Damascus Lions Club of Damascus, Maryland
Lion Eloise Woodfield wins the President’s Excellent Award, presented by PDG Paul Hawkins and the Presidents Diamond award for membership from International President Al Brandel.
(Photos courtesy of Lion Joy Schwab)
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The Damascus Lions will host a “Senior Holiday Party” at the Damascus Senior Center located by the Damascus Public Library.
The Damascus Lions Club members will have their annual holiday party on Tuesday, December 15 at the Damascus United Methodist Church.
Photos from the Thanksgiving Food Project have been posted to the gallery. Photos courtesy of Lion Joy Schwab.[salbumphotos=8,160,3,n,y,title desc]
The Damascus White Cane fundraiser runs from Wednesday September 16-19. Look for us around Damascus!
Monies collected are used to support programs and services for people who are blind or visually impaired as well as for sight conservation.
History of the White Cane
In 1921, James Biggs, a photographer from Bristol, England became blind following an accident. Because he was feeling uncomfortable with the amount of traffic around his home, he painted his walking stick white to be more easily visible.
In the United States, the introduction of the White Cane is attributed to Lion George A. Bonham (Peoria Lions Club). In 1930, he observed a man who was blind attempting to cross the street with a black cane that was barely visible to motorists against the dark pavement. The Lion offered to paint the cane white to make it more visible. By 1931, the Peoria Lions Club approved the project and white canes were made and distributed. The Peoria City Council adopted an ordinance giving the bearers the right-of-way to cross the street. The news of the club’s activity spread to other Lions Clubs, and the white cane became known by the blind and sighted alike as a means of identifying the safe mobility needs of the visually impaired. In 1931, Lions Clubs International began a program promoting the use of White Canes for people who are blind.
Also in 1931, in France, Guilly d’Herbemont recognized the danger of blind people in traffic and launched a national “white stick movement” for blind people. She donated 5,000 white canes to people in Paris.
While the White Cane is commonly accepted as a “symbol of blindness”, various countries have different rules concerning what constitutes a “cane for the blind.” In the United Kingdom, for example, the White Cane is recognized as being used by visually impaired persons; if the cane has two red bands added, it indicates that the user is deaf-blind. In some areas, the cane is yellow.
In the United States, laws vary from state to state, but in all cases, those carrying white canes are afforded the right of way when crossing a road and when in a public place.
(This information is from the Lions Club International Website)
Lions enjoy a night out at a Federick Keys game in Frederick, MD. (Photos courtesy of Lion Joy Schwab.)
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The Damascus Lions showed up on a rainy Saturday morning to support the Lions Cycling for Sight cyclists.
(The purpose of Lions Cycling for Sight is to promote Lionism and raise funds through the sport of bicycling to Prevent and Cure Blindness around the world. You may visit their website at http://www.lionscyclingforsight.org/)
(photos courtesy of Lions Joy Schwab and Eloise Woodfield)[salbumphotos=14,160,3,n,y,title desc]
Photos from the June 8, 2009 Golf Tournament Fundraiser are posted below and in the Photo Gallery.
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A quick posting of some photos taken during Installation Night at the Damascus American Legion.
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KL Eloise sent in some photos taken during the presentation of the 2009 Boy Scout Charter to Boy Scout Troop 445.
The Damascus Lions Club has sponsored this troop since 1948!
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