Roaring into summer with service club
By
Mark Schadenberg
Most
service clubs have their busiest months from autumn through to spring, but the
Lions Club of Woodstock takes advantage of every month on the calendar to raise
dollars for various local and international causes.
If
you’re considering the idea of getting more involved locally, think about
joining the Lions Club. I don’t want to list any of the 40 or so members we
have, but you likely already know a few local Lions. Call me anytime (519
537-1553) for more information.
This
past weekend, the Lions hosted a two variety show production in the gym at CASS
to raise money for Sakura House (VON). I was not part of this group this year,
but did participate last year. It really proves you can have a ton of fun and
raise a pile of money for a good charity at the same time. Jackie and Steve
Newton were co-chairs of this terrific fundraiser. (see picture). Between
rehearsals and selling ads for the program, the club members put in hundreds of
hours, and raised more than $7,000 according to one email I read. Big congrats
to cast and crew.
The
Lions Club history local is extensive – more than 80 years.
As
I mentioned, it’s a busy summer for the club.
Cowapolooza
is Aug 16-17 in Southside Park and the Lions have been involved all dozen of
the years of this local family-activity music weekend. Our beer garden again
raises funds for various local charities, including school bursaries and our
on-going affiliation with raising money for guide dogs.
That
same weekend, is the annual soap box derby on the Finkle hill adjacent to
Southside Park. Did you know that it’s the Lions Club that acts as race
marshals and the safety crew?
The
July 1st beer garden in Southside Park is also a Lions fundraiser.
Terry Fox Run
Bill
Gillespie is well known locally for his efforts, including chairperson of the
annual Terry Fox Run – this year Sept. 15. It’s important to mention this
cancer fundraiser as all proceeds go to the Terry Fox Foundation and to lead up
to this day, there is a kick-off barbecue and lots of promotion during the Woodstock
Sidewalk sale musical festival days Downtown (Aug 8-10).
There
is no rest after the sidewalk sale as the Lions Club immediately jumps into
assisting with the Downtown car show scheduled for August 11. As they say: ‘the
show and shine, goes rain or shine.’ Whether it is registering the classic cars
as they arrive, selling food or selling 50-50 tickets, the Lions members are
there in full force.
Other
Lions projects which are simply providing an enthusiastic workforce, is our
twice annual highway cleanup (Hwy 2 at west end of Woodstock), trails cleanup
(Lions trail), Relay For Life (June 14-15) volunteering, and assisting at a
regional summer camp.
Outdoor Farm Show in September
Since
summer doesn’t really end until Sept 22, I can’t forget to mention the largest
annual cooperative among at least 10 area Lions groups -- the Canada Outdoor
Farm Show, Sept. 10-12 this year. The Lions run a gigantic food tent and beer
garden in the centre of the trade show. I have volunteered in many capacities –
cooking pea meal bacon, serving food, the french fries assembly line, and
filling up pop coolers. The program at the farm show for Lions is simple but
complex at the same time as each club receives dollars based on the percentage
of hours worked by various members.
I know it really
doesn’t need to be mentioned, but Lions members in Woodstock (there is no
Lionettes club), range in age from about 35 to 80, and by looking at the roster
nine are women, including our in-coming president Jennifer Harrington.
Mark
Schadenberg
Sales
Representative
Royal
LePage Triland Realty, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553,
cell or text
Lions Club member too !
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