Valley Stream resident Millie Goss, an employee of Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union, told Frank De Mita, the company's chairman, that her houseguest from Turkey was a member of the Istanbul Lions Club who would like to attend a meeting of the Valley Stream Lions Club.
De Mita, a past president of the Valley Stream Lions, invited the Turkish visitor, Zivor Senol, to a Lions meeting in May.
Senol spoke at the meeting and shared his thoughts on Lionism. He compared the many activities of his club with those of the local Lions. He said he discovered that both clubs participate in similar activities that include working with the visually impaired, providing scholarships, sponsoring peace poster contests in local schools, distributing food baskets to the needy, and raising funds for victims of earthquakes and other natural disasters. Senol said he was the charter president of his Lions Club, formed in 1988.
This was the first visit to the United States for both Senol and his wife. They came here for the impending birth of their daughter's baby, and the healthy baby girl was born just a few days before his visit to the Valley Stream Lions Club.
"It was a pleasure to be honored by the Valley Stream Lions during a Lions flag and pin exchange ceremony," Senol said. "My new friends have provided me with many gifts to bring back to Istanbul, Turkey, and that he felt like he was part of the American family, especially with a new American granddaughter."
Lion Frank De Mita, who introduced him to the club, said, "Zivor Senol was truly impressed by the beauty and prosperity of America and that Turkey is also rich in pride and history." The visitor from Turkey extended an invitation to the Lion members to visit his homeland someday and closed by saying, "God Bless America and I look forward to visiting America again."
