News
Upper Valley Haven Receives Proceeds from the 2023 Memory Tree
By Stephen Flanders, January 25, 2024
Norwich Lions Club President, Fran DeGasta, presented Laura Gillespie, Director of Development and Communications for the Upper Valley Haven, with a check representing the proceeds from the 2023 Memory Tree. The Memory Tree is an annual Norwich Lions Club initiative to raise funds on behalf of the Haven as a part of the 19 Days of Norwich. The Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation, matches these funds to support the mission of the Haven, a non-profit, private organization that serves people struggling with poverty by providing food, shelter, education, service coordination, and other support.
Norwich Lions Club Lions Melvin Jones Fellowship Presented to Lion Glenn Britton
By Gary De Gasta, December 4, 2023
At its end-of-year dinner, the Norwich Lions Club bestowed its highest honor for the 2022-3 club year on member, Glenn Britton. Britton was recognized for his broad spectrum of skills and his “can do” attitude that make him so valuable to the club, when something important needs to get done. Norwich Lions Club President, Fran DeGasta, presented the award during the club’s annual holiday dinner at Three Tomatoes Restaurant in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
The Melvin Jones Fellowship reflects the backbone of Lions Club service. The award is presented to those who donate $1,000 to the Lions Clubs International Foundation or to people for whom a donation was made by others. The Norwich Lions Club bestows this honor on those who have made a notable contribution to the advancement of the club or its activities. The fellowship memorializes the legacy of Melvin Jones, who developed Lions Clubs International as an international service organization.
Rusty Bernal Receives Life Membership in Lions Clubs International
By Fran DeGasta, King Lion, December 4, 2023
At the recommendation of the Norwich Lions Club, Eugene (Rusty) Bernal received a life membership in Lions Clubs International in recognition of his 33 years of membership and his outstanding service to the club and the community. He received a citation at the club’s annual holiday dinner at Three Tomatoes Restaurant in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Rusty graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and went on to the New England School of Optometry in 1984. He established his White River Junction eye care practice in 1990. In addition to his dedicated service to the Norwich Lions Club and those seeking eyecare through the club’s vision programs, he dedicated more than six years of service on the board of the Upper Valley Haven, and was instrumental in the construction of its current facility.
Bonnie Munday receives the Melvin Jones Award
By Stephen Flanders, May 9, 2023
Norwich, June 3, 2023. As part of the Norwich Women’s Club recognition of Bonnie Munday, retired Norwich Town Clerk, as citizen of the year, the Norwich Lions Club awarded her membership in the Melvin Jones Fellowship (MJF) for her year-to-year work in promoting the Lions Club Memory Tree, a December fundraising campaign to benefit the Upper Valley Haven—a non-profit, private organization that serves people struggling with poverty by providing food, shelter, education, service coordination, and other support.
The MJF is the backbone of the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), and is awarded in recognition of major donations to the foundation or to people who have recently made a notable contribution to the club’s activities. It’s a tremendous contribution to humanity and to the legacy of our founder, Melvin Jones.
The Norwich Lions thank Bonnie for her many years of service to the town and in support of Norwich Lions Club initiatives.
Norwich Lions sponsor a Speak Out contest for Upper Valley students
By Stephen Flanders, April 6, 2023
The Norwich Lions Club sponsored a public speaking contest at Norwich’s Tracy Hall on the evening of April 4th, open to high school students in the Upper Valley.
Left to right: contestants Benedict, Caraeni, Naylor, and Traendly with organizer, Lion David Lemal, and club president, King Lion Fran De Gasta
The students were expected to deliver a speech, five to seven minutes in length, on the subject of “How can the environment be saved for our future?”. A three-judge panel assessed each talk by three main criteria, addressing the theme (20%), development of the theme (50%), and expression and delivery (30%). The prizes offered by the club were: first $250, second $150, and third $100.
The club thanks the following contestants for the preparation and delivery of their talks, which will help them build confidence in their future careers and in public life:
- Riley Naylor (sophomore at Lebanon High School): First Prize
- Oliver Benedict (freshman at Hanover High School): Second Prize
- Adriana Caraeni (senior at Lebanon High School): Third Prize
- Harper Traendly (freshman at Rivendale Academy): Honorable Mention
Riley Naylor will participate in the state-wide Speak Out contest in Manchester, Vermont on Saturday, April 29.
