Brandon Lions dedicate 60 years
By:
Jill Meier/Journal Editor
Jill Meier
Journal editor
The Brandon Lions Club marked its 60th anniversary with a bench dedication and picnic on the grounds of the Brandon Veterans Memorial Aug. 8.
Veterans, city officials and the public were invited to the picnic, which was catered by Tony’s Catering.
“We ran out of food kind of fast, but I think everybody got through the line,” said Brenda Feltman, past president of the Brandon Lions.
Feltman said the service-oriented group began focusing on their 60th anniversary and a legacy project leading up to the milestone celebration, and in their party planning opted to honor America’s veterans, too.
“We were trying to think of a service project earlier this year of something we could to do let the community know who we are and what we do and what we’re doing going forward, and this bench is a thank you to the veterans for their service and their sacrifices,” she said.
With several veterans who are Lions Club members too, the group worked cooperatively with Brandon American Legion Post 318 in placing a second bench at the memorial.
“We’re really excited to have been here for 60 years and be able to do something like this for the community and to honor our veterans,” Feltman said.
The Lions’ big focus is vision, and it starts with screenings for preschool-aged kids.
“We hit the preschools and the daycares, and we were at Brandon Hometown Days a couple weeks ago, so that’s our main thing that we do,” Feltman said.
“We hit the preschools and the daycares, and we were at Brandon Hometown Days a couple weeks ago, so that’s our main thing that we do,” Feltman said.
During Hometown Days, Feltman said the group celebrated their 60 years with sugar cookies and handed out kids’ sunglasses with the Lions Club emblem on them. The supply of sunglasses, she added, will continue to be given out at vision screenings.
The Brandon Club’s 60th anniversary wasn’t the only celebration to be marked last week. This is also the Centennial year for Lions International, which has been changing lives for 100 years through humanitarian service. The centennial celebration continues around the world through June 2018.
Brandon Lions meet the third Thursday of every month at the Pizza Ranch in Brandon.
“They’ve been very gracious to support us. We meet at 6:30 for a meal, the meeting starts at 7 and is typically done by 8,” Feltman said. “We would love anyone who’s interested just to come to a meeting, join us and we’ll pay for a meal for somebody seriously considering joining the club.”
Feltman said people who want to help the community and are seeking an organization to do just that, would be a perfect fit for the Lions Club.
“It’s not a major commitment except when we do these little projects or screenings,” she said. “We’re all just passionate about Lions in general.”
To learn more about Brandon Lions Club, check out their Facebook page, Brandon SD Lions Club.
