Denver Lions Club Year in Review - President Dwight Steen
The kickoff for this Lions year was the patron party held at the Cactus Club with 32 members and spouses in attendance. Donors were able to celebrate raising enough funds to support the centennial activities of the Club and to view an abbreviated version of the centennial video. More then 30 members and guests attended the annual picnic at the Railroad museum in August. The Railroad museum made the facility available as a result of 13 Club members who had volunteered 31 shifts during the museum’s annual Thomas the Train event.
The annual Club retreat was held at Savio House in August with 26 members working on the Lion’s program for the coming year and reviewing Board member manuals. The Past President’s held a brainstorming exercise on possible fundraisers.
Over 200 members and guests attended the Centennial Celebration Dinner in October. The highlight of the dinner was the featured speaker, Ambassador Christopher Hill, Dean of the Korbel School of International Studies at DU. Seventeen regular lunch meetings we held at Maggiano’s and the last lunch meeting will be at Savio House. Average attendance at meetings has been just under 30 percent of members.
The Club continued many on-going service projects such as Vision including direct help to individuals with exams, glasses and surgeries. Several “one day missions” also assisted low income and refugee families with exams and glasses. Five members made a trip to Mongolia where they were able to help 1,200 people. KidSight continued both in schools and at several health fairs, the numbers will be forthcoming. The Club also partnered with VSP Mobile Eyes and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver in a “Glasses for Kids” program. Club members and other area Lions screened 928 kids and referred 253 kids to be seen in the mobile clinic coming to Denver June 1-3. 56 kids received new glasses made on site. Another 40 received vouchers for exams and glasses
The collection of used eyeglasses, ringing the bells for the salvation army, hearing assistance, 9Health Fair cashiering and social services activities continued during the year. At Christmas, the Club assisted 125 families at Eiber Elementary school. Also in collaboration with the Golden Club we were able to assist a person with a DaVinci reader. Nine members and guests spent a day working on various project to get the Lions Camp ready for the summer season.
Finally, the Club sponsored the Denver Latino Branch Club during this year. The Club held an induction ceremony for 15 members in April. The branch had its first service activity at the annual Denver Cinco de Mayo days where they screened kids and provided readers to many folks who stopped by the tent.
It has been an honor to serve as Club president this past year. As Lions all know and believe what Helen Keller stated so many years ago: "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." I want you all to know how much I appreciate your support and your efforts during the year. Now let’s all get ready to pitch in and help Susy make this next Lions year even more successful than the last.