LIONS CLUB OF SYRACUSE HISTORY 

CHARTERED NOVEMBER 1924 

(Revised October 10, 2022)

On November 14, 1924, the Syracuse Lions Club received its Charter from Lions Club International in a special meeting held in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Syracuse. Earlier, in March of 1924 twenty-four Syracuse men met, planned and decided to form the Syracuse Most Lions Club. At the time of the Charter Signing in November, there were seventy-three Charter Members of the Syracuse Host Lions Club. In 1924, When the Syracuse Host Club was Chartered, Lions Clubs International had a membership of 36,943 in 761 club today, Lions Clubs International has more than 1,400,000 members in more than 45, 700 clubs in more than 210 countries and geographic areas throughout the world, and it is the largest service organization in the world, scattered over six continents. LION, the official monthly publication of Lions Clubs International, is printed by authority of the Board of Directors in 21 languages. Lions Clubs throughout the world have been devoted to assisting the sight and hearing handicapped, and promoting sight conservation. However, these are not the only issues that are addressed by Lions Clubs International. When disasters strike, Lions are there to assist in the aftermath of floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, terrorist attacks, and other horrific events. Through the years, the Syracuse Host Club has worked tirelessly in support of programs to assist the blind and hearingimpaired as a primary activity, with several of our members serving on the Board of Directors and as officers of the Onondaga County Association of Workers for the Blind, later to be known as the Lighthouse. The Syracuse Host Club has undertaken projects too numerous to mention individually, related to sight, the hearing handicapped, and sight conservation. In 1935, the Syracuse Host Club promoted the Seeing Eye Dog Program and encouraged the passage of the White Cane Law in the New York State Legislature. In 1948, and again in 1952, the Syracuse Host Club furnished station wagons for the Lighthouse to use. Today, the Syracuse Host Club works in support of AURORA of Central New York (a combination of the Lighthouse and the Association of the Hearing Impaired, an organization that our members helped to establish). In 1931, the Lions Club of Syracuse purchased a Lion for the Syracuse Zoological Gardens. For many years the Lions Club of Syracuse contributed to such community endeavors as the United Way, Junior Achievement, Association for Retarded Children, Cancer Fund, the International Student Exchange Program, the Central New York Association for the Hearing Impaired, the Ronald McDonald House, the American Diabetes Association, and camperships for inner-city children in Syracuse. In recent years we have also been supportive of Blind Bowlers, Aurora, the Central New York Eye and Tissue Bank, Lions Club Camp Hickory, Lions Camp Badger, and Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind. One of our best known efforts of the Syracuse Host Club is our program to provide eye examinations and eye glasses for needy children within the City of Syracuse School District, students who would otherwise not have the means to pay for them. These students are referred to the Syracuse Host Club through their school nurses. In 1955 the Syracuse Host Club helped to organize and sponsor the Central New York Eye Bank which was then located at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. Thousands of eye donor pledges were obtained for the Eye Bank through the efforts of Lions in the Upstate New York area. Hundreds of eye and tissue donors have been provided annually for corneal transplants and eye research because of the efforts of Lions. Lions have also served on the Eye Bank's Board, as Officers and Directors. Through growth, the Eye Bank is now known as the Central New York Eye and Tissue Bank with a parent affiliate in Buffalo, New York, and owns the building facility and equipment it uses in its East Washington Street location in Syracuse, New York. In 1957 the Syracuse Host Lions Club provided $6,000 for materials to construct a Health Lodge for the Boys Scouts of America, at Camp Woodland in Constantia, New York (north of Syracuse, NY). Lions also provided labor and supervision for the completion of this health lodge project which at the time was valued at over $15,000. In 1962 the Host Club joined with seventeen other tons Clubs in Onondaga County to provide funding, which also included a sizable grant from a charity fund, to initiate a program for teaching white cane travel to sight-handicapped persons. The contribution from the Host Club was $2,500. In 1967 the Lions Club of Syracuse purchased a Goldman Perimeter Camera, at a cost of over $2,500, and in 1972, with the provision of a $2,500 contribution, the Syracuse Host Club assisted in the purchase of an Argon Laser which was donated to the Upstate Medical Center for use in performing eye surgery. Later, in 1975, theHost Club contributed $2,000 for the purchase of a Coleman