The Lions are men, women and youth who reside in your community and volunteer our time and efforts to humanitarian causes throughout our district, the State of Virginia and the world. By conducting service projects and raising funds they strive to help indigent people locally and throughout the world community. The Lions' motto is "We Serve".
Lions Club was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1917. Lions Clubs International has grown to be the world's largest service organization with more than 1.3 million members belonging to approximately 46,795 local clubs in 193 countries and geographical areas.
In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions at their convention in Cedar Point, Ohio and challenged them to become "Knights of the Blind in the Crusade against Darkness." Since that challenge, service to the blind and visually impaired is one of the association's most significant activities.
Virginia Lions Clubs have been serving their communities since November, 1921. Over the years and on an average the Lions of District 24-A have contributed more than a million dollars a year to Lions causes in the local communities and the world. We provide eye examinations and eyeglasses, hearing aids, food baskets to the indigent, scholarships to handicapped students, support for youth activities, diabetes awareness programs, drug abuse awareness, Leader Dogs for the Blind, hearing dogs for the hearing impaired. Lions of Northern Virginia operate the Northern Virginia Lions Youth Camp, which is located in the Shenandoah Valley. Please visit the web sites that are linked to our web page to see detailed information about the programs supported by the Lions Clubs. The Lions, Lionesses and Leos of District 24-A make a difference in their communities. When there is a need the Lions are there to help.
Lions are always looking for civic minded citizens who are willing to donate some time and effort toward making our communities a better place to live. If you are interested in visiting a Lions Club in your area, please contact Lion Rose Robinson, VDG Lion Woody Woodard or Lion Bill Bartlett, PDG to receive an invitation to a Lions Club. You can join us and learn more about what Lions really do to help their fellow man. Membership in a Lions Club is by invitation only. Through membership, Lions not only help people in need, but they have opportunities to develop personal friendships and gain valuable leadership skills which can be used in their work as well as their personal lives.
Do You Need The Lions Help?
In our continuing effort to serve our communities, the Lions Clubs of Northern Virginia provide several telephone help hotlines. Some telephone help hotlines use voice mail recordings. Messages left on these voice mail systems are checked daily. Each message is then forwarded to the Lions Club responsible for serving the caller's locale. Although the primary mission of the Lions Clubs is in the areas of sight, hearing, and diabetes, all Lions are committed to assist, people in their community that require help. Therefore, our help hotlines are available to anyone needing help or wanting to learn more about Lionism. These hotlines have proven to be an exceptional boost to the Lions community service and clearly demonstrates our commitment to the community we live in.
Mason Neck Lions Club of District 24-A
We Serve the Mason Neck and Lorton Area of Fairfax County, Virginia
Contents
Who We Are
Officers for 2004-2005
E-mail Our Members
What We Do
Fund-Raising
When and Where We Meet
Becoming a Member
Eyeglass Collection Sites
Do You Need The Lions Help
Who We Are
As members of the Mason Neck Lions Club, we volunteer our time to humanitarian causes in the Mason Neck and Lorton, Virginia areas and the world community. By conducting service projects and raising funds, we strive to help those in need, wherever the need exists.
To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation.
To Show my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious application to the end that I may merit a reputation for quality of service.
To Seek success and to demand all fair remuneration or profit as my just due, but to accept no profit or success at the price of my own self-respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts on my part.
To Remember that in building up my business it is not necessary to tear down another's; to be loyal to my clients or customers and true to myself. Whenever a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my position or action towards others, to resolve such doubt against myself.
To Hold friendship as an end and not a means. To hold that true friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.
Always to bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state, and my community, as to give them my unswerving loyalty in word, act, and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor and means.
To Aid others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy.
To Be Careful with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy.
Officers for 2005-2006
President and Screening Van: Lion Dave Collyer <mar_davcoll@cox.net>,
Lion Dave was born on Oct.24,1937 in Summit, N.J. He move with his family to Baltimore, Md. in 1949. He retired on Dec. 1, 2002 after 32 years as a field service engineer in the medical imaging field. Lion Dave has four children and three grandchildren. He joined the Mason Neck Lions Club in the summer of 2003, and soon after joined the team at the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center as an assistant operations manager. During the summer of 2004 Lion Dave also became a driver/technician for the district 24-A sight and hearing screening van.
Vice President: Lion James "Tom" Nally <nally1000@cox.net>,
Lion Tom was born and raised in Oakland, Maryland. He attended St Charles and St Mary's in Baltimore. He served 3 years in the U.S. Army while stationed at the Pentagon. Lion Tom worked for Sears at Landmark for 30 years. He is married and has 3 Children and 2 Grandchildren. Lion Tom served as President of the Mason Neck Lions Club during Lions Years 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. In addition to his other duties, Lion Tom also serves as the "Shrimp Chairman", spearheading our major fund raiser (Shrimp Sales). At the District Level, Lion Tom is serving as Region II Chair.
Secretary & Service Hours: Lion Paul Tompkins <paul1954@verizon.net>,
Lion Paul was born in Medina, New York on September 4, 1954. He majored in life sciences in school, and now works for the Alexandria Sanitation Authority. He is a shift supervisor with 17 years of service. Paul and his wife, Kristine, were married for 17 years. Kristine works for the Virginia Dept for the Visually handicapped. Paul and Kristine have a daughter, Meghan, and a son, Andrew. Andrew is a blind Korean child who they adopted 9 years ago. His participation in camp Merrick is partially responsible for his father becoming a Lion. Lion Paul is an active member of Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, VA. where he started working in the youth program in 1991.
