Lions celebrate 85th anniversary Saturday
By Lauren Vokish, lvokish@timesobserver.comL.I.O.N.S.
The acronym that stands for Liberty, Intelligence and Our Nation's Safety also stands for 85 years of dedicated service to the Warren County community.
The Warren County Lions Club will celebrate its 85th anniversary this Saturday at the Conewango Valley Country Club with a dinner, Chinese auction, entertainment from John Crone and special International Lion's Club guest speaker Dr. Harold R. Ott.
"This is just a way to honor all the men and women that have supported the community through the various Lions Club groups and services," said John Crone past district governor and chairman of event. "It will be very special to have Dr. Ott speak to us about his experiences and give us advice for the future."
Dr. Ott currently lives in Boalsbourg, Pa., and was elected to serve a two-year term as a director of the International Association of Lions Clubs at the association's 90th international convention held in Chicago last year.
He has received many distinguished honors such as the International President's Medal, Distinguished Service Award, Past International President Joseph Wroblewski Award and many others.
"Being a part of the Lions Club has always been very satisfying," said Crone, who joined 50 years ago. "Motto is 'We Serve,' and that says a lot within itself."
Since 1923, the Lions Club has provided Warren with playground equipment, supported Crippled Children Committee (now the Don Mills Achievement Center) in 1925, Warren County Tuberculosis Society in 1926, held first "Daisy Day" for Warren Lions Blind Fund (now White Cane Days) in 1933, Warren County Heart Association in 1950, established the Warren Eye Bank in 1968 and the Warren Leo Club in 1977.
They continue to sponsor Pine Grove and Sugar Grove Lions Clubs, which have since merged, and the Sheffield Lions Club.
In addition, they started a program to aid hearing implants as well as "talking" machines to Warren County deaf residents so they could communicate on the telephone in the 1980s.
"Some of my fondest memories have been through the Lions Club," said Crone. "We once sent a lady to leader dog school to able maneuver the streets by herself, and when she came back it was very nice to be able to see her do it by herself. I also had a young man go to Beacon Lodge Camp for the Blind and made a pottery plate as a gift for me. It is a gift that I treasure still today."
The Lions Club continues to collect eyeglasses, give hearing aids, glaucoma screenings, participate in the Christmas Walk, ring The Salvation Army bells at Christmas and host a steak fry and golf outings throughout the year. They also have many fundraising activities such as the January turkey dinner, the "Weenie Wagon" concession, the Sight Mail Campaign, Lions Mint Dispensers, Sight and Sidewalk Days and the annual car shows.
Crone said the response Lions Club members get from the local they help is great.
"They are so happy with what they receive from the Lions Club. Whether it be glasses or hearing aids, they are grateful they can lead a normal life," said Crone.
