Lions clubs have staying power in rural communities

Jeff Green | Aug 21, 2013

Everyone knows the stresses that are being felt by small rural communities in the current climate of dwindling opportunities and an ageing population. Numbers of local institutions and churches have been diminished or have disappeared altogether over the past two decades, but there are a number of bright spots on the horizon as well. Amidst all this change, Lions clubs have remained viable.

Everyone knows the stresses that are being felt by small rural communities in the current climate of dwindling opportunities and an ageing population. Numbers of local institutions and churches have been diminished or have disappeared altogether over the past two decades, but there are a number of bright spots on the horizon as well. Amidst all this change, Lions clubs have remained viable.

In our readership area alone, there are four Lions clubs that continue to raise funds for community causes, and provide volunteer labour for projects, and provide their own services as well.

To mark the endurance of the Sydenham, Verona, Sharbot Lake & District, and Land O’Lakes Lions clubs we will profile each of them in the coming weeks. We start this week with the Sharbot Lake and District Lions

The club is 62 years old, having been founded in 1951.

The current club secretary, Bill Pyle, has been a Lion for 9 years.

“I came to this community when I retired and I had some time available and I wanted to get involved. My neighbour recommended I attend a Lions meeting, and here I am now. What I like about the Lions is that we have only one main purpose, to serve the community in any way we can. And we have a lot of fun doing it.”

While all Lions clubs are affiliated with Lions International, the majority of their efforts are focused on local projects that are chosen by the individual clubs, as well as regional projects they work on with neighbouring clubs.

One other thing that was clearly pointed out by both Bill Pyle and Sharbot Lake Lions President Linda Zwier, “All the money raised by the club is donated to the community. We have no salaried employees; we are all volunteers, and anything we do for our own benefit is funded directly by us. None of the money people donate to us is kept by us. It is all put to use.”

And there are a lot of uses that money is put to in Central and North Frontenac. Either through financial or volunteer support, or both, the Sharbot Lake & District Lions are involved in the following activities: Santa Claus Parade and visit with Santa at Oso Hall; vision and hearing screening in local schools; eyeglass recycling and collection at the RBC branch; Adopt-a-Highway cleanups in May and October; Central Frontenac summer swim program; Sharbot Lake seniors' summer BBQ; Sharbot Lake beach bandshell, covered picnic shelter, and playground equipment; bursary awards at Sharbot Lake High School; Canadian Blood Services blood donor clinic; Salvation Army Christmas hampers; Relay For Life; Seniors’ Night at Sharbot Lake High School; Canada Day parades; Villages Beautiful Festival of Trees; North Frontenac Food Bank; Frontenac Heritage Festival; Annual Hinchinbrooke School Student Christmas Dinner; Medic Alert – No Child Without program; and CNIB – low vision program.

The club's motto is “We serve”

“We are always looking for volunteers,” said Bill Pyle. “We can use helpers of one time events or on an ongoing basis, and of course we are always on the lookout for new members.”

According the Linda Zwier, the Sharbot Lake & District club has been able to maintain a healthy number of members, but the demographics are of concern.

“We understand how hard it is for working-aged people to find time to join the Lions, but it is a concern that most of our members are retired. That is a real challenge that we will have to address.”

Unlike other Lions clubs in the region, the Sharbot Lake Lions do not own either a hall or a clubhouse.

“There are township halls available in Central and North Frontenac so there is no need for us to have one,” said Bill Pyle, “and we have a great arrangement with the Legion Hall where we hold our meetings.”

Sharbot Lake & District Lions' fundraisers include: community breakfasts; canteen at the Snow Drags; Easter bunny sales; Petro-Canada Gas-o-rama; Lions and Masons Canada Day BBQ; Petro-Can gas card draw; bottle drive; fruitcakes and cookie sales at Christmas time, and the Country Jamboree. For further information, go to Sharbotlions.com