Brief History of the Dawsonville Lions Club
The Dawsonville Lions Club held its first organizational meeting January 15, 1953 and was granted a charter February 2, 1953. The charter was presented to the Club February 16. 1953. Their sponsor was the Dahlonega Lions Club. The Dawsonville Lions Club became the first service club in Dawson County and the 200th Lions Club in the State of Georgia.
There were 24 members when the Club was chartered and membership has varied during the Club’s 70 years in existence. The Club set ambitious goals from the start and immediately was very active serving the community. Over the years, service was expanded to include state and international projects.
The sight conservation program, which provides eye exams and eyeglasses for the needy in the community, was established the first year and still exists today. Service projects started with financial help for the purchase of a fire engine, the building a log cabin for the Boy Scout Troop and programs at the schools and the community. Over the years, the programs have been expanded to include Lions Club International, the Georgia Lions Lighthouse and the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind. Teaming with Dawson County Schools, student vision screening, using Plusoptix cameras, began in 2023. The STAR Student/STAR Teacher Program has been supported since 1958. Educational programs supported are Dawson County High School scholarships, the Dawson County Library and Wee Books. Community programs supported are the Good Shepherd Clinic, the Dawson County Humane Society, the Georgia Lions Lighthouse,the Georgia Lions Camp, Leader Dogs, and the Dawson County Senior Center.
Fund raising needed to support the various projects started with wrestling matches, chicken barbecues and other miscellaneous projects. Today, the major fund-raisers are a charity golf tournament, White Cane Day, and Georgia pecan salesl.
Members of the Dawsonville Lions Club have served, and will continue to serve, at the District and State levels. These offices include Region, Zone and District Committee Chairs. Two of the Lions have become District Governors. The Lions of the Dawsonville Lions Club are living up to the Lions motto: “WE SERVE”.
Dawsonville Lions Club Officers, Board of Directors and Committees for 2023-24
President Margaret Johnson
1st VP Charles Carter
Secretary Jim Buckley
Treasurer Terri Carter
Tail Twister Martha Holbrook and Jason Holbrook
Lion Tamer Buster Roper
2nd year Director Peter Kouloumberis
1st year Director Jim Purdy
Membership Dir. Marty Horne
Past President Marty Horne
Lions Standing Committees
Administrative Fundraiser (Poker Night): Joe Bosworth and Buster Roper
By-Laws and Constitution: Martha Holbrook, Jason Holbrook, Jim Purdy and Greg Hicks.
Christmas Party: Jim Buckley, Martha Holbrook, Margaret Johnson and Ryan Disharoon
Dawsonville Christmas Parade: , Greg Hicks and Ryan Disharoon
Awards Banquet: Jim Buckley, Martha Holbrook and Margaret Johnson
Edna Noblin Scholarship Fund: Martha Holbrook (funds females for Lanier Tech)
Eyeglasses and Eye Exams: Marty Horne and Martha Holbrook
Eyeglasses Recycling: David James
Vision Screening: Philip Zingleman (Chair), Jim Buckley, Margaret Johnson, David James, Marty Horne, Charles Carter and Terri Carter.
Golf Tournament: Greg Hicks (chair), Joe Bosworth, Chuck Pierce, Marty Horne, Jason Holbrook and Martha Holbrook
Hall of Fame: Jim Buckley and Margaret Johnson
Public Relations: Jim Buckley
Scholarship: Martha Holbrook (Chair), Margaret Johnson and Marty Horne
STAR Student: Jim Buckley
White Cane: Jim Buckley
Budget: Current club treasurer (Chair) and board members.
Mission
To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs.
Company Overview
The Lions Club, founded in 1917 by Melvin Jones, is known for its motto: “We serve.” The Lions Club vision is to be a global leader in community and humanitarian services. Its volunteers serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding. Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with 1.3 million members in more than 45,000 clubs best known for fighting blindness, yet also aiding in caring for the environment, community projects, feeding the hungry and assisting seniors and the disabled.
General Information
We are always looking for new members interested in serving others in our community with sight and hearing problems. If you would like to attend one of our meetings to check out our club and see all the good things we do for others less fortunate. You only have to be as active as you feel compelled to be and there are several areas of opportunity and learning we can offer our members. Ask any Lion for an application and they will be more than happy to sponsor you.
