On June 18, 2007 the Merchantville Lions Club will be holding a joint meeting with the Pennsauken Lions Club to celebrate their 81st anniversary. The event will be held at Macaro’s Catering on Westfield Ave., Pennsauken, NJ. The Merchantville Lions Club was organized on July 26, 1926 by our former mayor, Walter V. Kurkian . Mayor Kurkian was also a past District Governor of District 16-C, and also a past International Director. Another former past District Governor from Merchantville, NJ was the former Judge Albert E. Burling.
We are the second oldest Lions Club in District 16-C , and have been serving the community of Merchantville for the past 80 years. During the past 80 years we raised money for and donated a new Ambulance to the Boro. We also assisted many of the Merchantville School children with eye screening and the purchase of new glasses. At graduation time we presented scholarships to the high school students. When the Merchantville High School featured a football team, we provided soda, hot dogs and pretzels. We have been collecting used eye glasses and hearing aids at the Merchantville Post office. Recently the Lions of NJ collected and shipped to 3rd world countries 20,000 used eye glasses. We also provided the school library with magnifying equipment to help the students with their reading. Also many of our members and wives graduated from the Merchantville high School.
We now have nine active members with some members representing long established business in the Boro, namely, Aunt Charlottes Candy Store, Stephenson & Brown Funeral Home and Lamplighter Real Estate Inc. The White Cane Donations are received at Aunt Charlottes Candy Store and we appreciate and thank the community for supporting our projects. Recently we and the Pennsauken Lions Club planted a tree and presented a plaque in memory of a former Lion who was very active in the community, Lion Walter Walenbeck.
Some of our members have been active in Lionism for many years, namely, Vernon Collins, 52 years, Joseph Pisko, 44 years, William B. Howell, 37 years, Jeffrey Brown, 35 years, Robert Nonemaker, 35 years, C. Brooks Oakford, 22 years, Anthony Repice, Sr 17 years, Russell Mutschler, 9 years and Barney Vellutello, 9 years.
We are inviting any former members of the Merchantville Lions Club to attend our event on June 18, 2007. Please call (856) 663-0833 to make your reservation.
Submitted by William B. Howell, Club Secretary/Treasurer
