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Lions Create World Of Good

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By MEGAN HUSSEY, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 3, 2007

This holiday season, Zephyrhills and Dade City chapters of the Lions Club are joining a wide-scale Lions effort to brighten the holidays of troops serving overseas.

Working in conjunction with MacDill Air Force Base and Wesley Chapel resident Bob Williams, Lions in District 35-R - which consists of 39 Florida clubs - are collecting donations of phone cards, money for postage costs, and specific personal and snack food items as part of the We Serve Our Troops project.

"I was inspired to help when my granddaughter, Senior Airman Erica Rodriguez, stationed in Baghdad, wrote to say that she and the other troops were greatly in need of phone cards," said Shirley LePage, Zone Chairman 4 for District 35-R. "That way they can call home anytime."

Donations for this project will be accepted until Nov. 11 at the Zephyrhills Lions Club.

"This is a truly uplifting project," LePage said.

It also kicks off a busy holiday season for the Dade City-Heritage Park branch of the Zephyrhills Lions Club, which will appear in the annual Dade City Christmas Parade, starting at 7 p.m. Nov. 30.

"Our theme will be 'Give the Gift of Sight,'" said LePage, also a liaison for the Dade City Lions. "We want to show the viewers that we are here."

The Dade City club also has a full roster of events planned.

On Monday, the Dade City-Heritage Park branch of the Zephyrhills Lions Club will host an appearance by Miss Pasco County Shakayla Rahney, who will discuss how to prevent voter fraud. The event takes place 6:30 to 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Health and Rehab Facility at 17th Street and Coleman Avenue in Dade City. Those who wish to participate may RSVP to LePage at (813) 469-8941 or e-mail slepage1 @tampabay.rr.com

At 8 a.m. Nov. 10, the Dade City Lions will participate in the annual Heritage Park yard sale at the facility. They will offer doughnuts and coffee for a small donation, and provide information about the Lions.

At 6 p.m. Nov. 19, members will appear at the Zephyrhills Lions Den, 5827 Dean Dairy Road in Zephyrhills, for an organizational dinner.

"The Zephyrhills members have generously agreed to supply a free spaghetti dinner to the public who would like to come for the Dade City-Heritage Park Entertainment-Informational Night of Lions," LePage wrote in a news release.

Entertainment will be provided by Granny Grunt and Lion Cousin Ernie. Those interested are encouraged to RSVP by Nov. 15 to LePage or Ernie Vanselow at (813) 783-8389, (352) 206-0838 or missernie1@verizon.net.

The Dade City Lions is seeking greater involvement to procure its charter.

"We have so much planned," LePage said. "We encourage everyone to come be a part of history in this community."

DADE CITY AND ZEPHYRHILLS LIONS

SOME BACKGROUND: The Dade City-Heritage Park branch of the Zephyrhills Lions Club is gearing up for an active holiday season, one filled with meetings, special events and philanthropic projects.

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS: Besides offering informational seminars, the Dade City Lions seek to participate in community events, such as the upcoming Dade City Christmas parade, and support philanthropic efforts, such as its district's We Serve Our Troops campaign.

A LITTLE HISTORY: The club was instituted last summer at Heritage Park in Dade City.

WHAT'S NEXT: Boasting seven members, the club hopes to gain enough participants to establish a charter as an independent club. Thirty-five members are needed to establish a Lions charter.

GET INVOLVED: Membership dues for this club are $80 per year. For information, contact club liaison Shirley LePage at (813) 469-8941 or e-mail to slepage1@tampabay.rr.com.

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