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Four Chestertown Lions Honored for Their Work in Fighting Blindness
February – March Club Activities
Chestertown Lions Club Sponsors Vision Days April 14th-16th
The Association of Lions Clubs (later renamed Lions Clubs International (LCI)) was formed in Chicago, IL, in 1917 by businessman Melvin Jones. The clubs’ initial goal was to reach beyond local business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world. One of the first public issues they felt needed attention was vision impairment. Additional vision impairment issues became obvious after Helen Keller, herself blind and known as a tireless advocate for people with vision disabilities, addressed the Lions National Convention at Cedar Point, OH, in 1925. There she urged assembled Lions to continue their tireless efforts in supporting the blind and those with vision problems and proudly branded the Lions as “Knights of the blind in the crusade against dark ness.” Since then, Lions Clubs have worked vigorously to help those individuals with vision difficulties.
Today, the Lion Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) proudly continues these efforts by offering unique and impactful initiatives, programs, and grants. One of LCIF’s most notable programs is SightFirst which celebrates 30 years of funding efforts in fighting blindness and provides aid to persons who are blind or have visual impairment. Since 1990, SightFirst has helped more than 488 million people, with millions still requiring support. Locally, Lions Clubs support eye research and rehabilitation programs at the Lions Vision Center and Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.
To learn more about our many vision programs and help continue funding vision programs, visit us on “Vision Days” at JBK Hardware and Redners in Chestertown on April 14th-15th from 5pm-8pm and April 16th from 9am-12pm at JBK Hardware, Redners, Molly’s, and Chestertown Farmers Market. For more information about Chestertown Lions Club vision programs, please visit our webpage at www.chestertownlions.org or on Facebook @chestertownlions.
Draw for Sight Bicycle Poker Ride – April 24, 2022
The Chestertown Lions Club welcomes cyclists to Draw For Sight Bicycle Poker Run Ride. The tour consists of a 36 or 60 mile rolling to flat course. The route takes in the scenery of the heartland of Upper Kent County in Maryland including farmlands, old country homes, quaint towns, and great country stores. The ride goes through historic Chestertown.
Route starts and ends at Betterton Volunteer Fire Company, 2 Howell Point Road, Betterton, MD 21610.
Time:
Registration Hours;
7:30 am to 8:30 am
Rides start at 8:30 am
Drawing stations close at 1:00 pm
Rides end promptly at 2:00 pm.
Last sweep 2:00 pm
All score cards must be turned in by 2:00 pm.
Cost:
$35 until March 31
$40 April 1 until April 16
$50 April 17 until April 24
– Blind riders ride for FREE
– No Refunds
– Fee includes map, marked route, sag wagon and five food stops
Make checks payable to Chestertown Lions Charities, Inc.
Proceeds go to Lions Club projects.
Register online:
Register By Mail:
Click here for a mail-in registration.
Walk-in Registration:
Walk-in registration will be available on the morning of the ride. To speed up the registration process, print a mail-in registration form and have it completed with payment in-hand at the time of registration.
Interview With Event Chair Lion Mike Gallagher – Shotgun Raffle Drawing
Interview With King Lion Henry Hart – Shotgun Raffle Drawing
Video – Our Shotgun Raffle Winner!
November – January Club Activities
Chestertown Lions Activities
Covid Test Kits
From Virginia Gregg, Emergency Planner in the Kent County Office of Emergency Services:
Good afternoon! Here is a message of a different sort. Instead of the normal weather update, I’m advising of an opportunity to order 4 free covid test kits. The federal government web site for ordering free at-home covid tests is now live (one day earlier than expected). Visit this site and you can order 4 free test kits to be delivered to your home address. Limit: 1 order of 4 tests per address. Please be aware that there will most likely be a gap between the time of your order and the time of delivery, so please place your order before you need a test kit. The site is https://www.covidtests.gov/
Best,
Ginger
Club Calendar
Chestertown Lions Club Honored by Commissioners
September Club Activities
September 7th Business Meeting
Chestertown Lions Club Crab Feast
Chestertown Lions Club Thanks Sponsors of 35th Bay to Bay Ride
Chestertown Lions Club Bike Ride
Congratulations to PKL David Dunham
Fellow Lions,
Congratulations to PKL Dave Dunham!! Dave was recognized by District Governor John Lawrence on behalf of the Lions International President Dr. Choi with a CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION in Recognition of Distinguished Achievements in Fulfilling the Mission of Lions Clubs International. The presentation was made at the annual Social held in Cambridge, MD, Saturday, March 7, 2020, to honor 22B’s District Governor John Lawrence.
