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Published: 05 September 2018 05 September 2018

Lions and Rotarians join forces to paint The Gathering Place

Whitingham, VT  –  Recently, members of the Whitingham-Halifax Lions Club and the Rotary Club  of the Deerfield Valley joined together for a three-day volunteer painting project at The Gathering Place adult day care center in West Dover. Alison Ferris coordinated the effort from the Lions’ end, while Lions Steve Betit, Jeanette Felton and Mark Hanna provided equipment. The Gathering Place is a community resource for seniors and others who who need special care.  It provides meals, activities, socialization and even showers for special needs clients.

Here’s a link to a short, fun video Lion Patience Merriman made featuring Whitingham-Halifax Lions as they worked on this big project. You can see how fantastic the spirit was —  and how grateful The Gathering Place is to have their building looking so bright and new!  Hope you enjoy it!

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Published: 18 July 2018 18 July 2018

Understanding the true value of our gift

This year the Essex Lions Club sponsored Marlee to attend the Green Mountain Lions Camp.  For many of the campers this is a rare occasion to be surrounded by other youths that share the bond of using American Sign Language as their primary language.  I met one camper’s father who helped me to understand the significance of this gift.  Outside of camp his son’s only opportunity to improve his signing comes through interaction with his signing parents and those signing enhancement opportunities that they can provide.  Both of his parents have their hearing and had to learn to sign, but their signing isn’t as good as it could be.  Like all Vermont deaf youths their son was mainstreamed into public school, but their son’s public school interpreter isn’t even as proficient as the parents are.  As of 2017 Vermont and Maryland remain the only two states who have yet to establish a certification process for Public School ASL interpreters.  Many public schools view ASL interpreters as paraprofessionals and their actual ASL skillset may be quite lacking.  Camp truly is a place where these kids can learn and grow.

With that in mind here is a photograph of Marlee (on left) on her first day at Green Mountain Lions Camp in Cabot.  It’s a great reminder why we Lions strive to assist our community. 

This week, the 22 GMLC campers will participate in several activities including horseback riding, Circus Smirkus, on site swimming and boating and of course home cooked meals and evening camp fires.

The last day of our 2018 camp is this Saturday 7/21. If you have time please join us for lunch and a quick clean-up after.

We Lions provided an unparalleled summer experience to 32 kids that will help them learn and grow throughout their lifetime.  Camp is providing a foundation of language skills and friendships that are priceless.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

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Published: 14 July 2018 14 July 2018

For 24 years, the Basin Bluegrass Festival has rocked on in Brandon, Vermont. This annual family-friendly summer festival features a weekend of acoustic bliss in the beautiful Vermont countryside, complete with local vendors, overnight camping, and, of course plenty of bluegrass pickin’ performances. Kids and pets are welcome, as is anyone looking for a locally laid-back good time.

Pictured at the Brandon/Forest Dale Lions Club Ice Cream Tent are lions: Connie St George, Bruce Blanch, and Don Crichton.  At the ice cream freezer are lions: Gary Gorton and Jackie Dutil.

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Published: 13 July 2018 13 July 2018

SERVICE PROVIDED & HONORED

In 1977 Lion Art Pfenning became the Charter President of the newly formed Brandon/Forestdale Lions Club.  He was instrumental in building and leading the young club, and he remained an active member and strong advocate of community service until his recent death this summer.  Both Art and his wife Jean were presented Melvin Jones Fellowship awards in 2009.  Jean was the first non-Lion to be so honored in the Brandon/Forestdale service area.  

Recently the club learned that Jean had taken ill and was in need of a handicap ramp for safe access to her home and sustained quality of life.  The club unanimously voted to assist Jean by building the ramp. Lion Gary Gorton spearheaded the project. He and lion Connie St George were then able to build the ramp in one afternoon.  “Art and Jean Pfenning have done so much for our community; it was a pleasure to be of service to Jean.  I’m pretty sure Art was there overseeing the project” said Lion Connie.