Feature Article October 17, 2001
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Sharbot Lake Lions host 50th anniversary dinnerby David BrisonA large crowd attended a dinner at the Sharbot Lake high school cafeteria on October 13 in honour of 50 years of service to the community by the Sharbot Lake and District Lions Club. Representatives from Lions clubs throughout Ontario came to pay their tributes, and a Lions club member from northeast Ohio was also there. Dave Hansen, who is a past district Governor, estimated that two thirds of the crowd were from other Lions Clubs. Everyone seemed to enjoy the hospitality and conviviality that is characteristic of Lions Club gatherings.
There
were many past district governors from the eastern district and groups
from neighbouring Lions Clubs. The oldest past district officer, Brent
Rickard, served in that capacity in 1961.
Past district officer, Bob Taylor, from the Northbrook club was
there to support his neighbouring club dressed, as were all past
district governors, in a white tuxedo.
There was a large contingent from the Verona Lions Club which included
Louise Day and our Verona reporter, Inie Platenius.
Dave Hansen acted as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.
Dave has been a member of the Sharbot Lake Club for 37 years.
In an earlier interview, he recounted some of the highlights of
the club over the years: at one time the club hosted the Canadian
powerboat races on Sharbot Lake; they also ran snowmobile rallies; and
were known for their chicken barbeques.
They have continued over the years to promote effective
speaking, and have supported the Lions Foundation of Canada DOG GUIDES
program. In 1999, they contributed $20,000, and their own labour,
towards the construction of the band shell at the Sharbot Lake beach.
The Lions also were instrumental in developing the facilities
at the beach.
The last few years have been difficult ones for the Lions.
We have been trying to meet the needs of the community,
which have increased as a result of the downsizing by the
government, said Dave Hansen.
To
complicate matters, the revenues from their bingos have declined, and
more recently there has been a cutback in the money they receive from
Nevada sales at Harveys ValuMart.
They now are sharing these revenues with the Oso and District
fire department.
As a result of declining revenues, they can no longer fund the
seniors bus to Kingston,
a service that Dave says was expensive, and whose use was
declining.
Two of the longest serving members of the Sharbot Lake Club are Ralph
Gatfield and Jim MacPherson, who have both served for 25 years.
Jim said, I joined because of the work that the club does in
the community.
It is work that has a local impact.
Jim has been President of the club twice (and Santa in the
annual Lions Club Santa Claus parade for a number of years).
Ralph Gatfield is the present President, and he welcomed members and
introduced those sitting at the head table.
The
Lions sponsor the dog guides program, which supplies trained dogs for
the blind or visually impaired, the deaf and hard of hearing, and for
people with physical disabilities.
Their training centre in Oakville, Ontario is the only centre
in North America that trains all three kinds of dogs under the same
roof.
Willa Duke from the Stirling club, Bob McVeigh from Perth, and Janet
Marrison from Belleville all had guide dogs with them at the dinner.
They participate in the guide dog foster puppy program.
Dogs are placed in the homes of foster parents for 12 to 14
months.
Their responsibility is to teach the pup proper house manners,
and to socialize them to as many different situations as possible.
Taking them into social situations such as Fridays dinner is
considered part of their socialization.
Judy Grant, a Lions Club member from Wakefield, Quebec, was the guest
speaker.
MP Larry McCormick brought greetings, as did Central Frontenac
Mayor Bill MacDonald.
