On Saturday night, Tanya was inaugerated and also became the Kusadasi Lions first foreign member. Something both she and the club were very proud of.

Invited along to Aqua Fantasy, to watch proceedings was her very proud husband, Hamit, myself and my partner Dave.
After thinking we were working to Turkish time and were going to be late, we were relieved to find that in actual fact we were working to English time and were some of the first people to arrive!

Tanya indulged in a large glass of white wine to calm her nerves. Being invited to become a Lion is considered to be a very high honour, so Tanya was understandably feeling the pressure, as other members include many highly regarded local business men and women.

We were invited into the dining area where the tables had been set for a delicious four course meal.
After our filling starter, Madam President (Dr. Olcay Ulusoy) arose to introduce and welcome Tanya, Hamit, myself, Dave and the other three new members and guests. On hearing her name, and with nerves getting the better of her, Tanya thought it was time for her to go to the centre of the room for her ceremony, so that is exactly what she did followed by myself when my name was mentioned........not realising why she had mentioned our names!

Told to sit down we realised that we had been the early evening entertainment!

We managed to get through the next two courses of the meal without any more embarrassing incidents.
Following the main, Madam President (Dr. Olcay Ulusoy) made her way to the lectern and microphone and introduced the four new members who were to be inaugerated to everyone. Each took their place behind a table bearing their membership candle and Lions inaugeration photo, including Tanya.
During the ceremony they make a pledge, then light their candle from the one before, this resembling the strong bond of friendship they are forging.

Each new member is then asked to state why they want to become a member of the Lions Club. The new members spouse or partner is then invited to pin a Lions Club pin onto their spouse.

Finally, each one was handed a bronzed plaque.
With the official part of the ceremony over it was time to bring out the cake, adorned with sparklers. All the new members gathered round to get a hand on the sword to cut the cake. Also honoured new members as a proud addition to the prestigious Kusadasi Lions Club were, Necdet Uludag, (Owner of Lara Optic) Aysegül Uysal, (Partner in the Kusadasi Private Hospital), Ömer Yöntem (Leather & Leather Accessories Manufacturer) and Boran Aydin, (Lawyer).

As the new members returned to their seats, Tanya was asked to stay behind by the regional chairman, he made a point of thanking her for accepting the invitation to attend on Saturday night as he appreciated how difficult the evening was for her being the first foreign person to be inaugerated. He also commented that Kusadasi Lions Club felt very honoured that she had accepted the invitation to join and they had now set a precedent for other Lions Clubs in the Aegean Region and across Turkey.

Finally allowed to return to her seat and with nerves all calmed Tanya enjoyed the rest of the evening chatting and being introduced to fellow members.
A very enjoyable evening with delicious food specially prepared by the Aqua Fantasy chefs.
So if you bump into Tanya in town beware she now has quite a roar!!!

Further news on the good work done throughout the year by Kusadasi Lions Club will be reported as it happens.