Holmes hopes to revitalize Longmeadow Lions Club

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW There is still a glimmer of hope in Dick Holmes' eye. Even though the Longmeadow Lions Club unofficially disbanded during their June 15 meeting, the membership chair has not yet turned in the club's charter to the district governor. He hopes to resurrect the civic organization during a Sept. 8 meeting.

"I'm hoping for 10 people to show up," he said. There were only seven active members of the club in June, and only four of them attended the meeting. "I want to keep this going even if it's only one person," Holmes added.

The Longmeadow Lions Club was chartered in 1947 and over the past 61 years, the organization has provided dozens of services and gifts to the town. They purchased enlarged books for the sight-impaired for the town's schools, gave a piano to the Willie Ross School for the Deaf, donated furniture to the senior center, financially supported Long Meddowe Days, offered scholarships to students and much more.

"I don't think the townspeople know of all the projects we do," Holmes said. "We try to stay anonymous in our gifts, but this time, we need to let people know what we do."

One of the problems with the recent decline in membership from 20 members last September to the seven this June is that the club wants to continue doing as much projects in the community as possible but doesn't have the manpower to do so.

"I'm optimistic [we can keep the club going] with one exception we need people," Holmes stated.

The Lions Club is in search of determined and dedicated adults of any age who enjoy camaraderie and helping others.

"This is our one shot chance to bring the club back," Holmes said. "If we're gone, it's not our loss, it's Longmeadow's loss."

The Longmeadow Lions Club informational meeting will be taking place Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 175, 417 Longmeadow St. To learn more about what the Lions Club does, visit www.lionsclubs.org or call Holmes at 567-7342.