KATRINA BOGUSKI
Freelance
Palmer Rapids – This past Saturday the Palmer Rapids and area Lions Club celebrated 35 years of service in the community. The group is one of over 1400 clubs which span 29 districts in Canada. Their mission is “To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through
Lions clubs.”
The event began with a social time at 4:00 prior to opening remarks and the introduction of the head table, with club member Sharon Schweig serving as the master of ceremonies. Attendees then enjoyed a buffet dinner before hearing from guest speakers; a brief history of the club was also provided and deceased members were honoured.
According to the history of the organization on the Lions of Canada website, “Lions began in the United States in 1917 when a group of independent clubs responded to an idea presented to them by a young Chicago insurance agent, Melvin Jones. He believed that local business clubs should expand their horizons from purely professional concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at large.” The source also stated, “The association became “international” with the formation in 1920 of the “Border City Lions Club” of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Lions, identified afterward as the Windsor (Downtown) Lions Club. From that time on clubs were formed worldwide.”
The local club started in 1990 when charter member Ted Thompson gathered a group of like-minded people eager to serve their community. Originally the club included Palmer Rapids, Combermere and Quadeville, and today it includes Palmer Rapids and Combermere.
During an interview at the start of the event, charter member Marlene Ryan enthusiastically recounted her time in the club and its importance to her. She said, “Being a lion is the best thing that ever happened to me.” With 35 years dedicated to the club, her involvement has allowed her to channel her penchant for service. She said that one of the best benefits from the work is seeing the smiles on people’s faces.
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