COMMUNITY SPIRIT: Lions Club chapter provides various services

Jul. 22—The motto of the Lions Club chapter in Tahlequah — "We serve" — might be simple, but it encompasses their mission.

"Our goal is to just have members available to serve the community on a local level and to also help people understand a little bit more about Lions International and some other opportunities to get involved," said Joseph Shetler, past Lions Club Tahlequah president.

Shetler said the Lions Club in Tahlequah is a small subdivision of Lions Club International, and has been in operation around 40 to 50 years.

"Lions International, on a larger scale, is involved in disaster relief funding and a lot of sight and hearing situations," Shetler said.

The Tahlequah chapter mainly focuses on the sight aspect. Shetler said the Lions Club has donation containers for eyeglasses throughout the area, with the main one at the Northeastern State University College of Optometry.

Hearing aids are often collected as well, but are usually distributed to other groups or dropped off at an Oklahoma City distribution center.

The Lions Club provides services to other civic projects. Some examples of the club's efforts include doing regular clean-up days at Felts Park; staying involved through landscaping projects with Mission Park; and helping out at Tahlequah Cares, a resource fair for those in need and struggling with homelessness.

"We try to be very supportive of things in our community," Shetler said.

Shetler said spaghetti dinners, aluminum can collections, and other avenues are some ways the 15- to 20-member group tries to raise funds. The money goes to Lions Club International for larger endeavors or to local projects.

The group also has members involved at the state level with a children's home and a corneal transplant/organ donor program in Oklahoma City.

"Some aspects of it is fellowship and just being with people who are involved in community service," Shetler said.

"We try to make ourselves available to other civic organizations. [For example] the city council might ask me what are some of the needs they have that we can serve with."

Shetler said that over the years, a bigger emphasis on recruitment has been made in an effort to keep the club alive.

Get involved

Lions Club Tahlequah usually meets the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at Charlie's Chicken on South Muskogee Avenue to discuss various business items and listen to speakers, which can range from those with the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce to out-of-county Lions Club members talking about hearing or vision programs. Shetler said the club is always looking for members and all are welcome to the meetings. For information, email [email protected].