Free public forum focuses on Living with Low Vision
Our free public forum Oct. 26 helped individuals with age-related vision concerns--and their families and caregivers--learn about the latest research findings and strategies for living with low vision. The event, held at the Odenton Regional Library, featured a notable low vision specialist and a geriatric occupational therapist.
"The program was very, very helpful!" said an attendee whose father-in-law's advanced-stage macular degeneration compounds his other medical conditions. Both speakers advised him on ways to improve his relative's quality of life.
Dr. Robert Massof, the keynote speaker, is the founder and director of the Lions Vision Research and Rehabilitation Center at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Because of his research on low vision and his dedication to improving the vision of those with macular degeneration and other eye diseases, Dr. Massof was honored by the White House in 2012 as one of 11 Champions of Change.
UPDATE: Our Matching Fund Campaign For Odenton Elementary School Playground
Our matching-fund campaign to help complete the Odenton Elementary School playground is under way. Initial letters were mailed in late October to local businesses who had not contributed to the school's PTSA playground campaign. Lions Joe Leite, Denise Finken, and Sheila LoCastro, together with young Joseph Finken, addressed, stuffed and sealed the envelopes for the mailing. A cool thing about this workshop: it took place in a meeting room at Morningside House of Friendship, where Joe now resides. It was great to have Joe's and young Joseph's help and input!
The official "kick-off" for our matching fund campaign took place in September when two special guests--Ms. Tracey Ahern, principal of Odenton Elementary School, and Amy Regel, a PTSA representative--attended our September meeting. In addition to the fund-raising, we also discussed the "hands-on" work Club members will do to help refurbish the basketball court, a small memorial garden, and games like four-square on the playground's paved area.
What else is happening?
Fifty residents of Friendship Station in Odenton enjoyed our Christmas tea in December. It's hard to tell what they loved the most--the delicious buffet, the visit from Santa's "Son" wearing red bermuda shorts and sneakers (you had to be there!), or the bottomless bag of door prizes! Special thanks to Lion Chris Werth of Severn River Lions Club for his amazing guest appearance and for singing some very unusual carols.
West Arundel Lions are active Lions, serving our communities throughout the year:
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conducting early childhood eye screenings and vision and hearing screenings at the State Fair and community health fairs;
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collecting and sorting used eyeglasses and hearing aids for distribution in countries where such items are unavailable;
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sponsoring a Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Student and the Lions Gift of Sight Program;
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providing eye exam and eyeglass support for needy individuals through the Lions Association of Sight and Hearing (LASH) program;
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supporting the Diabetes Awareness and Leader Dogs for the Blind programs; and
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serving as Santa's Helpers for elementary school children and senior citizens.
