EAST LIVERPOOL LIONS CLUB
The Lions CLub was formed by Chicago businessman Melvin Jones in 1917. The purpose of this new endeavor was sight-saving. The Lions became an international group in 1920. On September 17th, 1924, with great interest in this relatively new organization, 21 East Liverpool doctors, lawyers and businessmen began meeting every Friday at noon for lunch. The idea caught fire and on February 23rd, 1925, the East Liverpool Lions Club was chartered.
Perhaps the single event having the greatest impact on the association’s service commitment occurred in 1925 when Helen Keller addressed the Lions at their international convention at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. She challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” Lions Club International Foundation is the oldest service organization in the world. The Lions motto is “We Serve.”
The East Liverpool Lions Club has served the community in a variety of ways. Various fundraisers are held to provide the money necessary for eye exams, eyeglasses and eye surgeries. Annual eye screenings are conducted for early elementary school students by a local optometrist, assisted by club members. The Lions Club supports Ohio Lions in Columbus, Ohio; the Ohio Lions purchase pilot dogs for the blind. The ongoing collection of used eyeglasses aids needy people in other countries who do not have regular access to eye care. The Lions also promote and support diabetes research.
Current fundraisers for the Sight-Saving Programs are the Annual Apple Sale held in October and a yard sale – combines with a hot dog and bake sale – held each summer. Other items sold to benefit the work of the Lions include brooms, trash bags and mints, with new ideas being introduced every year. An annual Children’s Christmas Party is held each year for needy first-graders.
The Pottery Festival Queen and her court have been honored at the Friday noon lunch meeting since the inception if the Pottery Festival. Another community outreach effort is the East Liverpool High School Band concert each fall in Devon’s Diamond in downtown East Liverpool.
In 1987, Lions Club International announced that women would be admitted to the club, which was formerly only open to men. The local chapter began accepting women into the membership in 1990, with Past President Artis Calhoun being the first woman inducted. Recognizing the opportunity for the East Liverpool Lions Club to be remembered as serving the youth of our city, Past President Marilyn Wolfe presented the concept of a perpetual honorarium scholarship, through Dollars or Scholars®, to the board. It was unanimously approved.
To this day the East Liverpool Lions Club continues to strive to maintain its historically high standard of community service.
EAST LIVERPOOL LIONS CLUB
The Lions CLub was formed by Chicago businessman Melvin Jones in 1917. The purpose of this new endeavor was sight-saving. The Lions became an international group in 1920. On September 17th, 1924, with great interest in this relatively new organization, 21 East Liverpool doctors, lawyers and businessmen began meeting every Friday at noon for lunch. The idea caught fire and on February 23rd, 1925, the East Liverpool Lions Club was chartered.
Perhaps the single event having the greatest impact on the association’s service commitment occurred in 1925 when Helen Keller addressed the Lions at their international convention at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. She challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” Lions Club International Foundation is the oldest service organization in the world. The Lions motto is “We Serve.”
The East Liverpool Lions Club has served the community in a variety of ways. Various fundraisers are held to provide the money necessary for eye exams, eyeglasses and eye surgeries. Annual eye screenings are conducted for early elementary school students by a local optometrist, assisted by club members. The Lions Club supports Ohio Lions in Columbus, Ohio; the Ohio Lions purchase pilot dogs for the blind. The ongoing collection of used eyeglasses aids needy people in other countries who do not have regular access to eye care. The Lions also promote and support diabetes research.
Current fundraisers for the Sight-Saving Programs are the Annual Apple Sale held in October and a yard sale – combines with a hot dog and bake sale – held each summer. Other items sold to benefit the work of the Lions include brooms, trash bags and mints, with new ideas being introduced every year. An annual Children’s Christmas Party is held each year for needy first-graders.
The Pottery Festival Queen and her court have been honored at the Friday noon lunch meeting since the inception if the Pottery Festival. Another community outreach effort is the East Liverpool High School Band concert each fall in Devon’s Diamond in downtown East Liverpool.
In 1987, Lions Club International announced that women would be admitted to the club, which was formerly only open to men. The local chapter began accepting women into the membership in 1990, with Past President Artis Calhoun being the first woman inducted. Recognizing the opportunity for the East Liverpool Lions Club to be remembered as serving the youth of our city, Past President Marilyn Wolfe presented the concept of a perpetual honorarium scholarship, through Dollars or Scholars®, to the board. It was unanimously approved.
To this day the East Liverpool Lions Club continues to strive to maintain its historically high standard of community service.
Lions are an international network of 1.3 million men and women in 205 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world.
