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THE TITUSVILLE LIONS CLUB HISTORY‑WE SERVE IS OUR MOTTO
The
Titusville Lions club was organized on June 8, 1939 by Lion Slater of the
Oil City Club. Since that time over 500 men and women have served in this
club. The Titusville Lions Club has had the distinction of having the
following members serve as District 14‑F Governors: Jack Gadsby (1972‑73),
the late Robert Streich (1976‑77) , Richard Sorrell (1992‑93) and James
McFarland (1999-00).
The first
project was a play for local children and the $8.00 raised was used to pay
for a bicycle awarded to the soap box derby winner. Over the years a
variety of projects have been held such as war bond sales during World War
II, sales of light bulbs, large coloring books and brooms which is still a
fund‑raiser for the local club. Current and past food and beverage
concessions at area festivals and outings have allowed the club not just to
sustain income but meet the public at community oriented events. Band
competitions, variety shows, placement of gum ball machines in area
businesses and mint sales outlets at area merchants made the public aware of
Lionism due to citizens obtaining quality products which benefited worthy
charities. Art auctions, indoor yard sale and auction, chicken barbecue,
barbershop quartets and haunted houses at one time were major revenue
sources for the club. The annual AMBA Wellness program not only provides low
cost health screening to residents but serves as a fundraiser too. Other
current fundraisers: the Valu-card which permits buyers to visit
participating businesses to obtain major discounts on food and merchandise,
gun raffles, pecan and cashew sales.
The joint
city‑Lions newspaper volunteer recycling program was spearheaded by the club
and was a unique fundraising tool of the club. Residents bought bags for
recycling of newspapers and Lions manned the city barn monthly for newspaper
collection by the city’s refuse service. It continues today although under
contracted services with the city and its waste hauler as a mandated
recycling program. Lions also participate in the Highway Cleanup program
doing their part to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. Other interesting municipal
programs over the years which members have participated included painting of
house numbers on the city's curbs and city fire inspections.
The club
also presented achievement awards to high school students, providing ushers
for the Helen Jepson recital, sponsored a Dale Carnegie course and made
dugouts for the Pony League and continue to setup the PA system at various
civic events. The annual White Cane Day makes citizens aware of this
special law which covers blind pedestrians and serves as a fund‑raiser in
which profits are utilized toward blindness prevention and sight
conservation.
Over the
years worthy programs and projects have been supported with the fund raising
proceeds including donations to lights for Carter Field and for the downtown
Christmas lighting program, Titusville Area Hospital, Benson Memorial
Library, O. C. & T. Railroad, Schiede Park Gazebo, American Field Service
Student Exchange program. The club has also sponsored a variety of youth
programs such as the Runaway Hotline program, Midget League Team through
the Titusville Baseball Committee, KEY "93" which insures all area youth
will have quality recreation facilities for the future, been avid bowlers
for the Big Brothers and Sisters of Crawford County.
Monetary
donations along with gifts of toys and food to the Associated Charities and
Salvation Army, caroling at area senior citizen resident facilities, and
being the sponsor of the annual Santa Parade are events in which all
residents enjoy during the Yule season. The importance of sight
conservation, prevention and worthy related causes are always a main focus
of all Lions Clubs of which this club has participated in making monetary
donations to he following District 14‑F programs: Erie Eye and Organ Bank,
Lions Braille Vision, Beacon Lodge, Blind Bowlers, W. PA School for the
Blind, Leader Dog, Eye Surgery Trust fund, Eye, Hearing and Diabetes
Research , W. PA. Ear Bank, N/W Kidney Foundation and Lions Club
International Foundation. Many children and adults have been assisted with
the assistance of the Lions Club in purchasing eyeglasses and in 1959 the
Titusville Eye Bank started due to the initiative of John Sallaway with 135
pairs of eyes collected enabling persons to regain their sight. Used
eyeglass are deposited by area residents in collection bins at city
businesses and then distributed to third world nations in a joint District
14F‑Lenscrafters project so the poor who would not get needed vision care
may receive this assistance.
Since the
local club's founding, many have been helped due to the long hours put in
its members, the generosity of the public which has supported the many
fund‑raisers over the years and to the cooperative efforts of other
organizations that lent a hand in major events that the Titusville Lions
have spearheaded. From the streets of Titusville to the poorest countries
in the world Lions have made a difference in their quest to assist the
blind, promoting sight conservation and other programs which are designed to
better mankind as a whole. On December 10, 2006 the Titusville Lions Club
was awarded the first Joseph Fleming award by City Council in recognition
of its long term commitment to the betterment of the community. It was the
first entity to receive this award and a proclamation was issued by Mayor
Brian Sanford to commemorate the occasion. |