A Rambling History of Statham Lions Club
The Statham Branch Lions Club conducted its first meeting on April 6th 2017. The Statham Club is currently (this changed when we received our Club Charter on June 24, 2018 at a BBQ hosted by District Governor Mark Bradley) a Branch Club of the Athens Lions Club. We meet on the first and third Thursday of the month. Meetings were held at Chen's Family restaurant – Sunflower City General Store & Cafe and now are held at Savvy's Space/Savvy Cakes in downtown Statham.
Club Officers throughout 2017 were: President Chris Sullivan, Secretary/Treasurer Suzi Rodgers, Club Advisor Steve Helwig (Athens Club) Eye Screening Richard Cronic (Athens Club) Membership Co-Chair Dean Coy & Judy Marcilliat.
Club Mailing address; P.O. Box 722 Statham Georgia, 30666.
Statham Lions wish to thank the Lions Athens Club for all they did for our Branch Club in 2017. Special Thanks to Lion Steve Helwig and Richard Cronic for their attendance at our meetings, they were always willing to assist Statham Lions as our young club began to grow with an ever increasing number of members. Thanks also goes to Athens Lion Bryson Tanner/Secretary, who handled the required Lions International paperwork and Club records. Statham is forever grateful to Athens Lions Club !
During those early days the members of Statham Branch looked for ways to let the community know we are here to Serve and here to Stay. Decisions made to attend Stathams Sunflower Festival. Eye Screening was offered at that years festival as well as a fundraiser offering a choice of a Shotgun or cash prize. On his way back from a his very busy schedule of functions and events to attend, District Governor (MD 18-I) learned about a Branch Club taking part in the Sunflower Festival. He made a detour from where he was headed so he could stop by and introduce himself to the Branch Lions at the festival. Little did he know he would be PUT TO WORK... Statham Branch Lions encouraged DG Bradley to pass out Lions Club information and if that wasn't enough they suggested that he sell the fundraiser raffle tickets. DG Bradley soon found out those fun loving Branch Lions were determened to become a stand alone Lions Club. Yep !! Those somewhat pushy Branch Lion Club wannabes were on the fast track to Get'er Done!! In the many months following that festival, DG Bradley would often hear of other places Statham Branch Lions had been and the various activities they provided to the community of Statham.
The Branch Club would attend Statham's Christmas Festival with a fundraiser project of a very decorative glass jar filled with a variety of chocolate candies. Since it would soon be Christmas, the festival also had a parade with many floats sponsored by local businesses and churches. Statham Branch Lions also had a Float in the parade. Since Statham is a golf cart friendly community, a golf cart was magically turned into Santa's Sleigh with a very large Christmas box loaded with gifts for the children who lined the streets. Santa's elves must have borrowed Santa's Sleigh. They passed out along with the gifts, lots of candy... The Spirit of Christmas was alive that day.
The Community of Statham held a forum for those running for the several City Council positions that was coming open. Our Branch Club attended this forum with the primary goal of meeting the residents of Statham and to share information on the Lion Club. We passed out bottled water at this forum. As spring arrived so did baseball... our Lions took their show to Winder's Lions Park. We assisted in the concession stand selling a variety of sandwiches, snacks, candy and of course soft drinks. We all had a fun day helping out.
The Branch Club hosted a “Meet & Greet” for the community with sweet treats and beverages for those who attended. We also visited Mulberry Grove Assisted Living Center where we called their Bingo game for the residents in Mullberry Grove. Winners of the games received prizes from the Club Members. We have since been back to again call Bingo Numbers with no doubt this become a regular event for the Club. To be sure, many of our members receive far more pleasure from these visits than we ever could give back. Its a real treat to learn small details from their past years of living in Georgia... these folks all have a story to share if only a little time is taken to ask them to share in a conversation. Lots can be learned as we chat back and forth... far more is received from these seniors than the seniors get back from the token gifts for winning a game of Bingo. Another visit to Mulberry Grove was set up so Lion Steve Helwig could work on the residents glasses. He brought his tools that are needed to adjust the frames and once finished, he handed them off to Lion Tammy Hitchcock so she could make the lenses crystal clean for the owner.
It was time to help our Host Lions Club, Athens. Athens Lions Club is deep into their Vision Screening program in Athens/Clarke County Schools. During the next several weeks several schools were visited. We later would learn from Lion Richard Cronic's records, over 3,000 students were screened for Vision. The School Nurses are very supportive of the Vision Screening Program. As this is being typed, dates have been established for Athens Vision Screening for the 2018-2019 school year.
Statham Lions, with the assistance from Richard Cronic (Athens Lions Club) visited Statham Elementary School. We came with the schools permission to do vision screening. On our visit we were able to screen 160 students. Soon we learned to our surprise, some 26 percent of students screened. did not pass the screening process. Many wore glasses already but still had some degree of issues with corrected vision. The School Nurse received the details of this screening event and would then provide the children's parents the results of our screening. We then made arrangements to visit Bear Creek Middle school. It is our hope that all Barrow County School Children can be vision screened in the coming months/years.
As the days moved forward and our membership grew, we were honored with a request from District Governor (MD 18-I) Mark Bradley, that we host his 4th district meeting, the last district meeting of his term as Governor. Location for this Picnic type District meeting was difficult to lock down and when it was finally decided upon, with little more than a week left, the location where it was going to be held, had to cancel because of structural problems at their location. Luck came our way right here in Statham. Robert Bridges Park just so happened to be available for this Picnic to go forward. A Lions Crew went with buckets and cleaning supplies to the park. Several weary hours later the building was made presentable for this picnic event to take place. On the day of the picnic the room was ready, the weather was perfect, Lions bearing side dishes arrived... District Governor Bradley and his Cabinet Members arrived, it was a great day to be a Lion in Statham Georgia !!
