| |
WHAT WE HAVE DONE
The Converse Lions Club’s largest and most visible
contributions to the community has been its on-going Converse
City Park projects … Converse Lions Memorial Pavilion
($35,000 – October 1980), 29 acre park extension ($78,000
- March 1987) and restrooms for the pavilion area ($31,000
– April 1989). Other improvements to the park include
Little League fields, nature trails, and covered beverage
booth.
To pay for these facilities, the City of Converse gives
the Converse Lions Club the authority to sell drinks, hold
the Lion Auction, and the Chili Cook-Off at the Night In
Ole Converse Festival (NIOC). NIOC is held the first weekend
of October each year. The ability of the Club to undertake
large projects, such as those above, rests upon a number
of members who are willing to personally commit to borrowing
the necessary funds. The borrowed funds are primarily repaid
by the revenue the Converse Lions Club generates through
the sale of beverages during NIOC. Converse Lions Club has
also accepted donations to assist with these projects. Upon
completion of each of project, these facilities have become
the property of the City of Converse. Plaques honoring deceased
Lions and valued community leaders are placed in the Memorial
Pavilion.
The Converse Lions Club’s latest contribution for
the welfare of children in the Converse area was the donation
of $5000 (November 1995) to the City of Converse. These
funds went towards the purchase and construction of playground
equipment in Converse’s North Park. Again, proceeds
from the sale of beverages at NIOC made this contribution
possible.
Since 1993, the Converse Lions Club has supported the Converse
Area Library by contributing money on a quarterly basis.
We believe youth, and the general public, benefit from the
ability to access a local library.
The Converse Lions Club sends handicapped youths to the
Texas Lions Camp summer program. The Club sends the sponsored
youths to the camp at no charge to the camper’s family.
Located in Kerrville, the Texas Lions Camp was founded Sunday,
June 8, 1953. After five years of hard work by volunteers
from the Lions Clubs of Texas, the Texas Lions Camp opened
its doors to 40 excited children.
The Converse Lions Club buys eyeglasses for needy students,
provides money for awards at the Jr. Livestock Show in San
Antonio, sponsors the “Tigers” Little League
Team and Boy Scout Troop #173, co-sponsors the Judson High
School Leo Club, contributes Christmas Baskets for needy
families, contributes to Drug Free Graduation Program, hosts
dinner for the coaches and workers of the Judson Regional
Track Meet, contributes to Boy’s State (and sometimes
Girl’s State) for Judson students, and supports many
other youth oriented projects in the local area.
The oldest youth project of the Converse Lions Club is the
Annual Lions Club Queens Contest. (Our Queens Contest was
first held in 1964.) Scholarships are awarded to the Queen,
1st Runner-Up and Miss Congeniality.
The Converse Lions Club annually hosts the Lions Mobile
Eye Screening Unit and the South Texas bloodmobile in the
parking lot of the Converse Walgreen's Pharmacy. Normally,
we experience an excellent turn-out for the event. In the
past, numerous Converse businesses provide bottled water,
sodas, hamburgers, chicken plates, and pizza for those waiting
to have their eyes screened and to give blood.
All of our projects and activities would not be possible
without the loyal help and support of area business, friends
and families of Lions, and members of our great community.
Thanks again for the support you have given us through the
years!
WHAT WE WILL DO IN THE FUTURE
No business or organization survives without planning for
the future. Recently, we created Converse Lions Charities,
a 503c non-profit corporation. This will allow us to compete
with other large non-profit organizations for corporate
sponsorship.
Even though we have numerous items on our agenda,we are
searching for ways to improve Converse and the surrounding
area. We would like to involve you in this process. Please
contact a Lion to learn how you may become involved.
|
 |
