Sanford Lions Celebrate 73rd Charter Night



The Sanford Lions Club’s 73nd annual Charter Night was celebrated Thursday, Oct. 30, with over 200 Lions, spouses, and special guests attending a dinner meeting held at the Lions Fairgrounds.

It was an evening of remembrance, thanks, good fellowship and looking forward to the future of Lionism and how public service is being transformed through new technologies and lifestyles. President John Walden, Jr. presided and past district governor Roy Jernigan delivered the invocation while another past district governor, Russel Mann, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Decorations Chairman Lindsay Jones thanked those who worked on transforming the Lions Den into an autumn festive scene. He also recognized over 30 volunteers, many from his neighborhood, who worked tirelessly helping at last month’s Lee Regional Fair. President Walden joined in expressing the club’s thanks to all family members of Lions and volunteers whose help was vital in having a successful event.

Fair Chairman Ronnie Turner reported that the 2008 fair set new records in attendance and proceeds that will enable the Sanford Lions to continue its outstanding record of helping the blind, sight and hearing impaired, as well as many other local and regional charities. He thanked scores of club members, the staff of Lee County Cooperative Extension, volunteers and the public for its support.

Turner said the fair committee will work each year to set the bar higher to ensure the highest quality event possible. He also praised the support of the area business community whose backing through sponsorships is a key in the fair’s success.

In honoring the club’s founding in 1935, Walden recognized the widows of Lions past who were special guests. They included Margarita Brinn, Virginia Brooks, Beverly Badgett, Virginia Hester, Kay Miller, Belva Oelrich, Marie Profio, Mary Agnes Rosser, Juanita Sluss and Mary Lin Keith.

Lion Bob Nelson delivered remarks citing the history of Lionism and its hallmark philosophy of public service over personal gain. And that community spirit of service to others must continue as the primary mission, he said. But there will be changes as the world is changing, he stressed.

“We are beginning to cross generations. We lived to work, the generations following us work to live. We function best with face time; the generation following us has grown up in a world of texting,” Nelson said. New generations will still want to serve others, but it will be in a different manner. The needs of Lions and other civic clubs will be posted on computer websites and the work undertaken without the need of committee meetings or planning sessions. “We’ll still be about serving, but it will be about networking the needs of the needy with the needs of the future servers,” Nelson said. To read the full text of Nelson’s remarks, go to www.sanfordlionsclub.com.

Entertainment for the evening was introduced by past district governor Avron Upchurch. Steven Lympany, a professor of laser and computer technologies at Central Carolina Community College, presented an outstanding program of music playing the hammer dulcimer and guitar. Also attending were several pageant winners from the recent fair. They included Miss Lee Regional Fair Hannah Chang, Miss Junior LRF Brandy Gregson, Miss Young LRF Mary Blaire Stephens, and Miss Little LRF Colbie Normann Stephens.