Why We Do What We Do
The primary purpose of the Toccoa Lions Club is to help the people of Toccoa and Stephens County with vision, hearing and diabetes health care. We do this by public awareness campaigns and by assisting people who cannot afford health care in these areas. We have several programs to accomplish these goals.
Georgia Lighthouse Sight Conservation Program
Our most important program is Sight/Hearing Conservation. This program includes free sight and hearing screening and financial aid for eye examinations & eye glasses to those people who cannot afford these health items. We also refer people with more complex eye & hearing health issues to the Georgia Lighthouse for the Blind.
The Open Arms Clinic
Our next most critical program is financial support for the Open Arms Clinic. This is a free clinic for residents that cannot afford health care. Members of the Toccoa Lions Club were instrumental in forming the Open Arms Clinic. All medical services done by the Open Arms Clinic are performed by medical professionals on a volunteer basis.
Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation
The final major program is support of the Georgia Lighthouse for the Blind. This organization provides vision & hearing services for residents of Georgia. The Georgia Lighthouse Foundation provides more complex eye & hearing care and is another source for help. They also allow the Toccoa Lions Club to purchase glasses at a deep discount, which allow the Toccoa Lions Club to help more residents. If you would like more information on the Georgia Lighthouse, please visit them at http://www.lionslighthouse.org/
The Chilly Open Golf Tournament
The Chilly Open Golf Tournament is one of several events that the Toccoa Lions Club uses to raise money for its community service activities. All money raised from the public go towards our community service activities. Administrative and overhead expenses must come from money paid by members for such items as member dues.
2011 - 2012 The Toccoa Lions Year In Review
During the course of the year, the Toccoa Lions Club lives out their ideals by providing services to the local community. These services range from providing eyeglasses to those who cannot afford them to sending visually challenged kids to camp.
This has been one of our most successful years serving the citizens of Toccoa Georgia. Our club is flourishing, Our projects are providing more assistance than ever before, and we have a great sense of accomplishmwnt as we move forward in our goal to make the world a better place one life at a time. This is a great time to join the Toccoa Lions Club!
To read more about the Toccoa Lions Club's activities Click Here.
How The Lions Club Started
In 1917, Melvin Jones, a Chicago business leader, told members of his local business club they should reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world. Jones' group, the Business Circle f Chicago, agreed. After contacting similar groups around the United States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the "Association of Lions Clubs," and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objects and a code of ethics were approved. Within three years, Lions became an international organization. Since then, we've earned high marks for both integrity and transparency. We're a well-run organization with a steady vision, a clear mission, and a long – and proud – history.
Videos Of The lions Club In Action
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Welcome To The Toccoa Lions Club
We are currently celebrating 80 years of service to Toccoa! We enthusiastically invite you to join us as we extend our service to the community in the hopes of improving the lives of our fellow man.
The Toccoa Lions Celebrate 80 Years of Service in Toccoa/Stephens County
The Toccoa Lions gathered at Gate Cottage on the Campus of the Toccoa Falls College on May 9th, 2013 to celebrate the club’s 80 Year Anniversary.
The key note speaker was GA Lions Past Council Chair Kembra Smith. Thirteen Lions Clubs helped celebrate 80 years of outstanding service by the Toccoa Lions Club. PCC Kembra gave the audience a brief history of the Toccoa Lions Club, including the fact that the Toccoa Lions Club started its Sight Conservation program in 1944. During a 25 year review of the program in 2000 it was noted that Stephens County residents in need received 1200 pairs of eye glasses. Last year the club assisted over 100 people in obtaining eye glasses.
Lion Bryan Gordon recognized some of our long term members including: Andy Crawford (67 yrs), Willard Kimsey (62 yrs), Frank Edmonds (58 yrs), Loyd Prewett (52 yrs), Claud Smith (48 yrs), Welton Carpenter (48 yrs), M.C. Stowe (39 yrs), Marvin Mauldin (38 yrs), James Irvin (37 yrs), Wayne Carpenter (32 yrs), Randy Shirley (26 yrs) & Ray Cornell (19 yrs). These Lions have a combined 525 years of service in helping others.
