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Date: 4/12/2022
BELCHERTOWN – Like everything else that was put on hold during the pandemic, a major milestone for the Lions Club passed like a quiet kitten with little recognition and no fanfare. The Lions 75th anniversary came and went in 2020, near the height of COVID-19’s rampage.
With COVID-19 restrictions largely lifted, the Lions are celebrating their 75th anniversary in this, their 77th year. Lions’ secretary Themis Tsoumas said exhilaration remains high for this delayed gala.
“It’s a great achievement that we have supported the community over many decades. Lions Clubs are having difficulties, as are all civic organizations. But we’ve stayed strong with 46 members and we’re proud of that,” he said.
The Lions Club was founded in Belchertown in November 1945. The group touts “a commitment to the community unrivaled by any other service organization in the world.”
Through fundraising and benevolence the Lions focus on eyesight, raising money to help the less fortunate who have sight and hearing disabilities. The club provides free eye exams and corrective eyewear and offers free screenings that can warn of the early onset of hearing, blood pressure, glaucoma and optic nerve disorders.
Tsoumas is proud of what the Lions stand for and contribute to the community.
“I am pleased with the humanitarian efforts we make. Sight and hearing are crucial, and we help people who can’t afford eyeglasses or exams. We’re a benevolent organization that does a lot for people around the world and here at home,” he said.
The Lions peripheral vision goes beyond simply helping people with their eyesight. The group has a broader mandate to support the community, raising money to help fund local soup kitchens, college scholarships, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and more.
The Lions raise the bulk of their financial resources through several fundraisers including its annual super raffle, golf tournament and grinder booth at the Belchertown Fair. Tsoumas said the Lions may raise the money and fund the donations, but the group relies heavily on public support.
“Attending our events, buying our grinders at the fair, purchasing raffle tickets and attending our golf tournament – that’s how we raise our funds. We can’t just rely on our members. We can do a lot more by raising money from the entire population of Belchertown,” he said.
The Lions ability to attract new members has always been a challenge. The group looks to enlisting friends and family into its ranks. Around four years ago the Lions began admitting women, and Tsoumas said they have been a welcome addition to the club.
“It was time. The first women we invited were our wives. They add a different perspective. In continuing to keep the Lions a viable organization and to increase our membership, this is helpful. People are getting older, and the young people aren’t signing up the way they used to,” he said.
The Lions are celebrating their 75th anniversary in their 77th year by hosting a banquet on April 23 at the Ludlow Country Club. Tickets are $40 and available to the general public. They may be purchased by visiting www.belchertownlionsclub.com. The event itself is not a fundraiser, however the Lions hope to raise money by publishing an ad book.