Wheaton Lions Club

Winter will be almost over. It will be too early to dig up the garden and too cold to go fishing. So on March 6th, a Saturday, drop in at Spectrios Institute for Low Vision sometime between 10 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The front door will be open. Take the elevator down one level and just walk around, watch what’s going on and ask questions.

Right here in Wheaton and supported financially by the Wheaton Lions is a fantastic technology lab where state of the art equipment is on display and available for demonstrations. Everything in this lab, called “Eye Tec,” has been designed for people who have a severe vision loss.

So why should you go to see this stuff? Because you are a Lion and our mission is to serve the visually impaired and hearing impaired. Wouldn’t it be tragic if someone came to one of us Lions asking for help in finding a piece of equipment that would help them get a job or stay employed and we had no idea where to find such things?

The Technology Open House on March 6th, 2010 won’t cost you a dime. You can take your spouse, or a grandchild, or a neighbor. Before you take the elevator down to Eye Tec or after you have explored it, you can have a cup of tea or coffee and a cookie in the conference room, which just happens to be named after a Wheaton Lion, Jim Gates.

Sometime between now and the end of February, call Leah Gerlach at 630-690-7115 and tell her you are planning to attend the Technology Open House on March 6th. Better yet, call right away and mark it on your calendar.

This year (2009) was our 4th Annual Night Walk for District 1J which includes Districts 1A, 1B and 1F. In the previous three Night Walks, Wheaton Lions were awarded plaques for collecting the most money and having the most walkers. It’s become both a tradition and a challenge. Funds raised help to deliver an increasing number of services to the one million men, women and children in Illinois who are hearing and vision impaired.

The Wheaton Lions Club Walk for Sight Committee were Lions Tony Ladd, Chairman, Ruth Carlson, Steve Lederman, Jim Mathieson, Brad Pihl, and Dorothy Troyer.

Walk for Sight was held on Sunday, June 7, 2009 at the Danada Equestrian Center. The “Walk” will began at 4:30 PM.

Lion Jim Mathieson and his wife Gail hosted host a picnic at their home for all Wheaton Lion participants before the event.


SightFirst II Campaign Campaign SightFirstII is a coordinated, global fundraising effort involving all 1.35 million Lions in more than 45,000 clubs to raise $150 million for the SightFirst program. It is conducted by Lions Cubs, International Foundation, the grant-making arm of the International Association of Lions Clubs. The SightFirst Program Since 1990, Lions have done more to prevent blindness and restore sight than in their previous 65 years as "Knights of the Blind." In a decade and a half, Lions have prevented severe vision loss or restored sight to 27 million people-more than the combined populations of New York and Tokyo. How is this possible? SightFirst makes it possible! SightFirst's strategy of containing and eliminating the leading causes of blindness, creating sustainable eye-health systems, and training eye- care workers who will serve their communities for years to come, makes it extraordinarily effective and remarkably efficient. On average, just $6.00, can save one person from a life of darkness. SightFirst has touched the lives of tens of millions around the globe. Through SightFirst, Lions are changing the world-and the world now looks to Lions as leaders in the international effort to combat preventable blindness. Since 1990, SightFirst has.... • Prevented serious vision loss for 27 million. • Provided 80.5 million treatments for River Blindness • Awarded $193 million for 818 projects in 90 Countries • Restored sight to 7 million with Cataract • Improved eye-care services for hundreds of millions • Built or expanded 213 eye hospitals, clinics and wards. • Upgraded 325 eye centers with equipment • Trained 305,000 Ophthalmologists, Ophthalmic nurses, other professional eye- care workers and village health workers. • Launched world's first-ever initiative to combat childhood blindness in partnership with the World Health Organization. 30 Pediatric eye-care centers will be established. The Years of Campaign SightFirst II 2005-2006 The Year of Education and Preparation CSFII Launched at the International Convention in Hong Kong Model Clubs begin intensive fund raising. All Clubs conduct one additional fundraising event for CSFII. 2006-2007 The Year of Inspiration and Motivation Prepared Clubs begin intensive fundraising efforts 2007-2011 The Year of Participation and Celebration All remaining Clubs begin intensive fund raising. CSFII concludes at the International Convention in Bangkok. For a copy of the Pledge Form, download here. For more Information on SIGHTFIRSTII visit: http://www.lions-csfii.org/live/content/index.shtml For information about River Blindness, visit: http://www.cartercenter.org/health/river_blindness/index.html Nicolas Diaz is the story of just one of more than 1,000 people who have been operated on by the Lions SightFirst campaign in the Federal District of Mexico Nicolas Díaz remembers the day he began to wonder if he was going blind. It was over two years ago. The former taxi driver already had some vision loss and had to quit his job and begin working as a waiter in a restaurant in Mexico City. A full pitcher in hand, Nicolas crossed the dining room to pour drinks for the patrons. He had trouble seeing the drink glasses, and soda spilled all over the table and guests. He felt humiliated. His life, he says, “began to plunge into darkness.” He and his wife live in rented rooms in the town of Xochimilco, just outside of Mexico City. Their daughter lives in the city and sends them money each month to pay the rent. His wife baby-sits the children of their niece. They live a very simple, poor life with their dog, Shakira. And when Nicolas was diagnosed with bilateral cataract two years ago, they had no insurance and no money to pay for the surgery. Shortly thereafter, Nicolas lost his job at the restaurant. He tried to be hired for work in gardens and to guard people’s cars parked on the streets, but his vision deteriorated. Just one year later, he was not able to walk in the streets. Then he received a call from his daughter, “Dad, Dad! The Lions in Mexico City are doing a cataract campaign with Our Lady of the Light Hospital! They are helping people like us who cannot afford the surgery!” The next week, Nicolas’s wife took him to the local Lions screening campaign where he met Past District Governor Pepe Fernández who administers the 4,000-surgery campaign that is funded in part by SightFirst. After receiving a comprehensive eye care exam and having a socioeconomic study performed on his household, Nicolas was operated on through the SightFirst campaign on Valentine’s Day last year. Today, Nicolas is 67 years old and says he has the sight of a 20-year old. For the first time in years, he is able to look for work. He regularly welcomes the Lions back in his home, who come to check up on him and his family. They share a drink, take a walk to the shop around the corner to buy some groceries, and together walk Shakira. He cannot thank them enough for their service and generosity. With tears in his eyes, he declares, “I feel complete now. It is like being born again.” Nicolas Diaz is the story of just one of more than 1,000 people who have been operated on by the Lions SightFirst campaign in the Federal District of Mexico The SightFirst project continues to be successful, with another 3,000 people soon to receive the gift of sight from the Lions.

