Lions Michael Harris, Dave Blair, Wayne Bent and Harry Beckett gave out candy to over 100 young people on Halloween.
Westport Lions Roar
By Lion Bob Reddick
November is going to be another busy month for the Westport Lions Club. On Sunday, November 4th local Lions Club International representative and membership chair Jim McGlade, secretary Bob Reddick and president Wayne Bent attended a Zone 30 South meeting in Gananoque.
The guest speaker was Lion Jim Devenny coordinator for Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) for our district, A-4. “LCIF is the official charitable organization of Lions Clubs International. It supports the efforts of Lions clubs worldwide in serving their local and global communities. LCIF’s programs preserve sight, combat disabilities, promote health, serve youth and provide disaster relief.” Most of the money Canadian Lions clubs donate to LCIF stays in Canada. Fifty percent of the purchasing cost of our mobility vans, approximately $35,000 each, was covered by LCIF grants.
By setting the timer on his phone, Lion Jim illustrated that every two minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer, each day, 245 people die from measles; 66% of children report being a victim of bullying; 400 million people in the world live with diabetes; 800 million people in the world will go to bed hungry; by 2025 half the world may be worried about the quality or quantity of their water supply; 250 million individuals are blind or visually impaired. What do all these statistics have in common? They all can be mitigated, reduced, treated or prevented.
Since its start in 1968, LCIF has approved over one billion dollars in over 13,216 grants to:
- Conduct nine million cataract surgeries and 270 million treatments of river blindness through their SightFirst initiative;
- Sixteen million youth have been helped to make positive choices regarding drugs, bullying, life choices, and self-learning and character development through LionsQuest programs;
- Disaster relief;
- Humanitarian Services.
One of the major reasons LCIF is so successful is that it partners with organizations such as The Carter Centre to eliminate river blindness, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that works toward eradicating measles and US State Department and the government of China to eradicate trachoma in rural areas.
Other agenda items were the explanation the criteria for Club Excellence Award, a discussion on ways to attain new members, keeping present members and encouraging enthusiasm among the membership.
Also, a new procedure was explained how individual clubs are to deal with recycled glasses. The Westport Lions Club will gladly accept prescription glasses, sunglasses and reading glasses. They can either be plastic or metal frames. Children’s glasses are especially needed. You can give your old glasses to any Lions member.
The membership would like to wish Lions Marty Hawkins and Kevin Northcott a speedy recovery.
Don’t forget the 2018 Santa Claus Parade which will take place on Saturday, November 24th with this year’s theme being, A Canadian Christmas. The Club will collect food or money for the local food bank. Chairperson Craig Jackson with committee members Dale Lyons and Heather Huth have been working hard to make this year’s parade the best ever.
Westport Lions Club 