Beryl Itani has been recognized for years of community service by the Lions and Lioness clubs around the Okanagan.
In recognition of long time efforts by Itani with the Emergency Support Services of the Regional District of Central Okanagan, the Lions and Lioness Clubs of Westbank, Kelowna and Peachland presented a Melvin Jones Fellowship to Itani on behalf of Lions Clubs International Foundation.
In handing out the award, the clubs say they have been recipients of the efforts of the Emergency Support Services in the last many years such as the evacuation of a large part of Okanagan Mission and South-East Kelowna during the Okanagan Mountain Fires of 2003 and more recently the Glenrosa fires of 2009 and 2013 where Itani was a key figure.
The Emergency Services that is provided by the Regional District align very directly with efforts of Lions Clubs International Foundation with Humanitarian assistance programs at home and around the world such as local assistance with disaster relief, the eradication of diseases such as Measles, Lions Quest Program for Youth, or Sight Initiatives such as Project for Elimination of Avoidable Childhood Blindness and many others. Lions and Lioness think locally and act globally.