Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 5/1/2019
AGAWAM – The MGM casino’s mascot took a Friday off as the dominating lion of downtown as the Agawam Lions hosted their 75th Anniversary celebration at La Quinta Inn, located in downtown Springfield on April 26. The evening included a cocktail hour, three-course dinner, music and a great deal of dedication and friendship.
The Agawam Lions honored their several accomplishments over 75 years including providing over $32 million in grants from the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund and their upcoming Vacation Vittles initiative to ensure students receive lunch during summer break from school.
Before the evening of celebration began, Roger Jones, president of the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund from 2017-2018, told Reminder Publishing “We’re proud of our service and we do a lot for our town.”
Bob Haskell, president of the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund, said, “It’s great and it’s taken a lot of dedication from the Lions.”
Agawam Mayor William Sapelli gave a speech at the event, thanking the Agawam Lions for their continued dedication to the town of Agawam. “This is really amazing. 75 years of the Lions Club. I could stand up here and tell you all night about all of the wonderful things the Lions Club did for the schools and for the community. As the mayor of Agawam, I feel we are so fortunate as a community to have a group that’s willing to give up their time, money and talent back to the community. The things that you’ve done for our community are just unbelievable,” Sapelli said.
Sapelli continued, “As a Superintendent, I really appreciated what you did for the schools and as mayor, I really appreciate what you’ve done for the town.”
A citation from The Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives offered by Hampden District State Representative Nicholas A. Boldyga was presented by Westfield State Representative John C. Velis to honor the Agawam Lions’ anniversary.
“I love the motto. Find out what your community needs and do it. No ifs, ands or buts about it, find out what your community needs and do it,” Velis said.
Lions International Director Joyce Middleton traveled from Bridgewater to present the Melvin Jones Fellowship, named after the founder of the Lions Club. The Melvin Jones Fellowship is presented to those who donated $1,000 or more to the Lions Club International Fund.
The Melvin Jones Fellowship was awarded to Beverly A. Tetreault, who was a member of the now defunct Lioness Club and became the first female president of the Agawam Lions. Tetreault is also the first female recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellowship in the Agawam Lions history. With tears in her eyes and a smile on her face, Tetreault stood at the podium as Middleton pinned the Melvin Jones Fellowship pin to Tetreault’s maroon Lions Club jacket.
After presenting the fellowship, Middleton gave a speech honoring the Agawam Lions. After sharing facts about the year 1944 including the price of gas and the cost of a new home, Middleton said, “I heard our great Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Foundation was not yet imagined in 1944. Since it was conceived in 1951 and adopted as a state project of ours in 1952, thankfully your club, the Agawam Lions, have fully embraced with great enthusiasm in continuing to grow your enthusiasm for the foundation and the good works its done. Topping the half a million dollar mark. That’s an enormous accomplishment in which all of us Lions, all of us in Massachusetts look to Agawam and recognize the good works that have been done here on behalf of the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Foundation,” Middleton said.
Standing under the Agawam Lions banner, Middleton continued, “The club members of yesterday and today have contributed to the very fabric of Agawam and to our state, nation and our world at large. They’ve generously donated their time to the town and their money. Though none of you were at the chartering of this magnificent club, you have certainly been the committed stewards of the charter by bringing your enthusiasm for service and care for your community. You’ve provided exemplary leadership in our state.”
Middleton thanked the Agawam Lions for their dedication and sacrifices to serving the community. “I thank you all and your past members for the dedication and the sacrifice you’ve given. Though you don’t think of it as a sacrifice, right? None of us do. We know we get more out of being a Lion than what we give and we go to bed satisfied at night with ourselves. We don't worry that we’re not making a difference, we know that we are,” Middleton said.
As several guests cheered and nodded in agreement, Middleton concluded her speech, referencing what’s to come for the future of the Agawam Lions. “It’s time to recommit yourselves, Agawam Lions. Recommit yourselves to introducing and saying yes to continuing the great works of Lions. Say yes to eradicating preventable blindness. Say yes to invigorating more people from the great town of Agawam to join you in your service. Take time to consider what your membership in this club has meant to you and truly celebrate it. Take a minute and think about what it’s brought to your individual life by being a member here in this club. Friendships that you’ve had. Joys and sorrows that you've had, that you’ve shared with one another because that’s what we get out of being a Lion. We get a magnificent circle of friends. Life is short, but your service and legacy in this club has lasted and benefitted generations of people,” Middleton shared.
With a series of cheers, hugs and exchanges of kind words to one another in the crowd, Middleton said, “I’m telling you all, you’ve only just begun. See you at the 100th.”
For more information on the Agawam Lions Club, visit www.agawamlions.org.