Lion Bill Graham notes “We all owe Bryan Gordon a special, and large, note of appreciation for all the work he did in arranging our 80 Year Celebration of Service to our community. Bryan the Lion you did a GREAT job! You definitely went above the call of duty, but that seems to be your normal mode of operation.”
We also owe our appreciation to Lion Flo Gordon. Lion Flo painted the LION portrait that was given to PCC Kembra. Lion Flo has painted a number of these original oil portraits. Each portrait is unique and painted for the intended recipient. Lion Flo first painted Lion Portraits for our participating local Optometrists. The paintings were a tremendous success. Shortly after that Lion Flo got a request from the Lions of Georgia to paint LIONS Portraits for the members of the GA Lighthouse Foundation Board. Lion Flo continues to use her special talents to let people know that the Toccoa Lions appreciate their work to further the Spirit of Lionism! Thank You Flo for all the great work you do.
Help Support Liberty Elementary's Archery Team
Though Liberty Elementary’s Archery Team did not win the state tournament, they did exceed the requirements to participate in the national competition which will be held in Louisville, Kentucky on May 10-11, 2013. Kentucky in May. Students are currently practicing with Coach Foster 3 days a week to prepare for this exciting adventure. Winning a spot in the national tournament is a crown of laurel for this team who work so hard for a sport they love and for the coach who gives his time freely for those students.
The projected expenses to enter the tournament include registration fees, Hotel expenses and transportation. Coach Foster and the kids are working hard to get their fundraisers going to raise the money before May 9th. They are appreciative of all donation considerations as well.
If you would like to help the students, make checks payable to Liberty Elementary School and the school will put it in an account set up for the Archery team. Please put Archery Team in the memo line of your check. Mail your check to 222 Old Liberty Hill Rd, Toccoa, GA 30577. The phone number at the school is (706) 886-3934.
Thanks you for your help!
To Read The Full Article Click Here
Lions Baseball
The Toccoa Lions Club has sponsored a Little League Team in Toccoa/Stephens County since 1965. This year’s Coach, Tim, writes:
“I would like to introduce myself as the manager for the Junior League team the Lions Club is sponsoring this year. Thank you for all the work the Lions Club does for the people in Toccoa and Stephens County that are dealing with sight, hearing, and diabetic issues.
Attached is this year’s game schedule, I just received it yesterday. Please distribute the schedule to your clubs members in case any would like to come watch the boys play. This Saturday, March 23rd is the opening weekend for our league. We are having the parade through town on Saturday morning as is the usual custom.”
Coach Tim
Let’s all get out and support our Lions Little League Team!
To View The Team Schedule Click Here
You Can Now Donate To The Toccoa Lions Online
Thanks to you, the Toccoa Lions Club has provided for the needs of members of our community for many years. Each year the challenges become greater. We are ready to stand in the gap and with your generosity together we will better the lives of the people we encounter. Please consider donating to the Toccoa Lions Club.
Apply For Toccoa Lions Eye Glass Program
The Toccoa Lions Club is making it easier for you to apply for the Toccoa Lions Club Sight Conservation Eye Glass Program
If you are in need of eyeglasses, an eye exam, or a diabetes screening, and cannot afford these items, help is now at your fingertips.
Simply click the link below and you will have access to an application form.
The application form contains the qualification criteria and the procedures to submit the application form. If you still have questions after reading the application form you may send questions or comments to toccoalionsclub@gmail.com
Application forms must be submitted in person, we cannot not take email or U.S. Postal mail submissions.
Your application will be reviewed and you will be advised of your status.
Announcing The Toccoa Lions Club Online Store!
The Toccoa Lions Club is excited to announce our new store. Our members, supporters and friends are now able to purchase tickets to events and fund raising items that help us better the lives of people in Toccoa from the convenience or their homes. You can visit the store by clicking the link on the main navigation bar above. More items will be added as the area is developed.
The Lions are proud of their legacy here in Toccoa. Since 1933 we have provided the gift of sight to many in our home town, and thanks to your help our legacy will continue!
