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New Dade City Lions Club Celebrates Charter

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 3, 2008

DADE CITY - A new era in service kicked off Sunday at the Zephyrhills Lions Club as the Dade City Heritage Park Lions Club hosted its charter celebration.

Dozens of Dade City and Zephyrhills Lions, as well as club officers at the district and international level, gathered Sunday afternoon to honor the club with speeches, certificate presentations and a gourmet lunch.

While the Dade City Heritage Park Lions Club officially celebrated its beginnings Sunday, the club already has contributed to its host community.

During the early part of April, the club joined forces with the U.S. Post Office in Dade City to collect eyeglasses and other items from residents. Fliers were sent to 15,000 residents.

The club collected 2,900 pairs of glasses, 500 pairs of sunglasses, 400 eyeglass cases and about 50 hearing aids.

"Because of their efforts, more than 2,900 people will have their sight restored," a statement said.

It is this type of effort that drew charter member Elvia Torres to the Dade City Heritage Park Lions.

"I'm originally from Columbia, where my great-aunt was a member of the Lions," said Torres, who along with other charter members RuthAnn Swanson and Kendall Badger received special certificates of achievement at Sunday's meeting. "I knew she helped blind and deaf people. I always loved volunteer work, so I wanted to join the Lions as well."

The club built on this auspicious debut Sunday, when it donated $100 to the Lions Club SightFirst II campaign.

According to E. Robert Lastinger, immediate past international director of the Lions Club, service to the blind and the community is a cornerstone of Lions membership.

"Your goal, first and foremost, is to provide eye care for those less fortunate; eyeglasses, eye exams, vision screenings," Lastinger said. "Then you must become a visible entity in your community. And the more service you do, the more visible you're going to be."

In fact, said Lions District 35R Governor Suzy Stathas, "the Lions Club is the largest service organization in the world."

"Isn't it great to be a Lion? We value you all," she said. "You're finding out what 1.3 million Lions do every day."

Lions, Stathas explained, serve at community, district, state, national and international levels. Aside from supplying eye services to disadvantaged people, they support guide dog groups, summer camps for visually impaired children and philanthropic projects.

Past District Governor Ellen Durling foresees a bright future of service for the club.

"With a new club and a new year brings new ideas," she said. "There's always a sense of rebirth, and that's what your club brings."

According to Lynne-Rae Dyson, president of the Dade City club, the club intends to fulfill its mission.

"We're anxious to begin our service to the community," she said. "We'll help wherever it's needed."

Zephyrhills Lion Shirley LePage and a group of fellow Zephyrhills Lions Club members served as Guiding Lion mentors for the Dade City chapter, which originally began as a branch of the Zephyrhills Lions Club.

"The Dade City club is the most energetic, fun group we've ever had the pleasure of working with, besides our own club of course," said LePage, with a chuckle, "I feel like we've given birth, now we've gotta raise 'em."

"Now we gotta let 'em go," said Guiding Lion Ernie Vanselow. "They'll soar to heights we've never seen before."

The charter members of the Dade City Heritage Park Lions Club are James Allison; Margaret Assini; Kendall Badger; Kathy Ballard; Ester Susan Brown; Geraldine Carter; Lisa Davis; Carie Diepersloot; Lynne-Rae Dyson; Lisa Ewanic; Donna Lee Fabian; Nancy Finnerty, Rhoda Fitzpatrick; Susette Franklin; Phyllis Gill; MaryBeth Lumbra; Julie Northrup; Kasey O'Leary; Ebony Pickett; Paul Riley; Linda C. Rosa; Jack Smales; Joyce Smales; Bradley Smurr; Christiana Swanson; RuthAnn Swanson; Elvia Torres; and Marie Valez.

DADE CITY HERITAGE PARK LIONS

SOME BACKGROUND: The Dade City-Heritage Park Lions Club celebrated the attainment of its club charter Sunday at the Zephyrhills Lions Club.

Guest speakers were Lions District 35R Governor Suzy Stathas, immediate Past District Governor Ellen Durling, Lions immediate Past International Director E. Robert Lastinger, Past District Governor Carl Harrell, Vice District Governor Gerri Coleman, Dade City Mayor Scott Black and Past District Governor Cathy Walton.

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS: According to www.lionsclubs.org, Lions Clubs "meet the needs of our local communities and the world. Our 1.3 million men and women in 202 countries and geographic areas conduct vision and health screenings, build parks, support eye hospitals, award scholarships, assist youth, provide help in time of disaster and much more."

A LITTLE HISTORY: The officers of the Dade City Heritage Park Lions Club are president Lynne-Rae Dyson; secretary Kendall Badger; treasurer Linda C. Rosa; membership chairwoman RuthAnn Swanson; tail twister Phyllis Gill; Lion Tamer Julie Northrup; first vice president James R. Allison.

The club's board of directors consists of MaryBeth Lumbra, Ebony Pickett, Susette Franklin, Bradley Smurr, Lisa Ewanic and Joyce Smales.

GET INVOLVED: The Dade City Heritage Park Lions Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday at Heritage Park Specialty Care, 37135 Coleman Ave. in Dade City. For information, call Dyson at (813) 788-1305.

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