20 LION - Lions District 20

DISTRICT 20-E1
HONOR FLIGHT ROCHESTER
Halloween weekend, Honor Flight Rochester made its fifth trip this
year to Washington, D.C. In June 2008 Rochester became one of 70 hubs
that transport war veterans and guardians or a safe and memorable trip of a
lifetime. About 270 veterans were on trips in 2009 from Rochester.
Pictured are Charles Waffle and Allan Blossom as honored veterans and
PDG Jim Schiebel as a guardian, all from Hilton. Forty male and three
female veterans were on this trip with forty one guardians. We were greeted
by Honor Flight volunteers at the airport in Baltimore and greeted by
Senator Bob Dole at the World War Two
Memorial amongst many others. The trip is a small community "thank
you" for what these heroes did six decades ago. The air flight, meals,
ground transportation and overnight lodging were all provided for each veteran
at no charge.
Although the guardians, often relatives, each pay $300 toward their
expenses, no money is ever accepted from the honored heroes. With 350
more on the waiting list for next year, only finances will limit those that
will be honored.
The mission of honor flight is more than timely; it is urgent. Last year
the Hilton Lions Club donated $1800, the equivalent to four veterans, from
their profit on the annual armchair horse races. The Kendall Lions Club has
also sponsored a veteran for next year. If individuals or other organizations
want to honor more of the heroes amongst us, send a tax deductible contribution
in any amount to "Honor Flight Rochester, PO Box 23581,
Rochester, N.Y. 14692.
The Bolivar Lions Club, in conjunction with district's
"Lions Night with The Red Wings" event, was honored to bring
two Bolivar-Richburg Little League All-Star teams and their
coaches to the baseball game on Aug 28th.
The Bolivar Lions wished to show our support of the selfless
work of the coaches and also the hard work of the All-Stars
this past year. Both All-Star teams won the Allegany County
Championships in their respective age groups (9-10 yr old and
11-12 yr old). The entire group of Lions, All-Stars, coaches and
families consisted of 32 people. It was a marvelous evening and
the All-Stars really enjoyed seeing a big league baseball game.
BOLIVAR LIONS CLUB
GUIDING EYES FOR THE BLIND
Guiding Eyes for the Blind recently held a ribbon
cutting ceremony for the onsite veterinarian
MRI. The ceremony took place on July 18, 2009
during Salute to the Lions. The purchase of the MRI
was made possible through a $75,000 Lions Club
International Foundation grant. This grant, with
contributions made by over 100 individual Lions
Clubs including the Dansville Lions Club; Alfred
Lions Club; Avon Lions Club; Bolivar Lions Club;
Churchville Lions Club; Canaseraga Lioness Club
and the Caledonia Mumford Lions Club and other
private donors, made it possible for Guiding Eyes to
purchase an MRI for our veterinary hospital. The
onsite MRI helps Guiding Eyes’ veterinarians to
more accurately diagnose and treat our dogs’ medical
conditions. Guiding Eyes for the Blind is the
only guide dog school in the world to have an onsite
MRI machine.
District Governors Cliff Young (20-O) and Cary
Smolens (20-R1), joined Van Tassell Society
Chairman, Angelo Purcigliotti, Guiding Eyes graduate
and employee, Becky Barnes and Flyer,
Guiding Eyes veterinarian Dr. Jodi Sandler, and
Guiding Eyes Chief Executive Officer William
Badger for the dedication.
MULTIPLE DISTRICT 20 LION JANUARY 2010 - Page 5