NAPOLEON, MICHIGAN
LIONS CLUB
Napoleon Lions Club strives to create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and International co-operation.
We have been serving the sight and hearing impaired as well as other needs of the residents of Napoleon since 1953.
The Napoleon Lions Club is proud to have sponsored a Leo Club at Napoleon Schools. Leo’s learn about serving at a young age.
HOW LION CLUBS BEGAN
Lions International was founded by Melvin Jones and a group of Chicago businessmen who in 1917, met once a week to find ways to help the poor in the city of Chicago. As their interest grew, several other groups of like minds began to take notice of their work and eventually they joined as one group and formed the Lions Club. In 1926 at the Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, Helen Keller was the guest speaker and she challenged the Lions to become “Knights for the Blind” and that grew into an organization of worldwide proportions that has spent millions of dollars in an effort to eradicate Blindness and to assist those who are blind, or sight impaired.
More recently other challenges have been accepted by Lions Clubs International. Diabetes research (the leading cause of blindness) and direct assistance to those who have it, and work with the Hearing Impaired are programs started in the late 1980’s.
Around the turn of this century, the Lions began a program designed for preschool children of ages 2-5. This program is called “Kidsight”. With the aid of a special camera an Ophthalmologist can determine if a child has certain eye problems that can be corrected at an early age to prevent needing corrective eyeglasses later in their childhood.
SERVICES WE PROVIDE
Glasses
Hearing Aids
White Canes
Braille Transcriptions
Misc. needs of the visually & hearing impaired
Sight Readers
Drug Awareness
Talking Books
Diabetes Awareness
Handicap Ramps
LOCAL YOUTH ACTIVITIES
*We furnish youth baseball and softball playing fields at the Napoleon Lions Park
*We sponsor the local Boys and Girl Scout Troops in Napoleon and provide the Pinewood Derby Track.
*Halloween cider at the fire barn
*High School student scholarships for college
*Educational Activities as well as supporting students who choose to travel for educational purposes
*Youth Exchange
*Local High School sporting events
*Michigan High School All-State Band and the Napoleon Lions Community Band.
*Punt Pass & Kick for grades 1-6 since 1968.
*Summer lunch program in the park for grade school children.
CURRENT FUNDRAISERS
White Cane Collections
Concession Stand and Trailer
Candy Days
Lion Mints in businesses
Fly In/Drive In Mothers Day
Breakfast at the clubhouse.
Memorial Day BBQ in the Park
Annual Golf Outing
Annual Crab Races at the Beach Bar
Texas Hold-em Tournaments
Rental of our building for your event
Sight & Hearing Sweepstakes
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Membership in the Napoleon Lions Club is open to all men and women who have a sincere desire to join with other local Lions to enhance the lives of the sight and hearing impaired and the youth in our Community.
There is a one time membership fee plus modest yearly dues.
Monthly business meetings are held the 1st and 3rd Mondays at the Napoleon Lions Clubhouse located 7935 Napoleon Rd. (1/2 mile south of M-50) at 6:30pm
INVITATION
If you would like to help us in our Mission and have a few extra hours per month we cordially invite you to join the Napoleon Lions Club.
If you would like to visit our club for a meeting and dinner or if you have any questions about the Napoleon Lions club you can contact:
Richard Tallman 517-536-4476
E-mail - rdshep@comcast.net
Website:
WWW.napoleonlions.org
STATE, DISTRICT & INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS WE SUPPORT
All State Band (State Project)- Each year, the lions of Michigan sponsor over 100 high school musicians from throughout the state to participate in the international convention. The students not only march in the parade, but also present concerts at the convention and at various cities on their way to and from the convention.
Diabetes Awareness funds from this project assist in public awareness of diabetes and its complications
Hearing and Speech –Funds from this project support various hearing and speech centers in District 11B-1. In Particular, special testing equipment is provided for diagnosing and correcting hearing and speech problems.
Leader Dog for the Blind - (State Project) Located in Rochester, Michigan, Leader Dog School graduates over 300 guide dogs each year. These dogs are provided to recipients at no charge.
Lions Club International Foundations
(International Project) - This program provides grants to various humanitarian programs throughout the world. A new program, Sightfirst II, targets preventable and curable blindness. Over $140 million was raised to support this project. The Michigan Eye Bank in Ann Arbor was the recipient of a $50,000 grant which aided in the construction of the eye bank research center.
Lions of Michigan Foundation (Multiple District Project) - Founded in 1984, this program provides funds for sight and hearing conservation., unmet medical needs of individuals, emergency disaster relief, and activities for handicappers. Since its inception, LMSF has distributed over $750,000 in grants throughout the state.
Michigan Eye Bank and Transplantation Center - (State Project)- Located in Ann Arbor, the Midwest Eye Bank provides over 1,000 corneas each year for transplant. In addition, a similar number of corneas are used in research and teaching.
Penrickton Center - (Multiple District Project) - The center is located in Taylor, Michigan. This program teaches various living and learning skills to blind, multiply handicapped children ranging in ages from two years to thirteen. Twenty six students spend five days per week at the center in a residential program.
Radio Talking Book (District 11B-1 and 11C-2) - Broadcasting from Michigan State University through WKAR-FM, this project offers news, books, stock market reports, and other information to sight-impaired people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Special radio receivers are supplied to qualified listeners at no charge.
Sightmobile - The sightmobile is equipped with vision screening instruments and is manned by Lions and Lioness clubs at various events throughout the district. Hundreds of people are screened free of charge each year for sight problems and referred to medical specialist as required.
"WE SERVE"
