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)

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)

Special Recognitions:

• Three Over-$100-in-One-Shift Club Recognitions go to:
  • Ø Barbara Barry at CVS on Thursday evening; she solicited $101.20.
  • Ø Bill Mahylis at Safeway on Thursday evening; he pulled in $103.31.
  • Ø Warren and Joy Schwab at Safeway on Friday evening; they collected $105.95.

The Bert Lahr Special Award for Most Courageous Lion goes to three first-timer Lions: Cheryl Wyatt, Carol Cook, and Alice Denell. It is refreshing to have new Lions take part in White Cane. And they all did a great job.

• Thanks for your courage!

Here are the Damascus Lions who gave unselfishly of their time for one or more storefront collection shifts (multiple shifts in parentheses): B. Barry, Burlas(2), Cook, Davidson, Davis, Denell, Durairaj, Gladhill, Gosnell, C. Hertel, Hibbard(2), M. Holpuch, Jackson, Mahylis, Mallack, Peters, Rogers, J. Schwab, W. Schwab, Snapp, Ch. Stone, Suddath, Tench, Thornett, Washington, Wyatt. Special thanks go to our reliable Managers of the Day: Bill Mahylis, Ken Phillips, and Del Mayhew… and to our meticulous Money Counters: Del Mayhew, George Hibbard, and Tom Jackson. And guess who else helped with the counting … Tom Van Vliet!

 Do you have any special stories about unusual occurrences during White Cane Week? Please provide them to me and I’ll see that they get published.

For the first time, we worked both entrances of the new Safeway. It worked out great. However, doing this added eight new shifts to our shift list. Since we had three fewer Lions participating than last fall, this caused us to have about eight empty shifts! We need more Lions to participate in White Cane. That is the only thing holding us back from increasing our receipts very substantially. Mark your calendars for the Fall White Cane fundraiser: September 22-25, 2010.
When patronizing the Damascus establishments which support White Cane (CVS, Safeway, Tom & Ray’s, & Red Rooster), please express your gratitude to the management for allowing White Cane Lions to do our work there. Without their assistance, there would be no Damascus White Cane. Thanks.

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.

Special Recognitions:

• The Over-$100-in-One-Shift Club Recognition goes to Warren and Joy Schwab. At the new Safeway on Friday evening, they collected $127.94. Between the two, they know just about every person in Damascus; and that made the difference!
• The Bert Lahr Special Award for Most Courageous Lion is a split decision between Charlie Hertel and Sue Suddath.
  • Several Lions worked two shifts, but Charlie worked them back-to-back. Four continuous hours of White Cane is very hard to do. It takes both stamina and courage. Thanks, Charlie!
  • Sue Suddath had barely arrived for her White Cane duty at CVS on Saturday morning (right after completing her graveyard shift at her workplace), when a bee stung her on the hand. By the time the shift ended, her hand was very swollen and painful. Nevertheless, she completed her shift and collected a goodly sum in the process. That’s courage, folks.

Here are the Damascus Lions who gave unselfishly of their time for one or more storefront collection shifts (multiple shifts in parentheses): B. Barry, Burlas(2), Davidson, Davis, Gladhill, Gosnell(2), C. Hertel(2), Hibbard(2), C. Holpuch, M. Holpuch, Jackson(2), Mallack, Molesworth, D. Reichmeider, R. Reichmeider, Rogers, J. Schwab, W. Schwab, Snapp, Stanley, Ch. Stone, Suddath, Tench, Thornett, Washington. Special thanks go to our reliable Managers of the Day: Bill Mahylis, Ken Phillips, and Del Mayhew…and to our meticulous Money Counters: Del Mayhew, George Hibbard, and Tom Jackson.

 Do you have any special stories about unusual occurrences during White Cane Week? Please provide them to me and I’ll see that they get published.

I’m excited about the new Safeway store and the very Pro-Lion attitudes of the management there. Next Spring, we will try both entrances. As you can see, I caught one of them for a picture with Charlie Stone. Tom & Ray’s and CVS also continuously support our Club without reservation. We should support them in kind. When in these Damascus establishments, please express your gratitude to the management for allowing White Cane to do its work there. Thanks.  -Wayne Marr

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)

( 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.