Opthalmascan which was also donated to Upstate Medical Center for use in sight restoration procedures. In 1976 a new dimension of service to the Syracuse area was the incorporation of the Central New York Association for the Hearing Impaired, an agency that provided counseling services, sign language instruction, teletypewriter communications, and advocacy services to the deaf, hearing impaired individuals, and their families. Members of the Lions Club of Syracuse were among the early pioneers in this endeavor, and served as officers and directors on the Association's Board. Lion Carl Dodge was a member of the "Ad Hoc Committee" that organized the Association, and he served as Treasurer. Lion Jack Schweitzer was a founding Director, and Lion Ken Sharkey served as President. Lion Milton Rosenbloom served as Manager, in addition to holding the position of Manager with the Lighthouse, which was closely related to the Association. It should be noted that the advocacy for the hearing impaired is now a part of AURORA, which the Host Club continues to support. When the Central New York Ronald McDonald House was formed, the Syracuse Host Club initiated the funding to provide the furnishing for a bedroom in the facility. The Lions Den, serving Northern and Central New York and Northern Pennsylvania, provides low to no -cost residence to parents of children with serious, often life-threatening illnesses, who are receiving medical treatment at local hospitals. The Lions Club of Syracuse has several fundraisers throughout the year, including, but not limited to, a Citrus Fruit Sale at the beginning of the Holiday Season in November. The Club also sells dining-out discount coupon books that are accepted at area restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, sports events, other amusement activities, and an assortment of retail and service establishments. The Lions Night With the Syracuse Chiefs Baseball Game, a long-standing prime fundraiser of the Host Club, was discontinued when the management of the baseball club changed hands, with team executives expressing a different view of working with non-profit service organizations such as Lions Clubs International. Lions Night at the Ballpark began after we “show cased” our Blind Baseball team prior to a Chief’s game. The Chief’s management were so inspired they agreed to a Lion’s Night at the Ballpark attracting Clubs throughout the district. We allowed the District Governor at the time to throw out the first pitch. Beep baseball began with PDG Doug Russell and then taken over by Lion Dave Chayka who took the team to national play offs. One of our members Lion “Big Bill” Sherrow was a leader on the team. Over the years, the Lions Club of Syracuse has sponsored eleven new Lions Clubs in the Central New York area, and assisted in the formation of others. Eight of our member have served as District Governors of Multiple District 20-Y1: Milton J. Picou (1938-1939), Harold Waldorf (1941-1942), Harold E. Curran (1945-1946), Leonard C. Illingsworth (1949-1950), Robert J. Uplinger (1957-1958), John T. Schweitzer (1961-1962), William C. Weiss (1979-1980), and Douglas G. Russell (2012-2013). Two members of the Host Club have been selected to serve as International Directors: Harold E. Curran (1948-1949), and Robert J. Uplinger(1964-1966). Very few clubs are privileged to have even one such director. In 1971, our very own Robert J. Uplinger, went on to become the 55t* President of Lions Clubs International, following his election to the position at the 1971 International Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was the first International President from Upstate New York, and only the third from New York State. As President, Robert J. Uplinger gave our International Association exceptional leadership with a good growth in total membership and club members. With his faithful wife and Partner In Service, Martha, President "Bob" visited Lions Clubs on six continents and conferred with 47 Heads of State, traveling about 350,00 miles in the fulfillment of his high office. The Syracuse Lions Club is justifiably proud of Past International President Bob Uplinger. It was during his tenure as a Director and later as an Officer, he proposed that Hearing be added to Sight as a primary issue for Lions to embrace as part of the Lions Mission. He reminded the International Board of Directors that when HelenKeller gave her challenge to Lions Clubs International to be "Her Knights of the Blind," » she was not only sightless, but totally deaf, as well. Following his Presidency, Past International President Robert J. Uplinger was appointed as the Lions representative to the United Nations and served with great distinction, increasing participation of the Lions in the United Nations as a non-government organization member. Lion Harold E. Curran, a Charter Member of the Syracuse Host Club, who served as a Multiple District 20-Y 1 District Governor, and International Director, and was instrumental in extending Lionism to Europe, making it truly an International organization. Mr. Torgvy Lange, of