Lions forced to cancel Mock Elections
For many years, February represented an opportunity for the residents of Pine Island and Matlacha to cast votes for new leaders and to support a worthy cause. This year however, the Greater Pine Island Lions Club, benefactors and sponsors of the annual event have announced that there would be no race this year.
“We had hoped to have this annual race and fund raiser and to the disappointment of many, we have been forced to postpone those efforts until 2012,” said Lions Club president Mary Von Burg. “We will work on those plans in the coming months to make it even better than in the past years and hope the community will continue to promote our efforts when we do return with the Mock Elections.”
Each year the mock elections were hosted by island businesses which ran candidates for either the position of “mayor” or “governor.” While this has traditionally been the biggest fund raiser to benefit the programs provided by the Lions Club, last year’s race was riddled with controversy which led to the recent decision of the Lions Club members. However, according to Von Burg, the club will pursue other means to raise funds this year.
“In the meantime, we are planning a new endeavor for this year. It will not allow us to support the charities on the island to the extent that we have in the past, but we do plan to continue the International goal of the Lions Clubs to promote better vision and hearing for adults and children in our communities who cannot afford exams, glasses or hearing aides,” Von Burg said. “We will continue to provide information to the public regarding vision and eye disease.”
Von Burg said that one of her club’s efforts to raise funds will be in the form of White Cane sales.
“We will continue to focus on providing eye exams and glasses for those in our community who cannot afford them,” Von Burg said. “Beginning on Jan. 18, we will have members of the Lions at the Winn-Dixie, the Shell Station at the center and the General Store collecting donations through our White Cane sales. In 2010, we had 27 cases with people in need of our assistance plus several special cases that we ended up referring to other clubs and clinics for free assistance. We will be asking donations in exchange for small white canes so that we can continue to help those in need.”
In addition to White Cane sales, the Lions also are working on another fund raising program.
“Our main fund raiser for this year is still a work in progress. It will be a raffle,” Von Burg said. “Our plan is to sell 100 tickets for $100 each. The $100 ticket will put you in the running for a cash prize and includes a special buffet to be held at the St. James Civic Center the day of the drawing.”
The prizes to be awarded are $3,500 for first prize, $500 for second and $100 each for third through seventh place. Also, according to Von Burg, on drawing day, her group is planning an auction to sell all donated items they have collected from the island community.
“Please come out and support the efforts of your Greater Pine Island Lions Club. We have been on the island for 40 years and have appreciated all of you that have supported the charities of Pine Island and the charities of the Lions Club,” Von Burg said. “We will be back in 2012 with those entertaining, fun and profitable elections, but for 2011, we are looking forward to new and different creative ideas for fund raising.”
For more information, or to help the Greater Pine Island Lions Club, call 283-9761.