Dave, a relatively new Lion was recognized for his outstanding service for his recent service as President of the Chestertown Lions Club, by the implementation of a new fundraiser (the Comedy Night) and particularly for his success in promoting the activities of his club in local news outlets. His club’s activities seem to get published almost every week.
The entire Chestertown Lions Club thanks PKL Dave for all he does.
KL Rick
Our Shotgun Raffle Winners!
Congratulations to our Shotgun Raffle Winners!
1st place: Samantha Delroy – Chestertown
2nd place: Pat Thompson – Chestertown
121819 CTOWN LIONS raffle 1.4Rogers Smith & Jim Lupis awarded the Knights of the Blind Pyramid
Richard “Rick” Wells Awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award
Chestertown Lions – Live Raffle Drawing
Details of Chestertown Lions Club Drive for Sight Program
Fellow Lions,
Chestertown Lions Club’s Newest Member
Washington College President Kurt Landgraf is the newest member of the Chestertown Lions Club and was inducted by District Governor John Lawrence at a regular dinner meeting the evening of November 20, 2019. Congratulations and welcome Kurt!
Pictured below (left to right) DG John Lawrence, Lion Kurt Landgraf, and sponsor VDG Wayne Benjamin.
Annual Fall Shotgun Raffle
Fellow Lions,
CHESTERTOWN LIONS CLUB MAKES DONATION TO COMMUNITY TABLE AT FIRST UMC
Chestertown Lions Fight Diabetes
Fellow Lions,
Saturday morning, November 9, 2019, the Chestertown Lions Club was joined by Chrissy Nelson, Diabetes Nurse Educator with UM Shore Regional Health, at the Farmers Market to increase diabetes awareness. Information about diabetes was available as well as a diabetes risk self-assessment questionnaire. The Lions Club was well represented by Lion Bill Low, John Paolella, Larry Lyons, Glenn Owens, and KL Rick Coffman.
Lions International has identified diabetes as one of Lions Five Global Causes.
Lions can be seen each week at the Farmers Market selling raffle tickets for our annual Shotgun Raffle to raise funds to support the many services provided to the community.
I wish to thank Chrissy Nelson and all of the Lions that participated to make this event a success.
KL Rick
Chestertown Lions Support the Betterton-Still Pond Lions Club
Fellow Lions,
Chestertown Lions supported the Betterton Still Pond Lions Club by selling 50/50 tickets at their fall Horse Races on November 2, 2019. Lions Glen Owens, Matt Kempel, Mark Mumford, and Rick Coffman participated.
Lion Mark called the Races and the other Lions sold 50/50 tickets. The event was well attended and fun was had by all.
KL Rick
Chestertown Lions Supports Lions Vision Research Foundation (LVRF)
Fellow Lions,
The Chestertown Lions Club supports the LVRF and attended the District 22-B Fifteenth Annual Lions Vision Research Foundation Banquet held Friday, November 1, 2019, at the Greensboro VDF Community Hall. The program was inspiring; we heard from Dr. Robert Chun regarding the activities within the Low Vision Division of the Wilmer Eye Institue and Dwayne H. Adams, Sr. a patient which shared his story of how the Wilmer Eye Institute changed his life after a terrible accident left him completely blind in the left eye and with only partial vision in the right, as well as no sense of smell.
The Chestertown Lions Club was represented by KL Rick Coffman, 1stVDG Wayne Benjamin, Lions James Sanders, Fred Sherriff, and Matt Kempel. A check for $500 was presented to PDG Wayne Cole by KL Rick Coffman.
KL Rick
Farmers Market
In Chestertown, diabetes nurse educator Chrissy Nelson will join the Lions Club in a booth at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday, November 9, with the theme, “Lions Raising Awareness of Diabetes.”
Service Project – Church Hill PTA
Fellow Lions,
In search of a new fundraiser for the Chestertown Lions Club which required little up front cost and limited number of volunteers, Service Chair Fred Sherriff and Director Ken Roderick organized an event in partnership with the Church Hill PTA and a food vendor out of Easton, Md. The Church Hill PTA was raising money for an additional White Board.
The event was held Friday evening October 25, 2019 at the Church Hill Elementary School. The Chestertown Lions Club was represented by Lions Herb Wilkinson, Lee Hunley and Henry Hart. A big thanks goes to the Lions participating.
Our Lions Club benefited from this community project by the service we provided to make it happen and the experience we gained by first hand observation of food and the vendor from Easton. Based upon what we learned we may be able to duplicate this type of fundraiser in the future at other venues.
