By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
In a bid to grow their numbers and perhaps generate some new ideas for service projects, the Martensville & District Lions will host a “meet and greet” for potential new members on Saturday, August 23.
The event will be held at Lions Park in Martensville at #15-6 Avenue South, starting at 5 p.m. A meal and refreshments will be provided.
The meet and greet is intended to be held outdoors, but if the weather is inclement, it will be moved inside the Lions building.
Lions Clubs International is an association made up of 1.4 million members in 49,000 clubs across the world. They support a wide variety of humanitarian causes, such as disaster relief, supporting the needs of children with cancer, improving food security, helping to prevent blindness and protecting the environment.
Maria Fowler of the Martensville & District Lions said some examples of local projects include hosting a fundraising walk for the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides back in May, putting on barbecues for local food banks, and working with seniors, including sponsoring a seniors’ fitness class at the Martensville Recreation Centre.
Fowler noted they are also involved in Music for the Gut, an annual summer concert that raises funds for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. (The next concert is set to take place on Friday, August 22 at TCU Place in Saskatoon).
In terms of fundraisers, they run Grey Cup pool tickets, the Mega Cash raffle and the “Fill the Cart” scholarship program.
Fowler said they currently have about 18 member, though their numbers have varied greatly over the 35 years she has been involved with Lions.
“It’s been as low as five members when I first joined this club,” she noted.
Fowler stressed that the Lions are a great organization and urges those interested in making their community a better place to live to see what Lionism is all about.
“It is a beautiful combination of patriotism and servicing the needs of local people and the world’s less fortunate,” she said.
“‘We Serve’ is the Lions motto — where there is a need, you will find a Lion.”
For additional information, you can call Maria at (306) 290-6766.