Central Brooklyn Lions make impact on community
Caribbean L 22 ife, Jan. 18–24, 2019
By Nelson A. King
Though 2018 was a “challenging”
year for Central Brooklyn
Lions Club, Inc. (CBLC), it
can still take comfort from its
rich history and the fact that it
continues to make a big difference
in the community.
In her New York’s message,
the club’s Jamaican-born president,
Jerusha Jacobs, wished
members and their families “a
blessed, healthy, happy and a
safe New Year.”
Then, she then: “The past
year was challenging, but I
am looking forward to working
with you in the New Year.
Blessings to all.”
In its souvenir journal in
November, commemorating
the annual gala awards ceremony
and dance, the club
states that, when Lions Club
International passed the vote
to strike gender from the constitution,
Lioness clubs were
presented with the option to
become a Lions Club (previously
male only), or remain a
Lioness club (previously female
only).
“This issue was thoroughly
researched and information
presented to the East Brooklyn
Lioness Club,” the journal
says, adding that the majority
of members voted to become
Lions.
“With the dedicated assistance
of our guiding Lion,
Earle B. Wilson, this became
a reality on May 16, 1988,” the
journal continues. “The late
Lion Bernice Best was elected
charter president.”
CBLC says that, over the
years, it has served “our community
well through various
activities.”
During Lion Best’s tenure
(1988-1990), the journal notes
that CBLC sponsored the
Central Brooklyn Leo Club,
“one of the most outstanding
projects,” with Carlos Whitman
as Charter President.
The Leo Club has “grown
well” under the leadership of
Lions Dian Coombs, Ernestine
Harrison, Marjorie Walters, C.
Coma, Lion TyEast Alleyne-
Bobb, Lion Ashley. Campbell-
Goolgar, and Lion Benita Malloy,
according to the journal,
stating that the club is “currently
in rebuilding status.”
The journal says that CBCL
began its new “legendary volunteer
work” at John Wesley
United Methodist Church
Soup kitchen in Bedford-Stuyvesant
in Brooklynb.
It was there that Lion Glenner
Strachn Lion Ermine
Myers and Lion Morval Gibson
provided service each Thursday,
the journal says.
It says CBLC began to sponsor
the Peace Poster competition,
a contest run worldwide
by Lion International, in local
schools.
Several health fairs were
also “successfully held, with
the far-reaching assistance
of the Caribbean Women’s
Health Association, Congressional
Friends of Glaucoma
Screening, Kings County
Nurses, NYC Fire Department,
among other agencies
and departments,” according
to the journal.
It says the public received
screening services for blood
sugar and blood pressure testing,
eye testing for glaucoma
and nutritional counseling.
Awardees with supporters at Central Brooklyn Lions Club’s annual gala awards ceremony
and dance. Photo by Nelson A. King