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.