Cambridge Lions serving Cambridge, Ohio and it's surrounding communities since 1924!
Latest News: April 2008
Latest News
What is happening at the Cambridge Ohio Lions Club
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Truck and Tractor Pull Looming
Lion Jim Caldwell reported on preparations for the upcoming truck and tractor pull event scheduled for June 14 at the Guernsey County Fairgrounds. Caldwell, the event coordinator, said, “Everybody has a great time at the tractor pull. They love the competition. I assure you, the crowd won’t remember who won the second race, but they will remember whose tractor blew up trying to beat the other competitors.” We have a great event planned with food and fun for the whole family.
Valerie Berisford, “Concern About Teen Sexuality” (CATS) Coordinator and Heidi Porter, Guernsey County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coordinator spoke to the Lions Club about the problems facing teenagers in our local counties. Valerie brought 10 senior CATS students with her and they performed a typical type of skit that they present to middle school and high school students throughout our surrounding local high schools promoting abstinence from sex and also drugs and alcohol. Valerie explained that one of the best outcomes of the CATS program is that students will listen to other students in this subject area much better than they will to other adults. Statistics show that 1 in 4 sexually active teenagers will have at least 1 sexually transmitted disease with over 69 million teenagers with STD’s in the United States. Every 31 seconds a teenage girl gets pregnant in the United States. Heidi said her program promotes goal setting and more importantly, decision making skills. Right now there is a big crisis in the number of girls in Guernsey County that want to have a baby. The sad reason is that they want a child because they feel it is the only one that will love them. The good news is that only 2% of parents who talk with their teenagers on a regular basis about sex and these type of problems ever have to deal with teenage pregnancies. The students and the coordinators answered questions from Lion members at the conclusion.
“We’ve all been to the cemetery and seen the dates on a tombstone. It starts with the birth year and then there is the year the person died. In between these two dates is a dash,” said Barry Ross, Cambridge Lions Club secretary to the members. “What is important is how you live the life that the dash represents.” Ross presented a slide show based on a book entitled “The Dash” by Linda Ellis and Mac Anderson. The book is based on Ellis’s poem with that same title. Ellis was inspired to write the poem in 1996. Ross read sections of the poem, “what mattered most of all was the dash between those years… now only those who loved her know what that dash is worth… What matters is… how we spend those years.” “What matters to us here today, is how we spend our dash,” said Ross. “As Lions we choose to spend part of our dash helping those in need by helping to provide funds for the diabetes support group and by helping with eye care and vision needs. That’s why we have our fund raising events.”
Cambridge Lions had seven delegates in attendance at the Ohio Lions District 13G Convention in Sugarcreek Ohio. Governer Cary Conn presided over the business meeting during which Cambridge Lion Tom Cahoon was selected District Governner Elect for the 2010-2011 term. Tom is the fourth Cambridge Lion to hold this post. Cambridge Lions President Pat Craig was also elected to represent the district as an Ohio Lions Foundation Trustee for 2008-2009. During the awards ceremony Governer Cary Conn inducted a flummoxed Lion Ron Guthrie into the District Hall of Fame, a great honor. Our own Barry Ross was recognized as Lions Bulletin Editor of the Year, and Lew Prine was awarded the 100 Percent Secretary’s Award.
Beginning Monday April 21st the Cambridge Lions Club Noon meeting will be held at the Banquet Reoom of Mr. Lee's Restaurant. The banquet room is in the rear of Mr. Lee’s restaurant. You get to it by driving around the right side (as you face Mr. Lee’s) to the back. It is a gravel driveway presently, but will be paved in the near future. We will have a buffet meal, as well as two soups and a full salad bar. See you there!
The Cambridge Lions wish to thank our "fans" for attending our 35th Annual Lions Variety Show. We appreciate all your support. Special thanks to our presenter Fairdale Auto Sales. We also with to thank our Patrons, Sponsors, and especially our chorus for giving so freely of their time this winter.
This year the Cambridge Lions Club inducted Ann Jonard into our Lions Variety Show Hall of Fame. Ann joins her husband, Lion Bob Jonard, in the hall for beginning this tradition in our community 35 years ago. Ann, Bob, and their family were the anchors of the show in it's early years and we are so thrilled they could be with us to celebrate.
“If we had a major tornado or a terrorist incident on the Interstate, would you know how to respond?” asked Carol Emerson, coordinator of the Guernsey County Citizens Corps. “Does your business have a plan for continuing or recovering from a disaster?”
Emerson spoke to the Cambridge Lions Club Monday about emergency preparedness in light of the threat of terrorist activities. “As the years go by since the events of 9/11/2001 we tend to become complacent about the dangers,” Emerson said. “How many of you think it will really happen to you?”
“We provide training for a community emergency response team (CERT),” Emerson said. “In ninety-five percent of emergencies it is the victim or a bystander who provides the first immediate assistance. In large scale emergencies it may take a long time for emergency personnel to get to the scene.”
“CERT teams can provide critical support until other help can get there,” said Emerson. “As a team member you can give assistance to victims, provide damage assessments and organize other volunteers at the site.”
“CERT training takes about twenty hours to complete. We can set up classes for individuals, neighborhood watch groups, scouting and youth organizations, and clubs and civic organizations.” People interested in CERT training can contact Emerson at the Guernsey County Emergency Management Agency at 740.432.9292.
Emerson also spoke about the continuing terrorist threat from foreign and domestic terrorists. “Terrorists are often people who are frustrated by slow change, have experienced a life changing event of perceived injustice, are obsessed with their cause, believe that they will be a hero, and that the end justifies the means.”
“Their goal is to force change, induce fear and panic, cause disruption, and demoralize the spirit,” Emerson said. “They want to intimidate, to embarrass the government, and to gain media attention. They operate by threats and actual attacks.”
“There are low level threats from gangs with graffiti, vandalism and harassment,” said Emerson. “There are higher level threats of assassination, kidnapping, hostage taking, bombings and skyjacking.”
“Attacks can take the form of bombs, arson, and cyber-terrorism. The threat of deployment of weapons of mass destruction is still present and a concern of the Homeland Security Department.”
“Our local law enforcement agencies continually monitor potential targets including the Interstate and local industrial plants and other potential targets.”
“Local citizens can help by being continually vigilant,” said Emerson. “You should report any unusual activities to local authorities. Terrorist usually do strategic planning and surveillance. They solicit information about persons, places, and operations. They test security provisions and procure supplies needed for carrying out illicit activities.”
“Always be aware of your surroundings. Look for anything or anyone who looks out of place. Learn to recognize what looks normal and what may look unusual. Write down any details that may help law enforcement personnel and report any suspicious activities.”
“It helps if you can give more details about a suspicious person. Instead of reporting that there was a man acting strangely, it is better to say, ‘I saw a man with a blue shirt driving a van with a missing hubcap.’ Do not put yourself in danger, but report it to the authorities.” For more information about homeland security visit the web site at www.ready.gov. For more information about CERT visit www.citizencorps.gov.
Lion Tom Cahoon inducted Dan Coffman, as a new member, sponsored by Lion Barry Ross. “We are part of an organization that has clubs in over 200 countries including China,” Cahoon said. “We are the largest service organization with over 1.3 million members world wide.”
Dan is the director of the Mid-East Career and Technology Center Buffalo campus. Picutred left is Barry Ross and Dan Coffman. Tom Cahoon inducted new member, Dan Coffman. “
Don't forget the upcoming Open Bass Tournaments: Saturday, May 17 Sunday, June 15 Sunday, September 28 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Contact Lion Les Wymer with any questions or fill out the entrance application here!