Norwich Lions Receive “Top Ten” Award for Vision Screening
By Stephen Flanders, March 9, 2022
The Norwich Lions Club received a letter, dated February 28, 2022, from the Lions KidSight USA Foundation, informing the club that it was the recipient of the foundation’s “Top Ten Club Award” for providing vision screening to school children in Vermont. Included was a KidSight insignia to add to the club’s ceremonial banner. The citation noted the club’s dedication to the task, despite the challenge of working safely under the constraints of the COVID pandemic.
The Project See Clearly ’21 “Top Ten” Awards and Recognition Program is an initiative of the Lions KidSight USA Foundation to encourage Lions Clubs to resume their vision screening of school children in the last quarter of 2021, with a goal of screening one million children. In a typical non-COVID year, US Lions Clubs screen two million children.
To earn its “Top-Ten” status within Vermont’s District 45 of Lions Clubs International, the Norwich Lions visited Norwich’s Marion Cross School in September, 2021 and the Sharon Elementary School in November, where they screened a total of 443 students of whom 8% were referred for a complete eye exam. “Visioneers”, Gary DeGasta, Stephen Flanders and Peter Stanzel, used a Welch Allyn Spot® Vision Screener, which resembles a Polaroid camera and quickly assesses six parameters: myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision), anisocoria (unequal pupil size), anisometropia (unequal vision between eyes), and gaze symmetry.
We remember that tree!
By Stephen Flanders
On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Lions Phil Wheeler and Glenn Britton set out to harvest the Christmas tree that they had pre-selected at Nichols Christmas Trees on Route 10, south of Lyme, New Hampshire. The tree was slated to become the Norwich Lions Club Memory Tree in the gazebo on the grounds of the Marion Cross School, an annual tradition to raise funds for the Upper Valley Haven’s 19 Days of the Valley. To participate, anyone could provide a name of a cherished one to be remembered and mail it or leave it, as directed. A voluntary financial contribution is welcome.
Phil and Glenn set out on their quest for the aspiring Memory Tree, equipped with a transport cart and a sharp saw. After wandering in the wilderness, they found the designated tree, covered with snow. After shaking it off, Glenn proceeded to fell the tree, which rode to his truck in the cart and thence down the road to the Norwich Green.
In Norwich the tree and its harvesters were met by Lions Fran and Gary DeGasta, who helped erect it in the center of the gazebo.
On Monday following, the DeGastas returned and together with Lions Demo Sofronas and Rosanne and Jim Maguire to decorate the tree in readiness for its December 1rst illumination.
The tree was officially illuminated on December 1st, and stands out as a holiday centerpiece on the town green by day and by night.
We invite you to share your memories in the Tracy Hall box or by post!
Norwich Lions Screen Elementary School Student Vision in Norwich and Sharon
By Gary DeGasta with Stephen Flanders
Norwich, Vermont, September 21, 2021. On September 20-21 Norwich Lions Club members screened 306 children and two adults over a day and a half at the Marion Cross Elementary School (MCS) in Norwich. The specially trained “visioneers” were King Lion Peter Stanzel, and Lions Steve Flanders and Gary De Gasta.
They used a Welch Allyn Spot® Vision Screener, which resembles a Polaroid camera and quickly assesses six parameters: myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision), anisocoria (unequal pupil size), anisometropia (unequal vision between eyes), and gaze symmetry.
The spot screening device replaces the traditional eye chart for screening children and provides much more information. Typically, a subject can be screened in under a minute and screening results in a printed report for the school nurse’s files.
Out-of-range values are highlighted for the nurse to advocate follow-up by an optometrist or ophthalmologist to the child’s parents. On the average, about 10% of those screened result in out-of-range readings. Of the 306 children screened, only 21 (7%) registered out of range.
MCS’s new nurse, Jane Glick, coordinated the screening with the school administration and teachers and Norwich Lions. A follow up date will be arranged to screen the handful of students absent from school during the screening event.
