SitNews - Stories in the News - Ketchikan, Alaska

 

Ketchikan Lions Club Strives to Make a Difference

 

October 17, 2006
Tuesday AM


Ketchikan, Alaska - The Ketchikan Lions Club was established in 1949 as the first service club in Ketchikan and has served the community for over 57 years.
jpg Lions Club

Lions Club member Cher'e Klein said, "Ketchikan Lions Club service projects include building and maintaining bus shelters for school aged children, eye screenings for preschool children, recycling eye glasses, road cleanup and by far, our biggest event, the annual Fourth of July Fireworks, Queen Contest, Kiddy Parade and booth coordination." Klein said, "The fireworks are the biggest event that we raise funds for as a good 30 minute show can cost up to $15,000.00!" The Ketchikan Lions Club is in the process of looking for corporate sponsors to help pay this ever increasing annual bill said Klein.

Klein said, "It is also a part of our yearly goal to present two scholarships to graduating high school seniors, provide grants for eye exams and eyeglasses for people with limited resources, support the local Halloween event at the Plaza Mall and help the local Team Diabetes efforts."

"Like many service organizations, the Ketchikan Lions had seen its membership numbers decline over the past decade but a recent resurgence has seen the club almost double in size over the past two years," said Klein. There are now over 15 active members dedicated to serving their fellow Ketchikanites.

Lions Clubs International is the leading organization for curing preventable blindness throughout the world as well as helping with diabetes research and encouraging service projects throughout their local communities. Over 100 nations and growing have Lions Clubs and have helped prevent or cure blindness in over 100 million people. You may know a friend or relative who has been helped locally - provided with a Leader Dog (guide dog for the visually impaired) - provided with glasses or an eye exam or simply through the clubs many SERVICE projects all meant to enhance the community in which the club thrives.

Klein said, "Every Lions Club is a little different, but what surely makes them all the same is the willingness of all members to serve their communities, welcome new members and share the dream of eradicating preventable blindness around the world. Each local club has its own community service projects that are for the betterment of all townspeople."

Persons interested in joining a Lions Club should contact their local clubs in Juneau, Wrangell or Ketchikan.

In Ketchikan, the Lions Club meetings are held at The Landing Conference Room every 2nd Wednesday of the month and the meetings start promptly at 6:10 pm. For more information about how to become involved in this local service organization, contact Chere Klein in Ketchikan at 907-225-8682.

 

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