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Port Perry Lions - a small club that gives back... big time! Time has a way of changing the way people spend their leisure time - whether it’s a movie, dining out, or simply staying home and watching sports on a large TV screen, the choices of activities for spare time are enormous. It hasn't always been that way. Flash back a century when the main social activities, outside of the home and work, was attending fraternities like the Oddfellows, Masons, service clubs and church groups. Today many of the service groups and fraterni-__§<$£-— ties that attracted large memberships at the Fewer members don’t turn of the last century are floundering due to declining and ageing memberships. deter members from The Port Perry Lions Club is one of those organizations. Formed 77 years ago, at one time continuing the club's the local service club boasted a membership of 77 years of service more than 50, but today there are just over adozen y . 2 members, one-third of which are women. to the commun ity! Sign of the times. You bet! But despite their size, club president Ted Shep- herd and treasurer Rob Rice, stressed in a recent interview, that the club is alive and well and continues to contribute to the community. To this day, the club supports numerous projects. It's their hope to attract new and younger members to continue the traditions of the local Lions Club, but they have their work cut out for them. The Port Perry Lions Club was formed in No- vember 1937 and received its Charter just a few months later in January 1938. Over the years it has contributed much to the community, with one of their first projects being the construction of a diving platform at the end of the govern- ment wharf on Queen St. “Our motto is “We Serve” and that is exactly what we do for the commu- nity,” Ted says. He went on to say that people should know that 100 percent of the money raised in the commu- nity goes back into their projects. Not even the cost of operating the club comes from the fundrais- ing. Membership fees ($100) and funds donated by “friends of the Lions Club” are used to fund club expenses, includ- ing hall rentals. “Every dime we raise from. the public goes back to the community,” Rob agreed. Attracting new members to the Lions is not easy, but the local club took a Port Perry Lions Club treasurer Rob Rice, front, in the familar Lions vest, with president Ted Shepherd Please turn to page 36 in the club’s new golf-style shirt with the Lions Club loge Photo by J. Peter Hvidsten FOCUS - MAY 2014 85