Johnston Lions honor contest winners, longtime member

WINNING ENTRY: Lauren Civetti, a student at Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School, accepts a check from Johnston Lions Club President Joe Swift and District Governor for Rhode Island Rosa Branco for her winning entry in the non-profit’s first-ever billboard contest.

Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine

DECADES ON: The seemingly ageless Gus Luisi, center, enjoys a lighter moment with Johnston Lions Club President Joe Swift, left, and District Governor Rosa Branco during last week’s April meeting, during which he was honored for his membership of 60 years.

GOING GREEN: Johnston Lions Club President Joe Swift, left, and District Governor Rosa Branco, right, hold the “Going Green” poster that Alexander Hum created as part of the civic organization’s unique billboard poster contest.

Posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 2:45 pm

Pete Fontaine

There was a lively, overflow group of people awaiting the start of the Johnston Lions Club’s April meeting last Wednesday evening inside Luigi’s Gourmet and Restaurant on Hartford Avenue.

New members, perhaps?

Veteran Lions Club President Joe Swift, who heads the small in numbers but huge in heart non-profit community group, was about to hold two special check presentations and celebrate what club members and their guests concurred was nothing less than a marvelous milestone.

The evening’s first order of business – once the Pledge of Allegiance was made – would be to honor two Johnston Public Schools students who were selected as winners of the club’s unique billboard poster contest.

The first would be Lauren Civetti, daughter of Lions treasurer Robert Civetti, who took first place in the club’s first-ever billboard contest and whose creation is now on public display at the club-owned billboard near Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School on Atwood Avenue.

Civetti was the overall winner of the club’s anti-bullying campaign, which resulted in over 500 entries from middle school students. She was awarded a $150 cash award from Swift on behalf of the Lions.

Alexander Hum also received a $150 cash award for his winning entry in the club’s “Going Green” billboard competition. His work will replace Civetti’s message on the billboard after several months.

Swift congratulated both recipients and explained that the club will have four different billboard signs – reproduced exclusively for display by Eramian Signs of Johnston – during the calendar year.

The project was coordinated by club officials and the Johnston school administration.

Yet another highlight of last Wednesday’s meeting was when Swift, with the assistant of Lions Club District Governor for the State of Rhode Island Rosa Branco presented long-time member Gus Luisi with his 60-year membership pin.

Luisi, whose membership dates back to 1954, will celebrate another milestone – his 90th birthday – in June.

“What a great night,” said Swift. “This was special for the students and Gus.”