Major Dennis J. Yecke, USMC (Ret.)

The Searcy Lions Club recently heard from Major Dennis J. Yecke, USMC (Ret.), who recently returned from serving the State Department in Basrah, Iraq. Major Yecke spoke about the progress made in Iraq over the past few years and addressed the challenges facing Iraq today. For more information about the Searcy Lions Club, go to www.searcy.com/LionsClub.

Dr. Cheryl Payne

The Searcy Lions Club recently hosted a presentation by Dr. Cheryl Payne, a radiation oncologist with CARTI. The new Cancer Center of Excellence, which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2010, has several partners, including CARTI. The Searcy Lions meet every Tuesday at noon in the Heritage Center at Harding. For more information, call 279-3402.

Local Efforts Benefit Leader Dogs for the Blind

Since 1939, Leader Dogs for the Blind has provided guide dogs to those who are blind and visually impaired in 39 countries. In the United States, nearly 300 people per year receive trained dogs through this program.

Members of the Searcy Lions Club support the national Leader Dogs for the Blind program, located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. In addition to providing financial support, a local Lions Club member, Scott Pevehouse, serves as the district chair for these efforts in Arkansas.

“Preferred breeds for training include Golden Retriever, Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherds,” stated Pevehouse. “Volunteers take puppies into their homes for approximately one year to train them in basic obedience, as well as to socialize them in the community. These dogs must be confident out in public, as their future training includes learning how to assist their owners in navigating busy streets as well as assisting in the daily routine of the owner.”

A twenty-six day residential train program is provided for anyone over the age of 16 who qualifies for a guide dog. Once a new client has learned the basics, he or she can also apply for the Trekker Program, which combines Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with recent advances in hand-held computers and voice technology. Used in conjunction with a guide dog, a Trekker GPS device can pinpoint the user’s exact location and announce streets, intersections, stores, and other points of interest.

According to Lions Club member Bob Simpson, “Currently, the Trekker program is in use in over twenty countries. It takes services to the blind and visually impaired into the twenty first century.”

Anyone interested in more information regarding the Leader Dog Program can contact the Searcy Lions Club at 279-3402.

Special Award Given

Lion Jacob Edwards was recently honored with the prestigious Arkansas Lions Eye Bank and Laboratory Award for his outstanding leadership to both the Lions Club and to his community. Jacob joined the Searcy Lions Club in 2005 and immediately became an active member, especially with regard to the Annual Lions Club Auction. Single-handedly, Jacob replaced a slow, manual process with cutting-edge digital technology, propelling the annual acution into the 21st century with his skill and expertise. It is in large thanks to his efforts that the Searcy Lions Club has been able to raise over $50,000 over the past five years - funds that have all been invested in the eye care of White County residents.

Jacob is a Harding student, and he and his wife Laura live in Searcy. He is the son of Alan and Joy Lynn Edwards. Alan, a 26-year member of the Searcy Lions Club, recently was awarded a lifetime membership. This is a clear example of the importance of role models, and in this case, the example of Alan Edwards has resulted in immeasurable value to our community--both through his many years of dedicated service and to the innovation initiative of his son.

Mandy Heaton Joins Lions Club

Mandy Heaton was recently inducted into the Searcy Lions Club. She is shown here receiving her certificate of membership from President Alex Behel and Lions District Governor, Judy Moose. The Searcy Lions Club meets on Tuesdays at noon at the Heritage Center on the Harding campus. For information regarding membership, call Lion Bob Simpson at 268-4677.

District 7-O Governor Visits Searcy Lions Club

Lions District 7-0 Governor, Judy Moose, recnetly addressed the Searcy Lions Club. She spoke about the importance of civic leadership, and how Lions Clubs across the nation are working to make their communities better places to live. Picured are Alex behel, Searcy Lions Club president, along with Governor Moose, Past Council Chair Bob Simpson, and David Moose.

50th Annual Auction Begins Tonight

Our 50th Annual Auction begins tonight. Watch on TV-16 (White County Cable) or listen to FM 95.3 KVHU. We'll be on the air tonight and tomorrow from 6:00 to 8:30 PM and again on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

View the latest list of items here.

We have over 270 items donated by over 200 local businesses this year!

Additional information about the auction can be found on our main site: Searcy.com/LionsClub. Once there, click on the Auction button.

Searcy Lions Club Hosts 50th Annual Auction

Over 250 items will be auctioned off during the 50th annual Searcy Lions Club auction on August 12-14. The yearly fundraiser enables the Lions Club to help local adults and children get eye examines and glasses that they might not be able to afford on their own.

“We hope to raise $11,000 and it will be used mostly to help the blind and sight impaired,” said Dr. Clifton Ganus, a member of the Searcy Lions club for more than 50 years. “We also help in community projects such as Boy Scouts and athletics for our youths.”

The items up for bids are donated by local businesses and individuals.

“The merchants in Searcy are exceptionally generous with their donations, and the variety of their donations helps to draw interest to the auction,” Lion Cheri Yecke said. “Typical donations include gift certificates to local businesses — especially restaurants — as well as watches, premium golf balls, green fees, free memberships to local gym and a wide variety of other items.”

The auction has been one of the Lion’s Clubs biggest and most successful fundraising over the past decades. Last year, the club raised $11,000 and helped 130 people in White County pay for eye exams and glasses.

According to Lion Bob Simpson, when the first auction was held 50 years ago, it was broadcast over the radio and Lions members wrote down bids on a chalk board.

“We posted the items on 2 chalk boards, described the item on the air and sold it to the high bidder,” Simpson said. “Everything was done manually, no electronics. Now we have electronics and air conditioning.”

The use of technology has made the auction run more smoothly, but is the enthusiasm and response of the community that makes the event a success.

“The auction provides an opportunity for individuals to pick up good bargains, but at the same time help people at need in White County,” Jacob Edwards, a member of the Lions Club, said.

To bid on items in the auction, listen on the radio on 95.3 KVHU or watch on TV on TV16. The auction will be held Aug. 12-13 from 6-8:30 p.m. and on Aug. 14 from 9 a.m. until all items are sold. To see a full list of items in the auction, visit www.searcy.com/lionsclub or check out the Daily Citizen from Saturday, Aug. 7th.