October Liverwire Newsletter
Our Club At Work
by John Regan
The year end Adopt a Road cleanup was completed on Sep 25th by organizer Lion Royce Larson., 1st on the scene Lion Doc Dunn and Lion John Regan Jr. Several unusual items were picked up this time and due note: 1 fishing tackle box (empty), one tool box (also empty), and one tire ( which none of us could use). All the collectibles were hustled off by Lion Royce for proper disposal. The project completed...the trio headed for the nearby Carrs store for a coffee break and discuss how business is ‘PICKING UP’.
The Sort and Pack workparty and following pot luck on September 25th was well attended and very productive. Over seventeen boxes of collected glasses were processed by Mt. McKinley and Spenard Lions as well as Vice District Governor, Dennis Cummins and three NON-LION VOLUNTEERS. This effort greatly reduced the mountain of eyeglasses collected and will result in moving the eyeglasses that have been collected to those needing assistance with their vision. The pot luck provided all with an appetite satisfying finish to a very successful and well attended work party to help the Anchorage Area Lions Joint Sight Committee. The quantity and variety of dishes left no one lacking. A special “THANKS TO ALL THAT GAVE THEIR TIME”.
The September meeting of the Anchorage Area Lions Joint Sight Committee was attended by Anchorage Lion Mark Lutz. Last year Lion Mark and friends carried hundreds of eyeglasses from Anchorage for the Puerto Vallarta Lions Club to distribute to those needing vision correction in the surrounding towns and villages. The eyeglasses were transported free of charge by our neighborly airline “ALASKA AIRLINES”. Despite nearly being arrested for attempted smuggling Lion Mark is again volunteering to carry eyeglasses to another Mexican Lions club so they can help share the sight that eyeglasses provide.
Editors Note: If you are not a Spenard Lion, but would enjoy receiving a copy of our newsletter, please let us know by writing to Spenard Lions Club, Newsletter Editor, 4280 Lakeridge Circle, Anchorage, AK. 99502. The cost is $15.00 per year.
Name That Livewire
by Joanne Koss
Evan Hall
Evan Hall was born on April 20, 1924, in Pine Level, Florida. He lived in Pine Level until he finished the 8th grade, when he moved to Tampa, Florida. He met Janette when they were in the 9th grade. They were married on September 17, 1942. They have four children, all born in Florida—three boys and one girl.
Evan and Janette moved their family from Florida to Texas in June, 1951. Having exhausted Texas in just eight short years, they decided to move on. Evan and Janette made the move to Alaska from Texas in February, 1959. They drove the Alaska Highway with their four children, Mary, Harmon, Ernie and Buster. When they arrived in Fairbanks, the temperature was 60 degrees below zero—some change for Southerners. Evan went to work as a painter for McNair Paint Company, and worked there for two years.
They moved to Anchorage in 1961, and Evan started his own paint company in 1965—Hall’s Painting Service, which employed all three sons. Evan later joined his son Ernie in his furniture factory, working there until he retired in 1983. After retirement, they built a house in Willow, where Evan was president of the Willow Community Organization and oversaw the Annual Carnival. He has since moved back to Anchorage Evan hunted, fished, and camped as his family grew. His family now numbers four children, fourteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Evan, Janette and their children went on a Carribean cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary.
Evan joined the Lions in 1970, along with all three of his sons—a record still standing. Evan held all the positions at the club level and became District Governor in 1976. He was Council Chair in 1978-79, and has held all positions at the District level. Evan, along with Fred, has been the driving force of our annual Fish Fry. Evan was busy frying the fish while Janette was cooking the hush puppies.
You all failed to guess the identity of the Mystery Lion, despite ample clues. Perhaps you’ll do better next time.
From The Editor
by Mady Burnett
Early on, the Lions Club International took on the responsibility of being the “Knights for The Blind” when they were approached by Helen Keller in 1925. Ms Keller worked with the Lions Club in an effort to establish some of the needs related to the disability of blindness. From that point on, the Lions Club has taken on this responsibility.
In recent years, it appears as though the focus of Lion Club involvement in areas of blindness has centered around prevention and other community issues not necessarily related to blindness. Early intervention strategies that can help to prevent and diminish blindness is wonderful, but the stark realization remains...blindness will NEVER be cured in all instances. It is time that Lions Clibs throughout the world join to reestablish the earlier promises made to Helen Keller and her efforts to help blind individuals.
Blind individuals many times learn the skills of blindness so that they can live more productive lives; however, many individuals, although well trained with the prerequsite skills needed for employment remain unemployed. Not only are job opportunities or an employers willingness to hire a blind person a barrier, transportation in many communities also make employment difficult, if not impossible. If it were not for all the bad drivers in Anchorage, I could probably manage to drive myself. Better yet, let’s pass legislation that the only cars on the road would have to be of the type we see at carnivals, you know, bumper cars. Okay, let’s get serious!
Many blind individuals with the skills that would make them employable are “cubby-holed” into jobs that relate directly to their own disability. In other words, an individual who may have become blind while employed in secretary position for some state agency may now find him/herself a secretary in a rehabilitation center for the blind as opposed to retaining the previous position. The situation worsens when a younger individual who is blind tries to enter the work force with no previous work experience. As an interesting side note, 72% of all blind individuals are unemployed.
It’s time for the local Lions clubs to come forward and work in a collaborative manner with existing local and state agencies to develop and implement a plan of action to help diminish work and transportation barriers for persons with blindness.
As a first start, Lions club members who may be business owners or know someone who is are encouraged to start spreading the word about the potential employability of blind individuals. If you know of employment possibilities, please contact Kent Ireton, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, (907) 261-8233.
Your continued efforts to help blind individuals overcome work related and transportation barriers is appreciated.
Our Readers Write
Dear Editor, It was with great interest that I read for the first time your September issue of the “Livewire” newsletter. Your Fireweed-Clover recipe sounded interesting and I had all of the ingredients without even having to go to the store. Okay, I did have to go get more sugar. I boiled all of the “stuff” together as the recipe directed. The aroma was refreshing but I cannot get the honey out of my pan. What can I do?
Sincerely, Ms Bumble
Dear Ms Bumble,
This has been reported by others...the solution is to throw the pan away. Due to reader demands, we will not have a recipe in this months issue. Keep those reader responses coming!