Senate Resolution No. 29

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMENDING the Rome Lions Club upon the occasion
of celebrating its 70th Anniversary on October 21,
2022

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those fraternal organizations of high purpose and worthy
accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the
citizens of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend the Rome Lions Club upon the occasion of celebrating its 70th
Anniversary, to be celebrated on Friday, January 6, 2023, at the Mohawk
Valley Community College's Rome Campus; and

WHEREAS, The Rome Lions Club was chartered on October 21, 1952, by a
group of Rome citizens who believed in the principles of Lionism and the
benefits to the community; and

WHEREAS, The 14 original charter members include: Leland W. Castle,
Dr. G. Frederick Caswell, Richard Flemma, Peter M. Grande, Frank J.
Guiltinan, Bernard E. Ingersoll, Haver F. Karlen, Francis R. Loreto,
Frank Loreto, Nicholas Mammone, Robert Morris, Joseph Palombi, Stanley
Rebisz, and Carl J. Swanson; and

WHEREAS, The event will honor the Past District Governor, Joseph
DeFina, who passed away in 2021, and was a longtime member of the Rome
Lions Club; and

WHEREAS, The Rome Lions Club is part of Lions Clubs International,
one of the largest service organizations in the world, and is deeply
committed to meeting the challenges of public service; currently, there
are approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographic
areas around the world; and

WHEREAS, Lions are also recognized worldwide for their service to
the blind and visually impaired; this service began when Helen Keller
challenged the Lions to become her "knights of the blind in the crusade
against darkness" during the Lions' 1925 International Convention; and

WHEREAS, The Rome Lions Club has performed 8,313 vision screenings
on the children of Rome resulting in being able to identify several of
them with issues that require the earliest possible intervention to
prevent permanent blindness; and

WHEREAS, In great service to their community, the Rome Lions Club
has established service projects now being modeled by other Lions Clubs
in District 20Y for their efforts to support literacy in children; and

WHEREAS, The Rome Lions Club established the most vibrant Lions Club
in District 20Y, helping to provide opportunities for leadership
development, community outreach, and overall personal development for
their community's children; and


WHEREAS, The success of the Rome Lions Club is in direct correlation
to the efforts of its members, whose involvement is, and always has
been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled
enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all
endeavors on behalf of the organization and the community it serves; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, 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
commend the Rome Lions Club upon the occasion of celebrating its 70th
Anniversary, and to honor its members, past and present, who have
labored so conscientiously to secure and improve the quality of life in
the community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Rome Lions Club.