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Newark Borinquen Lions Club Honors Newly Installed Officer
The Newark Borinquen Lions Club held its officer Installation Dinner on Sunday October 15, 2017 at La Fortuna Restaurant in Fairview N.J. The Masters of Ceremonies for this event were PDGs Gilbert Lizardi and Fernando Navarro, both of whom are club officers. The assembled guests stood at attention as PDG Carlos Alma recited the Pledge of Allegiance and during the playing of the National Anthems of the United States of America and Puerto Rico. The Rev. Mario Mucitelli gave the invocation, followed by the Lions toast in English by PCC Ralph DeVito and Spanish by First Vice District Governor, 16-N Ruth Molenaar.
On behalf of District Governor Nick Landy, Council Chair Jack Romano inducted the club officer slate for the 2017-2018 Lionistic year, assisted by PCC Ralph DeVito. The officers are:
- President: Elena Gonzalez
- First Vice President: Ceres Gomez Sosa
- Second Vice President: Iris Martinez Arroyo
- Third Vice President: Sara Castro
- Secretary: Gilbert Lizardi, PDG
- Treasurer: Fernando Navarro, PDG
- Tail Twister: Miguel Gonzalez
- Lion Tamer: Rafael Nunez
Additional members of the club Board of Directors include:
Lily Casas, Dr. Asela Laguna, Miguel Rodriguez, and Ruth Molenaar, 1VDG 16-N.
Each club officer was presented with a Council of Governors pin. The evenings honoree, Iris Martinez Arroyo was presented with International President Naresh Aggarwal’s presidential pin by Council Chair Jack Romano.
A special presentation honoring Iris Martinez Arroyo was made by the Chairman of the Board of FOUCS Newark, Angel Milan. The mission of FOCUS is to provide community leadership by developing a variety of services of health and human development initiatives which advances the community towards self-sufficiency, growth, empowerment, and a better quality of life.
The Human Services Division provides adult education, employment and training, senior-citizen programs, emergency assistance, health and nutrition programs and adult protective services. The objective of the division is to provide members of our community with the tools necessary for empowerment, growth, and self-sufficiency.
The Youth and Family Development Division provides educational services for children before and after school, and during the summer months. It provides counseling for families and children, parenting workshops, and referral services to families requiring temporary support, such as food, utility and housing assistance.
Lion Iris has been active in the Newark community for many years working in the Newark School system. She was honored by FOCUS for her many years of service to the youth of Newark and her activity with FOCUS/Newark. Lion Iris gave a very rousing speech both in English and Spanish concerning the plight of urban youth and the recent hurricane devastation in Puerto Rico.
A buffet dinner and music for listening and dancing pleasure complimented the event.
