AMBOY — The Amboy Lions hit the ground running to start the month of March. On March 6, the Club donated two more AED’s (Heart Defibrillators) to area churches, First Congregational Church in Lee Center and Grace Fellowship in Sublette. Members from both churches met Friday, March 6 at the First Congregational Church for training on the use of the AED devices. During the training church members were able to receive “hands-on” practice using the AED. Each church then received an AED to be placed in the lobby area of their churches. With the two recent donations, the Club has now placed seven AED’s in area churches and community centers.

The following day, March 7, five Club members, Lion Mark Grossman, Edy Pfeiffer, Jim Travi, Roger Wittenauer and Mary Mays, attended the District 1-D Lions Convention held in Rock Falls. District 1-D encompasses Lions Clubs throughout northwestern Illinois.  During the final session on Saturday, district awards were presented to various clubs. 

The Amboy Lions Club was well represented with these awards. Former Secretary, Lion Dennis Marsili was recognized for his outstanding service as Secretary of the Club. Current Lion President Roger Wittenauer was recognized for outstanding service as President of the Club. The Amboy Club itself was recognized with a Four Star Club Award for outstanding service to the community. After handing out the service awards to various clubs and individuals, the final recognition award of the evening was given to two Amboy Lions members.  

The Award, District 1-D Lion of the Year for 2018-2019, was presented to both Lion Jim Travi and Lion Roger Wittenauer. This is the first ever District 1-D Lion of the Year Award ever presented. Lion, Jim Travi, a member since 2000, received this honor for his community involvement and his organizing of the Club’s First Community Health Fair with an emphasis on Diabetic Retinopathy. Lion Roger Wittenauer, a Lion since 2015, was recognized for his club leadership and for spearheading the AED donations over the past two years. Lions Travi and Wittenauer said they were very humbled by this honor. Both agree that the Amboy Lions Club members all share in this honor through their support and participation in all club projects and events throughout the year. 

At the March 9 Club meeting, guest speaker, Lisa Borgo, a Camp Lions director from Rockford gave a video presentation of what Camp Lions is all about. Camp Lions is a camp for deaf and/or blind area residents. There are several Camp Lions locations throughout Illinois during the summer. Age and the type of disability determine which of the camps the individual attends.  

These one week camping sessions allow participants, children through adult, to enjoy supervised fishing, boating, horse-back riding and various other group activities. Lions Clubs and individuals throughout the state help to pay the cost for the individual campers. At the meeting, the Club voted to make a donation to pay for one camper for the 2020 camping season.  

In other news, area residents still have time to order roses for Rose Day. Please contact a Lion member if interested in ordering a dozen roses for an April 4 delivery.

The annual Cliff Walter Easter Egg Hunt has been canceled this year.

Another upcoming event in the planning stage will be the 2nd Amboy Lions Community Health Fair to be held on Oct. 10, 2020, at the Amboy Community Center. This year along with the audio and vision screening mobile units, there will be a vision testing unit for children six months to eight years of age. If you are interested in offering input, want to be a committee member or would like a vendor’s booth at the fair, contact Lion Jim Travi. You do not need to be a Lion member to help with organizing the health fair event.  

The deadline for the Amboy Lions Club Scholarship applications has been extended. A new date will be announced when decided upon.

If you are interested in learning more about the club or becoming an Amboy Lion, contact a Lion member, or membership coordinator, Lion Jim Travi or visit us on Facebook or check the website.