Lions Dan Lewis, left, and Bill Garland, right, presented a cheque to Robb Merkley for the Dick Ready’s Memorial Christmas Tree fund.
President Dave Marshall, left, from the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 542 gives Lion Craig Jackson a cheque for $1,000 towards the Westport Lions Toy Drive.
Westport Lions Roar
By Lion Bob Reddick
You can always improve the way you do things. The highlight of the last general meeting was the presentation of disbursement cheques to local organizations. In the past, the Westport Lions met with the recipients at any suitable location and took a picture. The whole ceremony only lasted the time it takes to snap a picture and write down names.
This year under the leadership of Lions Jim McGlade and Dorothy Maynard, the club had the representatives of each organization tell the packed clubhouse a little about their organization and how they intended to spend the money they received. All members were able to hear the value of the club’s donations, and its benefit to the community. In addition, the event allowed the recipients to personally thank the club and witness the breadth of the Westport Lions’ support of the community.
The Westport Lions were not the only organization to hand out cheques during the evening. When the Westport Royal Canadian Legion Branch 542 heard that our financial donations for the Lions’ Toy Drive were lower this year compared to previous years, they decided to donate $1,000 to the Lions’ Toy Drive. The Westport Lions Club thanks the Legion for their outstanding generosity.
While the toy drive donations were down, the number of toys donated increased. Chairperson Jan Gagnon thanks Kudrinko’s, Rosie Yumski’s, Westport United Church and St. Edward Catholic School for their support. Jeannette Harper and Lions Barb Fritz and Kris Henderson Klatt arranged all the toys in categories to help Jan determine what she needed to buy to fill in any gaps. This year the number of children receiving toys is 43, up from 23 last year. Lion Kim Kelly collected toys from the various locations and brought them to the clubhouse. Kim will also help Jan fill individual bags with toys according to age. A special thanks to Jan Gagnon for her many hours spent to ensure all local children will have a wonderful Christmas. Jan graciously said, “I am grateful and amazed how the community shows up year after year to support the Westport Lions Club Toy Drive.”
One of the organizations that the Lions donated to during the evening is the Dick Ready’s Memorial Christmas Tree at the top of Foley Mountain. Dick started the tradition in 1987 when he ran seven, 100-foot extension cords from the bottom of Westport Mountain to the top. Sadly, Mr. Ready passed away the following summer, but the initiative has been taken over by Robb Merkley who has done it for the last 35 years. The tree is traditionally lit on the evening of the Westport Lions Santa Claus parade. On Christmas Eve at 7:00 p.m., the lights are turned off, and a star is placed on top. Then, the names of people in the area who have passed away during the past year are read. People in attendance have a chance to add the names of loved ones if they wish. Finally, the tree lights are turned back on until mid-February. It is a wonderful sight the whole town enjoys every year.
Westport Lions Club 