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Lion going down under to be on top
Ray Tatro is the pride of the Lloydminster Lions Club.
He will be inducted as the district governor at the Lions International Convention in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and fellow Lion standout, Shelley, at his side.
The couple will fly out on June 12 after Ray spent four days of special training at Lions International’s head office in Chicago earlier this year.
His induction will be witnessed by around 17,000 worldwide Lions in Melbourne starting June 21.
The 42-year Lions club member spoke briefly about the honour in the lead-up to club cheque presentations to six local nonprofits during a special supper meeting at the Legacy Centre Monday evening.
Ray says he’ll be inducted as the district governor of what’s called 5SKN, which covers an area from the Alberta border to the Manitoba border in Saskatchewan.
There are 54 clubs in the district and he will be required to visit all of them during his one-year tenure starting July 1.
“Churchbridge, Sask. would be the furthest I would have to travel,” he said.
I have really got a lot of satisfaction out of fundraising, doing service projects as well as being able to redistribute funds back into the community and throughout the world to make improvements in mankind everywhere.
“I’m glad that I’ve got a great partner in service, Shelley my wife and a good cabinet and board and lots of passionate dedicated Lions to help further what Lions are trying to do locally as well as worldwide,” said Ray.
He first joined the Border City Lions back in 1982 and loved everything the Lions do and stand for ever since.
“I have really got a lot of satisfaction out of fundraising, doing service projects as well as being able to redistribute funds back into the community and throughout the world to make improvements in mankind everywhere,” said Ray.
That includes the six recipients of cheque presentations at the Lions supper meeting including $625 to Explosion Cheer Academy and $250 to Kiwanis Lloydminster and District Music Festival.
The Lloydminster Comprehensive High School Baron’s Football team received $625 with the Lions sponsoring the Lloydminster Minor Hockey Association with a $1,000 contribution.
A cheque for $500 went to Residents in Recovery and $2,500 was presented to the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation (LRHF) for diabetes programs that Lions advocate globally.
“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the Lloydminster Lions Club,” said LRHF CEO Stephanie Munro.
“They have a lot to do with diabetes. so it really aligns with health care and the vision of the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation which is enhancing health care.”
She said the funds may go for resources for diabetes, equipment, or whatever the need is for in their community.
Shelley introduced each charity recipient and noted the Lions raise money from their local Grey Cup and Stanley Cup ticket draws, a golf tournament, a Medieval Feast and their Crown and Anchor events.
She said they decide which group gets Lions funding based on letters of request and causes they support.
“We have a committee of youth so we’ve done baseball, hockey, different ones around town, so whoever approaches us we try and do what we can,” said Shelley. The club also inducted two of the six new members who were able to attend the supper event.
GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER
