A special evening was prepared at the home of Jean Peterson, for the Hawthorne Lions Club to host Barry Temple, the Lion’s District Governor for the 2017-18 year, as well as his predecessor, Cal Bushek. Accompanying this group was Lion’s Vice District Governor, Al Van Gordon with his wife, Evelyn who had traveled in from the Nevada District 46, Las Vegas group, who will also be sponsoring the 101st Lion International Convention in the summer of 2018.
Within this meeting of food and fellowship, a time of sharing about the current 100-year celebration was still a highlight, as Lions International had been proudly serving others around the globe in their first century of volunteering. With service at its core, there are many areas to focus on, including assisting others with their volunteer skills; grants and fundraising for specific projects; making an impact within local communities as well as sponsoring global teams in the areas where “kindness counts” and volunteerism is vital.
Locally it was the Lions Club which gave the land for the development of the Lions Park on Armory Road. They are also responsible for teaming up with the Garden Club in watering the city’s floral displays down E Street and Fifth Street in town. With a strong vision for a pleasant town entrance, displays such as the large pine tree, located across from Veterans Park and decorated at Christmas, was a Lions project. Other plans are on the drawing board to encompass a strong impact within Hawthorne’s community “welcome mat” as well as expanding local membership.
Temple shared, “Our organization is so much more that collecting glasses through our vision and eyeglass outreach and yet many don’t really know how much we can provide. We are problem-solvers, service-people and in our communities to help.”
With an urge to grow membership in various age groups, some of the highlighted areas in the Lions Club include environmental issues; hunger relief; diabetes assistance; pediatric cancer and teaming-up with other area groups to provide leadership and assistance when needed. As part of a global network of 1.4 million in the Lions Club membership, one could say that the motto of “Something Big and Something Special” is a term embraced by its members.
One program entitled “The White Cane” gives Lions the opportunity to assist the blind and become an essential aid as funds are raised for awareness. Communities will see the white canes handed out as an October reminder for this important event which began in the 1930’s.
The next local event will be the Hawthorne Lions Club hosting the first hiker’s booth along the 9/11 Memorial Mt. Grant Challenge on Sept. 9. Anyone wishing to volunteer alongside the Lion’s members can do so by contacting Tammy Bunch or Jean Peterson for further information. Meetings are held in the evenings once a month and anyone with interest is encouraged to join. A Leo Club at the high school could be formed with enough interest, so young people can learn how to volunteer and serve within the local community, while developing valuable leadership skills.
