THERE is the chance for prospective members to find out more about the Lions Club of Tavistock at an open evening on Wednesday, April 30.
The club, which organises the carnival, balloon fiesta and the Christmas Tree of Light, is offering the opportunity to anyone aged 18 or over, who might like to join, to meet members in the meeting room at the Union Inn in King Street from 7.30pm.
Spokesman Steve Grummitt said the club, which currently has 40 members, both men and women, was formed in 1976 and since that time had raised more than £200,000. In the main this had been donated to local organisations, hospitals, schools and some national and international charities.
The club has also financed the purchase of four guide dogs and regularly sends used spectacles to Newquay Lions Club, which collates them from all over the South West to send to Third World countries.
Steve Grummitt said: ?Being a Lion is not only about organising fundraising events, but also helping the community in an active way, such as providing hampers at Christmas for under-privileged families, assisting Operation Sunshine stuffing their containers with various items for the leper colonies of Africa, assisting with gardening and even decorating the old peoples? restroom at Christmas.?
The club, which meets at the Union Inn on the second Monday of every month, also organises social activities for its own members and friends, such as picnics, visits to places of interest, sporting events and dinners.
Tavistock Lions is one of 44,600 Lions Clubs worldwide. They originated in 1917 when a Chicago businessman gathered together a number of community-minded men and the first Lions Club was born.
The clubs have been involved with many community and humanitarian projects, and are involved in assisting where major disasters occur.