We put the Fish in the Fish Festival..and Fries too!

If your in town looking for some Perch as part of the Vermilion Fish Festival celebration this weekend, then look no further then your local Lions Club.

We will be back at the Festival selling perch, beverages and fries to the festival goers. Yes, the long wait is over, it is finally time for LIONS FRESH CUT FRIES & LIONS PERCH SANDWICHES!!! Stop by the Vermilion Lion's Club Booth at the Fish Festival this weekend and cure your cravings.

Lions announces Students of the Year...Conrgats to all Vermilion Grads!

First, Lions Club would like to commend and congratulate all the graduating students of Vermilion High School and the many proud parents who have put in the work to enjoy this proud day.

Our Lions Club is very proud to announce that we have awarded two $1000.00 scholarships to recognize the hard work and effort of two special students to assist with their future endeavours. 

 Congratulations to :

  -  Vermilion Lions Club scholarship recipient Debra Wuitowicz

  - Vermilion Lions Foundation / Robert Via Memorial scholarship recipient Abbey Bodeker

As with any award, we thank the parents who put in the daily effort to make sure their students do their very best.

 On a special note, our summer meetings will be held at the Lions Club property on Nicholson Drive starting on Tuesday, July 1st thru September. 

Lions get serious with addiction discussion

The Vermilion Lions Club had two very special guests at their meeting on March 4th as community activists Kim Eberle and Bob Geib stopped by for a frank discussion on addiction. Both Kim and Bob host a community center downtown Vermilion and are very involved in the Heroin interdiction programs in our community.

The discussion informed Lions members on the epedmic purportions of youth that have fallen prey to both perscribtion opiates and street Heroin that soon follows. Both Kim and Bob are working with county and local authorities, plus other Volunteer groups as well, to not only offer support to famlies dealing with this crisis, but to the users themselves as they assist in finding avenues of treatment.

Vermilion Lions Club is very supportive of these efforts and are tremendously grateful to have volunteers like Kim and Bob helping to better our community, especially when dealing with such a overwhelming set of circumstances that drug abuse bring.

Have fun and help others. Join us for a night out....

Join the Vermilion Lions Club for our annual Reverse Raffle. For only $75 per couple you get a delicious steak dinner, open bar with all your favorite beverages, and dancing with "The Beat" DJ service.

But that's not even the best part. You also get a chance to get in on raffles for $300, $500, $1000 and the grand prize of $1500. Wouldn't that make a nice bonus to a great night out. Plus the fun of a good time with your neighbours and friends.

Make sure you hurry becasue we only sell 200 tickets and they go fast! Plus those who buy tickets before February 25th get a chance at the Early Bird Drawing for a chance to win $100, before you even get to the door!

See any Lions Club member or call Nine Six Seven, 6317 for more ticket information.

We hope to see you there!

It's Debateable...Speech and Debate club visits with Lions.

Vermilion Lions Club was in for a great night of debate and performance as the Vermilion High School Speech and Debate Club stopped in and showed off their award winning prowess in their perspective fields.

Mr. Devon Snook, the Speech and Debate Teacher/Advisor brought along some very talented High School students. First up was Miss Morgan Walker who dazzled the Lions with a heart wrenching performance depicting the experience one might have losing a sibling.

She was followed by Scott Lear and Tyler Parsons who debated the ethical use of drones in warfare and the resulting loss of civilian life. A serious and timely topic that is played out in todays headlines. The debate left Lions members continuing the discussion long after the performance.

We want to offer our sincere thanks to the Speech and Debate Club and wish them well in pursuit of the well deserved honours and recognition that will follow in competition.  

A Rose by any other name...Lions Rose Sale for your sweetest!

Sweetest day is not that far off, and we all know it's the man with the plan that makes a good impression on his sweetest. So Vermilion Lions Club is offering the age old cure to the sweetest day blues, Roses!

How do you get yours? Well our Rose Sale (for Sweetest Day October 19) is being chaired by our 2nd Vice President Dale Grygier, and you can contact us here by email for more information OR ask one of our many members who will have sales forms. You can also stop by our September 17th* LIONS meeting as well (Clubhouse property at the end of Nickelson Street).   

So don't be the guy who forgets about his sweetest on sweetest day, avoid the doghouse with Lions Club Roses!

Lions Club Hosts Wine Tasting...

