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SALISBURY LIONS CLUB |
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Proudly serving Salisbury , Maryland since 1923 |
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF SALISBURY LIONS CLUB In 1917 Melvin Jones, an insurance agent in Chicago who founded Lions International, first shared his vision of a world in which neighbor helped neighbor. Just six years later, on May 23, 1923, a group of twenty-five community leaders in Salisbury joined together under the sponsorship of the Wilmington, DE Lions Club to charter the Salisbury Lions Club. In 2007, as the Salisbury Lions Club celebrates its 84th year, it has grown from the 25 charter members to 77 members, while Lions International has grown to become the world’s largest service organization - about 44,000 clubs with over 1,430,000 members in 185 countries. Salisbury Lions Club has built an exemplary record of humanitarian aid and community service, which reaches far beyond Salisbury and the Eastern Shore. Within two years of its founding, the club hosted the 1925 District Convention. The enthusiasm of the initial years soon waned, and the membership declined to only ten, who, in 1928, discussed surrendering their charter and joining the Civitan Club. Three years later, in 1931, the club provided assistance to an almost totally blind youth, Carl Hastings. Dr. J. R. Bishop, a Lion, saved his sight. After weeks of surgery and treatment, Carl attended a club meeting and announced gratefully, "I can see now." This emotional experience gave the members new vitality. The publicity attracted new members and set a course for assistance to the sight impaired, which continues today. BLIND ASSISTANCE A girl with sight problems was sent to a training school for the blind. A newsstand was set up in the Salisbury Post Office for Helen Salter, a blind person. Eyeglasses have been purchased for hundreds of people. Many thousands of dollars have been contributed for eye examination and cataract removable procedures. Club members drove Bob Bohred, a blind teacher, many thousands of miles to instruct blind students. The Medical Eye Bank of Maryland has been supported with annual donations for over thirty years. Transportation to Wilmer Eye Clinic in Baltimore has been provided for many needy patients. Many glaucoma clinics have been conducted, with thousands of people tested and may cases of glaucoma discovered. Purchase of a bus for the Maryland Workshop for the Blind was enabled by Lions Club contributions. Drives were conducted to solicit eye donations to the Maryland Eye Bank. Titmus (Vision Testing) machines were donated to the Wicomico Board of Education, resulting in the testing of all students since c. 1970. Hundreds of people have been tested, using the District Sight and Hearing Van. Many thousands of pairs of glasses, frames and lenses have been collected for the needy all over the world. Candy Sale Projects have been conducted for may years to benefit Wilmer Eye Clinic. In 1980, an ocutone (used in procedures for eyesight restoration) was donated to Peninsula General Hospital ($13,290). In addition, over $20,000 has been donated to P.G.H. for instruments and equipment to deal with eye problems. Contributions have been made to Lions Vision Day for Multiple District 22 Lions Vision Research Foundation. Contributions have also been made to Lions Vision 2000 Campaign, a $4,000,000 endowment committed to the work of Lions Research and Rehabilitation Center of Wilmer Eye Institute. Visitations were made to Nursing Homes with the LEHP Program to alert viewers by video to the leading causes of blindness. Purchases for sight causes include power screwdrivers for Maryland Workshop for the Blind, a Braile printer given to the Wicomico County Board of Education, a prosthetic eye for a needy individual and a guitar for a blind musician. HEARING ASSISTANCE In the latter half of its seventy-five year history, the Salisbury
Lions Club Audiometers were donated to the Board of Education, enabling hearing tests to be administered to all students since the early 1970’s. Thousands have been tested for hearing impairment through use of the MD 22 Sight & Hearing van. Contributions have been made to the Deaf Independent Living Association and the Maryland School for the Deaf Booster Club. Scores of hearing aids and batteries, as well as several scholarships to the Camp for the Deaf, have been given to needy individuals. YOUTH ACTIVITIES The youth of the area have long been a major interest. Athletics have been supported by sponsorship of the West Side Little League. Uniforms, equipment purchases, team financial support and coaching activities of members have helped the Salisbury Little League, Pony and Senior Leagues, girl’s softball, youth soccer and Rookie League basketball. Annual awards are made for sportsmanship to players of three high schools. The Holiday Basketball Festival has benefited many area schools. Donations have been made to Special Olympics, Science Olympiad and Junior Achievement, and scholarships have been provided for training camp for outstanding athletes. Scholastic Achievement Awards (now $1,000 each) are presented annually to outstanding seniors at the three high schools. CIVIC AND HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS Many other social concerns affecting the quality of life in our area have been addressed. Screening programs have been conducted for diabetes, a diabetic testing machine purchase