From Leadership to Happiness, Lions Roaring Loudly in New York

New York, N.Y.   The Lions of  Lions Clubs International  are roaring loudly in New York City this week, thanks in part to the newly formed New York Global Leaders Lions Club, sponsored by the  New York Cosmopolitan Lions Club . Events have spanned from a Leadership Awards Reception and Lions Day at the United Nations to International Happiness Day also with the U.N.

For a complimentary ticket to the  International Day of Happiness  with the U.N., Sunday, March 20, RSVP with your name and email address to  HappyPeopleHappyPlanet2030@gmail.com .

H.E. Ambassador Catherine Boura, Ph.D. of Greece accepted

the foundation's Global Citizenship Award. Photo: NYGLLC.

Jim Luce, founding president of the New York Global Leaders Lions Club (NYGLLC)

with Guillermo Perez, District Governor,  Lions Clubs International Dist. 20-R.

First, this Centennial Club co-sponsored the 16th Annual Leadership Awards Reception with the J. Luce Foundation  and Orphans International Worldwide ( OIWW ) on Thursday, March 10. Luce Leadership Awards are given to young leaders working to better humanity, either in the U.S. or abroad, who embody the characteristics of honor, intelligence, benevolence, and stewardship.

Dr. Judy Kuriansky, a director of the New York Global Leaders Global Lions Club,

speaking with  H.E. Ambassador Catherine Boura of Greece . Photo: NYGLLC.

Lions Club Guides for the New York Global Leaders Lions Clubs are two past District

Presidents, Mike Bhuiyan and Loretta Wu. Here, at the 2015 J. Luce Foundation Annual

Leadership Awards Reception at the Sri Lankan Mission to the U.N. Photo: NYGLLC.

The event was held at St. John’s University across from Cooper Union in Manhattan's trendy East Village. Over 250 of gathered in the name of connecting goodness and helping orphans. The evening's theme was “Light One Candle,” and every speaker - including many Lions - acknowledged how we are each in our own way helping push back the darkness.

The theme of the Leadership Reception was  “Light One Candle."  Photo: NYGLLC.

New York Global Leaders Lions Club members Matt Scott, Jim Luce and

Stacee Mandeville on the red carpet at the Leadership Reception. Photo: NYGLLC.

H.E. Ambassador Catherine Boura, Ph.D. of Greece – diplomat, intellect and humanitarian – accepted the Global Citizenship Award and the Hon. Benjamin Kallos   of the New York City Council spoke on the importance of helping humanity – one candle at a time. Dean Victoria Shoaf, Ph.D. of St. John’s University also attended.

The Hon. Geneive Brown Metzger, LLD, former Consul General of Jamaica,

is a director of the New York Global Leaders Lions Club.  Photo: NYGLLC.

Georgia Nomikos of Orpheus Luxury Collection, a director of the New York Global

Leaders Lions Club, spoke on the upcoming Luce Leadership Experience to Hellas.

Several videos were shown, including  Supporting Young Global Leadership 2016 ,  The J. Luce Foundation Leadership Experience: The Ideals of Hellas , and  The Many Faces of OIWW & the J. Luce Foundation .

Lions Peter Pergolis,  Dr. Judy Kuriansky, and Georgia Nomikos at the

16th Annual leadership Awards. Photo: NYGLLC.

Jessy Moya, Secretary-Treasurer of the New York Global Leaders Lions Club,

received an award for her dedication and service. Photo: NYGLLC.

The Masters of Ceremony, officers of the NYGLLC, were Stacee Mandeville and Abhinav Chintakunta performed brilliantly. This was the third time Abhi has MC’d one of the Leadership events, including last year's at the Sri Lankan Mission to the U.N.

Washington Garay, vice president of the New York Global Leaders Lions Club,

received a Global Advisor Award from Jim Luce, the club's president. Photo: NYGLLC.

The United Nations, New York City. Photo: Wikipedia.

Then, on Saturday, March 12 - commemorating a partnership of 70 years - Lions Day with the United Nations (LDUN) took place, giving Lions the opportunity to discover how the U.N. and Lions together can continue to help those in need on a global scale.

Dr. Jitsuhiro Yamada and other dignitaries preparing to speak to those

gathered at the 38th Annual Lions Day with the United Nations.

Japanese Ambassador Yoshikawa spoke at Lions Day with the U.N. on gender equality,

Stating "Participation of women as promoters of peace should be emphasized."

The officers of the New York Global Leaders Lions Club were there, along with over 500 other Lions, to meet Dr. Jitsuhiro Yamada, Lions Club International President - and to discuss the issues of the day, including the many humanitarian challenges facing us all.

Syed Mahmood Kazmi addressing Lions Day with the United Nations.

Jim Luce, of the New York Global Leaders Lions Club, writes a column of

thought leaders and global citizens for The Huffington Post.

One of the most impressive speakers was Syed Mahmood Kazmi, who spoke on issues ranging form the importance of youth participation to extremism to gender equality. "We must have women and girls beside us to advance together in this world. It's high time to achieve gender equality!" The cherubic young man also bemoaned Islamophobia, asking those gathered, "Do I look like a terrorist to you?!" Syed tweeted  # heforshe.

Ali Akbar and Syed Mahmood with a group of LEO's from Connecticut.

Lions Jim Luce, Dr. Judy Kuriansky and Syed Mahmood Kazmi at

Lions Day with the United Nations. Photo: NYGLLC.

Last year, Pharrell Williams brought a “Happy” message on climate change

to the U.N.  Photo: United Nations.

Next, scores of Lions will roar at this Sunday's special gala celebration of happiness and well-being with the United Nations headquarters in New York City on March 20 for the  International Day of Happiness .

The morning session, from 10am-1 pm is comprised of remarks from high level officials, addresses about different aspects of happiness and wellbeing (e.g., philosophy, physics, and psychological), interspersed with cultural performances (e.g., Indian dance, Chinese musicians on ancient instruments). The afternoon session from 3-7 pm consists of further addresses and cultural performances. Presenters are coming from around the world to speak and participate.

International Day of Happiness was decreed by the governments of the world, in the United Nations resolution A/RES/66/281 passed on 28 June 2012, proclaiming 20 March as the annual day of celebration. Since then, International Day of Happiness has been celebrated with the UN as well as by organizations around the world in various campaigns.

The event “Happiness and Well-being for the People and the Planet in a Sustainable Future,” highlights that for the first time in history, well-being has been included in the new United Nations Agenda for sustainable development that was passed this September (see: https:// sustainabledevelopment.un.o rg/post2015/ transformingourworld ).

The importance of this occasion is evident in the U.N. resolution of “happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world.” Also, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said, “Happiness is neither a frivolity nor a luxury. It is a deep-seated yearning shared by all members of the human family. It should be denied to no-one and available to all.”

For a complimentary ticket to the  International Day of Happiness  a the U.N., Sunday, March 20, RSVP with your name and email address to  HappyPeopleHappyPlanet2030@gmail.com .

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