The Sanford Lions Club works hard all year on various projects raising funds to help the blind, sight and hearing impaired, and young people. Thursday night, July 23, members heard a first-hand account of the joy and excitement these projects bring to participants.
Helen Garrett of Sanford is legally blind. She visited the weekly club meeting and described the fun she recently had at the 2009 N.C. Lions VIP Fishing Tournament held annually at the Outer Banks. Over 500 sight-impaired citizens and volunteer helpers from across the state were hosted by Lions at Kill Devil Hills. Lee County alone sent a busload of excited guests eager to catch fish.
Garrett described how exhilarating it was to stand in the surf and feel the tug of the ocean currents as she competed for trophies and awards given out at a banquet. The guests were also treated to a barbecue dinner and fish fry during the three-day event. She thanked all Lions for providing this opportunity and especially for those who volunteered at the tournament with such duties as baiting hooks and handling the catches for participants. Garrett has also attended summer camp at the Lions’ Camp Dogwood on Lake Norman where the blind and sight-impaired enjoy many recreational activities.
“Although I’m legally blind, if not for that, I probably would never have had the opportunity to go to such places and I greatly appreciate it,” Garrett said.
She was accompanied to the meeting by Jamie Perkins, area social worker for North Carolina’s Services for the Blind. Perkins works closely with area Lions clubs to provide services to the needy and sight impaired. Often Lions will fund a need not covered by the state or the service club will direct someone who is qualified to Perkins for state assistance. Perkins said her agency’s goal is to help the sight impaired stay at home and as independent as possible and for as long as possible.
Many services that help the sight impaired are available through social services such as life skills classes, rehabilitation and jobs training and books on tape. Many assistance devices like white canes, communication aids, eye exams and glasses are provided often with the help of Lions resources, Perkins said.
In other business, Dr. Marvin Joyner reported that advertising sales for the upcoming Lee Regional Fair catalogue was successful although below figures from last year. The club’s marketing chairman thanked all members for their hard work and all business sponsors for supporting the club and fair even in these tough economic times.
President Richard Hendley presided while Bob Jasany delivered the invocation and was program chairman. Tommy Mann, Jr., led the Pledge of Allegiance and song leader John Byrd sang a spiritual entitled “I’m Standing on the Solid Rock.” The club also welcomed visitor Robert Douglas who was a guest of Jay Moore.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Vietnam War Remembered
The Sanford Lions Club received a personal account of the events and emotions relating to the Vietnam War and the impact they had on thousands of veterans like Ron Miriello who spoke to the club at two successive meetings July 9 and 16. His presentations covered a wide range of topics from training to seeing action in the Mekong Delta region to the experiences of service men and women after returning home.
The Navy veteran served on a patrol boat on the Mekong River and its many tributaries in southern South Vietnam. Miriello said their primary mission was to seek out and destroy North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces supplying weapons and occupying river communities. His yearlong tour of duty in the war zone straddled parts of 1968-69, a tumultuous period not only in the war, but also at home.
Miriello paid tribute to veterans of all wars and asked all “warriors” in the club to stand for recognition. He emphasized that the war in Vietnam was not lost by those wearing American uniforms. It was the actions of politicians in Washington that resulted in U.S. forces having to leave Vietnam. He concluded his program with a slide presentation of outstanding photos he had taken during his deployment depicting life aboard the riverboats and the dense jungle and dangers that faced them around every turn.
But, there were also photos of lovely children from villages along the river who would joyfully greet them, knowing the Americans would share their candy and rations. Miriello said if the children were not present upon their approach, it very likely meant that Vietcong were lying in wait. He said there are a number of parallels between the Vietnam War and our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, one being the growing efforts to limit troops’ authority to return fire and protect themselves unless foes are positively identified.
Another special guest was Lions Zone Chairman James Kiser of Buies Creek who recently assumed the post and is visiting each of the eight clubs in his zone, or section of District 31-F. The past president of the Buies Creek Lions said he is urging all Lions Clubs to get acquainted with one another by holding joint meetings or sharing in project work.
George Kostrewa , chairman of the N.C. Lions Vision Van visit in Sanford July 11-12 reported on a very successful event. Lion volunteers screened 144 citizens and a number of those were referred for professional eye exams, Kostrewa said. He thanked all members who participated in the project along with Wal-Mart for its cooperation.
President Richard Hendley presided over the meeting while Bill Whiteman delivered the invocation and introduced the guest speaker. Tommy Mann, Sr. led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Navy veteran served on a patrol boat on the Mekong River and its many tributaries in southern South Vietnam. Miriello said their primary mission was to seek out and destroy North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces supplying weapons and occupying river communities. His yearlong tour of duty in the war zone straddled parts of 1968-69, a tumultuous period not only in the war, but also at home.
Miriello paid tribute to veterans of all wars and asked all “warriors” in the club to stand for recognition. He emphasized that the war in Vietnam was not lost by those wearing American uniforms. It was the actions of politicians in Washington that resulted in U.S. forces having to leave Vietnam. He concluded his program with a slide presentation of outstanding photos he had taken during his deployment depicting life aboard the riverboats and the dense jungle and dangers that faced them around every turn.
But, there were also photos of lovely children from villages along the river who would joyfully greet them, knowing the Americans would share their candy and rations. Miriello said if the children were not present upon their approach, it very likely meant that Vietcong were lying in wait. He said there are a number of parallels between the Vietnam War and our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, one being the growing efforts to limit troops’ authority to return fire and protect themselves unless foes are positively identified.
Another special guest was Lions Zone Chairman James Kiser of Buies Creek who recently assumed the post and is visiting each of the eight clubs in his zone, or section of District 31-F. The past president of the Buies Creek Lions said he is urging all Lions Clubs to get acquainted with one another by holding joint meetings or sharing in project work.
George Kostrewa , chairman of the N.C. Lions Vision Van visit in Sanford July 11-12 reported on a very successful event. Lion volunteers screened 144 citizens and a number of those were referred for professional eye exams, Kostrewa said. He thanked all members who participated in the project along with Wal-Mart for its cooperation.
President Richard Hendley presided over the meeting while Bill Whiteman delivered the invocation and introduced the guest speaker. Tommy Mann, Sr. led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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