public's support of their upcoming events, which aid a number of worthy causes: The Hamilton Lions' annual Gas-o-rama will be held this Saturday, February 26, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at Terceira's Gas Station on North Shore Road in Smith's parish. Lions and Lionesses will be pumping gas, checking oil, cleaning windshields and selling raffles in aid of the Sunshine League.

Funds from the White Cane Tag Days -- March 19 and 20 -- are used by the Lions Sight Conservation Committee to help many Bermudians obtain the eye care they are unable to afford themselves.

Lions Blood Drives are not just for club members. Transfusion services at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital are always in need of voluntary donations from healthy people. Join the Lions and Lionesses for the first Blood Drive of 1993 on March 16, 23 and 25, at KEMH's blood bank.

The Paget Lions and both of the Island's Leo Clubs will be taking over grocery packing at Lindo's Market in Devonshire on April 3, to raise money for charity. Over $13,000 has been raised by the event since it began in 1988, benefitting such organisations as Bermuda Special Olympics, the Sunshine League and the Bermuda Society for the Blind.

PAGET CLUB The Paget Lions Club has recently embarked on what it describes as its "most significant undertaking'' to date.

A Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established in memory of one of the club's founding members, the late Mr. Leon Gibbons.

Funding for this education assistance scheme has come from contributions in lieu of flowers in Mr. Gibbons' name, and money raised at a memorial dinner-dance.

The Memorial Scholarship Fund will provide $1,000 in supplementary assistance to successful applicants who wish to pursue a post-secondary education or technical programme.

PEACE POSTER CONTEST/BAND Lions Clubs International has sponsored a peace poster contest every year since 1989, aiming to underscore the importance of world peace in young people.

Bermuda has had a number of outstanding entries, most notably Devonshire Academy student Andre Trott, whose work of art was among the final 25 out of the 20,000 entries in 1989's contest.

His sponsoring club, the Hamilton Lioness Club, was justifiably proud when Andre's poster was displayed in the United Nations building.

Last year, two students sponsored by the Eastern Lions Club -- Katie Neff from Chaffee High School and Nadine Blake from St. George's Secondary -- advanced to the second round of the New York state competition.

Gifted musical students selected by the Island's clubs are also offered a unique opportunity to play with the Lions Youth Band at the annual New York-Bermuda District Convention.

This trip affords the young musicians the chance to play in a large band and make new friends overseas.

PLAYGROUNDS Many of the Island's playgrounds for the young -- and young at heart -- owe their existence and upkeep to Lions and Lionesses.

The Sandys Lions Club provided a playground for the children of the parish with the permission of the Bermuda Government in 1980.

The park, which is located behind the Somerset bus terminal, has had its swings, slides and other equipment kept in good repair by club members.

Eastern Lions and Lionesses have donated equipment and their time to two recreation areas: Mullet Bay Park in St. George's and Lighthouse Park in St.

David's. Members continue to keep both facilities in tip-top condition.

MR. LIONS -- Founding member Mr. W.F. (Chummy) Hayward calls Joe Ferreira "Mr. Lions''. And since Mr. Ferreira joined the Hamilton Lions Club 35 years ago, it's a title few would argue with following his untiring service to the community. The Paget Club's secretary/treasurer believes the two most significant advancements in Bermudian Lionism were the desegregation of the club in the late 1960s and the development of the sight conservation programme.