HANAPEPE — The West Kaua‘i Lions Club will greet its 83rd anniversary in November with a new slate of officers that was installed during its Wednesday meeting at the Wong’s Chinese Restaurant in Hanapepe.
The Lions’ time-honored tradition of installing its club officers got with the help of Lion District Governor Garrett Ogawa who joined the program via virtual connection through the computer.
Past Lion President Charles Ortiz, who also filled positions such as secretary and Committee Chair on numerous club projects, was also joined by Immediate Past President Basilio Fuertes, serving as president for the past five years, and also at the District Level as Zone Chairperson for Region 1, in the physically-present installation of Kay Hill as the new WK Lions Club president.
Earl Hunter fills the First Vice President seat, and Joan Contival is the club’s Second Vice President.
Lockcey Tirado-Goravica is the WK Lions secretary, and Mark Domingcil was unable to be present as the treasurer.
Basilio, as one of the duties of Immediate Past President, becomes the Club Membership Chairperson and gets help from LCIF Membership Coordinator Dan Nagata.
Vanessa Udarbe takes the reins of Club Services Chair, and Eric Nordmeier is the club’s Marketing and Communications Chairperson.
Club directors include Basilio, Naoko Ho and Malcolm Tam.
“The West Kaua‘i Lions continue to serve our community in many ways,” Nordmeier said. “Most of the community service projects have been curtailed, or even stopped due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, as time passes and restrictions are slowly being modified to meet current health and safety requirements, we are planning on traditional as well as new community service projects to serve our communities.”
Some of the past service projects include sponsoring the youth baseball teams on the Westside with uniforms, and the club is looking forward to sponsoring the Hawai‘i Lions “Sight is Beautiful” Poster Contest.
The West Kaua‘i Lions Club was chartered on Nov. 15, 1937, and invites anyone that is community service minded to contact Basilio at (808) 482-1165, or Basilio.Fuertes@yahoo.com for more information on the WK Lions Club.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
