Leo Club attends Lions convention
 | | Leo Club members who attended the 34-N Lions District Convention at the University of South Alabama pictured, from left, are: Jennifer Henson - president, Belinda Jackson, Katie Simon, Kaitlan Ramsay, Jessica Bridges and Paula Fendley. |
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The annual 34-N District Convention met at the University of South Alabama campus in Mobile on Saturday, March 29. Thomasville Lions Club was well represented among the 34 clubs in our district. Lions Howard Jackson, Glenda Prescott (president), Marilyn Morgan, Glen Elmore and Roselyn Martindale were present. Not only were these members present but the LEO Club (Lions Club for high school students) from Thomasville were present. They were the only Leo Club members present. The president of the Leo Club, Jennifer Henson, gave a report on their trip last summer to Hawaii as Top Camper Award winner at the Youth Leadership Conference.
The morning began with a Strides Walk for Diabetes led by Thomasville Lion Glen Elmore.
Attendees were welcomed to the USA campus by the president, Dr. Sam Strada. One of the highlights of the morning was the keynote address by Lion Wanda Scroggins of the Auburn Lions Club who is blind from macular degeneration. Wanda, with her guide dog (a poodle named Gibson) provided by Leader Dog School in Rochester, Mich., amazed participants with what she has accomplished after she lost her sight. Scroggins was previously the treasurer of the Andalusia Lions Club but would not let anything stop her from transferring to Auburn University to continue her education.
 | | Graduate student Joel Andrews showed attendees a state-of-the-art telescope which cost $150,000. It was provided by funds from Alabama Lions Sight. Pictured, from left, are Dr. John Oakes, Andrews, Dr. Robert Lausch and Dr. Sailen Barik. |
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Lions were then treated to a tour of the eye-related research going on at USA. Participants were led by the USA Vision Scientists including Dr. Sailen Barik, Dr. Vira Bitko, Dr. Robert Lausch and Dr. John Oakes, who voiced their appreciation of the Lions Club and its commitment to the challenge of eye research. Currently, about 36 million Americans suffer from a variety of eye maladies. The Lions/USA Eye Research Institute was created to assist the efforts of the USA College of Medicine scientists to pursue those advances that hold great promise for developing new methods of treating these eye diseases.
Since its creation in 1990, the Lions/USA Eye Research Institute has received more than $150,000 in interest earned from the endowment to support eye research. In addition, funds from the LCIF and matched by local Lions Clubs have permitted the purchase of $248,000 state-of-the-art research equipment. The vision scientists are profoundly grateful for the Lions' past and continuing support.
The USA Eye Research Institute is a 34-N special project.
After a barbecue lunch, awards were given and International Director Wayne E. Davis gave his address.
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