Chartered on February 5, 1948
Sponsored by the Burlington Lions Club
Charter Officers: Herman Warner, President; Phillip McCausland, Secretary
Charter Membership: 52
Present Membership: 44
We are proud to have been the sponsor of three clubs: Colchester Lions, Jericho-Underhill Lions, and Winooski Lions.
One of the first major Essex Junction service projects was the building of the municipal swimming pool on Maple Street in the early 1950's. In 1989, the club pruchased materials, built, and installed a "game-field" course with 20 exercise stations along a 2.5 mile closed loop path, which runs through the Essex Town Forest. In 1997, we initiated a project to install signs at the Village borders to identify all the service organizations. We have just completed the re-construction of the Veteran's Memorial Park at Five Corners, which honors soldiers of all major wars of the USA. Every year, we partipate in the Memorial Day parade and ceremonies.
The food booth, situated on the Champlain Valley Fair grounds, which is one of our major fund raisers, has served fair visitors for many years. Essex held their 50th and final Horse Show on July 21-23, 2000. The food booth project, along with raffles and other events at the Exposition grounds, contribute more than $15,000 annualy to support a variety of community service projects. Other Lions projects, such as the Vermont Teddy Bear "Dress-a-Bear" day, have supported the administrative budget.
As its World Service day projects, the club has contributed labor for planting trees along roadways, for spring cleaning at Steven's Park, and for installing equipment at Cascade Park. The club was also a major contributor to the Essex Rescue, and we continue our support for the Village and Town Libraries, Youth and Seniors groups, including Scouts, the Teen Center, and Meals on Wheels. Other service projects include preparing and serving meals at food shelters, working for the Red Cross at blod drawings, and offering diabetes screenings in the community.
In the area of Sight & Hearing, we continue to furnish eye exams and glasses to needy residents of Essex and surounding areas. In conjunction with District 45 (all Vermont Lions Clubs), the club has been a generous supporter of the Austine / Green Mountain Lions Camp for the hearing impaired.
For international activities, the club organized a youth exchange with Italy. Two Vermont teens went to Italy, and Vermont Lions hosted three Italian youths for the summer.
The club received the 100% Club Award, and the International Presidents Excellence Award many times. The club was the Number 1 club in 1979-80, 1988-89, 1995-96, 1996-96, 2000-2001, 2001-2002, and 2003-2004. We wre Number 2 club in 1989-90, 1994-95, 1999-2000, and Number 3 club in 2002-2003.
Essex is proud of its distinguished Lions:
The above is only a brief summary of accomplishments over the past 57 years. For all the members in our club who have worked so willingly and are so deserving of recognition, please take pride in what you and your fellion Lions, past and present, have achieved.
