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Community Corner

Area Lions announce 2013/14 Leadership

Lion Barbara Chuck,  a five  year member of the Nanuet Lions Club, will serve as  District Governor,  for  the  upcoming year.  Lion Barbara, who suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative retinal disorder, is the first legally blind Lion to serve as District Governor in  this area.  Lion Dennis Hardy, a  twelve  year member of the Blauvelt Lions Club, and also former mayor of Piermont, NY , and Lion Steve  DeName, a  six    year member of the Croton Lions Club,  have been installed as  First  and Second Vice District Governors,  respectively of Lions District 20 R 1, which represents Northern Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland Counties  and currently supports  980 members who serve in   31 clubs.

“Lions Clubs are about helping the vision impaired  and  service to the less fortunate in their communities,”  says  District  Governor Barbara.  “This  year,   we  want  to  renew our  support  of  people with  disabilities,    and    encourage   club  efforts  that meet  basic community needs.”  

DG  Barbara announced plans for a  series  of  food drives throughout the year, as a way to help the less fortunate, and  give  Lions Clubs a way to present themselves in the community.    District Lions Clubs     completed a collection at  Blauvelt Stop and Shop earlier this month  --  they  filled three  SUV s  with donations, which were given to  Rockland  area pantries.    The Yorktown Lions Club is collecting donations at their summer concert series, and the Brewster Lions completed  a food drive earlier this  summer.

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She is asking  each member club to establish a first responder Liaision – Lions  ALERT --   Lions were  present at the World Trade Center, the aftermath of the Newtown shooting,  and the Hurricane  Sandy storm  damage.    “We respond --   we are there alongside first responders, helping as needed    ---   we want to be out in front when circumstances present,”  according to DG  Barbara.    

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Vision related initiatives will be another major part of the Lion Program in  2013/14, according to  DG  Barbara.   Lions  currently work with  Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown, Vacation Camp for the Blind in New Hempstead, and run  Project SEE – an amblyopic eye screening program for preschoolers --  throughout the tri county area.     

DG  Barbara  wants the   Lion District to  have  an increased  role with  diabetes awareness --  diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among working age  adults  -- and  is planning events  in  conjunction with American  Diabetes  Association.   

She is  also calling  upon  clubs to involve themselves with  retinal degenerative  diseases.          Lion  Barbara, who is  legally blind  due to retinitis pigmentosa, says “  just because I  cannot drive,     that  doesn’t stop me from   getting  around  to  protect the  sight of the  people around me.”

 

 DG  Barbara  Chuck,  First VDG Dennis Hardy, and Second VDG  Steve DeName

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with nearly 1.35 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in 206 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit www.lionsclubs.org.

 

For  more information on  Lions  Clubs,   contact  Carl Anderson, District  Public Relations Co-Chair at   LionCAA11@gmail.com .


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