant. Since its inception in 2013, the CG’s Heritage Awards continue to honour and recognize a special tradition of spotlighting the outstanding service and work of individuals within their own spheres of influence and the Jamaican community. The event will be held on November 5 at the Offices of the Consulate General, 767 Third Avenue, Manhattan with a 6.00 pm, EDT start time. Given the prevailing COVID 19 restrictions and attendant protocols including but not lim- ited to social distancing, the event will utilize the hybrid format, by invitation only as well as streaming to a live, global audience via Facebook. Shabba Ranks’, ‘Gyptian’ among 12 named for CG Heritage Awards Gyptian CONTRIBUTED Shabba Ranks. FILE Alsion Roach Wilson, Consul General of Jamaica to New York, event patron. CONTRIBUTED T | - NOVEMBER 10, 2021