HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-04-15, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010.Blyth Lions Club celebrates 65 years in styleThe Blyth Lions Club was facedwith a difficult question recently;how do you celebrate 65 year ofservice and fellowship?The group decided their best bet
would be a gala evening with
members, friends, and dignitaries
on hand to recognize the efforts of
the group and their membership.
The evening was successful
according to Lion’s First Vice
Governor John Stewart.
“I thought it went very well,” he
said. “We were very happy with the
number of people, we had 122 in
attendance.”
Stewart, who took over hosting
duties for Club president Mark
Nesbitt, who was attending the
birth of his child, said that the
group originally forecast 65-75
attendees, but were pleasantly
suprised with the support from
neighbouring clubs.
“We had guests from the
government, and from other local
clubs, like Goderich.”
The event, which was prepared
by a committee to keep the awards
as secret as possible, saw honorary
lifetime memberships given out to
Lions’ members for their
contributions to the group and the
community.
Six members of the Lions, Bill
Logue, Ernie Phillips, Gord
Jenkins, Bev Blair, Steve Howson
and Brenda McDonald, were given
honorary memberships from the
group that will support the Lion’s
Service Dog Program.
“If we donate enough money to
[one of our services], we’re given
an honourary life membership to
award to a member of our
choosing,” Stewart said.
The service dogs are a key focus
of the Blyth Lions Club, according
to Stewart, because it is a service
used locally.
“We’ve had people in our
community who use the services of
a dog guide,” Stewart said. “We
support it because of that public
usage.”
Three local members of the
Lions, Ken Stewart, Alec Blair and
Don “Barney” Stewart, were
awarded the Melvin Jones
Fellowship, a very prestigiousaward that accompanies anhonorarium to be donated to theLions’ Club InternationalFoundation.“Melvin Jones was the founderof the Lions,” Stewart said. “Themoney goes into the Lions’ Club
International Foundation, and is
used mainly for sight conservation.
We’re hoping to eradicate and
prevent blindness world-wide.”
Stewart went on to say the award
is the most prestigious a Lion can
recieve.
The last award of the evening
was the Helen Keller Light in the
Darkness award, presented to Lion
Charlie Shaw.
“The Lions have donated and
helped with the construction of
several schools for the deaf,”
Stewart said. “And for donating
so much money, this award is given
to the club to present to a member.”
The Lions also presented a
history book that was formed by
collecting past pictures and
documents from members of the
club.
“We put the book together
through present and former Lions
members,” Stewart said.
The biggest surprise when
gathering the history was the
amount, according to Stewart.
“[The information] was
scattered, but it all eventually came
together, and we found some very
interesting things,” he said.
“And it’s going to just keep
expanding.”
The book will be brought to the
next Lions’ meeting, and public
availability will be determined
then.
“We would like to get it
someplace where the public can
look through it,” Stewart said.
The Lions Club thanks the public
for their part in their 65 years in
Blyth.
“The programs and projects
wouldn’t work without support
from the public,” he said.
“[Public support] allows us to
operate things like the Lions’
park.”
The Lions next event will be the
Barn Dance, held on the last
weekend in May, in conjuction
with CKNX radio.
By Denny ScottThe Citizen
Charlie’s celebration
Charlie Shaw was awarded the Helen Keller Light in the Darkness award at the Blyth Lions
Club 65th anniversary. The award is given to a deserving Lion, and represents a donation
made on behalf of the club to helping build and maintain homes and schools for the deaf
throughout the world. (Denny Scott photo)
Melvin Jones Fellowship
Blyth Lions Ken Stewart, Alec Blair and Don “Barney” Stewart were awarded the Melvin Jones
Fellowship at the Blyth Lions’ 65th anniversary celebration. The award is given to deserving
Lions, and represents a donation made on behalf of the club to The Lions Club International
Foundation. (Denny Scott photo)
Lion lifers
Six local Lions Club Members were honoured with
honorary lifetime memberships. The cost of the
memberships help fund training for service dogs, and are
awarded to deserving Lions. The honoured Lions were Bill
Logue, Ernie Phillips, Gord Jenkins, Bev Blair, Steve
Howson and Brenda McDonald. (Denny Scott photo)