New officers for the Moultrie Lions Club include, from left, Norma Lauderdale, Roselbia Gomez, Marsa Herod, Duncan Sinclair, Sam McCord, Leslie Lauderdale, Barbara Hall, Peggy Tyson, Ron Horn, President Jim Rehberg, Past Council Chair Olin Newby and Bryan Horn.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Incoming President Jim Rehberg brings a wealth of business experience as a retired businessman from Florida, and he was president of the Lions Club in Lakeland, Fla., from 2008 to 2010. Under his guidance the Moultrie Lions Club are partnering with the Southwest Georgia Community Action Council and others to raise awareness for diabetes by having a Diabetes Awareness Stride dance at the CAC on Nov 10.

The dance will be free or nominal charge. Anyone interested in the dance may contact Robin Poole at 873-1108 or attend a Lions Club meeting at J. Harveys on the second and  fourth Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Diabetes is one of five areas of increased emphasis from Lions Club International. Other areas include hunger, childhood cancer, environment, and vision. The goal is to serve 200 million people in these areas by 2020-21.  

Lions also do an amazing amount of community and youth work here in Moultrie. From vision exams, glasses and fun camps for the blind to eye surgery to running the concession stands at the home football games, the Lions are excitedly working to fill many needs.

Founded by Dr. Melvin Jones, a Chicago businessman, in 1917, Lions then were asked to use their talents to better their community. Helen Keller, the famous blind pioneer, convinced the Lions to add sight programs and the Lions became an international influence in helping the blind of all ages and the youth in schools. Sight programs include vision exams, eye glasses, eye surgery and seeing eye dogs for the needy.

Here in Moultrie, eye exams at Walmart are available from the Lions and frame selection is conducted at the senior center. Appointments for these services and a short interview to determine need are conducted regularly.

Another major emphasis of the Lions is to support local community projects and local youth. Leo Clubs contains 16 Leos and meets at the junior high schools with advisers guiding them toward civic involvement and possible Lion membership as adults. Lions also sponsor the awards program in the schools. One hundred awards per year are awarded to the students including awards such as Most Improved Student. The Leos also help the Lions run the concession stands at the home football games with proceeds from the sales benefiting the youth and Lions’ many projects.

A new project wth youth in schools is helping one local school literacy program. The class reads books, written by famous role models, and writes competitive essays. Awards are provided by local businesses.

The Lions are partnering with other civic organizations to feed the hungry in the soup kitchen and are to help the American Legion volunteer at the food bank the week of Aug 20. Donations to the Red Cross, Green Oaks, and Serenity House have been made. Regular donations to other charitable causes are ongoing within the Lions. For example, Lions help the Southwest Georgia Veterans Activities (veterans’ bus) with drinks and the Belk’s Charity Tickets Sale. An annual pork chop dinner is also held in the spring to help fund Lions projects. Anyone wishing to also help the Lions can donate to the Lions Club at P.O. Box  494, Moultrie, GA, 31776.