The Bethlehem Lions Club met recently for the first time with several members of the other civic and service organizations in the Bethlehem area in order to coordinate and consolidate efforts of volunteer community service.
Represented were the Masons, Kiwanis, Rotary and the Bethlehem Business Women’s organizations to discuss their club’s functions and services to the community. It is noteworthy that such dedicated individuals accomplish a great deal of work that benefits the quality of life for residents of the Town of Bethlehem as well as to people in need worldwide.
The Bethlehem Lions Club has been serving the Town of Bethlehem since 1954. It is one of over 46,000 Lions clubs in 206 countries and geographic areas worldwide. The club is made up of men and women who are private citizens who give of their time and resources, who volunteer, who make certain that there is a “hands up” for those in need. These members do it not for government, not for the state, but for the community as a whole. They live by the motto of Lions Clubs International, “We Serve” and answer Helen Keller’s request to serve as “Knights of the Blind.”
The primary focus of the Lions Club International ( http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/index.php ) is to support research for cures for vision and hearing impairment on a local and worldwide basis. To accomplish this mission, the Bethlehem Lions raise funds to support scholarships for area high school students, award funds to research institutions (the Lions Eye Institute in Slingerlands – which is 1 of 8 such institutes in the U.S.), support social programs for youth (summer camps for the visually impaired) and provide funds to facilities that train guide dogs which give blind individuals a means to remain mobile. Occasionally, funds are awarded to individuals who pursue projects that merit the organization’s support such as the doctors who work to cure River Blindness in Africa and Eagle Scout projects. We also reach out to people in need through Lions Clubs International all over the world, most recently victims of Hurricane Irene and earthquakes in Haiti and Japan.
In our Bethlehem community we hold an annual picnic for the senior citizens, and pursue projects such as Adopt-a-Highway clean-up for a long section of Route 85, collect stamps for recreation for disabled Veterans, collect eyeglasses for redistribution, provide financial support to the Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany (NABA) and once a year we collect canned goods for the local food pantry. We financially assist needy persons with the purchase of eye glasses and hearing aids and provide referrals to the Lions Eye Institute in Slingerlands.
The Bethlehem Lions Club has a guest speaker program to provide a platform to individuals from the community and various professions to give us insight into their work and how it benefits our community and how we can be of assistance if needed.
At the above-mentioned joint-meeting of the area’s service organization’s many experiences were shared by those in attendance that highlighted the value of their organizations service to the community. Efficient collaboration among the various organizations is a goal that will assure improved service to our community.
We all agreed that today the world is very different from the times when our organizations were founded. Thanks to Lions Clubs International there is now support for research on diseases of the eye, medical treatments, reconstructive surgery, and the provision of services to improve the quality of life for persons with impaired vision, loss of hearing or sight. But these resources don’t just happen. Yes money is important, but the Lions are not asking you for money. More important than money is the involvement of community neighbors and friends like you.
The Bethlehem Lions Club is open to new members who are committed to provide community service by donating their time and talent to raise funds by selling Christmas trees, serving at pancake breakfasts, etc. and to participate in club activities such as the Adopt-a-Highway program and senior picnic.
The club’s activities are funded by an annual Christmas tree sale that is held each year on Route 9W, ½ mile south of Feura Bush Road. This year will be the 25th year for the sale. Additional fund raisers include a Pancake Breakfast, which will be held on Oct. 16 2011 at Applebee’s on Route 9W; a chocolate bunny sale at Easter; and the sale of Hoffman Car Wash tickets.
The Bethlehem Lions Club meets twice each month to continue to learn needs in our community and worldwide, and to find means to provide assistance. A commitment of four hours each month will make a big difference in the lives touched by the by the members of the Bethlehem Lions. We invite you to join us at an “Open House” at our dinner meetings held at the Normanside Country Club at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month.
Call 439-8517 so that we can reserve a seat for you.
To find a Lions club near you, visit lionnet.com.