The Spot® Vision Screener used is one of several owned by District 45 Lions (the State of Vermont). The screening devices, strategically based at clubs throughout the state—including Norwich—are valued at $7,500 each
Annually, Vermont Lions Clubs in District 45 screen thousands of Vermont school children. The Norwich Lions Club has participated in the district program since 2016 and currently has over a dozen club members trained as visioneers, ready and able to conduct eye screenings.
Sharon, Vermont, November 8, 2021. Norwich Lions Club “visioneers” completed SPOT Vision Screening at the Sharon Elementary school of its K-6 and pre-K children. A total of 137 children were screened in two sessions under the direction and coordination of school nurse, Jill Lloyd. Fifteen (15) children (or 10.9% of the total) were recommended for further screening.
Norwich Lions Honor Outgoing Chief Frank with a Lion
By Stephen N. Flanders
Norwich, Vermont, February 19, 2021 Norwich residents were understandably sad, when they learned in January that Norwich Police Chief, Jennifer Frank, would be moving on to a new job as Chief of Police in Windsor, Vermont at the end of February. The Norwich Lions Club wished to show Chief Frank the appreciation of its members and prepared some mementos for the chief to take with her to her new position, as explained in the following declaration, presented by Lion King Cheryl Brush at a brief ceremony on February 19th at the Norwich police station, attended by Lions Demo Sofronas and Steve Flanders and by town manager, Herb Durfee.
The declaration reads:
Dear Chief Frank,
At its February 2nd meeting, the Norwich Lions Club took note of you leaving your position with the Norwich Police Department with sadness for our community, but with confidence that you will continue to benefit the citizens of Vermont in your new position in Windsor.
During your tenure on the Norwich Police force you have been a model of compassion and competency for the town’s citizens, both young and old. No one could embody the qualities of community policing better than you have done. We have seen you playing ball with kids at the Marion Cross School, developing cadets to become responsible citizens, keeping the town aware of events affecting public safety through your Facebook feed and through your informed reports on the state of the COVID-19 virus contagion. Your visibility brought comfort to the citizens of Norwich and its visitors.
As a token of our fond wishes and to always have your back, we present you with this lion to keep watch in your office and to ride patrol, as circumstances indicate.
Here’s wishing you success in your new position and wherever your career may take you. We are confident that it will be to the benefit of all whom you serve.
Brush gave the outgoing chief a stuffed lion, wearing Lions Club regalia. The chief, in turn said that the memento was doubly significant, since the lion is the symbol of law enforcement, prominently used at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The memorial cites scripture: “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1)
Thanks for the memories and the tree!
By Stephen N. Flanders
Norwich, Vermont, January 7, 2021 The Norwich Lions Club added to the holiday cheer with its Memory Tree in the town band stand and invited the community to memorialize those who were special to the participants. At the same time, many of those participating made donations that benefitted the Upper Valley Haven—an organization that serves people grappling with poverty. The $1,680 in donations received were matched by the Byrne Foundation. We thank everyone, who participated!
Bonnie Munday, Norwich’s town clerk, compiled the 75 names received and displayed them on the town’s notice board. This is a cherished tradition for Bonnie. She remembers when the bulletin board was filled with names! We thank her for her kind attention to helping the community in its remembrances.
On January 7th, Lions Donna and Phil Wheeler, Debbie Bernal, Gary De Gasta, Brion McMullan, and Steve Flanders arrived at the bandstand to dismantle the tree and stow its decorations.
Meanwhile on a remote farm on Chapel Hill Road, some unsuspecting goats were wondering what their next trick would be to keep life interesting. They were pleased to see the tree arrive, after a long drive, to become their fodder!
As soon as the tree was rolled into their pen, the goats came out to investigate, followed by a curious donkey. The goats found the tree to be delicious—one of the best that they had ever had! The donkey said, “That’s OK. You guys go ahead and eat it. I’ll pass.” At least, that’s what I thought she said.
Spot® Vision Screening—Sharon Elementary School
By Gary De Gasta and Stephen Flanders
Sharon, Vermont, December 10, 2020 Three Norwich Lions Club “visioneers”—trained volunteers—screened 138 children at the Sharon Elementary School for vision issues under the supervision of the school nurse, Jill Lloyd, R N. The school teaches at the pre-school to the sixth-grade level with students ranging in age from three to 15. The visioneers were Lions Steve Flanders, Peter Stanzel and Gary De Gasta.