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO WHEATON STUDENTS WHEATON LIONS CHARITIES CONFERS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FOR QUALIFIED VISUAL AND/OR HEARING IMPAIRED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES Our 84th Year Helping the Wheaton Visually and Hearing Impaired Community WHEATON, IL (June 10,2009) Wheaton Lions Charities, Ltd., and the Wheaton Lions Club has again awarded a scholarship to qualifying high school seniors residing within the boundaries of School District 200 who are challenged by visual or hearing related conditions, including type 1 diabetes. The scholarship money is to be used toward college, technical school or similar educational program to enhance a career of their choice. This year the Wheaton Lions Club has awarded $4,000 in total scholarships to Victoria Klopf, Jamie Geer and Victoria Noe. Lion Bill Davis is our Scholarship Director. Student Victoria Klopf, received her Tom Yule Memorial Scholarship LIONS scholarship award during the our Officers Installation Banquet, May 20, 2009 from Wheaton Lion Past-President Dr. Terri Lightbody, audiologist. Victoria Noe with her parents and Lion President Jim Atten Student Jamie Geer, received her LIONS scholarship award during the our regular meeting, June 30, 2009 from Wheaton Lion President Jim Atten. The Wheaton LIONS have long maintained their LIONS Eye Care Program within the community, working with local schools and local eye physicians, for the purpose of screening needy individuals, especially children, who have visual impairments. This program includes eye exams, glasses and other apparatus like magnification devices. The Wheaton LIONS also strongly support the Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation. Funding for these and other causes come primarily from the annual Nite Walk in June, Candy Day collections in October, a golf and steak fry each summer and a Christmas auction. The local Wheaton LIONS Club began its charter on October 23, 1923. Our President this year is Lion Tony Ladd. Individuals interested in joining the Lions Club may obtain further information from Membership Chairman, Jim Ellingson or calling 630-665-9471. Prospective members are invited to attend our weekly luncheon meetings held on Tuesdays at Noon to 1:00PM in the Masonic Building, 120 W. Wesley, Wheaton, IL 60187.
Wheaton Lions Scholarship Past Winners
YEAR	STUDENT-SCHOOL	AWARD
2001	Michelle Conway-College of DuPage	$1,500
2002	Kara Donndelinger - Columbia International University Jennifer Maier - College of DuPage Katherine Kelly - Illinois Wesleyan University	$1,500 $750 $750
2003	Michelle McIntyre - College of DuPage Benjamin Hoffmeier - Centre College	$1,500 $1,500
2004	Somoch Huy - College of DuPage	$1,500
2005	Jock Lezon - College of DuPage Michael Mallek - Cooking & Hospitality Institute of Chicago	$1,500 $1,500
2006	Owen Finnegan - Judson College Victoria Klopf - Illinois State University	$1,500 $1,500
2007	Victoria Klopf - Illinois State University	$3,000
2008	Richard Dykstra - Universal Technical Institute Michael Cantieri - Rochester Institute of Technology Victoria Klopf - Illinois State University * **Tom Yule Memorial Scholarship*	$1,500 $1,500 $1,500
2009	Victoria Klopf - Illinois State University* * $500 plus $1,000 *Tom Yule Memorial Scholarship* Victoria Noe - Colorado State Jamie Geer - College of DuPage	$1,500 $1,000 $1,500

* Funded by Lee Yule and donations in memory of Tom Yule