Cape Coral Lions making a stunning comeback
Last year the Cape Coral Lions Club, one of the oldest fraternal organizations in the city, was on the verge of dissolution.
There were only three members and none of them were really active.
What a difference a year makes, as a Cape Coral resident, with the help of another Lions chapter, was able to bring it back from near closure and make it healthier than it’s been in some time.
Bill Moulton, immediate past-president and membership chairman of the Cape Coral Lions, was able to resurrect the club through hard work after having spent the last 25 years with the organization in several locations in Vermont.
When they moved here in May, Moulton was looking to join the Lions, and discovered it was doing nothing, with its charter hanging in the balance.
Moulton and his wife ended up going to the North Fort Myers chapter (The Noon Club), where talk began about getting the Cape Coral club resurrected.
“There was a gleam of hope it could be brought back up. We were sad there wasn’t a club going on in the Cape, so I stuck my nose in and got interested,” Moulton said. “There was a lot of need for our services in a big city.”
They got further help from Patty Jean Strong, region chairperson and a Noon Club member, but it would be a tough order as only three people were listed as members, none of whom were active.
“We checked with Lions Club Internationals to see what was still there. Were the ties still connected? We found the charter hadn’t been severed and could still be resurrected,” Moulton said. “There was hope because that saved a lot of money to bring it back.”
There was also still money in their charitable fund, which they use for their mission to help people with sight and hearing throughout the world. They buy and donate glasses and hearing aids.
Moulton took over as president and got to work raising money and, most important, bringing in new members.
The work paid off.
As of last week there were 19 members, some of whom were previous members who chose to return.
“They are special people and they had given up. There were others who were just older and tired and don’t want to get involved but are working behind the scenes to help,” Moulton said.
They are also conducting more events.
There will be a pancake breakfast on Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library at 4820 Leonard St. in Cape Coral.
They also have an ongoing glasses recycling program
The Cape Coral Lions Club was founded in 1962, making it among the oldest organizations in the city.
The Lions Club was founded in 1917. Its mission is to “empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs” according to its mission statement.
The club meets the first and third Thursdays of the month at 5 p.m. The first Thursday is at Perkins on Cape Coral Parkway and the third at First United Methodist Church on Coronado Parkway.
For more about Lions Club or to become a member, go to www.e-clubhouse.org.