Waycross Lions Club Projects

     Each year the Waycross Lions Club is involved in many community activities that either raise money to support local and area sight conservation efforts (such as White Cane Day and Broom Sales) or are terrific good will projects to serve the local community (such as Flag Displays and Academic Honor Banquets)
Here are some of the projects that our club currently participates in or are responsible for:
(Click on the underlined heading to find out more information)

Patriotic Flag Display

The Waycross Lions Club sets up a large display of American flags in Doughboy Park & Phoenix Park in Downtown Waycross,
and in the Liston Elkins Parkway on Memorial Drive. 
The Flag displays are set up on the following holidays:

President's Day	Armed Forces Day	Memorial Day
Flag Day	Independence Day	Labor Day
Veteran's Day		Election Day
Liston Elkins Parkway		Doughboy Park

Flag Contract Information

Academic Honor Society

For 40 Years, the Waycross Lions Club has been selecting the 25 most academically advanced high school students in Ware County and honoring them and their families with a banquet in their honor, as well as custom plaques.

Sweetheart & Award Banquet 2007

	Entertainment for the evening was provided by Romans Road Trio. A terrific local Gospel group composed of Kasey O'Steen, Aaron Quick & Samuel Quick. Check them out at www.romansroadtrio.com
	Lion Jim Tucker was presented with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. The Highest award available to a Lions Club Member. Lion Jim has been a faithful servant in the Waycross Lions Club for nearly 40 years!
From L-R: Linda Zechmann, Dr. John Zechmann (Club President), Aaron Quick, Samuel Quick, Kasey O'Steen.

2005 STAR Program Award Winners
Click Here to find out more about STAR awards

The STAR Program is a joint project of the Georgia Chambers of Commerce and the PAGE foundation. 
Special Thanks to Waycross Bank & Trust, United Community Bank, SunTrust Bank and People's bank for providing Savings Bond Prizes to all winners.

Children's Christmas Party

Each year the Waycross Lions Club hosts a special Christmas Party for young boys and girls from the community that may not have much at Christmas.  It also usually includes a certain jolly fat guy showing up to help hand out the presents.

In 2006, the Waycross Lions Club gave 25 young boys and girls a great time.
(Click on picture for a larger version)

	Santa Clause is Watching You!
Is there anything better than a hug from Santa?
Yes, Lion Williams & Lion Zechmann, there is a Santa Clause.	Visions of Sugar Plums (and Slot Machines) dancing in his head.
Even big boys still want to tell Santa what they want.	I wonder what kind of interest rate that Santa can get?

Educational Funds

Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind

It is the mission of the Georgia Lions' Camp for the Blind, Inc. to provide personal growth experiences for children, teens, and adults with visual impairments through the use of recreation, education, socialization, and rehabilitation in an outdoor setting.

Leader Dogs for the Blind

Founded in 1939 by Lions Club members, Charles Nutting, Don Schuur and S.A. Dodge, Leader Dog has successfully matched and graduated over 13,000 person / dog teams since its inception. The dream of these men became vision and independence for thousands.

Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation

The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, Inc., provides vision and hearing care to legal Georgians in financial need. The Lions Lighthouse serves residents who have no where else to turn for eyeglasses, eye surgeries, artificial eyes, and hearing aids.

Georgia Lions Children’s Eye Care Center at Emory University

Georgia Lions Children’s Eye Care Center at Emory University is a joint project of the Lions of Georgia, the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation and Emory University. Founded in 1995, this center provides cutting-edge genetic research and treatment of many infant and childhood Vision diseases.

Eyeglasses, Hearing Aid & Cell Phone Recycling

Lions, Leos, and other volunteers collect used eyeglasses for donation to Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers that are located throughout the world. The used eyeglasses are cleaned, repaired and classified by prescription.

The eyeglasses are then distributed to those in need by Lion volunteers and other organizations hosting optical missions in developing countries.

Locally you can recycle your old eyeglasses or hearing aids at the following locations:

Eye Care 1 - The Mall at Waycross - (912) 285-2021
Ole Times Country Buffet - 2445 Memorial Drive - (912) 283-6600
Kroger Grocery Store - 1600 Memorial Drive - (912) 287-2270

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic

For 57 years, Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic has been an invaluable educational resource, enabling those with print disabilities to complete their educations, advance their careers, and gain self-esteem.

Broom / Flag Sales

Push Broom w/Handle - $12.00
Push Broom w/o Handle - $10.00
Warehouse Broom - $8.00
House Broom - $7.00
Child's Broom - $4.00
Child's Mop - $4.00
Wisk Broom - $4.00
Standard Mop - $4.00
Industrial Mop - $7.00

	3' x 5' Nylon American Flag - $5.00 3' x 5' Stitched Nylon American Flag - $12.00
	3' x 5' US Flag w/ Pole Kit - $10.00 (Includes Flag, Pole, Wall Mount, and Eagle Pole Top)
	3' x 5' Georgia State Flag - $8.00

Brooms may be purchased from any Lions Member or at:

Ole Times Country Buffet - 2445 Memorial Drive - (912) 283-6600

Sight Conservation

Lions are known for their service to persons who are blind and visually impaired.

This dedicated service began in 1925. During a Lions international convention, Helen Keller, a woman who had been blind and deaf since childhood, challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in this crusade against darkness." Lions accepted Keller's challenge.

Today, Lions clubs around the world are involved in many sight-related areas in order to help prevent blindness.

SightFirst is Lions’ most ambitious and most successful initiative ever. Thanks to SightFirst, Lions have restored sight to 4.6 million people through cataract surgeries, prevented serious vision loss for 20 million people and improved eye care services for hundreds of millions.

White Cane Day

Lions Clubs throughout Georgia hold White Cane Days each year to raise community awareness about the work of the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation. White Paper Canes are given to the Public as a symbolic reminder of the White Canes that the visually impaired use to be mobile in public. Funds are also raised during White Cane days are used directly to provide services. White Cane Days for the year 2007 is the month of April.

Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is the grant-making arm of Lions Clubs International. LCIF is Lions helping Lions serve others. It's the only Lions' foundation that serves the entire world and all 1.4 million Lions.