Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, June 21, 2019 A: There are, but like I said, when I looked at the Lions Club, what I really liked was that they give back 100 percent of what they collect. Some other organizations might use some of that money to run their organization or they might keep a little bit of it – a certain percentage for the club. In the Lions Club, we do have two different funds and we pay our monthly dues, which are to support the dinners that we have at meetings. But anything that we actually collect from individuals around town when we do our events, that goes in a different fund that gets donated 100 percent. Q: You meet weekly? A: The meetings are twice a month: the first Wednesday and the third Wednesday of each month. We meet at Prince Pizza on Route 1 (southbound lane) at 6 o’clock at night, so usually it’s a two-hour meeting – 6 to 8. All individuals are welcome to come to a meeting even if they are not part of the Lions Club, so they can at least see and get some information about the club. Q: The Lions Club has the Annual Thanksgiving football dinner for the seniors of Saugus High and Peabody, which I enjoy going to. A: Yeah, we do the Thanksgiving Football banquet for the seniors of both teams. Last year we also had the girls’ soccer team from Saugus that we hosted. Q: What’s the most interesting thing … you belong to an organization that’s been 90 years in Saugus, so what is the most interesting thing that you know about the organization as it exists in Saugus? A: Well, the most interesting thing was when Helen Keller gave her speech back in Chicago and challenged the Lions Club to be “Knights of the Blind” and to get rid of blindness throughout the world. Q: But as far as Saugus goes, what’s the most interesting thing you know about your organization locally? A: That they have been around for 90 years and that they’ve had a lot of different events that they ran, and they’ve been helping a lot of people throughout Saugus and the other communities. Q: Now, most of the membership is from Saugus, but you do have members from some of the neighboring communities? A: Yes. Some individuals have moved away to other towns, but most of the members are from the Saugus area. Q: And you have three guys who have a half century of more as members of your club? A: Yes. Most of the members – and we have 45 – have been in the club for over 15-plus years. Three of them are over 50 years in the club: Arthur Gustafson has been a member for 53.4 years; Ralph Carbone has been 52.7 years; and Gene Decareau has been 51.7 years. As far as age, Gene is 89, Ralph is 88 and Arthur 87. Q: That’s pretty good. A: We have some newer members who have come in this past year; we’ve had six to seven indiAward-Winning Landscaping Servicing the North Shore for over 38 Years SAUGUS LION CLUB’S FIRST FAMILY: Newly installed Saugus Lions Club President Georgio Meimaris and his wife, Rahel, hold their 15-month-old daughter Barbara after Georgio’s installation as president for 2019-2020 earlier this month. George holds a ceremonial candle to light the way. viduals join. And it’s nice to see newer, younger members come into the club. It’s not a lot of time to pledge to the club – a few hours a month, which is not a lot of time, and there are a few times a year when we do the events, and it would be nice to have all members come out and support the events. Just like any other club around town, membership is shrinking, so it’s nice to see membership grow. That’s one of the things that I would like to see: to have individuals join the club and help out the community. Q: At one point in its heyday, there were, what, 150 to 200 members? A: Yes. There were over 200 members in the club years back, but lately, everybody is too busy to do anything or join any organizations. Like I said, it would be nice … and it’s only a few hours, too, to support your individuals and neighbors who need help. Q: What’s the best unsung good deed that you’ve heard about involving the Lions Club? I know a lot goes to eye research, but what’s the best story you have heard about – the Lions Club of Saugus doing something to help people? A: There have been a few of them – visual aids – there were a couple of things that we had given: devices to elderly people who NOW BOOKING NEW CUSTOMERS! DON’T WAIT! Call 781-321-2074 Pavers * Walkways * Patios * Driveways * Pool Decks Planting * Perennials * Shrubs * Trees New Lawns * Sod * Hydroseed Flowers/Annuals/Mums * Conventional Seeding * Synthetic Complete Maintenance * Cleanups (Spring & Fall) * Lawn Cutting, Edging & Weeding * Lawn Fertilizer Programs * Trim & Prune Shrubs * Mulching, Thatching Interlock Block * Fire Pits * Sitting Walls * Pillers Landscape Lighting * Design * Install * Repair * Night Illumination
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