By JEFF LARRISON
Westfield Lions Club
At the July 17 Westfield Lions meeting, two more Lions were inducted into the Club.
Greg and Karen Batt, sponsored by Lions Mark and Linda Hallett, were inducted by Past District Governor Bob Benson. Also, at the meeting the Lions worked on the plans for several upcoming volunteer opportunities and fundraising events.
The Club is organizing efforts to hold its annual fish fry, scheduled for Sept. 5 and 6. This year the event will be held for the first time at the recently renovated clubhouse at 1101 E. 169th St. This event has been held for over 90 years and generates several thousands of dollars that go to support the Club’s charitable donations.
The Westfield Lions are an active participant in the school vision screening program that tests over 20,000 students at 88 schools in the central Indiana area. This program, coordinated by the Zionsville Lions Club, is an extremely valuable tool helping with early detection of vision issues with students. It also takes a huge burden off under-staffed school nurses who are responsible for conducting student vision screenings. Westfield’s vision screening dates are Oct. 8 and 10 and will cover over 500 students.
Twice a month the Westfield Lions participate in the Gleaner’s Mobile Food Pantry food distribution events. These events take place in Arcadia and Cicero and help provide food for area families in need. Gleaner’s generosity provides an opportunity for the Carmel, Noblesville, and Westfield Lions Clubs to work together to serve Hamilton County residents.
Even though it seems that November is a long way off, the Lions are in the early stages of preparing for their highly successful semi-annual “Poker for Sight”® Texas Hold ‘em tournament. On Nov. 14 and 15, the Lions will host over 350 players vying for $25,000 in prize money. The November tournament – the Club’s signature fundraising event – will be back at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds now that the fairgrounds’ current renovation project is at a point where the 4-H building can be used again. Details on how to register will be sent out soon. To learn more about the tournament dates, rules, and payouts, go to LionsPoker.org.
These are just a few of the numerous events, projects, and fundraisers the Westfield Lions participate in throughout the year. To help them with the ever-increasing needs of the community, they are looking for men and women interested in serving others.
To find out more about the Westfield Lions and how to become a member, go to WestfieldLions.org.