Schaumburg Hoffman Lions celebrate 50 years of service

More than 50 club members, returning members, and guests in attendance, were treated to proclamations from the Village of Hoffman Estates and the State of Illinois recognizing the club's years of service in providing eye glasses and hearing aids to those in need, guide dogs and service dogs, help to needy families, sponsorship of campers to Camp Lions, roadside cleanup, food pantry, disabled services, and fundraising efforts for Little Angles Home for Disabled Children.

The keynote speaker was Lions Past International Director Lion Wayne Heiman who spoke of the history of Lionism, the influence of Helen Keller, and the need to seize opportunities to come to the help of others.

Lion Wayne was followed by an inspirational talk by retired Chicago schoolteacher Alecia Harkins. She told the story of how she had a chance encounter with a Hoffman Estates Lion during her childhood that led to her obtaining an education, an advance degree, and a barrier-breaking career as a teacher. Alecia was successful despite the fact that she was blind, and spent much of her career confined to a wheelchair. She told of institutional resistance to her attending college, bringing her guide dog to classes, then to student teaching, then to full-time teaching. She recounted how she overcame every barrier, and enjoyed a full and satisfying career — all thanks to the local Schaumburg-Hoffman Lions Club.

More information and pictures can be found at www.shlions.org