One of the best parts of being a volunteer is that I constantly meet other volunteers. This week I met a group that has been active locally for over 30 years! The Dale City Lions are part of an international service organization dedicated to community service in over 200 countries.

Our local chapter has a busy schedule and is involved in many activities that follow the credo: “Community is what we make it.” If you know anything about the Lions, your response is probably similar to the ones I got from several friends when I asked, “What do you know about the Lions?” Nearly everyone said, “Oh! They are the folks who recycle eyeglasses.” That response, while technically correct, is only one small part of the many services that Lions Clubs provide.

One of the ways our Dale City Lions serve the community  is to provide free vision screening at our schools. My family didn’t visit doctors unless we were sick, so I vividly remember when we had a day of vision and hearing “tests” in our school. It was the first pro-active step in health care for me. I thought it was sort of scary and I worried I might not pass the test. (Vision testing wasn’t nearly as scary as Scoliosis screening!)

The Lions know that children with vision problems must be diagnosed early. Our chapter often works with other local Lions, like the Lake Ridge Lions in Project SoS, (Save our Sight) a vision screening program to identify treatable or preventable causes of blindness in preschool and young children in Eastern Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Westmoreland counties. The program also provides for professional eye exams and treatment of vision defects. While the focus is for pediatric care, Lions Clubs' vision screening is available for all residents in our service area.

I know you’ll agree, that is a true community service. While Prince William County may now be ranked the 7^th wealthiest county in the United States, there are still a great many people in our community who may not have vision screening on their priority list. It’s important to identify vision problems and get proper treatment at an early age. After the initial testing for children entering school, follow up screening is necessary periodically throughout life, as vision problems develop at any age.

I’ve only shared one facet of the many services our Lions Club provides for the community. You can read about 15 more by clicking the link.

I’d like to encourage you to get involved with the Dale City Lions. If you have a little time to volunteer I guarantee they will have an opportunity that will suit your interest and your personality. Oh, I hear you now, saying, “I don’t have any time to volunteer!” Yes, you do. I promise you can find a couple of hours in your busy schedule to participate in your community. If you really can’t find the time to volunteer, you must be working too hard to earn a living…so just write a nice check to support the work the Lions do!
Join us at one of these events:

September 24th Vision Screening Penn Elementary School, Dale City

September 27th Vision Screening King Elementary School, Dale City

October 1st Vision Screening Penn Elementary School, Dale City

October 4th Vision Screening King Elementary School, Dale City

October 9th Club Meeting, Prince William Ice Arena, Dale City 6:30pm

October 16th Vision Screening Bel Air Elementary School, Dale City

October 17th Vision Screening Enterprise Elementary School, Dale City

October 23rd Club Meeting, Prince William Ice Arena, Dale City 6:30pm

October 24th Vision Screening Children of America, Hedgewood Drive, Dale City

November 6th Club Meeting, Prince William Ice Arena, Dale City 6:30pm

November 20th Club Meeting, Prince William Ice Arena, Dale City 6:30pm

November 24th to December 15th Fruit Sale First Baptist Church, Minnieville Rd

December 4th Club Meeting, Prince William Ice Arena, Dale City 6:30pm

January 1st New Years Day Safety Break, Dale City Rest Stop I-95 Southbound, 7am to 3pm

Contact one of our dedicated Lions:
Lou Soscia President                      LRSJR@verizon.net

Wyatt McGinnis 1st Vice-President macmcginnis@msn.com

Darrell Sample Secretary                sampled@verizon.net

Tom Parker Treasurer                     toro_parker@hotmail.com

Clarence Hall Membership Chair    cwhll2@aol.com