PROGRAMS
Sight:
Our club subsidizes eye care for those in our community who are in need. Our yearly budget has been $500 and we cover up to a maximum of $100 of the cost per individual. Availability of our assistance is pretty much word of mouth, although the local eye doctors refer people needing assistance to us. We have blank applications at the local schools and the school nurse is in charge
of giving the application to the parents of the child that needs eye care. The evaluation of qualification is done through the application they fill out. They are either issued a voucher directly to their optometrist or they are denied. This system seems to be working very well. Our club also handles requests for subsidized eye care outside of our area. Vermont Lions Charities (VLC) has asked us to do this because there are districts in Vermont that do not have Lions Clubs. VLC supplies the requests for assistance and we do the evaluation. In 2012 there were 58 vouchers granted for a total of $6,070. The Sight committee handles the evaluations and the treasurer issues the checks and invoices VLC for the costs every 3 or 4 months. Our club is also participating in a vision screening program using equipment provided by VLC. We test students in elementary schools providing more accurate and faster results than with current methods. Hearing
We offer financial assistance for hearing aids to those in need but we have had few requests in the past years. Our club purchased a machine for testing hearing a few years ago and it is used at the Jay/Westfield Elementary School. In 2011 we purchased hearing equipment for a hearing impaired child in a local elementary school. Blood Drive
Our Lions club sponsors a yearly blood drive which takes place at the Westfield Community Center. We like to have at least 20 valid donors to make this worthwhile and we have usually exceeded this. Help is required throughout the day starting about 10 a.m. to set up tables and prepare food in the kitchen. Then we need help at the registration table and in the kitchen until the drive is finished about 7 pm. Scholarships
We receive applications for scholarships from students in our service area at both NCUHS and UCA. Applications are reviewed by a 3-person committee and one is selected for an award of a $750 scholarship. After the individual has successfully completed one semester we issue the check directly to her/him. Christmas for Kids
This is one of the beneficiaries of our Lions Club fund raising efforts. In 2014 we purchased Christmas gifts at a value of $40 each (mostly clothing) for 64 elementary age kids in our service area. These children were identified by their schools as being from the more needy families. Three of our club members handle the purchasing. Senior Meals
The Lions Club runs the Senior Meals program. Two club members look after the scheduling, menu preparation and purchasing. The time commitment is about 6 hours a month for each. We buy most things locally, especially from the Westfield General Store who are very accommodating, and some from Costco and stores in Newport. We have been fortunate to have Berry Creek Farm donate fresh fruit and vegetables during their growing season from June through September. Both Lions members and community members volunteer to help. We need to have a cook and at least 2 helpers each week. At present we have 5 cooks and 7 helpers. The children of two local families have been volunteering regularly for many years. The average number of meals served each week during 2014 was 19 with an additional 3 for take outs. Donations to Local Groups
Each year our club makes donations to organizations in our area including food shelves, after school programs, summer sports programs, museums and meal sites. In 2012 this amounted to $800. Donations to Vermont Lions Charities
We support the programs of VLC by donating about $1,400 each year. We designate $1,100 of this to support the operation of the Austine Green Mountain Lions camp, a summer camp for the hearing impaired. Donations to Lions Clubs International
We support the programs of LCI both through our member fees and through donations specifically targeting an LCI cause. In 2012 we supported the LCI initiative to eradicate measles world wide by donating $500. Support Local Fund Raising Events
Our club puts on barbeques for fund raising events including Jay Day, Relay For Life at NCUHS and the Troy PTA. We also run special bingo events to benefit school class trips and Vermont Lions Charities. Other Programs:
Our club runs a Peace Poster contest in local schools. This is an international program that encourages kids to be aware of the need for world peace through art. We have also supported a Speak Out contest. This is a Vermont Lions program that promotes public speaking by Vermont youth.
2. FUNDRAISING:
Texas Hold'em:
The Texas Hold'em tournaments are held the 3rd Saturday of the month from September through May. At least two of the tournaments are for the Lions club (earmarked Christmas for Kids). The other 7 tournaments are done for groups in our service area. Some of them are Rand Memorial Library, The Little Red School House, The Grateful Treads Bike Club, Troy and Area Youth Sports. These tournaments cost the club nothing. Two Lions club members run the tournaments with the kitchen being run by the beneficiary group. Set up is usually done Friday night. People start coming at 9:00 a.m. and the day is usually done by 2:30 p.m. The income given to the group varies according to how many players we have. A typical turnout is 36 players for which the net profit is about $360 after expenses for rent and advertising and including the income from 50/50, side tables and the kitchen. Bingo:
Bingo has always been the major fundraiser for the club. It takes many Lions to make this run effectively and efficiently. It is held every Thursday night at the Lowell Parish Hall in Lowell. The group starts set up at 3:30 and bingo starts at 6:30 and finishes about 9:00. There is a schedule that is set up that incorporates 4 of the club members each week. It is done on a rotating schedule so that most of the Lions work once a month, although a number are there every week to help from set up to clean up. We pay $75 per week to St Ignatious Church for using the building, $10 per week for the kitchen (paid by Debbie), $50 per week for the caller and $50 per month for trash removal. We supply all paper products for the building and all of the cleaning supplies. This account is run separately from the Lions Club. When funds are needed to operate the club, they are transferred. In 2012 the average attendance was 61 players per night which raised approximately $8,000.
200 Club:
The 200 club raises $4,000 by selling 200 raffle tickets at $20 each. Half is given back by drawings at bingo over a 10 week period, for a net income to us of $2,000. Everyone works together on selling the tickets. Usually the week we start drawing, if there are any tickets left they are sold that night. Dinners:
Our club puts on dinners for groups such as the Retired Teachers Association and for receptions and celebrations. The income from this varies from $200 to $500 per event.
3. MEMBER DUES:
As a Lions club we are required to pay dues for each club member to support the programs of Lions Clubs International. These dues are currently $43 per member. The dues for a second member in a family are half this or $21.50. We also pay dues of $11 per member to the Vermont Lions organization. We collect these dues from our members as follows:
Annual (July) Semi-Annual (July & Jan.) Single $54.00 $27.00
Family of 2 $86.50 $43.25
