Clarksville Lions Club undergoing revitalization project
CLARKSVILLE – First chartered in 1970, the Clarksville Lions Club has seen a membership decline over the past five years or so.
Brad Geyer, District 14-M Governor, said that although the club has been passionate and strong advocates for several community projects, especially its scholarship program for high school students at Jefferson-Morgan, membership has recently dwindled to five.
On a positive note, the Leo club, the student membership branch, has remained vigorous with 25 members.
“A few week ago, we learned some of the Lions were leaving the Clarksville club, which put its future in peril,” Geyer said. “We then contacted the Lions Clubs International to appraise them of the situation, and they responded by sending us Ronnie Martin, a club development specialist from Texas.”
Martin arrived in southwestern Pennsylvania on Sunday, March 11, and he and a group of Lion volunteers from the district immediately began canvassing on Monday business professionals in Clarksville, Rices Landing and Jefferson and Morgan Townships for new members to rebuild the Clarksville club.
At 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening, March 13, Martin and Geyer scheduled a meeting of the general public and parents of Leo club members in the library at Jefferson-Morgan High School to learn more about what Lions clubs do for the betterment of the community and accept applications for new members.
At the moment, Greene County has five Lions clubs located in Waynesburg, Carmichaels, West Greene (Graysville), Mt. Morris and Clarksville. They are part of district M-14, which includes Greene, Washington, Fayette and Somerset counties and which currently has 46 clubs with a total of 1,175 members.
The Clarksville Lions had been meeting the third Tuesday of each month, but that is expected to change after a special meeting this evening when new members who may have joined this week meet to elect new officers and iron out details of the club such as the future meeting place and schedule. Those wanting to attend should call Brad Geyer at 724-396-9271 to ascertain the time and place of the meeting.
“The Lions Clubs International boasts that 100 percent of all the funds we raise go to its intended purpose,” Geyer said. “Donors can be certain that any money they contribute to a certain cause will be used for that purpose. Even our dues of $35 every six months goes toward running the organization and publications.”
According to Geyer, the Lions get involved in both local and global projects. For one, the International Association encourages local clubs to participate in its popular vision services program. Through it, donated eyeglasses are cleaned and repaired then distributed to needy blind persons.
“Each individual club also has its own special interest,” Geyer said. “In our area, clubs are involved in the issue of diabetes, a growing problem that’s prevalent in our area. Currently, we’re contributing money for research and diabetes awareness.”
The Clarksville club has also been active in giving scholarships to students and the hope is that, by re-energizing the club, they will be able to give more.
Geyer said the Lions are a service organization whose goal is to assess the needs of their community and help them reach their goals. For instance, if a new playground or handicapped ramp is needed, the Lions provide a vehicle to assist their construction, including the securing of grant money.
“Our activities make us a unique service organization, but we need the help of members and the community to effect change and make our neighborhoods better places to live,” he said.
For more information on Lions clubs, email bwgeyer@yahoo.com.