In the wild, lions feast on wildebeest, zebras and the odd water buffalo.
Locally, the staples of the North 性视界传媒 Lions 鈥� a group of more than three dozen volunteers dedicated to helping community groups 鈥� are pancake breakfasts, burger sales and meat draws.
The cash donations the club receives from doling out sausages and flapjacks 鈥� along with silent and live auctions 鈥� support such charities as the 性视界传媒 Memorial Hospital Foundation, the 性视界传媒 Christmas Bureau and the Centre for Child Development.
There were nearly 30 organizations that benefitted last year from the $25,000 raised by the North 性视界传媒 Lions, says president John Moralek.
Moralek, a former auctioneer who has been with the club for five years, was named Lion of the Year for District 19H this week 鈥� the same week he learned that Mayor Dianne Watts had proclaimed today (Friday, March 18) International Lions Day in 性视界传媒.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of hard-working Lions out there,鈥� Moralek says.
鈥淭hey had to choose one, and I happened to be fortunate enough to be the one chosen. It鈥檚 not something one person can do, they have to have a good club supporting them.鈥�
The North 性视界传媒 Lions is one of 45,000 Lions Clubs with 1.35 million members around the globe. It鈥檚 said to be the largest service organization in the world, and has recently pledged $1.25 million to aid post-earthquake Japan.
Locally, the North 性视界传媒 Lions have built wheelchair ramps in homes, donated to the Alzheimer Society of B.C. and supported community sports teams.
This weekend, they鈥檒l have concession stands at Newton Athletic Park at the Mayor鈥檚 Cup Soccer Tournament. (The Cloverdale Lions will have a similar setup at Cloverdale Athletic Park).
Ongoing projects include Mile of Toonies, which is hoped to collect $110,000 for SMH with the help of Prospera Credit Union (where they鈥檙e collecting donations from the public) and other fundraising ventures.
Membership at the North 性视界传媒 Lions has remained stable over the years at 39.
鈥淚t鈥檚 actually pretty even this year 鈥� we hope to grow a little bit yet,鈥� says first vice-president Chuck Leblanc, who is also the zone chair for the nine clubs of Zone 19H.
To bring fresh blood into their ranks, the North 性视界传媒 Lions formed a local Leo Club for students aged 14-16 last fall. The group鈥檚 13 young volunteers, based at Kwantlen Park Secondary School, helped raise money for the 性视界传媒 Christmas Bureau.
The North 性视界传媒 Lions Club meets the first and third Tuesday of every month from September to June at the Compass Point Inn (9850 King George Hwy.) from 7-9 p.m. New members are welcome.
On April 29, the club will host its Reverse Draw Dinner at 7 p.m. at Compass Point Inn. Tickets for this fundraiser are $50. Visitors have a 10 per cent chance of a free dinner with the reverse draw. One winner will get $1,000. For more information, call John Moralek at 604-230-4244.
For more information about the club, visit www.northsurreylionsclub.com
bjoseph@surreyleader.com