Again, thanks to Fred and Ken for spearheading this event.
KL Rick
Chestertown Lions Supports LOVRNET
The Chestertown Lions Club supports the Low Vision Rehabilitation Network (Lions Lovrnet) which is a community based healthcare program that addresses the current shortage and distribution of low vision rehabilitation services.
Pictured left is President Rick Coffman and District Governor John Lawrence.
Speaker District Governor John Lawrence
The Governor of District 22B, John Lawrence spoke to the Chestertown Lions Club on October 23, 2019 to discuss the joy of service.
Pictured left is District Governor John Lawrence and President Rick Coffman.
Farmer’s Market Saturday, November 9th
Fellow Lions,
See the following article in the Chestertown Spy:
Free Events Set for Easton, Chestertown to Mark National Diabetes Awareness Month
In Chestertown, diabetes nurse educator Chrissy Nelson will join the Lions Club in a booth at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday, November 9, with the theme, “Lions Raising Awareness of Diabetes.”
Rick KL
Larry Lyons Awarded Melvin Jones Fellowship Award
Lion Larry Lyons was recognized by the Chestertown Lions Club for his tremendous contribution to humanity & service as Chair of the Membership Committee. He was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award at a regular meeting held October 23, 2019. The Lions Club International recognizes outstanding individuals by bestowing on them an award that is named for its founder, Melvin Jones.
Pictured left to right is Larry Lyons and District Governor John Lawrence.
KL Rick
Lions Road Clean Up Team – Photos
Fellow Lions,
I wish to thank Chair Lion Matt Kempel, Lions Henry Hart, Herb Wilkinson, Bob Knapp, and Wayne Benjamin for coming out Thursday to pick up trash on Route 213 between Fey Road and Sprackel Pool. Working together we can make a difference in our community.
Thanks again.
Rick KL
Homeports Health & Wellness Expo
Fellow Lions,
A big thank you goes to Lion Fred Sherriff and a team of Chestertown Lions that worked at the Homeports Health & Wellness Expo held at the Kent County High School on Thursday, October 17, 2019.
The Lions served coffee and manned a table promoting Health-related services provided the community by the Chestertown Lions Club including the collection of eyeglasses, eye screening of young children, transportation to eye doctors, and diabetes awareness. It was a fun day of Lionism, and both District Governor John Lawrence and 1st Vice District Governor Wayne Benjamin stopped in for a visit.
Thanks again for another great day of service.
KL Rick
2020 Ride Dates
Hope to see you all in 2020! Here are the dates to mark your calendars.
Draw for Sight Poker ride April 26
Bay to Bay ride June 28
Thank you for supporting Chestertown Lions Charities!
Kitty Neff
Cycling Events Coordinator
Want to sponsor a Bike Ride? Here’s how!
We invite you to consider sponsoring the Chestertown Lions Club Draw for Sight Bicycle Poker Ride event held April 24, 2022 and the 36th Bay to Bay Jim Gent Memorial Ride held June 26, 2022.
The Draw for Sight Ride typically attracts over 200 riders and has become an annual tune-up ride for area cyclists from throughout the region. Riders follow a 36 to 60-mile course through historic Chestertown and the beautiful towns and farmlands of upper Kent County. The popular Bay to Bay Ride typically draws over 500 cyclists who can follow any of four routes between 26 and 102 miles in length, taking in the heartland of the Upper Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware. All of the funds generated from these two rides support Lions Club programs, particularly in Kent County, including the Leader Dog program for the blind, preschool eye screening, the purchase of eyeglasses for individuals who cannot afford them, and other activities such as scholarships for Kent and Queen Anne’s County students. Most of the funds will directly benefit Chestertown and Kent/Queen Anne’s County community groups.
Our sponsors will receive recognition for both 2022 rides. The enclosed sponsorship form explains the different levels of support and recognition. Every sponsor will be recognized for making an important contribution to our town, to Kent and Queen Anne’s counties, to hundreds of cyclists participating in the rides, and to the local and national programs supported by Lions Club International.
If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring the Chestertown Lions Club cycling events in 2022, we would be glad to answer any questions you may have about these rides or the Lions Club in general. Please feel free to contact us.
To become a sponsor, complete and return the sponsorship form with your payment to Chestertown Lions Charities, Inc., PO Box 265, Chestertown, MD 21620. Chestertown Lions Charities, Inc. is a non-profit tax-exempt public charity as provided for in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Sponsorship Ranges