Stockholm, Sweden, visited one of our meetings,and wanted to learn more about our unique organization. With his great imagination and vision, Lion HaroldCurran took him to an International Convention in Philadelphia. Mr. Lange was so impressed and inspired, that he set out to form a Lions Club in his native Stockholm, Sweden. In 1949, Lion Harold Curran, then an International Director, presented Charters to the first Lions Clubs in Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland. In 1938 and again in 1949, the Syracuse Host Club had the privilege of entertaining Melvin Jones, the founder of Lions Clubs International. Other International Presidents have visited our club, as well, Including Dr. R Collazo, of Havana, Cuba in 1947, Dr. Eugene S. Briggs of Enid Oklahoma in 1949, Claude De Vorss, of Wichita, Kansas in 1964, W. Richard Bryan, of Doylestown, Ohio in 1969, S.A. Dodge, of Detroit, Michigan in 1969, and Al Brandel, in 2014. International Vice Presidents who have visited the Lions Club of Syracuse have included Per Gustav Stahl, a Second Vice President from Eskilstuna, Sweden in 1959; Harry J. Aslan, First Vice President from Kingsburg, California in 1974, as he helped the Syracuse Host Club to celebrate its Golden Anniversary;» William Chandler, First Vice President from Montgomery, Alabama, who was the keynote guest speaker at the celebration of the 55th anniversary of the Syracuse Host Club in 1979. Melvin Jones, the founder of Lions Clubs International, said it so well, many years ago, "May there always be goals for Lionism; goals that cause us to reach higher, work harder, run faster, but may those goals always be just beyond reach, giving us constant challenge in the years that lie ahead. Two of our members received the illustrious “Grand Master’s Key” each for bringing in over 50 new members. They were PID Harold Curran and PDG Douglas G. Russell. A feat no other Lion in 20Y has accomplished. (READING ACTION PROGRAM) In the year 2012, Lions Clubs International President Wayne A. Madden stated that he, Once heard that smart people learn from their own experience, but wise people learn from the experience of others. In other words, our own life. however rich and varied, is a drop of water in the ocean of human experience." Since the ability of our sitting down to talk to great numbers of people is limited by a multitude of circumstances, the great value of books, the compilation of human experience, is very significant in the promotion of literacy. The ability to read is critical to the development of our children. It is the key to getting a good job, and having a decent life. Reading propels our children toward attaining their greatest potential, and enrichment. President Madden says, Literacy gives us the tools to take our place in society as informed and active citizens. Reading also helps us to cultivate a deeper and better appreciation of ourselves.. We learn about ourselves and form our ideas through reading. Literacy is the window to self-knowledge, the fulcrum for solid thinking and the lever to effective action. International President Wayne Madden challenged Lions throughout the world to create a RAP video for their clubs, and to participate in the RAP Program. RAP stands for Reading Action Program, to improve literacy and access to learning resources. This was a call to Lions throughout the world to organize service projects and activities within their communities that underscored the importance of reading and specific needs related to literacy. President Madden's theme, “In A World of Service" was a call to action for Lions to stress the importance of parents and children reading together, and also address the need for healthy vision. Lions were also encouraged to establish book drives for the donation of books, and to set up programs for free eye examinations. help children succeed in school. Under the auspices of RAP, Lions have served as volunteer readers. Reading aloud to children has been a very effective way to prepare them to ucceed in school. Lions have made it easy for the children in their communities, especially those exposed to poverty, to have books and look forward to reading. Books contain many words that children are unlikely to encounter frequently in spoken language, and books contain 50% more rare words than prime time television or college student conversations.There are nearly 800 million people around the world today who cannot read. Literacy not only forms the basis for individual academic, occupational, and social success, but it can also empower communities to fight poverty, reduce child mortality, achieve gender equality, and ensure peace and democracy. RAP can change the world through its focus on reading. RAP PROGRAM CREDITS: Accepting the challenge of International President Wayne Madden, then District Governor Douglas Russell, worked with Lions Mary McDowell and Karen Smith of the Lions Club of Syracuse, volunteering as mentors and reading tutors at the Eagle Wings Academy (EWA) for the young students at the facility. Eagle Wings Academy was a faith-based school that