Links:  Lions Club International • Indiana Lions • District 25F

Prevent Blindness Indiana • Camp Woodsmoke • Leader Dog

HISTORY

The Richmond Noon Lions Club was organized June 7, 1924 and officially chartered on October 5, 1924. The 38 original members voted to meet every Wednesday at noon with a luncheon. The club met at a local restaurant until 1927 when it mmoved to the Leland Hotel. In 1972 the meeting was moved to Holdiay Inn and to Millers Cafeteria in 1992. In 1996, the club moved its meetings to MCL Cafeteria.

In 1938 the Club sponsored Fred Craft and his stand at the post office. Fred became a Lion and he and his faithful dog atte

ndined every meeting. In 1939 Paul Mendenhall and Judge Brubaker attended the first International Convention in Pittsburgh. The next year 2 more delegates from the club attended in Havana Cuba.

The club hosted two state conventions, the first in 1940 and again in 1966.

The club has had three District Governors, Wilfred Bucher in 1957-1958, H.R. Smith in 1967-1968 and Jack Buckland in 2002-2003.

The first home show was held in 1953 in Clear Creek Park. After 5 years at the park, inclement weather caused the club to move the show to the Trueblood Fieldhouse on the campus of Earlham College. In 1983, the show as moved to the Kuhlman Youth Center at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.

In 1970, the Grapefruit Project was started and has been a real fundraiser.

The Richmond Lions Club has continued to grow through out the years in service to the community. Today the Club is very active and civic minded, proud of its heritage and of membership in the club. It lives up to its motto - "We Serve".

MEETING INFORMATION

The Richmond Noon Lions club is a group of approximately 60 individuals from the Richmond, Indiana area who meet weekly at MCL Cafeteria in the Richmond Square Mall complex. The first meeting of each month is reserved for a business meeting. The remaining meetings during the month feature special programs chosen by that month's program chair. Recent meetings have featured elected officials, local authors, and school groups.

Members begin arriving at approximately 11:00 a.m. for fellowship time prior to the meeting. Members arrive throughout the next hour, grab a bite to eat and enjoy visiting with Lion friends. The Tail Twister and Assistant Tail Twister along with "Hi Lion" greeter and Lion Tamer and Assistant Lion Tamer provide various activities, questions, and the occasional fine to see to it that everyone feels welcome and gets involved in the meeting. The meeting begins at noon with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance

Following any brief business announcements, the monthly program chairperson introduces the program. Programs typically last about 20 minutes and most speakers allow ample time for questions.

Meetings adjourn promptly at 1:00 so that Lions can return to their jobs. For a list of the programs and other events, see our calendar.

BECOMING A

MEMBER

Do you want to help and serve others in the Richmond, Indiana area? Are you interested in making our communities better for future generations? Then you should become a member of the Richmond Noon Lions Club. To join, just attend a meeting and fill out a membership application. Contact our club secretary if you have any questions about joining our club.

The Mission Statement of Lions Club: To foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation.

CURRENT EVENTS

Upcoming Meeting Programs

August 2, 2010 - Monthly Board Meeting

August 4, 2010 - Business Meeting

August 11, 2010 - TBA

August 18, 2010 - TBA

August 25, 2010 - TBA  (Evening meeting, 6-7 pm)

Weekly meetings are held at MCL on

East Main Street, Richmond IN

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Current eAmplifier

Current board minutes

CURRENT NEWS

Two Richmond Lions have received Melvin Jones Fellowship awards.  The Melvin Jones Fellowship is an   award given which recognizes a Lions Club members who demonstrates those qualities  identified by Lions International founder Melvin Jones of Chicago and is the highest award given to local Lions members by Lions International.  The Richmond Lions Club awarded  Lion Andy Smittkamp the Melvin Jones Fellowship at the annual awards day held recently.  Andy has been involved in the Richmond Lions Club since 2001 and has served the Club as President as well as actively involved with the Lions annual Home Show including serving as a Co-chair for two years and actively involved in booth sales for many years.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors and is involved with the Indiana Lions Eye Glass recycling program. 

Lion Malynda Clevenger, current President of the Richmond Lions Club as well as Cabinet Secretary for Lions District 25F which includes Lions Clubs in south east and southern Indiana was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship by Immediate Past District Governor John Scott.  Lion Malynda received her award in recognition of the five years she has served the District as Cabinet Secretary.  The award was presented at the annual organizational meeting of District 25F Lions held recently at the New Salem Lions Club.  In addition to serving Lions at the District level and locally as President of the Richmond Lions Club, Lion Malynda has also served as the Home Expo chair and co-chaired the annual Fruit sale.  She has also been responsible for organizing Lions to serve the Richmond Soup Kitchen.

In addition to the Melvin Jones Fellowship awards, the following members of the Richmond Lions Club were recognized for long time membership:  Lio

n Clare McQuiston 56 years; Lion Ralph Pyle 55 years; Lions Jack Buckland, Mark Morris and Dr. J. Edsel Reeves 30 years;  Lion Idris Smith 10 years and Lions Howard Crist, Pat Crist, Elaine Oleska and Al Runkle 5 years.

