![](art/transparent.gif) |
![](art/transparent.gif) |
![](art/01-16Chris.jpg) |
Dr. Chris Bennett
|
The Lions of Belize Lions
Zone 59 are coming to San Pedro this weekend to learn, share experiences and
have fun as part of the 24th
Annual Belize Lions Convention. Leading this dynamic group of individuals is the
Zone Chairman, Lion Dr. Chris Bennett of Belize City. The San
Pedro Sun is therefore most pleased to feature this week the
highest authority of Lionism in Belize, Dr. Chris Bennett. Although not a
resident of Ambergris Caye, through his leadership of the Lions of Belize, Dr.
Bennett subsequently helps our community. Lion Dr.
Chris Bennett was born in Belize City on April 19 th, 1943. Lion Bennett attended Salvation
Army Elementary School in Belize City and then Belize Technical College. He
earned a Degree in Dental Surgery from the Royal Dental Hospital at the
University of London, England and received his license to practice Dental
Surgery in England, in 1973. Two years later he received a scholarship naming
him a British Commonwealth Fellow which enabled him to return to London where he
pursued a Postgraduate Degree in Public Health Dentistry through the Royal
College of Surgeons in England. He then successfully completed his postgraduate
course in Oral Surgery at the Nihon University, School of Medicine in Tokyo,
Japan. He has served as both a dental consultant for the United States Peace
Corp and the Pan American and World Health Organization, PAHO/WHO in
Belize. Dr. Bennett was employed in the Dental Department
of the Ministry of Health for 25 years. He retired as Chief Dental Officer in
1998 and now maintains a full-time private dental practice in Belize City.
During his years of service with the Government of Belize he championed the
cause of Dental Health Education and Dental Disease Prevention programs
throughout Belize and organized a number of successful Annual Dental Health
Weeks. He was instrumental in drafting the first National Oral Health Plan for
Belize in 1986 and initiated the National Salt Fluoridation Program. As a member
of an international dental team, he completed a long-term clinical study on how
a specific kind of chewing gum (Xylitol) prevented tooth decay and gum disease.
His research was subsequently published in a number of international dental
journals. Throughout his marriage to wife/Lion Irma and
being the father of three children, Lion Dr. Chris Bennett has found time to
demonstrate the Lions Motto "We Serve". He has continuously volunteered his
time, skills and energy to activities promoting the medical and dental
professions. He served as President of the Belize Medical and Dental Association
(BMDA) and received their "Honored Member Award" for ëoutstanding and dedicated
service to the BMDA and the Belizean community' in 1994 and 2000. He has served
as Chairman of the Belize Medical Council and President of the Belize Dental
Society, and was the Convention Chairman for the 9 th Caribbean-Atlantic Regional Dental
Association's (CARDA) Biennial Convention, held in Belize in 1997. He is
presently an Executive Member of CARDA and was appointed to the Ministry of
Health's National Health Reform Committee. Lion Dr. Chris Bennett has also acted
as the Secretary General of the Belize Jaycees and as President of the
Belize/Michigan Partners of the Americas for a number of
years. In 1989, Dr. Bennett joined the Belize City
Lions Club. He has served the club in a variety of capacities, rising to the
position of President in 1996. He received the 100% President's Award from Lions
International, as well as several awards from the National Belize Lions District
59 and the Belize City Lions Club. In recognition of his active role in the
national organization, Dr. Bennett was elected to the highest post of Lionism in
Belize, Belize Lions Zone 59 Chairman, in June of 2000.
Lion Dr. Chris Bennett describes Lions as a group of people who demonstrate
specific talents or show energy, vision, enthusiasm, goodwill, understanding or
determination, when it comes to activities that are important to their
neighborhood, their community or their country. He extends an invitation to
anyone who is prepared to share his or her special skills with the less
fortunate, to become a member of the more than 1.4 million Lions in this
world-wide organization. "Perhaps there is someone out there who has a desire to
give a ëpart of themselves' in return for the benefits their community has given
them," stated Lion Bennett. He also hastened to add that it is not all work. He
explained, "As a Lion member I have gained personal satisfaction, shared
fun-filled experiences, and learned leadership skills, not to mention the
friendship and great fellowship I have enjoyed both locally and
internationally." Dr. Chris Bennett is urging members of
the community to become Lions members because "Lions continue to make
significant differences in our communities and the lives of others." He offered
his personal philosophy as "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life
by what we give." We thank Dr. Bennett for his service to Belize Lions,
and for reaching out to the hearts and minds of all people in and around "Our
Community."
|
| ![](art/transparent.gif) |
![](art/transparent.gif) |