Category Archives: Club Meeting

Yarmouth Lions Kick Off 70th Year with Open House

Lions Club invites community to learn about our history of service to Yarmouth

October 28, 2018 Update by Doug Carney

A special “open house” meeting was held on October 1st at the Muddy Rudder restaurant. Guests learned about the history, current programs and contributions the Yarmouth Lions have made to the town, and how they can volunteer or become a member. Speakers, all of whom are club members, addressed the following topics.

Bob Swan presented the history of the Lions Club International, as well as the Yarmouth Lions, from its charter in 1949, to the present.

Larry Forcier spoke of our involvement in the annual Yarmouth Clam Festival, with a history of what we sell and the charities that are supported by the profits that are generated from our food booth.

Kerry Tull covered the acquisition, preparation, and sale of Christmas trees for our Trees for Tuition program, noting that 100% of the profits go to fund college scholarships for local high school graduates.

Alan Lambert addressed our Wreaths for Warmth program, noting that 100% of the profits from the sale of 120-135 wreaths each year (about $2,000) go to the Yarmouth Heating Assistance Fund for those residents in need.

Brian Bicknell gave a history of Santa’s Chalet, from its start in the 70’s to the present day. Thousands of children and families have enjoyed visiting Santa over the years on the three Saturdays before Christmas.

Larry Forcier spoke about “Adopt A Family,” a seasonal program in which contributions from Lions and local businesses are used to purchase, wrap, and deliver gifts to families and nursing home residents in need at Christmas time.

Phoebe Chandler covered the way the club has provided vision services to new Mainers through eye exams, glasses and transportation to receive these vision services.

Doug Carney reported that we have recycled over 14,000 eyeglasses over the past 15 years, and that we are 85% ahead of last year at this time.

Joan Russell briefed the attendees on where our dues money goes, as well as the process by which charities are selected to receive contributions from the Yarmouth Lions Club.

President Sandy Bowie closed the meeting with a well-deserved thank you to each of the presenters, a look to the future, and an invitation to prospective members to join our Lions Club and support our motto, “We Serve.”

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Lions Partner Casco Bay YMCA and New Club Member

Yarmouth Lions welcome their partner, the Casco Bay YMCA, and a new Club member

The Notes – May 8, 2018

At the April 16th meeting of the Yarmouth Lions Club held at the Muddy Rudder Restaurant, our guest speaker was Scott Krause, Branch Director of Casco Bay YMCA. The Yarmouth Lions have been a partner of the YMCA for many years, and Scott wanted to update the club on what our local YMCA is doing for its 20th anniversary.

Scott Krause, Branch Director of Casco Bay YMCA

Membership in this branch is vibrant and growing as the Y focuses on Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. Within these areas, current initiatives include creating more space for childcare, water safety, a youth-in-motion program designed to combat obesity in young people, and an emphasis on providing tailored support for people needing extra assistance. Scott emphasized that no one is ever turned away from the Y due to his or her inability to pay for membership, and it is there for everyone. The Y is first, and foremost, a service organization.

Welcome Adrienne Nardi!
Lion Bob Swan, with his customary mix of humor and history, inducted our newest member, Adrienne Nardi, Executive Director of the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce, into the Lions Club.

Dr. Bob Swan inducts Adrienne Nardi into Yarmouth Lions Club

Adrienne was sponsored by Lion President, Sandy Bowie. Per usual, Adrienne was welcomed into the club with the traditional “LIONS ROAR.” Welcome aboard, Adrienne!

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Update on New Yarmouth Community Center

Yarmouth Community Center Steering Committee Continue Search for Available Locations

The Notes – April 3, 2018

At the March 19th meeting of the Yarmouth Lions Club held at the Muddy Rudder Restaurant, Horace and Barbara Horton, longtime Yarmouth residents, and co-chairs of the Steering Committee for the Yarmouth Community Center, gave an excellent presentation on the efforts of the steering committee, to locate a suitable piece of land on which to build a much needed Yarmouth Community Center.

Horace and Barbara Horton present possible locations for a new Yarmouth Community Center

As Yarmouth has grown in population, the needs of the community have outstripped the facilities to provide these necessary services. For example, 91 families, numbering nearly 300 people, currently use the Yarmouth Food Pantry, which was not originally designed to support such great demand. Other services, such as medical equipment assistance, a meeting center, and youth support, are all located at disparate, and often inadequate sites. Numerous properties have been surveyed and several options close to the center of town are deemed feasible sites.

The goal of the steering committee is to identify a location for the community center, then raise the funds necessary for this undertaking through private donations. Various parties, including prospective donors, sellers, the Town Council, and the school department, are involved in the tedious acquisition process.

After the Lions met with the Hortons, we learned that the School Board voted to retain all of the property around the Rowe School for future expansion and parking needs. Therefore, the Yarmouth Community Center Steering Committee is researching other potential locations near the center of Town.

The Lions Club is very thankful and appreciative of the efforts of the Hortons and the steering committee to fulfill the needs of the Town of Yarmouth, and we look forward to supporting them in the future.

Yarmouth Lions 1st VP, Alan Lambert (center) with Barbara (left) and Horace (right) Horton of the Yarmouth Community Center Steering Committee

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Yarmouth Lions Members Recognized for Decades of Service

Four Lions awarded for their combined 100 years of service to Yarmouth

The Notes – March 26, 2018

At the March 5th meeting of the Lions Club held at the Muddy Rudder, Lions Club 1st Vice District Governor, Neil Iverson, presented length of service awards (Milestone Chevron Award) to four Yarmouth Lions.

Bill Goddard receives the 50 years of service award from 1st Vice District Governor, Neil Iverson

The first award went to Bill Goddard for his 50, I repeat, 50 years of service to the Lions Club – a fantastic accomplishment! Neil also presented a length of service award to Larry Forcier (15 years), and two awards in absentia: Scott Dugas (20 years of service), and Joe Ingalls (15 years of service). Thank you gentlemen for your many years of service to the Lions, and the town of Yarmouth, Maine.

Neil also spoke briefly about the Lions District Convention being held April 27th-29th at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, the extensive service of Yarmouth Lions, and the two new challenges for Lions Clubs around the world, diabetes and pediatric cancer. He also reiterated the role of the district to serve and assist each club within its district.

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Lions Hear from The Center for Grieving Children

Lions-supported Center for Grieving Children has assisted more than 66,000 children and their families
The Notes – March 19, 2018

Anne Heros leads the Center For Grieving Children, a Portland-based nonprofit which has been delivering hope to more than 66,000 children, and their families since 1987

At the March 5th meeting of the Yarmouth Lions Club held at the Muddy Rudder Restaurant, our guest speaker was Anne Heros, Executive Director of the Center For Grieving Children based in Portland. She gave a superb presentation on the center and its history, both past and present. Starting with 4 families and 12 volunteers 30 years ago, last year the center amassed a record 26,000 hours of volunteer service providing grief support for children, teens, their parents and caregivers, young adults, bereaved parents and widows, and widowers/partners. Thousands have been and are now receiving professionally-trained support following the illness or death of a loved one from cancer, accidents, overdose, suicide and other causes, and no individual or family is ever charged for these support services.

The center is self-sustaining thanks to fundraisers, grants, and the generosity of individuals and organizations, such as the Yarmouth Lions Club, who has been partnering with the Center since 1996. To learn more about the Center For Grieving Children, go to www.cgcmaine.org.

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