serves students who come from disadvantaged family circumstances in the City of Syracuse. The school receives no government funding or taxpayer dollars to maintain its scholastic program, and relies heavily upon community support, including donations from foundations and individuals. Mrs. Anna Shipe, Administrator of the Eagle Wings Academy (EWA), expressed the need for volunteers to assist in improving the reading skills of her students at the Academy. Fulfilling that request for volunteers helped our Club to participate in our Lions "Reading Action Program (RAP)" Volunteer tutors from our Lions Club have made a significant difference in the improvement of EWA student reading skills. Our mission in the RAP Program is to expose children, their parents, families, neighbors and communities to an information implosion, a concentration of meaningful facts, nuggets of truth, ideas, observations, connectors, and contexts, through the mining of scores of books, magazines, manuscripts, interesting papers, press releases, speeches, etc., extracting rough diamonds to be cut into precious gems of thought and opinion. During the school year, Lions from the Lions Club of Syracuse have averaged more than 22 tutoring hours per month at the Eagle Wings Academy. It should be noted that the Lions Club of Syracuse has an ongoing relationship with EWA, and reading tutors are still very much in need. LIONS S.E.E. PROGRAM (Screening Eyes EARLY AND "SPOT CAMERA” Since the year 2008, Multiple Districts of the Lions Clubs of New York State and Bermuda have been performing vision screenings for young children,six years of age and under, using a special cameras one of which being the "SPOT CAMERA” and peripheral equipment, for early detection of poor vision and treatable eye conditions, including amblyopia, strabismus, cataracts, and other serious eye conditions. As a result of these examinations, There have also been many sight-saving surgeries. Children found with problems are referred by their parents and families to medical eye specialists for care and treatment. During his term of office as District Governor of Multiple District 20-Y1 of Lions Clubs of New York State and Bermuda, District Governor Douglas Russell suggested at a Club's Board of Directors meeting that a Motion be approved to permit the Syracuse Host Lions Club to designate $6,800 in a check made payable to the Multiple District 20-Y 1, for the purchase of a "SPOT CAMERA” The Club's Board approved this action per District Governor Doug's request, and shortly thereafter, MD 20-Y1 was able to purchase a "SPOT CAMERA," to be used in the eye examinations of the targeted young children. Obviously, the more SPOT Cameras that we have available for use, the more "Eye Screening Clinics can be scheduled within our Club and Multiple District boundaries. A few months after the initial purchase of the SPOT CAMERA for MD 20-Y 1, the Lions Club of Syracuse received a second approval from it's Board of Directors to purchase an additional "SPOT CAMERA' and peripheral equipment at a cost of $7,541.00, with said equipment to be used for the exclusive use of the Lions Club of Syracuse. Some time later the necessity of more cameras was The Syracuse Host Club now owns two SPOT CAMERAS, and accordingly, the Club can schedule many more. "Eye Screening Clinics" within the Syracuse area, even when the MD 20-Y1 camera is in use by other Lions Clubs elsewhere within the Multiple District (which comprises approximately 26 Clubs. Eventually it became difficult to provide adequate screening with 2 cameras. So PDG Doug Russell approached the Central New York Community with the problem. Once providing them with the analytical process, it was agreed the CNY Community Foundation would provide us with 2 more cameras and printers. Syracuse Host Lions were the first to provide Cameras to Central/South America. When PDG Doug performed his missionary work it was clear to see the needs for cameras there, So he worked out a deal with School Alliance the Company the cameras were sold through, to donate a used Camera to the Panama City Lions Club. Later donating a camera by himself to the Medellin Metropolitan Lions Club. Through the efforts of PDG Governor Douglas G. Russell while performing missionary work in Columbia South America, the Lions of Medellin Metropolitan Club requested to become a “Sister Club” to the Syracuse Host Lions. Upon arriving back in the United States, PDG Doug took this request back to the Syracuse Host BOD who unanimously approved the request. Thus setting up Syracuse Host as International and being the only club in 20Y to do so 11/17/2021. In 2021 the world changed with a virus from China named “Covid” This caused everyone from meeting together to meeting via “Zoom Meetings” an application over the intranet. However the Syracuse Host Lions stuck to their “We Serve” and provided meals on wheels and worked food pantries. We consistently donated thousands of dollars to LCIF and needy organizations within Syracuse even though we were not having fundraisers. Thanks to the generosity of our wonderful members.