By Sonny Jones
The key to any successful civic club is involvement in the community and making people aware what the organization is doing, says Mayra McCloud.
McCloud, who is the North Carolina Lions Club District 31N Governor, spoke to members of the Clarkton Lions Club on Tuesday night inside the Clarkton Fire Department.
“Right now, we’re trying to get people into the Lions Club,” said McCloud, who is a member of Fayetteville Community Lions. “We have dropped (membership) across the United States. We need to get out there and remind people that this is what Lions do. We help others. I need you guys to go out there and get people to join up. Let them know who you are. Let them know what you do.”
The organization’s vision is to be the global leader in community and humanitarian service, according to Lions Club International, and its mission is to empower Lions clubs, volunteers, and partners to improve health and well-being, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian services and grants that impact lives globally, and encourage peace and international understanding.
The Clarkton Lions Club donates $3,000 each year to Bladen Community College for scholarships and also makes contributions to the Boys & Girls Home in Lake Waccamaw, Elf Angels Fund, Clarkton Dixie Youth Baseball and other community projects.
McCloud spoke about her involvement in ways to help blind or visually impaired people and how local Lions Clubs can be involved in their communities. She brought items such as smart glasses that help people read, smart canes that can use GPS, sonar and Bluetooth technology to help people get around, and special glasses to help people who have color blindness. She talked about a robotic dog that is still in testing, various types of walkers and early stages of research on bionic eyes. There are devices that Lions Club members can take to schools and test children’s vision, she said.
McCloud inducted three new members into the Clarkton Lions Club on Tuesday. They are Mary Elizabeth Jones, Candy Mitchell and Rosemary Bengston.
The club is planning to hold a fundraising pancake breakfast June 24 inside the Clarkton Entertainment Center and a blood drive Aug. 12 inside Clarkton Town Hall.
The Clarkton Lions Club began in 1950. The club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month inside the Clarkton Fire Department. Anyone is welcome to attend a meeting to learn more about the club. Membership is open to men and women.
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