Gene Brune steps into a new leadership role as President of the Somerville Lions.

By William Tauro

Former Somerville Mayor and current Middlesex Registrar of Deeds Gene Brune was installed this past Friday night as the next President of the Somerville Lions Club. The installation took place at the Somerville Lions Club House located in Somerville on Washington Street above the Ralph and Jenny Senior Center. With a large crowd of family, friends, Lions Club members and co-workers in attendance, Gene vowed to do his very best as president for the Lions charities and for a successful term.

Past Lions Club President Paul Carrol, the outgoing president for 2012-2013, passed the “gavel and ceremonial bell” to new President Brune at the installation.

Somerville Lions Club Past President Larry Murphy did a great job as master of ceremonies for the evening.

Also in attendance was Lions District Governor Matthew Richardson who also installed Gene Brune as President,  the club officers and also installed two new Lions members.

Also installed that evening was the new line of officers for 2012-2013 Lions calendar year. Somerville Lions Past President Timothy O’Malley was also presented the Somerville Lions Club “Sullivan-Lynch-Ciampa Award” – a second of its kind ever given for excellence in Lionism and for a job well done. Past Somerville Lions Club President Bill Tauro was the first recipient of the award that was presented to him last year for his excellence in Lionism for 2009-2011.

The Somerville Lions Club is a big supporter of Diabetes research, finding the cure for blindness and supports many other local charities in Somerville. Gene Brune, as a Somerville Lion in past years, was the chair person and advocate for the Somerville Lions Club Speech Contest, which allows high school students to be rewarded with a Lions Appreciation Check towards their college needs for the best speech written in a chosen category.

(~Photos by William Tauro)