LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Rome
Lions Club on January 26, 2013

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 60th anniversary of the Rome Lions Club, to be celebrated at
its Anniversary Dinner on Saturday, January 26, 2013, at the Club in
Rome, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Rome Lions Club was established after a group of Rome
businessmen were encouraged by the Utica Lions Club to form a Lions Club
in Rome, New York; and
WHEREAS, The first President of the Rome Lions Club was radio person-
ality Carl J. Swanson, also known as Mr. Sunshine; and
WHEREAS, The first members included a group of 25 business and profes-
sional men, who became the Charter Members of the Rome Lions on October
21, 1952; and
WHEREAS, The Rome Lions have performed 60 years of valuable community
service, having lived up to their motto "We Serve"; and
WHEREAS, In 1925, Helen Keller, addressing the Lions International
Convention, challenged the young service clubs to serve the hearing and
visually impaired; Lions Clubs throughout the world took up the chal-
lenge to help the blind; and
WHEREAS, In Rome, the challenge was met with enthusiasm, and it became
the custom of the Rome Lions that two or three Lion members would go to
visit one of the visually impaired at their home or nursing home to
check on their welfare; and
WHEREAS, The second half of Helen Keller's challenge to help the hear-
ing impaired also became a focus of the Rome Lions Club; the club
purchased TTY's and loaned them to persons in need, and placed one at
the Rome Police Department for emergencies; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, the Rome Lions offer annual scholarships to
students at New York State School for the Deaf in Rome, conduct hearing
tests with professionals at Health Fairs, provide eye exams and glasses
to underprivileged children referred by the local schools and also to
the needy and collect hearing aids and eye glasses from receptacles
constructed by the Lion members at strategic places throughout the city;
and
WHEREAS, Rome Lions Club members are involved in numerous other commu-
nity projects including installing furnaces in the homes of needy indi-
viduals, sending young adults to Colorado for special eye treatment,
picking up corneas at the local hospital and taking them to the
airport/bus terminal or driving them to the eye bank, packing Thanksgiv-
ing baskets for the poor, serving dinners at the Rome Rescue Mission and
working at Camp Badger in Spencer, New York, and making various repairs
to the camp; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Rome Lions Club on January 26,
2013; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to James Murphy, President, Rome Lions Club.