Lions are ready to pounce on Lebanon.
Over the last few months, Lions Club members in other Upper Valley and New Hampshire towns — as well as former Lebanon Lions — have been working to reestablish the club that dispersed more than a dozen years ago in part due to declining membership and the loss of its main fundraiser, an annual fair that used to be held at the city’s Colburn Park.
“We’ve been talking about it for a couple of years,” said Sue Lindberg, district governor for Lions District 44N, which encompasses Lions Clubs in western New Hampshire including Canaan, Enfield-Mascoma, Claremont, Orford and New London. “We’ve always thought that it’s an area that needs to be served.”
That became apparent this past school year, when members of the Orford Lions Club went into the school district to conduct vision screening on students. Of the 500 screened, 50 were referred to a professional. Lions Clubs in the region helped pay for 30 children to get corrective eyewear, said Alan Ricard, secretary of the Canaan Lions Club who is next in line to be district governor.
“Eyesight is just one of the things we do,” Ricard said. “There is a big need for a Lions Club out there.”
The Lions Club International is a service agency that includes 1.4 million members in more than 46,000 clubs across the globe, according to a fact sheet from the organization. While the nonprofit is known for its vision screenings, individual clubs are left to pursue their own community causes and service projects. The Canaan club — which has around 60 members — gives scholarships to Mascoma Valley high school students, volunteers at blood drives, helps deliver Meals on Wheels through the Mascoma Area Senior Center, and hosts the soap box derby and horseshoe tournament at Old Home Days.
“Each club does its own fundraising,” Ricard said during a meeting Wednesday where Lions Club leaders and members of the public met to discuss the formation of the club, which so far is being called the New Lebanon Lions Club.
To create a club, 20 members must sign up. The Lions require members to pay dues, but the amount can vary. The members will then structure the club as they see fit, including choosing the days they meet and the projects they want to support.
“It’s just a matter of finding a niche,” said Henry McKee, a member of the Orford Lions Club who is also cabinet secretary for the New Hampshire district.
A series of public meetings has drawn people from all walks from life including young adults, people raising their families and retirees. Another meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Witherall Recreation Center at 1 Taylor St. Those who cannot attend the meeting can email nh44lions@gmail.com for more information.
“We’re hopeful that within a month, we can have the charter paperwork,” Lindberg said.
The Canaan Lions Club will sponsor the New Lebanon Lions Club through the charter process.
“You’re not left to flounder,” McKee said.
Chris Herring, of West Lebanon, said he’s been looking for a service organization that he can take part in alongside his children and came to the meeting to learn more about the Lions Club.
“I think there’s an opportunity to make something new in Lebanon, and getting people connected and organized makes me excited,” he said, adding that he’d like to help families with children in the Lebanon School District that may be struggling. “There’s definitely families in Lebanon that have needs.”
Prospective members do not need to be Lebanon residents to join. They can work in the community or live in a neighboring town.
Paul Dalton and Anne Hoag, of Lebanon, currently belong to other Lions Clubs. Dalton has been a member of the Orford club for more than 30 years, and Hoag has been part of the Amherst, N.H., club for more than 25 years. If the Lebanon club starts up, they both plan to join.
“It’s a good feeling to be able to help people,” Hoag said.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
