Our fall season is starting off well. The Boothbay Region Lions Club met for a regular meeting on Sept. 22. We were joined by a “soon-to-be” new member Alexandra Andrews and Chip Coleman, a guest from the San Francisco area.

Our guest is a member of the Burlingame Lions Club (started in 1929) in California. Chip Coleman saw our sign outside the club house announcing our meeting and decided to visit. We enjoyed visiting during our meal, provided by Lions Jay and Duane, and after our meeting, we answered Chip’s questions about our club, and each of us present introduced ourselves.

During the meeting, decisions were made to donate to the St. Andrews Free Bed Fund and to Camp Kieve (Kieve/WAVUS Foundation) in Nobleboro.  This camp provides a week-long leadership program for seventh graders.

Several members present gave donations to Lion Karen for the Stratton/Eustis Club, which is selling lawn signs stating “Be Kind” with the Lions Club emblem. The funds raised will be used to replace Christmas lighting in their towns.

Lion Karen, who is finishing out her term as 2nd Vice District Governor, reported on what is happening at the Lions District level. The annual convention will be held this year at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel in Bar Harbor May 6-8, 2022. 

There are now two apps available to the visually impaired, Script Talk and Reading Between the Lines. More information is available through the Maine Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation.

Lion Wendy, our eyeglass chair, reported that she boxed up 192 eyeglasses, 16 cell phones, and 5 hearing aids to be sent out for recycling. One application for financial assistance for eyeglasses was also requested this past month. We also discussed the possibility of offering assistance with cataract surgery, which is being researched by the District.

Our club is planning to set up a booth at the Railroad Museum’s Fall Foliage Festival to sell Lion Jay’s famous fish chowder on Saturday of the festival, Oct. 9. All proceeds will be designated to our Eyeglass Fund.

We will be holding our annual Christmas raffle again this year with the proceeds being donated to Food for Thought.  Stay tuned for more information soon.

We discussed this year’s Lions Club Peace Poster contest.  This year’s theme is “We are all connected.”  Students ages 11, 12 and 13 are eligible to participate. We will be working with the school and hope to have several students enter the contest.

For information on our Lions Club, please visit our Facebook page.

Our next meeting will be Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. with a meal provided.