A Message from our President

WELCOME to our guests who signed up for our newsletter at the Octoberfest Membership Drive at River Hops Brewing. Our hope is that in reading our newsletters, you will see just what the Fort Dodge Noon Lions do in our community. The Fort Dodge Noon Lions are an active group and we have fun every where we go. One of the projects that we do annually is the Iowa KidSight program.

Iowa KidSight is a joint project of the Lions Clubs of Iowa and the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, dedicated to enhancing the early detection and treatment of vision impairments in young children (target population 6 months of age through kindergarten) in Iowa communities through screening and public education.

The goals of the project are:
• Objectively screen vision in infants and young children throughout all of Iowa's 99 counties–for FREE.
• Educate the public about the risk of undetected vision loss.
• Identify ways to sustain vision screening programs of this type.

Find out more about KidSight here

The Fort Dodge Noon Lions have started this years screenings of our area kids and will continue to do so for the next few months.

We Serve
Fort Dodge Noon Lions President
Mike Mulroney

Regular Business Meeting - September 22nd, 2021

We had 15 Lions in attendance with 1 guest.

Lion Doug Kinseth ordered lunch from Chesterfield Bar and Grill. The tater tot casserole was scrumptious. Thank You Lion Doug.

Upcoming Events

NO SPECIAL PROGRAM THIS WEEK

Special Guest Speakers this week

Matt Cosgrove - Director of Webster County Conservation was our special program guest speaker this week.

Matt presented us with the Quality of Life Initiatives that have been set up by The Webster County Conservation Board, Fort Dodge Forestry, Parks and Recreation and other groups in the area.

Information was given on the Webster County Hike and Bike trail system and future plans for them

A NEW project that is going to be coming up for bid shortly is a joint effort between Fort Dodge and Webster County Conservation to create the downtown river front to include an "Anglers Park" with new fishing friendly jetties sticking out into the river near the old small dam as well as a Webster County Nature Center / Riverfront Environmental Education Facility to be located in the area previously known as Cargill River front, Casino Park, etc. This facility will house the Administrative offices of Webster County Conservation as well as be a trainng area for prmarily the Webster County area 5th graders and younger. Matt was quick to acknowledge that the school kids would be a main target, but that there will be plenty for kids of ALL ages to come down and enjoy the river front.

Future potential entities of the facility could include a privately operated Outfitters store to include kayak, canoe and rafting adventures.

Keep your eyes peeled for further updates on this project as it begins to unfold.

Matt also discussed upcoming upgrades to the campgrounds and park at Kennedy Park, Badger Lake and the Offroad park.

For those who like to hike and bike, the area going around the East, North and West sides of the lake are scheduled to be hard paved. A new bridge has been placed at the East end of Badger Lake, in Kennedy Park to accommodate the paved trail and a new long bridge was built last year around by the Veterans Park to also accommodate the trail system.

Other interesting things that Matt discussed was a partnership they have created with Iowa Central Community College at Camp Wanoki to do Corporate Retreats. The response to this progrm has been overwhelming.

A lot of things were covered by Matt and that is part of what makes being a Lion so much fun. We get to hear first hand about up and coming events in the area right from the horses mouth you might say.

NEXT WEEKS GUEST SPEAKER

Lori Branderhorst - Parks, Recreation & Forestry Director - Fort Dodge, Iowa

WHO ARE LIONS?
Lions are groups of service-minded men and women who are interested in improving their communities. To be a Lion is to be an active volunteer, a member of a respected international organization, a leader in the community and a friend to people in need.

The 1.4 million members that serve in over 45,000 clubs from over 200 countries make Lions Clubs International the worlds largest service club organization.

WHAT DO LIONS DO?
Lions move to make a difference locally and globally. Lions are best known for their efforts to eradicate preventable blindness, but also participate in many other kinds of projects, including assisting those in need, sponsoring international exchanges for young people, providing supplies to victims of natural disatsters and bringing clean drinking water to remote villages.

Whenever a Lions club gets together, problems get smaller and communities get better.

WHY JOIN A LIONS CLUB?
As a Lion, you will have the opportunity to help others, meet new people and use your talents to make a real impact. You will acquire new skills, meet challenges head-on, cultivate lasting friendships, grow personally and have fun at the same time.

KNOW SOMEONE WHO CAN ANSWER YES TO THE FOLLOWING?

I'm adventurous.
When it comes to meeting challenges, the Lions response is simple: WE SERVE.

I'm a leader.
Lions Clubs International develops leaders. Lions leaders serve at every level of the organization and oversee everything from local membership to the organization's international direction.

I'm making a difference.
Lions see despair turned to hope when they impact the lives of the less fortunate, the hungry and sick, the homeless and abandoned.

Volunteering makes you feel appreciated and needed. It provides an opportunity to give back what has been given to you.

If you answered “YES” to the above questions, then click on Membership_Application here, help them fill out the Application and bring them and the application with you to one of our meetings on Wednesday at noon, so they can start making a difference!