Monday, 11 September 2017

Service to the community describes the Lions Club of Woodstock

Thinking about joining a service club? Call me today !

Planning events and raising money for many local initiatives 

By Mark Schadenberg
While the calendar may be a marathon and not a race, the fall season for the Lions Club of Woodstock always begins with a sprint.


   TERRY FOX RUN
John Versaevel, Peter Oswald, Peter Ewing and several other Lions are very busy preparing for the Terry Fox Run on Sept. 17 at CASS high school.
The Lions Club has coordinated the Terry Fox Run in Woodstock for several years now, but with the passing of Bill Gillespie about 18 months ago, the service club has been aiming hard to attempt to maintain Bill’s efforts to the Terry Fox Foundation Marathon Of Hope. Sadly, Gillespie died from cancer.
My daughter and I have been regular sheriffs at the Terry Fox Run for many years as we monitor supplies at the watering station (check point H2O) – cold water and orange juice for the runners, walkers and cyclists. Our task includes enthusiasm, pointing fingers for directions and a smile or two.

   CANADA’S OUTDOOR FARM SHOW
September is also the month for the national farm show in Woodstock. That’s right, the gigantic trade show for everything agriculture is hosted inside the city limits at the corner of County Road 17 (Tollgate Road) and the 11th Line.
The farm show is Sept 12-14.
Why is this a Lions event?
People attending the giant farm show and the exhibitors, are hungry. At lunch time I believe the busiest place on the site is the Lions food tent. It takes 11 different Lions Club groups from the district and hundreds of hours to build the tent and its equipment, order food, and organize the crew.
Whether it is a burger with pea meal bacon or sausage on a bun or grilled chicken sandwich, the Lions Club will fill your needs. It’s truly a great fundraiser as proceeds are later divided among the 11 groups.
The Lions also operates a beverage garden.
If you are able to volunteer as part of the Woodstock manpower, call me today, especially if you have restaurant experience. Doing my part, I’ll be near the barbecues on Thursday.




   WEEKLY BINGO
Even though our club is super busy already, the Thursday night Bingo Night at the South Gate Centre continues. I joke sometimes that we do 50 bingo evenings each year and some years it’s 51. Also, you can win the jackpot on a full card in 54 numbers or less
You don’t have to be a South Gate member to join the fun, but you do have to be 18. See the poster for all the details.

   LIONS CLUB OF WOODSTOCK
The local Lions Club has existed for more than 80 years and we’re always looking for new members as more members translate into more charitable opportunities and ideas.
Since Woodstock does not have a Lioness club, it’s important to point out that we have 10 women in the club. If you’re 18 or if you’re 88, we could use you.
If you don’t like working at a bingo event (for example) . . . don’t volunteer for a team, but perhaps assist at 2 or 3 a year.
Our club also runs a vendor (Scentsy, Sunset Gourmet, Avon, Pampered Chef, etc) night on Nov. 13 to raise money for Christmas charities.
The Lion host a Christmas dinner for the Woodstock Big Brothers / Big Sisters Group, we run beer gardens at both Canada Day and Cowapolooza (I do the arm twisting for this event, so we would love to see you help out), we supply several bursaries for high school graduates, and donate to the Guide Dog programs. Another hands on Lions Club tradition is the cleanup of Highway 2 at the west end of Woodstock.
Looking ahead -- In 2019, we’re hosting the provincial convention.
The most significant area of our local contributions might be from our ‘charitable response’ committee as we answer many many many financial requests annually for items ranging from wheelchairs to glasses to significant dental work to other daily assistive devices. You won’t see headlines in the newspaper about this charitable work, but it’s an integral part about what the Lions Club is all about.
Several area Lions Club groups, including Innerkip, Sweaburg and Drumbo, did receive lots of positive press when we combined forces to buy a generator for Sakura House about 3 years ago.
With the Lions Club you volunteer to create a stronger better community.
I look forward to hearing from you.


Picture of myself with cheque for CASS high school
to assist in sending 24 students to NASA in Florida

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock

Call me: (519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland


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