Vermilion Lions Club is proud to bring you a great event and night out with some very friendly folks. We are having a Wine Tasting!

The first Vermilion/Lorain/Firelands Wine tasting @ Paper Moon Saturday, October 26   1:00-4:00 PM. $5 per person = 5 tastes + souvenir glass.

Please come out and support your community, plus have a great time with great people. Contact us for more information and tickets.

Lions Club Announces New Leo Advisors

Vermilion Lions club is proud to announce some new helping hands with our young Leo's. New LEO advisors Patty Renaud and Kellie Pancost will be co-advisors for the LEO Club, and Ann Zgodinski will be our Student of the Month advisor. We welcome our new advisors and thank them for their support to the youth and this great community.

Debate club leaves Lions speechless...

Just a little twist on words as your local Vermilion Lions Club was host to some extremely talented kids from Vermilion High's Speech and Debate club.

 Mr. Devon Snook stopped by with students were Tyler Parsons, Scott Lear, Katie Smith and Morgan Walker

Club members offered debate technique examples and a live debate on the benefits of US military aid to Pakistan. Followed by performances of a recent speech given by actress Amy Poehler to a college graduation, followed futher by a comical take on aspects of being Lutheran and other comical observations.

We the members of Vermilion Lions Club are very grateful for the performances and the opportunity to contribute to groups that foster educational values such as the work Mr. Snook is doing with Vermilion's Speech and Debate club.

For more information on how you can help others in your community be becoming a member of Vermilion Lions Club please email us at the link above.

Melvin Jones and a Happy New Year, from your local lions

We would like to wish everyone a very safe and Happy New Year from Vermilion Lions Club.

We had a terrific 2012 where some very generous folks helped us to help others in need. Our contributions were in good shape throughout the year allowing us to support many programs helping hundreds of less fortunate folks in the Vermilion area. For that we say a big Thank You to all who donated!

We also would like to announce two very special awards given at our annual Christmas Party to Lions Steve Holovacs and Gloria Showalter. The Melvin Jones award is one of the highest honors a Lion can earn for their years of service. We thank Gloria and Steve for their never ending energy and help to those in need. They, and folks like them, are what make Vermilion such a great community!

To learn how you can help others in the community please contact us. It's fun, fulfilling, and free!

Football and French Fries returns to Sailor Stadium

Get your yum on~! Once again Vermilion Lions Club will have the fry wagon at Sailor Stadium to keep you fed and cheering as the Vermilion Sailors host the Midview Middies tonight. We hope to see you there, bring your appetite!

Lions Present..Night at the Races..$2000 prize!

Get those calendars out and mark September 15th for a night at the races. Vermilion Lions Club will be presenting an evening of fun filled excitement as we watch folks wager and win!

Prizes include a chance at $2000, and much more. Plus every dollar we take in goes towards helping our non-profit District 13B Vision Clinic for those less fortunate. So you can have fun while helping others.

Join us for 10 horse races, sideboard betting, and a 50/50 raffle! Only 250 tickets available so get yours now. Details below.

We hope to see you at races.

LCI International Convention Highlights on YouTube

More than 55,000 registered Lions and Leos attended the Lions 95th International Convention last month, held in Busan, Korea. Lions from more than 100 countries had the opportunity to connect with other clubs around the world, learn at workshops and seminars, enjoy a spectacular parade and entertaining Plenary Sessions, and much more. Highlights of the convention can be viewed on the LCI YouTube Channel. Or, fill out a form to order the convention highlights DVD, a 15-minute musical video montage that allows you to experience the excitement again with your family and friends.

Celebrate International Literacy Day

The United Nations' International Literacy Day, celebrated September 8, will focus attention on worldwide literacy needs. 
Join with Lions around the world to commemorate this special day by learning more about the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and LCI's partnership to promote literacy around the world. (photo credit: Dan Morris)

Longevity marks this Lions roar!

The Vermilion Lions club was very proud to celebrate the 94th birthday of member Russ Demaline pictured here with his Birthday Cake.

After years of service to the community Russ is quick to point out that a Lion only gets better with age! Happy Birthday!

Lions learn about Health and Denistry

At the April 3rd meeting of your Vermilion Lions Club we were pleased to be introduced to Dr. John Smith and Stefanie Herzer, by Lion Cliff German. Both whom visited us to explain about the services provided to those families struggling with the cost of health care by Lorain County Health and Dentistry.

