I've been a Lions Club member for 10 years now (recognized last night). It's a damn worthy organization. What we do for individuals, the local community, and the world is really amazing. It fills one with pride (no pun intended).

Our motto is "We Serve". I suppose we're famous for our eye sight programs, but it's so much more. Each community has its own pet projects. Our list is quite long, including four $1000 college scholarships awarded to worthy kids. I wish we had a web site to detail all the things we do.

In order to give away our money, we have to have a source of income. We have several money making projects--our main one being selling soft serve ice cream throughout the summer at festivals and events all over a 50 mile radius. We volunteer our time nearly every weekend. Fortunately, being 50 member strong, the work load is spread out. Tomorrow evening is my second time out.

Our club also raises money with chili suppers, a 10 grand raffle (we take half), an auction, and a golf outing (this weekend). We have a $45,000 budget, so that's a lot of money given out. It takes time and effort, but every penny earned and spent is well worth it.

Do you have a Lions Club in your area? Consider joining.

Comments:

We have a group on our island called The Matlacha Hookers. It
got started when several women met every week to crochet. They
started doing good works. We raise money for the local school,
help the infirm elderly with their housekeeping, take them to
appointments. We also tend to the recently bereaved.

The whole world is better because of people who volunteer for things like the Lions Club, Kiwanis, Odd Fellows, Optimist's Club, and so on. Bless you all for all you do.

Volunteer work is always so satisfying to the soul! Great that you do it!

Good for you! I love the volunteer work I do for and with dogs but it's not very social except at the nursing home. It would be nice to be a bit more social, but I've never known how to join those service organizations.

comment by catdancer on June 6, 2008 1:44 PM ()

I think you do enough. You should be proud of your involvement with animals.

reply by solitaire on June 7, 2008 12:45 PM ()

Good work Randy. I am so jaded that I never ever volunteer for anything.
I did all that eons ago.

comment by elderjane on June 6, 2008 1:13 PM ()

Don't feel guilty! We do have one female in our club--wish we could get more. By the way, I finally found and am reading "Consumption". After months of looking for it on the shelf, there it finally was! Must have been mis-shelved all that time. I'm enjoying it.

reply by solitaire on June 6, 2008 1:29 PM ()

I think all the service organizations do great things for their community; and it is nice you enjoy it as much as you do.

comment by redimpala on June 5, 2008 3:22 PM ()

I do enjoy it, and thank you!

reply by solitaire on June 6, 2008 1:24 PM ()