SUBMITTED BY BRIDGEPORT LIONS CLUB:

 

Members of the Bridgeport Lions Club and their spouses met for dinner at the Bridgeport Civic Center on Thursday, June 15, 2017 to induct its new officers and celebrate its 87th anniversary as well as the 100th anniversary of Lions Clubs International.  All present dined on a delicious meal of salmon, baked potatoes, tilapia, rice, salad, fresh fruit and peach pie prepared by Missy Rowan. 

 

Conversation centered around the June 12, 2017, eighty-seventh anniversary of the Bridgeport Lions Club and its annual fund-raisers of a chicken roast to take place on Saturday, July 8, at the front parking lot of the Bridgeport High School located on Johnson Avenue from 10:00 until everything is sold.  Two other annual fund-raisers to take place at the Bridgeport Civic Center are a spaghetti dinner, in conjunction with the General Federation of Women’s Club of Bridgeport (GFWC), on September 21 and a pancake feast on December 2.  Proceeds from these fund-raisers enable the Bridgeport Lions Club to fulfill its mission of “WE SERVE” by assisting the Harrison County community in the following ways:  the purchase of a defibrillator for the Bridgeport schools, a college scholarship for a graduating senior, sponsorship of the Children’s Vision Rehabilitation Program, sponsorship of the Challenger Baseball League, free eye exams, diabetes testing clinics, free eye glasses, and many, many other projects to enrich and enhance the lives of others in our community. 

 

Another mile marker celebrated by the Bridgeport Lions Club is the centennial anniversary of Lions Clubs International to take place from June 30 – July 4, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.  Lions Club International was founded by Melvin Jones, a Chicago businessman, on June 7, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois.  To mark this anniversary, 20,000 Lions Club members from all over the world, including 84 from West Virginia, will gather in Chicago to participate in seminars and activities as well as march side-by-side with Lions from over 120 countries and geographical areas with different backgrounds and languages down the streets of the host city during the Parade of Nations.  Lions Club International has over 1.4 million members worldwide. 

 

Bill Nichols, District Chairman for the Lions Club International Foundation, of the Adamston Lions Club was in attendance to talk about the importance of Lions Clubs in the world and the difference its members have made by “serving”.  Nichols also presided over the induction of the 2017-2018 officers which are as follows:  President Robin Faris, First Vice-President Jim Harki, Second Vice-President Laura Dick, Third Vice-President Brandon Magill, Secretary Debbie Crim, Treasurer Roger Murray, Newsletter Chairperson Diana Bedell, Membership Co-Chairs Carl Hatfield and Drew Tate, Tail Twister Ben Sandy, Lion Tamer Craig Liebig, and Publicity Chairperson Charlene Smyth.  Annie Bronsak and Jane Sandler also serve on the board of directors for the Bridgeport Lions Club. 

 

The induction of Robin Faris as president is the third mile marker for the Bridgeport Lions Club as Faris is the Club’s first female president. 

 

If you feel this is something you want to be a part of and if you want to help the Bridgeport Lions Club “serve” its community, contact President Robin Faris by calling 304-629-6798.