Thursday, November 14, 2013

DISTRICT 13-B LIONS DEDICATE VISION CLINIC AT LORAIN COUNTY HEALTH & DENTISTRY




Stephanie Wiersma, President & CEO of Lorain County Health & Dentistry, welcomes Lions to LCH&D and adds“Joining forces with the Lions made our vision clinic possible. The Lions mission to improve sight and prevent blindness perfectly matched our interest in improving access to vision care for those we serve.  Their fund-raising efforts are second to none. We couldn’t have opened this vision clinic without their help and support.” 

PCC/PDG and 1st VDG Jeff Hillis, PDG Dick Temple, Lorain Lion Bruce Meadows and District Chaplain Dennis Henkel listen to opening remarks of CEO Wiersma.

Ohio Lions MD 13 Council Chair Forrest "Woody" Conrad thanks Lions for their three years of hard work to make the Vision Clinic a reality.  Lion Dr. John R. Smith, Vision Clinic Project Coordinator, Dr. Joyce Ramsue-Thompson and LCH&D CEO Wiersma are seated behind him.

Lorain Lion Bruce Meadows talks about the huge challenge he felt at the beginning of the project when he saw the fundraising goal go from $150,000 to $254,000.  Lion Bruce ended the program portion of the dedication with a benediction.

Lions MD 13 CC Woody, Doc Smith, Ken Cromer, Governor Francis Hensel, Lorain City Mayor Chase Ritenauer, Dr. Ramsue Thompson, Stephanie Wiersma and Todd Tilberg join in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Happy faces indicate the mood of the celebration.

CC Woody Conrad poses next to the commemorative plaques.

Stephanie Wiersma, Optometric Tech Megan Hohman and MD 13 LCIF chair Sharon Parker were looking at the picture taken in September 2012 at the Lions VIP Tour of the LCH&D construction/renovation project.
District Cabinet Treasurer Dan Stone and Zone 3 Chair John Straziuso, member of the Vision Clinic Project Committee, chatting during the clinic tour.

PCC/PDG Jeff Hillis thanks Mayor Ritenauer for his support of the project.
Elyria Lion Kyle Parker, MD 13 LCIF Chair Sharon Parker and Lorain Lion Walter Frey at the Dedication.

 Lion Myron Amstutz, OLERF chairman, PCC/PDG Sharon Parker get a demonstration of the eyeglasses frame dispensary.

Ev Shonkwiler, Treasurer of the District 13-B Philanthropic Fund, Myron Amstutz, OLERF Chairman and PDG Ron Lutz, President of the District 13-B Philanthropic Fund look over some of the state-of-the-art optometric equipment.

CC/PDG Forrest Conrad and PCC/PDG Stan Kopf get an explanation of how a piece of equipment is used with patients at the Vision Clinic from Lion Dr. John Smith.

Ev Shonkwiler, Bill Wolford, Myron Amstutz and Bruce Meadows enjoy some refreshment and discuss the Vision Clinic project.

PDG Dana Zody and PDG Dick Temple at the commemorative plaques:  in the top plaque, LCH&D thanks the Lions of District 13-B, LCIF, Nord Family Foundation, Community Foundation of Lorain County, Norton Family Foundation, and the Enterprise Foundation.  In the one on the left District 13-B "thanks its clubs, its members, its friends and the Foundations that made this project possible."  The plaque on the right acknowledges the financial support by Lions Clubs International Foundation that made the project possible.

District 13-B Cabinet Tail Twister Lion Greg Hess stands by the plaque that was provided through his efforts.

Dr. Joyce Ramsue-Thompson (right) explains how the equipment in the exam rooms works to touring Lions.

Lions listen intently to the explanation of the exam room equipment.

Stephanie Wiersma with Dr. David Miller, retinal surgeon with Retina Associates of Cleveland, Inc.  Dr. Miller is a Lorain native and is interested in the work of the LCH&D Vision Clinic.

CC Woody with Lion Ann Miller and PCC/PDG Sharon Parker

District 13-B Newsletter editor Lion Keith Cole and Zone 3 Chair John Straziuso share thoughts about the clinic.

Dr. Joyce Ramsue-Thompson, Dr. David Miller and Dr. John R. Smith

Doc Smith, Dr. Joyce and Stephanie at the dispensary.

DISTRICT 13-B CABINET MEETS IN LORAIN AFTER CLINIC DEDICATION

The District 13-B Cabinet met in Lorain at Rebman's On The Avenue following the Vision Clinic Dedication.  This cake depicting Lorain County Health & Dentistry's new facility added to the festive mood of the day.
















Thursday, November 7, 2013

LIONS MEET OPTOMETRIST AT THE NEW VISION CLINIC AND GET UPDATE

ABOVE:  At our Lions dinner meeting on Thursday, November 7, Stephanie Wiersma, President & CEO of Lorain County Health & Dentistry (left), introduced Dr. Joyce Ramsue-Thompson (right), hired last month to provide the professional services in the new Vision Clinic at LCH&D.  CEO Wiersma outlined the background of LCH&D and efforts over the past few years to establish a vision clinic in the local health center.  Thanks to the Lorain Lions, who spearheaded the campaign to raise $257,000 for equipment, and with great support from District 13-B Lions Clubs, the Vision Clinic opened on October 10.  Dr. Ramsue-Thompson, who served in the same role at the North East Ohio Neighborhood Health Services, Inc. in Cleveland for 13 years, talked about the equipment in the new Vision Clinic and how patients are responding to the new service.  The dedication of the Vision Clinic will be held on Wednesday, November 13 at 4:30 p.m. for all Lions in the District and invited guests.  A public Open House will be held on Saturday, November 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

LORAIN LIONS SHOW HOW TO PUT ON A PANCAKE BREAKFAST



















Dr. Roy Church enjoyed the breakfast and the opportunity to remind folks about the LCCC levy on the ballot this Tuesday.

It was great to see Lion Marshall Dimacchia at the breakfast!


ABOVE:  Lion Ralph O'Hara presents Money Tree raffle winner Sal Ortiz with the cash and lottery tickets.


ABOVE:  Joyce Ferlic Arredondo (right) was the winner of the 50/50 raffle which raised $245 for the Lions.  Joyce is the wife of Lorain City Council President, Joel Arredondo (left).

Thanks to Tamara Cordova for helping all morning!

After a long hard 5 and a half hours in the kitchen, Lions Bruce McCartney and Joe Ksenich wrapped up the day with some plain old dish washing.  Thanks to ALL the Lions who showed up and worked so hard to make this the BEST PANCAKE BREAKFAST EVER!

CAMP IDEAS

ABOVE:  Carol Matthews (center), the founder and director of CAMP IDEAS, a summer educational program for children with autism and similar disabilities, along with two of the parents (Christina on the left, Paula on the right) presented an outstanding program about Camp Ideas at our October 3 dinner meeting.  The Lorain Lions contributed to the camp this year.

THE 200th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE

Lions Jack Clark (left) and Dan Smith presented a fascinating report on their experiences participating in the re-enactment of the 2013 Battle of Lake Erie, which secured the northern border of the U.S. on the Great Lakes.  Thanks Lion Jack and Lion Dan--great program!

LIONS AND HEARING AID ASSISTANCE EXPLAINED

ABOVE:  On October 31 at our noon luncheon, Dr. Richard Hetsko (left) of the Oberlin Hearing Care center, and District 13B Speech & Hearing Chair, Lion Carol Shaffer (right) gave an excellent and informative program about what Lions are doing to assist persons who come to District clubs in search of help to get hearing aids.