Since its inception 108 years ago this month, one of the founding principles of the Lions Club was to move beyond the financial interests of business and address broader community needs, which laid the foundation for the largest service club organization in the world.
The International Association of Lions Clubs has 1.4 million members in more than 43,000 clubs in countries around the globe. Members give their time, skills and resources to raise funds for charitable giving in their communities and abroad.
Given the recent downturn in service and civic club memberships around the country, today’s Lions face a manpower challenge in getting programs and funds to community entities that count on that support.
New Berryville Lions Club president, Rod Ballance, who is also Vice President of the Gideons and Post Commander for American Legion Post 127, has an inside perspective on that issue.
“I’m uniquely aware of not having enough people, seeing it from three different sides,” Ballance said. “Not having young people involved impacts membership. These days kids and parents are so busy with school activities that kids often don’t get to see service opportunities and the rewards of that in action.”
Ballance would like to hear some ideas and thoughts from the community at large and will be at the Grand Opening of the new Tractor Supply in Berryville on October 18 with an ear ready to listen. One idea he’s considering is sponsoring a Leo Club, a youth organization of Lions Clubs International. Leos conduct various projects in tandem with the Lions and also in the fields of healthcare, elders, children, disabled people, literacy and education, and self-development.
Meanwhile, signup is now open for the Flags for Sight program for businesses, the Berryville Lions Club main fundraiser providing scholarships and services in the community. On every patriotic holiday, an American flag will be placed in front of every participating business for the day. Donation is $50 and covers 10 holidays in the calendar year.
Individuals are encouraged to honor someone special by joining the Flags on the Fence program. On the same 10 holidays, a smaller American flag will be displayed on the Berryville Square fence, along with the name of your honoree listed on a display board. The cost is also $50 for the calendar year, and every dollar supports local vision assistance, the Lions blind school in Little Rock, regional Mid-South Lions eyecare, local scholarships, and more.
This is the Lions Club’s major fundraiser, and your support makes a big difference to those with solvable vision problems. A year of an honoree Flag on the Fence would make a perfect Christmas gift for someone wanting to honor a loved one.
And, as always, the eyeglasses donation program continues throughout the year. Bring your old prescription and even non-prescription reading glasses. Participating eye doctors have equipment to determine the prescription so they can make sure the glasses get to someone whose life might be changed forever by having them.
Lyman Squires, former Berryville Lions Club president and charter member since 1958, has kept a list of many of the Clubs’ unique early fundraising projects and community improvements including sponsoring a Little League team, giving a country music show at the fairgrounds, working on the city park with other clubs, selling light bulbs to raise money toward an ambulance for the hospital, starting a white elephant sale to raise money toward a ballpark with lights at the fairground, starting a radio auction, selling and installing smoke alarms and sponsoring a tractor pull… to name but a few.
From teaching young men at the local school how to tie neckties to going on missions to deliver eyeglasses abroad, Berryville Lions members have always been focused on making life better for someone.
Contact the Berryville Lions Club to sponsor a flag today and support your community! Rodney Ballance can be reached at (870) 423-8744 for information about how to get involved in these projects. For membership information and where to drop off old eyeglasses, phone Lions Club Secretary/Treasurer Tyler Squires at (870) 480-9344.