and books on diabetes donated to the public library. Drug awareness has been fostered by donations to the Salisbury Substance Abuse Center, Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force and Parents Against Drugs, as well as by purchase of films for the Wicomico County Schools. The Blood Bank of the Eastern Shore was founded by the Salisbury Lions Club in 1961, with 3,244 members. It has grown to be a significant multi-state institution, providing a vitally needed medical service to many thousands of members. Evidence of the contributions of the Salisbury Lions Club exist all over the Salisbury area. Three ambulances were donated to the fire department. Flag poles on the city plaza, electric scoreboards at Wicomico County Stadium and the Salvation Army ball field, a basketball floor at the Civic Center and a van for Lower Shore Sheltered Workshop were donated. Contributions have been made to the Salvation Army Capital Campaign, Wicomico Teen Center, Coastal Hospice, the Community Foundation, the Salisbury Zoo, the Joseph House and the Salisbury State University Scholarship Fund. Band uniforms were purchased for the first band formed at Wicomico High School and, later, for the James M. Bennett Junior High Band. Not only funds, but countless man-hours have been contributed to civic and humanitarian projects. Lions members have served as Salvation Army bell ringers, collectors of canned goods for the needy and fund raisers for the American Heart Association and other charities. Perhaps the greatest impact on the lives of area people has been made through many individual contributions to the needy. From the time in 1930 when a young man was sent to business school and later repaid the scholarship money advanced to him, needy individuals have been assisted. Help has been given to fire and cancer victims. Back-to-school funds have been provided through the Wicomico Department of Social Services. Christmas baskets have been donated. Many individuals, referred by Joseph House, Salvation Army, Coastal Hospice, nursing homes, churches and other community support organizations have received help from the Salisbury Lions. FUND RAISING To support these and other charities, many fund-raising projects have been conducted. A watercade was held at Wicomico Youth and Civic Center when it first opened, boxing matches were sponsored in the 1930’s and a house was built and raffled off in the 1950’s. Many tons of chicken have been fried and sold from the giant frying pan at countless Salisbury Festivals and Delmarva Poultry Industry Chicken Festivals. Raffles of Blue Chip stocks and vacation tours have also been held for many years. Well over $1,000,000 has been raised for charitable and humanitarian purposes during the past seventy-five years. The present annual charity budget exceeds $32,000. OUTREACH The interests and contributions of the club have not been confined solely to the Salisbury area, as other Lions Clubs have been sponsored in Berlin-Ocean City, Cambridge, Crisfield, Delmar, Denton, Easton, Federalsburg, Fruitland, Hebron, Hurlock, Pocomoke City, Queenstown, Sharptown, Snow Hill and Vienna. Each year, Salisbury Lions Club members make many visitations to other Lions Clubs. Over sixty clubs were visited this year. Substantial donations have been regularly made to the Lions Club International Foundation, which is engaged in worldwide humanitarian service. The American Cancer Society, South Dakota Flood Relief and Hurricane Hugo Fund are examples of other beneficiaries of the club’s giving. Many Salisbury Lions Club members have distinguished themselves in service to Lions International. The late Harold Loreman, Jr. and Dr. Lee Rademacher were International Directors. The late Dr. Seth H. Hurdle, the only Lion to be twice elected District Governor of MD 22B, was honored with a lifetime membership. The Salisbury Lions Club has an outstanding record of service to Lionism, which was acknowledged by the visit here in 1941 by Melvin Jones, founder of Lions International, and subsequently, by his widow. Five District Governors and numerous Deputy District Governors and District Cabinet members have come from the Salisbury Club. DEDICATED SERVICE The unusual dedication of some members is exemplified by their attendance at regular meetings. Six of our members have over 40 years perfect attendance. For many years, the club met weekly, year round, at dinner meetings. Now meetings are held on the first, third and fifth Wednesdays from September to June. Activities are not all for fund raising and project volunteerism. Fun and fellowship are provided at the annual Oyster Roast, Crab Feast, Ladies’ Night, Boys and Girls Night, District Conventions, and the many informative programs and speakers, including an annual Embassy Night, which features speakers from foreign embassies. The Salisbury Lions Club continues as one of the largest in the area with a present membership of about 77 business and professional people, educators and salesmen. These Lions have clearly produced a positive impact on the quality of life in Salisbury and many other areas over the past 80 years. The lives of many members have been influenced by the opportunity for humanitarian service afforded by the Club. The exemplary heritage of the Salisbury Lions will provide future members the foundation for the volunteer service, which is so sorely needed in our more complex and demanding society. Lion Bill Bicknell
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