Lions celebrate with guests, gifts, music, Santa

The members of Day Retreat were guests of the Lions for Christmas party.

Imagine three gleaming Christmas trees surrounded by wrapped gifts, the stage of the Blairsville Civic Center lined with stuffed lions of all sizes, and an appearance by Santa and one of his elves. Christmas music was heard in the background as pianist, John Bennett, played familiar tunes interspersed by music piped through the sound system by Tim Little. That was the scene on Thursday, December 13, 2007, at the Union County Lions Christmas Party.

President Lisa Little began the evening by calling for the introduction of the Lions' guests. After the Lions' customary opening exercises, the festivities began. Dinner was a delicious catered meal from Grinds and Glazes. Lion Carl Buser made a presentation of toys donated by the Lions to S.A.F.E. Kathy Hollis, Director of S.A.F.E. and Vicky Franklin, S.A.F.E. Coordinator of Volunteers received the toys.

Special guests also that evening were the clients and their caregivers from Day Retreat, a facility in Blairsville for developmentally disabled adults; Kym Szczepanski is the director of the facility. Lion Les Myers started the gift-giving by presenting each of the guests a Bible, provided by the Gideons. Under the direction of Lion Mary Arnold, all the clients received gifts and other goodies. Chief and Dove Smith, members of the Lions and owners of a store called Dove's Indian Craft Supplies and Natural Herbs, presented each client with a t-shirt having that client's picture on it; the clients from Day Retreat plan to use them as their bowling shirts. Ms. Szczepanski's tshirt had a picture of each of the clients on it. Table decorations for the evening had been crafted by the Day Retreat guests and also a green stocking stuffed with Christmas wishes was given to each Lion.

Santa and his elf distributed door prizes to the members of the club; there were so many gifts that no Lion went home without one.

Just before the party's conclusion, President Lisa Little presented a gift basket to Lion Mary Arnold in appreciation for her work in arranging and coordinating a very successful party.

Our Lions Motto, "We Serve," was very much in evidence that evening as was a feeling of warmth on the part of all the attendees.