Senate Resolution No. 3366

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMENDING the Rome Lions Club upon the occasion
of its 65th Charter Anniversary to be celebrated on
November 4, 2017

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
organizations 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
commend the Rome Lions Club upon the occasion of its 65th Charter
Anniversary to be celebrated at Teugega Country Club, Rome, New York, on
November 4, 2017; 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
personality Carl J. Swanson, also known as Mr. Sunshine; and

WHEREAS, The first members included a group of 25 business and
professional men, who became the Charter Members of the Rome Lions on
October 26, 1952; and

WHEREAS, The Rome Lions have performed 65 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
challenge 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
hearing 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 placed throughout the city; and

WHEREAS, Rome Lions Club members are involved in numerous other
community projects including installing furnaces in the homes of needy
individuals, 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
Thanksgiving 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, Today, the Rome Lions Club is comprised of 30 members; the
current officers for 2017-2018 include: President David Hubman, 1st Vice
President Anthony Ciotti, 2nd Vice President Mary Chmielewski, Secretary
Malinda Abraham, Treasurer Mike Keenan, Tail Twister Roy Benham, Lion
Tamer Trish DeFina, Historian Chuck Nutting, Membership Chair PDG Joe
DeFina and Immediate Past President Victor J. Fariello Jr.; and

WHEREAS, The future of the Rome Lions Club looks bright with the
recruitment of young members, both men and women; one of the many goals
the Rome Lions Club has achieved was the formation of a Leo Club in 2012
at Rome Free Academy; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
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 its 65th Charter
Anniversary to be celebrated on November 4, 2017; and be it further

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