By Nick Jones, Clermont-Minneola Lion
Clermont-Minneola Lions held their first meeting of 2021 at IHOP on S. US 27. District Governor 35-O Harry Williams was the guest speaker and gave a brief background talk covering the founding of the Lions by Melvin Jones in 1917 in Chicago.
Williams pointed out that the Lions Club International (LCI), the oldest and largest civic club in the world, has weathered the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, The Great Depression of the thirties, WWII, and the following wars and epidemics and through all challenges has prevailed. Lions will prevail again because our commitment “WE SERVE” will carry us.
Williams’ birthday fell on the same night as the meeting so the Lions sang Happy Birthday to him at the close of the meeting.
The entire Club experienced one of their best meetings ever as President Clif Brown, proudly wearing his Lion’s jacket, introduced Steve and Diana Lowery, and Mark French who have made applications to join the Club. Mark’s wife, Cheryl is expected to join him.
One of the best moments this year was an awesome surprise! The GHOST RIDERS, a group of retired police, firefighters, and veterans expressed their desire to team with the Lions in boosting fundraising efforts in our community. Lion Clif invited their president, Matt McCurdy, and his most sturdy and fit fellows, all members of the Pipe Hitters Union to become Lions. Pipes – a reference to their passion in motorcycles. DG Harry Williams was truly impressed and congratulated the Club for having won an EXCELLENCE award, one of only five given out by the District last year.
The Club’s shooting range, located on SR 50 across the road from Tractor Supply and the new Groveland Public Safety Complex, is growing in popularity and has seen steady growth in spite of difficulties in patrons obtaining ammunition.
For $15, patrons can use the pistol range from 8 am to noon on the second, third and fourth Saturdays. The Club provides targets. For shotgun enthusiasts, the Club offers skeet shooting at $10 per ten clays. Lions provide clays, patrons their one shells. Lions Mia and Josh Rodriquez take over at 1:00 pm and conduct training sessions for novice and limited certification training such as Conceal and Carry. Mia is charged with scheduling the range for special parties on dates and times that are available. For information call (407) 289-6796. Lion Clif encourages folks to bring a friend and family and look for Lion Nick’s RV out there and come and enjoy coffee and donuts and roast a few marsh mellows around the fire.
The Club is in the process of collecting backpacks containing school supplies to give throughout District 35-O and has an on-going program of helping in outfitting qualified applicants with glasses. In addition, the public is encouraged to recycle used eyeglasses at drop off points, Publix, Walmart, shooting range. They are put through lensometers and sent all over the world. Lions are also collecting used plastic bottle caps which are to be recycled into public park benches. Vision services are the major fundraising efforts of Lions since Helen Keller appealed to LCI in 1920 to make service to the blind as its primary mission.
The Club is looking to hold a special memorial service on the range in February for Lion Charlie Neville. Charlie, who died shortly after Christmas was very instrumental in initiating the Club’s chief fundraising program a monthly Turkey shoots for nearly 20 years ago. The Club expects Lions from all over District 35-O to attend as well as many of Charlie and Barbara’s friends from South Lake and Emerald Lakes Village to attend. Further details will be announced.
Lion Nick Jones, longest-serving member of 48 years, presented the Club’s original charter from 1949. The Club is always on the lookout for new members. The Club meets monthly, on the second Thursdays, at 6:00 pm at IHOP.
Contact Lion Clif Brown for information at 631-835-5343.
