By Charlotte Boynton
King Lion Robert Fairfield brought the gavel down for the last time Thursday, May 8 at Ships’ Chow Hall ending the charter of the Wiscasset Lions Club.
Wiscasset Lions Club King Robert Fairfield and Secretary Jane Albert present plaques to Ship’s Chow Hall owner Tina Fitzsimmons and her partner Lenny Santos for providing a meeting place for the club for the past seven years. (Charlotte Boynton photo) |
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After 26 years of service to the Wiscasset community, the Lions voted earlier this year to dissolve the club citing the lack of member participation.
The Wiscasset Lions Club was formed in 1988, and is known for being the first club to accept female members in Maine.
Several of the chartered members have continued to be active in the club since its conception. Several of those members were there when the last motion to adjourn was made. There were 11 members at the last meeting, five of them were chartered members; Jane and Robert Albert, Sue Varney, Schuyler Fairfield, and Arthur Brawn.
The Wiscasset Lions, like Lions Club members nationwide, are known for serving their community in many ways, especially in providing assistance to the sight and hearing impaired.
The local Lions Club raised the funds to provide the services to their community via raffles, bake sales, car washes, and their bottle bins.
“We would not have been able to do all we did without the support from the community.” said Robert Albert, another charter member.
The club members voted to donate the bottle bins for continued community service. G&J Redemption will use the bottle bins at the Quik Stop and at the Transfer Station for community service projects. Bottle bins at the waterfront have been offered to the Woolwich Fire Auxiliary, an offer that awaits approval from the board of selectmen in Woolwich, the Nichol Back bin will be used for the Wiscasset High School projects.
Should Woolwich selectmen decide not to accept the donation, the waterfront bin will be donated to Wiscasset High School as well.
For the past several years, the Lions have held their first meeting of the month at Ship’s Chow Hall, with Tina Fitzsimmons, and Lenny Santos. Fitzsimmons manages Ship’s Chow Hall in Wiscasset, and Santos manages the Ship’s Chow Hall in Dresden. During the club’s final meeting Fitzsimmons and Santos were each presented a plaque to express the members’ appreciation for their providing a place to meet.
The third Wednesday of the month the Lions met at the CEI office on Water Street. The club also expressed appreciation to CEI for allowing them to host their meetings there as well.
Chartered members of the Wiscasset Lions Club include Sue and Ross Varney, Bob and Jane Albert, Ralph and Jean Rudolph, Ron and Jean West, Malcolm & Dottie Giles, Warren and Missy Hewes, Douglas and Betty Kennedy, Robert and Jean Campbell, Ann and Neil Cavanaugh, Schuyler Fairfield, Arthur Brawn, Duanne Lewis, and Lee and Les Smith.
