by Bea Peterson
On Saturday evening, June 4, the Town of Hoosick Lions Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a dinner dance at the Hoosick Falls Country Club. Members from the Albany/Troy, Watervliet, Amsterdam and Scotia/Glenville, NY Clubs, plus the Bennington, Norshaft (Norwich/Shaftsbury), Vermont Clubs, joined the celebration.
Master of Ceremonies was Everett Quackenbush. Member Judy Quackenbush led the group in singing “God Bless America” and in the Lions prayer and a moment of silence for deceased members. The Lions Toast was led by Glenn Swalm. In his remarks District Governor John Samples congratulated the Club on its 50 years of service to the community. He noted that the seven new women members and three men have done much to improve the Club these past two years.
Lions International Director Douglas X. Alexander from Brooklyn, NY is a retired vice president of J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. He has been a member of the Brooklyn Bedford Stuyvesant Lions Club since 1984. He told those attending the celebration that when he joined the Club he was one of the youngest members. Today he is one of the oldest members. He said the average age of a member is 57. That has not changed over the years, he said. He looked around the room and said it is time for all the Clubs to bring in some new young members. “If each one brought in one, then we would double the 1.35 million members we have. There is plenty of room to grow [in the organization].” He said while membership is declining in the United States, it is growing rapidly in India and Japan. He recalled the warm rush he got when he delivered his first holiday basket to a family in need. He recounted his Club wanting to help the local rescue squad. In the end they raised enough money to purchase an ambulance. “That’s who we are, that’s what we do,” he said. “That is why I’m a Lion for life.” He said so far Lions Clubs have raise eight to ten million dollars for tsunami relief in Japan. One New York Club alone has raised $150,000, he said. “We make a difference.” He congratulated the Hoosick Club for its anniversary.
Lions Club International has 45,000 Clubs and 1.35 million members making it the world’s largest service club organization.
Recent major projects brought 3,000 volunteers together to build a playground for children of all abilities in California. Other Lions Clubs fed 60,000 people in a township in South Africa. Others sent a team of eye surgeons to Honduras to treat more than 100 adults and children.
Recognition
Don Bogardus was recognized for belonging to the organization for 49 years. He would have joined the first year, but he and his wife Esther were expecting a child and that took precedence.
Local Projects
Since 1962 the Hoosick Lions have presented the Harold Shapiro Award to a HFCS graduating senior. They sponsor the Lions Youth Band, hold the annual Easter Penny Hunt, support local Boy and Girl Scout Troops, support the Peace Poster contest and donate money for bike helmets for elementary school children.
They donate to the Northeastern Association of the Blind and, in 2009, contributed two laptops to the organization. They support the Lions Eye Bank, guiding eyes for the blind, Lions Camp Badger, purchase eyeglasses for those in need locally and collect used eyeglasses to be distributed worldwide.
They also support the Wounded Warriors Project, Diabetes Association in Albany, donate to the HACA food closet and deliver Thanksgiving meals and Christmas Baskets for HACA and organize and run the Wood Memorial Road Race.
Charter Members
Town of Hoosick charter members were Ed Baker, Joe Buckley, Ken Bulson, Bill Burns, Frank Buswell, Carl Cunningham, Ed Cottrell, John Carpenter, George Dougherty, Jr., Harry Fink, William Fox, Bob Gardner, Bob Hall, Ben Harrison, Harry Highfield, Oliver Lee, John Liporace, Bill Murphy, Howard O’Brien, Gene Salluzzo, Harold Shapiro, Howard Shaw, William Sigalos, Don St. Hilaire, Joe Vinck and Link VonHaggin.
Current officers are Peter Church-President, Glenn Swalm-Secretary, Sandy Trembly-Treasurer, Chris Rayner-First Vice President, Kevin Miller-Second Vice President and Diabetes Chair, Don Pierce-Third Vice President, Bill Gaillard-Tail Twister, Marie Lucey-Lion Taer, Dave Harrison and Bridget Pierce-Directors.
Other current members are Richard Allen, Don Bogardus, Joe Farrara, Rick Ferrannini, Russ Gaillard, Doug Harrison, Wade Hayden, Bill Hazen, Steve Johnson, Mike LaPorte, John Lucey, Chris Marsh, Anthony Mazzone, Everett Quackenbush, Judy Quackenbush, David Schuelke, Dorothy Smith, John Smith, Lynne Teker, Bill Tudor, Beverly White and Roger White.