Details: Published: 06 June 2018 06 June 2018

Whitingham-Halifax Lions support for The Gathering Place brings kindness full circle for a Lion and his family

Whitingham2

Pictured: Gathering Place Board President Andrew Loney; Karen Hein, Ralph Dell, Gathering Place Site Director Tanya Powling , Gathering Place Executive Director Maggie Lewis and Whitingham-Halifax Lions Club President Jen Betit.

Article by Lion Patience Merriman -

For many years, Ralph Dell was an active member of the Whitingham-Halifax Lions Club. He helped raise funds, walked in parades and participated in meetings. But in 2010, Ralph, a retired pediatrician and public health advocate, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Today, thanks in part to support from his Lions Club, Ralph is now a regular client at The Gathering Place’s new location in West Dover. On Monday, June 4, the center hosted a special “Thank You” dinner for the Whitingham-Halifax Lions, to acknowledge the Club’s financial support for the new facility.

Executive Director Maggie Lewis gave tours of the center and explained the Gathering Place’s mission to the Lions. She also presented outgoing Lions president Jen Betit with a certificate of appreciation.

“What goes around comes around,” said Lion Mark Hanna. “Our club made a donation to help The Gathering Place come to Dover, and now The Gathering Place is helping Ralph and other local seniors live with joy and dignity right here in the community.”

According to Ralph’s wife, Karen Hein, Ralph enjoyed going to the Gathering Place in Brattleboro. “But travel time to the Dover location is half what it was to go over the mountain to Brattleboro. Seeing the MOOver bus coming up our driveway makes us both smile— it means that Ralph’s off for a great day of activities with participants and staff who really care, and I can do the zillion things I need and want to do as well.”

The new Gathering Place location, in the old First Wok building on Route 100 in West Dover, has been extensively renovated and is now a bright, welcoming and fully-equipped facility offering a comprehensive range of programs and services for adults – everything from healthy meals and activities programs to personal grooming assistance.

Karen Hein notes that caregivers benefit just as much as clients from the services The Gathering Pl ace provides. “Caregiving is such a big responsibility,” she explains. “The Gathering Place allows both of us to live and love fully—knowing that Ralph is surrounded by kind, knowledgeable, professional caregivers during the week days, giving me time to take good care of our household ... and take care of myself as well!"

Details: Published: 10 May 2018 10 May 2018

Whitingham-Halifax Lions Club honored at D45 Convention

After a highly successful membership drive on March 19th, the Whitingham-Halifax Lions welcomed 21 new members to the club, nearly doubling in size as a result. “Our new Lions are men and women with a diverse range of ages and backgrounds,” said Lion Alan Stewart of Wilmington, who led the membership effort. “We are all very excited to have this incredible influx of energy and talent.”

On May 6, the Club was formally honored by the Vermont Lions leadership at the District’s spring convention at the Grand Summit Hotel at Mt. Snow for bringing in more new members than any other club in the state.

In addition to the towns of Whitingham and Halifax, the Lions Club welcomes members from local towns that do not currently have clubs, including Wilmington, Dover and Searsburg. The Club is active in community service and fundraising for the Deerfield Valley Food Pantry, The Gathering Place, vision screening in local schools and other local charities.

Whitingham Membership Drive photo with caption2

Webmaster’s Note: Go to the Membership section of the Club Toolbox and check out the awesome invitation that was used to announce their membership drive.

Details: Published: 19 April 2018 19 April 2018

SO Donation

Many thanks from Special Olympics

On behalf of the athletes of Addison County Special Olympics, we thank the Middlebury Lions Club for their generous donation which will help to provide opportunity for 65 athletes to demonstrate their abilities. Special Olympics Vermont offers year round sports training and competition opportunities in 13 Olympic-type sports. Through sports training and competition the athletes develop physical skills and healthy life habits, but most important have fun. Friendships made and the sportsmanship demonstrated, brings smiles to the athletes, the volunteers, the coaches, and the parents. As every Special Olympian knows; “Let Me Win, But if I Cannot Win, Let Me Be Brave in the Attempt.

Be sure to look at the volunteer opportunities available with Vermont Special Olympics. The "Opening Eyes program" of the Vermont Special Olympics is again looking for Lions volunteers. Check out their invitation here.

Details: Published: 19 April 2018 19 April 2018

Story reposted from the 7/10/17 edition of the Addison Independent

Courtesy of the Addison Independent

By Will Digravio

High-tech glasses help blind woman ‘see’

Lions gift restoring her independence

Thirty years ago, Louise Wright was told she would become blind. Four years ago, she did lose her sight completely, and began training herself to live as fully as possible in her new world of darkness. Thanks to a unique piece of technology she received, the Middlebury woman is regaining some measure of independence.

Vergennes Words for Thirds

Members of the Vergennes Lions Club last month handed out dictionaries to the 30 third graders at Vergennes Union Elementary School and to the 17 combined second- and third-graders at the Addison Central School. This program has been going on for a number of years in Ferrisburgh with the donors there being the local Grange. When Brandon-Forestdale Lion Mary Shields switched from Ferrisburgh to Vergennes this year, she suggested the Vergennes Lions might want to give the other children in the Addison Northwest School District the same opportunity. Her previous club has been doing this for a number of years in the Brandon area, and teachers there say the dictionaries help the students in their learning. The Lions Club members who handed out the dictionaries, with the individual students names in them, said it was one of the most enjoyable things they have done. The Lions talked about what their organization does locally, statewide and around the world through it’s 1.4 million members. The students were very attentive, asked good questions, and many commented on what their own family does to help others.

Vergennes 3rd Graders

Details: Published: 08 April 2018 08 April 2018

Family fun at Bayside Park

Colchester Lions Club, in partnership with Colchester Parks & Recreation, sponsored the annual Easter egg hunt at Bayside Park. Children were separated by two age groups: 4 and under hunted Lower Bayside Park, ages 5 -8 hunted Upper Bayside Park. Over 3000 eggs were 'stuffed' 'hidden' and 'found' during this event. The 'Easter Bunny' arrived, giving photo opportunities for the children making memories that will last for a long time. The Colchester Lions Club also hosted its annual food drive for the Colchester Community Food Shelf, collecting just shy of 250 pounds of food, with an undetermined amount of cash donations.

The Colchester Lions Club would like to thank the Colchester High School Honor Society and the Colchester Boy Scout Troop 601 for their assistance over the weekend. The club would also like to thank the St. Michael's Fire and Rescue for having a 'special connection' to the Easter Bunny. Thanks to Colchester Parks and Recreation for their continued support of this great event. Please see Colchester Lions Club Facebook page for more photos.