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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-02-08, Page 1414 Signal Star • Wednesday, February 8, 2017 Goderich Lions roar Facts and stats about what the Goderich Lions do for the community Lions Roy Mason and Doug Bundy Special to the Signal Star What do Goderich Lions actually do? We Serve - that's our motto. We serve our com- munity and others by under- taking activities to improve the quality of life and answer some of the needs that chal- lenge our community. But let's be a little more specific. What did we actu- ally do in our last Lions year, ending on June 30, 2016? - We organized and operated Young Canada Week, the long- est running Peewee hockey tournament in the world (since 1950+)..This tournament, for boys and girls aged 11 and 12, benefits. approximately 500 kids every year - We continued to expand and maintain Camp Klahanie and provided services to it. The camp is located just south of Goderich and is designed primarily for Youth Groups, Family Groups and Civic Organizations to have low- cost camping experiences. The camp, a former Girl Guide Camp, was purchased by Goderich Lions Club several years ago, and has been up- dated with new bunkies for sleeping, new washroom and kitchen facilities, and updated meeting rooms as well as new septic and water systems. Much of the updating and maintenance have been per- formed by Lions members. -We were pleased to take part in the collaboration with other service clubs, organizations and individu- als to help fundraise $150,000 to revamp and update our Dialysis Unit here in Goderich. The Club made a donation of $25,000 to the Dialysis 95 plus 20 fundraising campaign as part of this undertaking. -Our President's job involves long hours and hard work. To recognize these efforts we earmark $10,000 each year to be donated to any charitable purpose of the President's choosing. In the 2015/16 year of his presi- dency, our Lions President donated to the Strong Kids Doug Bundy/Special to the Signal Star A Lions Work Party along with some women from the Town's Parks Dept, after planting spring flowers at the North Harbour Hill. The Lions also maintain these gardens throughout the summer. Campaign of the Goderich YMCA directed at improving the lives of children and youth from families with financial barriers by giving them access to nutritious food, recreation and healthy environments -To assist with the commu- nity's efforts to maintain its "prettiest town in Canada" reference, Lions members work parties maintained. Lions Harbour Park and the North Harbour Lookout in immaculate condition. - We provided free trans- portation to community individuals for hospital visits to London, Stratford and Wingham - We provided a free Lions bus that operates twice a week all year long, to trans- port seniors to local shop- ping areas or to doctor's appointments in Goderich -2017 is the 100th birthday of Lions International and our Club has set aside a very large amount of funds to develop a significant project to commemorate this anni- versary. More about this later in 2017. - We operate Lions Arena and T,V Bingo programs_each week as well as the annual July 1 Beef BBQ and the Zeltrs ticket draw. These are fund- raisers, but they do provide periods of entertainment and community togetherness for those involved. - And we write cheques - lots and lots of cheques to lots and lots of charitable organizations which benefit our community and others. In addition to the $25,000 and the $10,000 referred to above we wrote cheques in 2015/16 totaling over $120,000 to the following organizations: - Related to our commu- nity and the environment - Celtic Pipe Band, Goderich Laketown Band, Maitland Conservation Authority, Menesetung Bridge Associa- tion, Goderich Communities In Bloom program, Maitland Trail Association. -Related to Health - Alzhei- mer Society, Goderich Healthy Hearts, Lions Home for the Deat Canadian Cancer Society, CNIB, Goderich Community Living, Diabetes Association. - Related to Youth - Air Cadets, Big Sisters, Chil- dren's Aid Society, Goderich Ringettes, Foster Parents program, GDCI Challenge program. -Related to Seniors - Mac- Kay Centre as well as provid- ing a Lions member for the Board of Directors at the MacKay Centre. - Related to Others - Crime Stoppers, Lions Guide Dogs program, Royal Canadian Legion. The Goderich Lions Club is proud to be part of a global service group called Lions International, doing what we do for the benefit of our local communities. We take pride in our efforts and the help we provide to those that benefit from our serving. We are currently 76 mem- bers strong and always open to new, energetic individuals that are looking for a way to help our community, filled with lots of enjoyment and socializing with fellow mem- bers. We hold dinner meet- ings on the second and fourth Thursday of each month in the Lions' Den at the Candle- light Restaurant in Goderich If you or someone you know, would like to know more about us and what we do to help our community, you should go to Goderich- I.,ions.ca on the internet or call our membership Chair- man, Lion Roy Mason at 519-612-1534. High zmorris/Special to the Signal Star The Goderich Lions Club donated $5,000 to the Goderich Little Theatre to help in their fundraising efforts to cover the cost of a new HVAC system for The Livery. The cheque presentation was made by Gary Blenkhorn, President of the Goderich Lions Club to Jenna Ujiye, President of the Goderich Little Theatre. On hand for the presentation are on the far left Warren Robinson and far right David Armour, co- writers and directors of the play "Straight Through the Heart" that ran at the Livery Theatre back in November, 2016. Doug Bundy/Spec;al to the Signal Star The annual PeeWee hockey tournament that the Lions have run for over 80 years; we give away several bikes in the "Chuck -a -Puck" contest. Pictured here is Lion Bob Murray with one of the lucky winners last March.