They used a Welch Allyn Spot® Vision Screener, which resembles a Polaroid camera and quickly assesses six parameters: myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision), anisocoria (unequal pupil size), anisometropia (unequal vision between eyes), and gaze symmetry.
The spot screening device replaces the traditional eye chart for screening children and provides much more information. Typically, a subject can be screened in under a minute and screening results in a printed report for the school nurse’s files. Out-of-range values are highlighted for the nurse to advocate follow-up by an optometrist or ophthalmologist to the child’s parents. On the average, about 10% of those screened result in out-of-range readings. Of the 138 children screened, 13 registered out of range.
Thanks to COVID-19 precautions instituted within the Sharon School District, not a single case of the virus had been reported among the students or staff.
The screening protocol addressed COVID-19 safety in a variety of ways. The visioneers were given a temperature check and queried about risk factors, upon arrival. Then, they were led into a large, well-ventilated room and issued KN-95 masks and face shields. The children and teachers waited in the hall outside and were admitted one at a time—each wearing a mask. Each child had an identifying code, issued by the school nurse, to preserve privacy. With appropriate breaks the screening spanned five and a half hours.
Children, teachers and school staff all wore masks. The colorful children’s masks featured everything from a batman logo to a smiley face to a pig’s nose.
The Spot® Vision Screener used is one of several owned by District 45 Lions (the State of Vermont). The screening devices, strategically based at clubs throughout the state—including Norwich—are valued at $7,500 each
Annually, Vermont Lions Clubs in District 45 screen thousands of Vermont school children. The Norwich Lions Club has participated in the District program since 2016 and currently has over a dozen club members trained as visioneers, ready and able to conduct eye screenings.
Norwich’s 2020 Memory Tree
Norwich, November 27 & 29, 2020 The day after Thanksgiving, Lions Brion McMullan and Phil Wheeler, assisted by Steve Flanders, harvested this year’s Norwich Lions Club Memory Tree. They purchased it contact-free from an Upper Valley Christmas tree dealer.
Once in Norwich, they brought it to the bandstand gazebo at the Marion Cross School, sawed it to a 10-foot length, and erected it—securely tied off with strings in four cardinal directions, plus up. They admired their work in anticipation of the tree-trimming crew, scheduled to follow on the weekend.
On the sunny Sunday, following, Lions Debbie and Rusty Bernal, Fran and Gary De Gasta, and Lion King Cheryl Bush converged to trim the tree, despite concerns that the earlier crew might not have placed it in a vertical orientation! They had purchased new ornaments and secured them in anticipation of strong winds to follow.
With the lighting scheduled for December 1st, a few people gathered for a sneak preview!
Norwich Lions Help 92-year-old Marine Veteran Fulfill Her Bucket List
White River Junction, November 3, 2020 The Norwich Lions Club received word that an adaptive device that they funded helped a 92-year-old veteran of the United States Marines Corps fulfill her bucket list by giving her the opportunity to go kayaking. A Norwich Lion, who is active in helping veterans at the White River Junction VA Medical Center, learned of the opportunity to help veterans like her and recommended that the Norwich Lions Club provide funds that supported the purchase of a set of adaptive chariot wheels and personal flotation devices for the VA’s adaptive kayaking program. The wheels provide added floatation in the water and allow the kayak to be brought on shore for embarkation and disembarkation. Appreciation for the funding of these items was expressed by a VA representative in a letter to the NLC on this day.
NorWitchy Woods Walk
Norwich, October 31, 2020 Four Norwich Lions prepared a spooky table along a pumpkin-lined path at the Milton Frye Nature Area for children to enjoy as a way to celebrate Halloween in a COVID-safe manner on Halloween. The event was organized by the Norwich Recreation Department with support from the Norwich Boy and Girls Scouts, Youth Advisory Council, King Arthur Baking, Norwich Fire Department Support Team, Norwich Public Library, Norwich Police Cadets, Marion Cross PTO, Marion Cross staff, Norwich Lions Club, and the Norwich Women’s Club.
