CANORA – After the morning of May 23 began with threatening weather, the dark clouds faded away in time for a “great day” for the Lions barbecue outside the Gateway Co-op Food Store in Canora, according to Beryl Bauer, a member of the Lake Lenore Lions club who is leading efforts to re-establish the Canora Lions Club.
Bauer was answering questions and handing out information regarding a possible newly-invigorated Canora Lions Club, but as always is the case with the Lions, the event was also about meeting local community needs.
“There was a really good turnout,” Bauer said. “We served close to 200 burgers and made over $1,000, which goes to the Filling the Gap Food Bank in Canora. We’re grateful to Gateway Co-op for helping out with supplying burgers and buns.”
Pastor Mavis Watson, Filling the Gap volunteer administrator, said it was “a really good day. Many people caught a whiff of the burgers as they were coming in to buy groceries. There were also many who donated spare change, we’re very grateful.”
Watson said the timing was really good for this welcome financial boost at Filling the Gap.
“Donations slow down quite a bit at this time of year, ever since the New Year, really. We’re very grateful to Beryl and everyone that came with him to support the barbecue, the Lions and the Food Bank.”
Bauer said a couple of new members signed up for the Lions Club during the day, and about a dozen others expressed interest in getting involved.
“It turned out to be a great day. The weather forecast was right for once, the sun came out as the day went along and the farmers were happy.”
In addition to enjoying a tasty burger, literature available at the barbecue highlighted the benefits of joining and supporting the Lions Club.
“It is an inclusive organization of both men and women working together for the betterment of all. Its motto is 'We Serve.' Why be a Lion? When people serve others, they help sustain communities through a variety of different service activities that club members decide to do. Being a member of a service club gives you the opportunity to fulfill needs that service minded individuals see in their community that may not be or are only partially being met. Doing service makes you feel good! Seeing the smiling faces of someone you help will brighten your day. Lions believe that ‘Together We Can.’ We can often accomplish a great deal more for those in need when we work together rather than as individuals.”
The information indicated that, if re-started, the direction of the Canora Lions Club will be very much dictated by the local membership.
“We have been able to have many very successful Lions clubs start and/or continue helping in their community. It is the membership that decides how many activities they will to do and how many meetings they will have. Most clubs try to meet once a month and many take a July break ‘Your Club, Your Way’ is the Lions current initiative. We already have some people who have indicated they will join a new club. Others have said maybe. A good club membership number is 10 to 20. Will there be enough people to start a club? We can only try.”
Beryl Bauer said the next step in the process will be to schedule an informational meeting in Canora to determine how many people want to join the Canora Lions Club. With seeding running behind normal for most farmers, that date will probably be determined after the crop is in the ground.
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