For the next year Lions will experiment with a slight change in meeting times.  Meetings will continue to occur at noon on Wednesday for the first, second and third Wednesdays of the month.  However, in an attempt to attract individuals who cannot attend noon meetings the Club will meet in the evening on the fourth Wednesday of each month.  The evening meeting will be from 6-7 pm and will continue to be held at MCL.  This will be an opportunity for those in the community who cannot attend a noon meeting; but have an interest in the work of Lions to come experience what being a Lion is all about.  The first evening meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 28th at 6 pm at MCL.

WHY I BECAME A LIONS CLUB MEMBER?

“Leader Dog School for the Blind is an organization that is supported by the Lions Clubs locally and worldwide to provide opportunities for those who are struggling with eye diseases that cause blindness. 

Callie, my Leader Dog, provides me with the confidence to get where I am going safely, the freedom to be independent and provides the hope needed to lead a productive and fulfilling life.  Callie’s commitment and determination to help me is truly a blessing from God!”

There are over 20 million adults that experience significant vision lost.  There are over 1.3 million adults who are legally blind and require some type of assistance for mobility purposes.  70% of individuals who are legally blind are unemployed.  The numbers are staggering when you project out to the future the number of people who will experience significant vision lost or even be declared legally blind.

Lions Clubs are committed to encouraging adults and children to have regular vision screening and to assist getting the appropriate resources and support.

I am a Lions Club member in my community because I want to help someone else to have the resources and opportunities that I have been able to experience in my life through Lions Club and Leader Dog School for the Blind.  If I can help one person it is worth the membership in the local club and its efforts to raise the funds to support these programs.

Mark W. Harris and Callie

Richmond Lions Club Named Lions International “Club of the Month” for January 2010 

January 2010 Lions Magazine, page 6

Check us out on FACEBOOK!  Be a FAN of Richmond Lions Club on Facebook.

LEADERSHIP

President - Malynda Clevenger   

1st Vice President - Howard Crist

2nd Vice President - Judy Harris

3rd Vice President - Wayne Karanovich

Secretary - Idris Smith

Treasurer - Don Sanford    

Director 2009-2011 - Al Runkle

Director 2009-2011 - Chad Harris

Director 2010-2012 - Don Duke

Director 2010-2012 - Frank Lane

Honorary Director - Jack Buckland, Past District Governor

Past President - Mark Harris

Lion Tamer - Becky House

Asst. Lion Tamer - Clare McQuiston

Tail Twister - Rollie North

Assit. Tail Twister - Andy Smittkamp

GLASSES, HEARING AIDS

CELLPHONE DROP OFF LOCATIONS

Old eye glasses can be dropped off at following locations:

Eye Care Center, 6th & Main Street, Richmond

Senior Center, South 4th and H Street, Richmond

Salvation Army Thrift Store, 520 South 5th Street, Richmond

St. John's Lutheran Church, South 7th and E Street

Old National Bank, 7th and Main Street, Richmond

Optivision, 9th and Main Street, Richmond

Reid Hospital, 1100 Reid Parkway, Richmond

Dr. Jerry Shuck, 2001 Chester Blvd., Richmond

Fountain City Weselyn Church, 4600 US 27 North, Richmond

Chester Heights Methodist Church, 4274 US 27 North, Richmond

Richmond Eye Center, 1900 Chester Blvd, Richmond

First Baptist Church, South 14th and A Street, Richmond

Reising, Burkhardt & Reising, 1900 East Main Street, Richmond

Logan and Bailey, 2927 East Main Street, Richmond

First English Church, 2727 East Main Street, Richmond

Old National Bank, 3433 East Main Street, Richmond

Optivision, 3757 East Main Street (Kroger Shopping Center), Richmond

Dr. Tavel, Gateway Shopping Center, Richmond

Wal-Mart, 3601 East Main Street, Richmond

PROJECT AND SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

When Helen Keller spoke to the International Convention of Lions International in 1925 she challenged the Lions to become the "Knights of the Blind". Committed to our motto - "We Serve" Lions perform service projects focused on improving our communities and advancing sight and general health throughout the world. The Club participates in many projects throughout the year including:

Indiana Lions Cancer Control-Gamma Knife

Indiana Lions Speech and Hearing

Indiana Lions Leader Dog

Indiana Lions Eye Bank

Indiana Lions Diabetes

Indiana Lions Parkinson's Disease

Indiana Lions Camp Woodsmoke

Indiana Lions Eyeglass Recycling

Indiana Lions Vision Van

Lions Club School Eyeglass Program

Lions Club Fruit Sale

Lions Club Home Show

Lions Club Travel Adventure Series

Lions Club Gumball Machines

Lions Club Aluminum Recycling

OUR MOTTO:   WE SERVE

  “Make Up Meetings You Missed”

Centerville, 2nd and 4th Mondays 6:30 pm, Senior Center

Connersville, Every Tuesday Noon, Willows 522 Central Ave.

Fountain City, 2nd and 4th Monday 7:30 pm,  Lions Den 600 W. Main

Hagerstown, 2nd and 4th Tuesday 6:30 pm, McCulolough Community Center

Liberty, 1st and 3rd Tuesday, Southview Courts 615 W. High St.

New Castle, Every Thursday 6:00 pm, Addison House 2244 Q

Williamsburg, 2nd and 4th Wed. 7:30 pm, Lions Den