Will host guest speaker at Sept. 21 meeting
The Greater Manlius Lions Club has recently announced its new slate of officers for the upcoming year, including Lorraine Mott as the new president.
Mott has been an active member of the Manlius Lions Club for the past five years being introduced by the late member John Kenny Barrett.
“John would always tell me of the great things this club did for the F-M community and once I joined, I realized how true that statement was. I am looking forward to leading various projects and continuing the Manlius Lion Club’s commitment to serving the community,” said Mott.
Additional club officers are: Randall Denton, immediate past president; Robert Baker, vice president of membership; Marissa Joy Mims, vice president of public relations; Rich Rossetti, secretary; and Allan Ruthig, treasurer.
The club has a long tenure of service beginning with former mayor and community leader, Arkie Albanese, continuing through many decades of great leadership and dedicated volunteers. Members have worked on a variety of projects in the local community, such as the Lions Club Annual 4th of July Chicken BBQ, Lions Club Fruit Sale, Eye Glass Collection, Food Drive for FM Food Pantry and youth vision services. The most recent proceeds from past fundraising events have gone to scholarships for FM Seniors, a service dog for a Type 1 Diabetes youth, hearing aid and vision ware for those in need, and supporting our community.
A guest speaker, Jeanne McArdle, is scheduled to speak at the next meeting on Sept. 21. Her topic is the Lions Project for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), a Lions Foundation founded in 1983 to provide financial and volunteer support to Canine Companions for Independence. CCI provides assistance dogs to people with disabilities, returning veterans and children with autism throughout the United States.
“I am in a unique position; I’m both a Lion and a CCI graduate. My CCI Service Dog, Aslan assists me with daily tasks to mitigate my disability, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome-Classical type. I can speak first-hand about the wonderful work that CCI accomplishes on behalf of people with disabilities,” said McArdle.
The Manlius Lions Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at Calvary Club. Lions clubs are a group of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. Everyone who would like to serve their fellow community members are welcome. For more information or to get involved with the Manlius Lions Club, email [email protected] or call 256-7707.
