Published: March 24, 2008 01:39 pm         

If you re-build the Lions Club, they will come

POND CREEK — It’s a time of rebuilding for the Pond Creek Lions Club.

The recently reformed group has been out in the community since it recently reformed.

“We just started back up again,” club member Danielle Deterding said. “We’re just trying to get established again.”

She said the club has 27 members, with 25 of those being active. She said the club also is seeking more members and volunteers.

About 2002 and 2003, the 85-year-old club was down to about four members and was at risk of being forced to close by Lions International, said Enid Lions Club member Virginia Rodriguez and Pond Creek Lions Club mentor.

She and her husband Fanny Rodriguez helped to keep the club alive, getting the clubs dues back in order and having a membership drive.

“We got some new members and some younger members,” Virginia said. “We stuck by them.”

She said the club did not have meetings for about two years and admits,” I was about ready to give up.”

Fanny wasn’t ready to give up on the club and went to another meeting when Virginia had to work. When Fanny arrived at the meeting, there were seven new members.

“I was almost in tears,” Virginia said.

By working with other area groups, such as the PTA and high school booster club, the club was revived.

“We’re open to anyone,” Deterding said. “We are always looking for more volunteers.”

She said she joined the group about a year ago and has been working since then to let the community know about the services the Lions Club can provide.

“We haven’t had a real big calling for the services we offer,” Deterding said.

The Lions Club can provide services to the blind and visually impaired, youth outreach programs and works to improve the environment, build homes for the disabled, support diabetes education, conduct hearing programs and provide disaster relief around the world.

The club also provides sight programs that fight major causes of preventable and reversible blindness, provides free professional glaucoma screenings and corneal transplants, provides free quality eye care, eyeglasses, Braille writers, large-print texts, hearing aids, white canes and guide dogs. The groups also recycles eyeglasses and hearing aids.

“We offer free testing for glaucoma, vision, hearing, blood pressure and sugar, and bond density,” Deterding said. “We offer that once a year to our surrounding area.”

Lions are an international network of 1.3 million men and women in 202 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world, according to the group’s Web site.

Known for working to end preventable blindness, Lions Club members participate in a vast variety of projects important to their communities. The projects range from cleaning up local parks to providing supplies to victims of natural disasters.

Beginning in 1917, the association of Lions clubs has provided millions of people with the opportunity to give something back to their communities, according to the site.

The Pond Creek group provides many services; however, some are not called upon.

“We can provide services for blind or impaired but we’ve never been called out for that,” Deterding said.

The groups works with other area organizations and clubs and hosts fundraisers, such as its pancake supper, which benefits the community.

“We had our pancake supper during basketball season as a fundraiser for the club and we donated the money back into our community,” Deterding said. “We just try to get it back into our community.”

Since the club reformed a few years ago, Deterding said it has been expanding its activities and creating new fundraisers.

“We’re trying to establish a grant to help with electric bills in the community,” she said. “We’re also preparing a fundraiser for a family in town with a sick child.”

She said the group also organizes a Christmas open house in Pond Creek.

“We get all the businesses to stay open later one day a week near Christmas,” she said. “That way people can do more shopping in the town.”

The club meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. at restaurants in Pond Creek.

“We are always looking for more people to do stuff and more members,” Deterding said. “We just try to make this community better and provide for this community.”

Those seeking services or who wish to join can contact Deterding at (580) 532-4401.