The club learned Lorain County Health & Dentistry, is committed to respecting the dignity of every person, provides quality, comprehensive and compassionate primary health care to the people of Lorain and surrounding communities regardless of ability to pay.

Of concern to the club was hearing that later this year, Congress will decide which federal programs to cut in 2012. You can help protect health care at Lorain County Health & Dentistry by clicking on http://www.saveourchcs.org. Follow the link to become a Health Center Advocate.

Serving our Seniors Stops by to visit your local Lions.

At the Tuesday February 21st meeting of Vermilion Lions Club we were pleased to have as our guest speaker Sue Dougherty from Serving our Seniors. Sue talked about the services offered by 'SOS' such as Share-A-Ride. Share a ride is a Transportation Program that provides a ride for senior citizen and disabled residents who need to get where they want to go independently.
Sue also talked to us about the need in helping Seniors of Erie County with the cost of glasses.

The Vermilion Lions had had recently helped one senior but reminded those applying to check to see if they are eligible in case their gross income was too high.

Also at the meeting was the Vermilion Library's Janet Ford, Lions President Steve Holovacs presented Janet and the Library with the Low Vision Reader to assist those with sight difficulties and disabilities. Janet noted that when the Library gets it going they will notify us so we can see it in operation.

Win Big! Lions Reverse Raffle has $1500 prize!

We know what your thinking, "I never win at these things", well the odds have never been better. Vermilion Lions Club welcomes you to attend our Reverse Raffle and Dinner on March 17th from 5:30 to 11:00.

With only 200 tickets sold, you have a great chance, but also are able to help those in the community in need as Lions Club is an all volunteer organization that raises funds for many civic causes in Vermilion. So just by attending, your already a winner!

13B District Governor Richard Temple Stops in to roar with the Lions

At our January 17th meeting of Vermilion Lions Club we were honored to have our 13B District Governor Richard "Dick" Temple stop in and get the club updated on district news and events.

Lion Dick joined the Firelands Lions Club in 1972. He has served in every office at least once, including President 5 times.
He served as Zone 3 Chairman and Membership Regional Chairman for Region 1. Lion Dick was the Guiding Lion for the Wakeman Lions Club and helped charter the Erie County Vacationland Lions Club. As Extension Representative, he helped charter the Sheffield Village Lions Club and the Wellington Lions Club.
Lion Dick received the Melvin Jones Fellowship at the 2000 District 13B Convention.

We thank our governor for stopping by and hope to see him soon at the District 13-B Convention (March 23-25, 2012 at Holiday Inn in Westlake).

For more information on how you can help others and hear great guest speakers like Governor Temple, contact us. For those wishing to speak to the Vermilion Lions Club, please contact us at the email address on this page.

News from Lions International

Dear Community

As I write to you, Judy and I are traveling to the FOLAC Forum in Mexico. We have had the pleasure to meet so many of you at the other area forums these last few months. I have enjoyed sharing with you the great successes we are achieving together through our Foundation and highlighting our exciting new and expanded initiatives. More importantly, I shared with you stories of how we are changing lives - each and every day, all over the world.

Our partnerships enable us to change more lives and help even more people in need. By working with organizations that share our mission, we are able to leverage our funds and have a larger impact. This month, as we remember the 2 year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, we also celebrate several new projects in collaboration with other organizations.


I am especially proud of LCIF's newest partnership, One Shot, One Life: Lions Measles Initiative. Lions all across the globe are working hard to end deaths from measles. Next month, Lions participating in this important program will help to ensure that nearly 10 million children receive life-saving vaccinations in Nepal. This is just the beginning. I am excited at the response of Lions so far toward the challenge issued by the Gates Foundation to raise US$10 million, to match their US$5 million. In the coming months, I will be encouraging you to show the world what we as Lions can do to support this cause. Just imagine the look of gratitude on the faces of the mothers whose children we will save!


Everywhere Judy and I travel, we hear countless times "thank you." These individuals are not thanking us; they are thanking all of you, the Lions of the world, for making a difference. I am also thankful to you. It is through your continued support to our Foundation that these projects and programs are possible. I thank each of you for continuing to contribute to our Foundation's life-changing work!


Serving together today for a better tomorrow,


Sid L. Scruggs, III
Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation