I will push the signup sheet around during this meeting and I’ll pick up the stragglers at the mid-April meeting. Folks: this fundraiser needs the participation of every able-bodied Damascus Lion for at least one two-hour shift. When the sign-up sheet reaches you, please contribute at least one shift; two, if you can. Every two shifts bring us enough funds to provide an eye appointment and new glasses for some needy Damascus-area child or adult. We will have shifts at both doors of Safeway this time, in the hopes that this will help us increase our collections there.

Thank you, all Damascus Lions, for your help with this fundraiser over the years.

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)

It takes a lot of Lions to make White Cane Week successful. Over 30 Damascus and Clarksburg Lions contributed to White Cane week this Spring. Put “Lion” in front of every name in this article.

Special Recognitions:

• The Over-$100-in-One-Shift Club Recognition goes to Marcia Holpuch: $139.96 is what she received on Saturday morning at Red Rooster. The Saturday morning Red Rooster crowd is very special. Consisting almost entirely of men about to embark on a 6th day of work in their vans and pickups, this crowd is amazingly generous; placing many $5 and $10 bills into our white buckets.

• The Bert Lahr Special Award for Most Courageous Lion goes to Bill Mahylis. Bill was the Wednesday White Cane Manager-of-the-Day, but decided he would fill in the best he could for an empty shift at Safeway that afternoon at 4:00pm. Even though he had to interrupt the shift to collect from other Lions, he managed to collect $99.43 in the short time he had available! Bill has always been one to put in extra effort during White Cane Week. There are many others.

I don’t have the information from the Clarksburg Branch (next time?), but here are the Damascus Lions who gave unselfishly of their time for one or more storefront collection shifts (multiple shifts in parentheses): Alsant (first-time!), T. Barry, B. Barry, Burlas(2), Davidson, Gladhill, Gosnell(2), C. Hertel, Hibbard(2), M. Holpuch, Mahylis, Mallack, Molesworth, Peters(2), D. Reichmeider, R. Reichmeider, G. Rogers, J. Schwab, W. Schwab, Snapp, Ch. Stone, C. Stone, Suddath, Tench, Thornett, Bobbie Warfield, John Warfield, T. Woodfield, E. Woodfield. Special thanks also go to the venerable Managers of the Day: Bill Mahylis, Ken Phillips, and Del Mayhew. And let’s not forget our trustworthy Money Counters: Del Mayhew, George Hibbard, Tom Jackson, and Tom Van Vliet.

( View the roster here.) Folks, this fundraiser needs the participation of every able-bodied Damascus Lion for at least one two-hour shift. When the sign-up sheet reaches you, please contribute at least one shift; two, if you can. Every two shifts bring us enough funds to provide an eye appointment and new glasses for some needy Damascus-area child or adult.

Thank you, all Damascus Lions, for your help with this fundraiser over the years.