From the left, Lions Peter Minnelli, Bob Reddick, Jim McGlade, Harry Beckett, Don Baker, Dorothy Maynard, and Barry Winfield gave out information and collected donations during Diabetes Tag Day.
Westport Lions honour those who gave their lives at the Remembrance Day services in Newboro and Westport.
Westport Lions Roar
By Lion Bob Reddick
It could have been cold and frosty at the Westport Lions last general meeting, but President Dorothy Maynard and Wayne Smokie Sherwood saved the day. The furnace at the Lions’ den was malfunctioning, so Dorothy lent her industrial heater. Smokie installed it, and this enabled the club to provide a warm welcome for our guests from the Elgin Lions Club.
One of the reasons the Elgin Lions attended Westport’s meeting was to retrieve their gavel. It is a long-standing Lion tradition that if the situation presents itself, a visiting club will try to pilfer the host’s gavel. Before Lion Jim McGlade gave the Elgin Lions back their gavel, he drilled a hole at the end and tied a rope to it so the Elgin members could hold on to it better in the future.
These visitations not only create a fun evening but enable Lions to learn from each other. From Westport’s last visit to Elgin Lions Club, the Westport Lions adapted some of Elgin’s meeting procedures. In turn, the Elgin Lions observed how the Westport Lions disburse funds to organizations.
The Westport Lions disbursed $12,300 to 16 different organizations this fall. The revenue from the Westport Lions Reuse and Recycle Centre continues to be a valuable source of income for the club. Under the rules set out by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the club could not donate to three local, worthy organizations using money generated from lotteries, but the club could use money earned from the R. and R.
On November 4, seven Lions collected $386.26 during the club’s Diabetes Tag Day. The purpose of this event is to educate the community about the seriousness of diabetes and show our support for individuals living with diabetes by raising money to fund education, support services, advocacy, and diabetes research.
Currently, 11.7 million Canadians are living with diabetes or prediabetes, that’s one in three of us. Over 50% of type 2 diabetes is preventable through diet and exercise.
On Friday, November 24, a Pride of Lions will be at Westport’s Christmas Market selling the few remaining 2024 Cash Calendars and Christmas cakes. The club will also provide free hot chocolate to attendees.
The Westport Lions Club Santa Claus parade will start at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 25 from the CircleK/Esso. The theme for this year’s parade is a Gingerbread Christmas.
For further details, refer to last week’s edition of the Review-Mirror or the Westport Lions Facebook page or website (westportlions.ca). The Westport Rideaus will collect non-perishable food items for the food bank, and the Westport Lions will accept unwrapped toys for the toy drive. Cash donations are welcome for both charities.
Westport Lions Club 