Treasurer & Service Hours: Lion Ruth Harper <vahomegirl@yahoo.com>,
Lion Ruth joined Mason Neck Lions Club in 2001 by way of transfer from Abingdon Lions Club. She has been a Lion since 2000. Lion Ruth has previously served as Visitation Chair. She has resided in Virginia for the last six years; born in Buffalo, New York; raised in San Diego, California. Lion Ruth is an Assistant Vice President and Consultant with BB&T Institutional Services and also acts as Treasurer of the Martha Guild at Pohick Episcopal Church.
Tail Twister and Programs: Lion Foster Morse <rebamorse@aol.com>,
(no bio available)
Lion Tamer: Lion Donald Eckelhofer
(no bio available)
Membership & BBQ: Lion Liz Carroll <Ecar814814@aol.com>,
Lion Liz is a native Washingtonian and a retired officer of the U.S. Government. She joined the Mason Neck Lions Club in 1998. Lion Liz has served two terms as Club Secretary and has served in the Cabinet positions of assistant to the District Governor 2001-2002 and Awards/New Member Orientation Chair 2002-2003. This Year she is the Region II Representative for Awards/New Member Orientation and Region II, Zone 2 Chair. She currently serves as chair of the Board of Directors of Elizabeth Seton High School, Bladensburg, Maryland and Vice President of the Newington Community Associatiion, Springfield, VA. Lion Liz is a Melvin Jones Fellow.
Cultural and Community Activities: Lion Joe Chudzik <forservice@verizon.net>,
Lion Joe was born on July 23, 1938. He retired in 1993 as a Foreign Service Officer in the Department of State. Lion Joe has served the Mason Neck community as President of the Mason Neck Citizens Association (2nd Yr) and chairman of the Mason Collar Civic Association. He served as Mason Neck Lions Club Vice-President for the 1997-1998 Lions Year and as Program Chairman during the 2003-2004 Lions Year. Lion Joe is presently very busy helping to coordinate the community projects with Mason Neck Lions. He is also insuring that our efforts are notated and published in the local media.
Eyeglasses and Hearing Aids: Lion Janet Carper <Janet0773@msn.com>,
(no bio available)
Lion Mike Carper
LCAC Board: Lion Marvin Miller <m2atlaw@aol.com>,
(no bio available)
Public Relations: Lion Floyd Harrison <Publisher@LortonValleyStar.com>,
New member 2005.
Visitations: Lion Bob Collyer <lion_bob@comcast.net>,
(no bio available)
Lion Bernice Dinion <bernidini@aol.com>,
Lion Bernice Dinion was raised in New York City. She moved to Charlottesville, Virginia in 1949 where her husband attended the University of Virginia. She moved to Northern Virginia in 1953 where she resided in Springfield for 14 years, and then to Lorton (Mason Neck) for the past 36 years. She retired from 3M in 1994 after 21 years of employment. She worked in both their Medical Products Division and Lobbying Division. Her Hobbies are Gardening and Travel. She is a volunteer at the Hospice of The National Capital Area, INOVA Blood Bank, Pohick Church Tutoring program for Gunston School, and various Lions projects.
Bluegrass Chairman: Lion Stephen Mahan "Steve Mahan" <stphnmhn@aol.com>,
Lion Steve has been a Lion since 1985. He has held all club offices, and also served as Zone chairman and Region chairman. He is a member of Groveton Baptist Church. Lion Steve is a Self-Employed accountant and bookkeeper for the past 23 years, specializing in Income Tax planning and preparation.
Lion Glenn Ryburn <gryburn@cox.net>,
Lion Glenn has been a very active member of the Mason Neck Lions Club since the beginning of his tenure in LIONISM. He is a Melvin Jones Fellow, and has held positions in the Mason Neck Lions Club of President, Vice President, Secretary, Tail Twisters and Lion Tamer. His committees include; Chairman of Membership, Visitation, Public Relations, Leadership, Program and various fund raising projects including Occoquan Days for three years. He is the Program Chair for Lions year 2004-2005.
At the multiple district level: Glenn was an instructor at the Multiple District 24 “Train-The-Trainer” school for three years, where he met and established a very positive relationship with most of the District 24 District Governors for the past several years. Additionally, he has instructed in several District 24-A conferences and State conventions. He has been a Region Chairman, Zone Chairman, and District 24-A Leadership Chairman. Glenn held the position of District 24-A Membership chairman for three years including Membership Chairman for Multiple District 24 for a year. Glenn was called on to be the first District 24-A Cabinet “Special Operations” Chairman, which included hosting the District Cabinet Socials and a Winter Conference, (Where he organized and gained maximum support from the Mason Neck club and all other clubs in the Zone). Lion Glenn was District 24-A Governor for Lions Year 2001-2002.
In the community: Glenn has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Mason Neck Citizens Association for over 10 years and was the President of that organization for two years. He also has been an active member of the Mount Vernon District association and the Lorton Federation. Glenn served as a member of the Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) Board of Directors and has also served as the Mason Neck Lions Club’s representative to the LCAC.
District Governor: Lion Ed "Woody" Woodard <woodywoodard@cox.net>,
Lion Woody was born in Portsmouth, Va. He served in the USAF from 1955 to 1975. His service took him to the Far East, Middle East, Europe and various States during this time. He retired from the USAF in 1975, and joined the family of Sears. He moved to Allstate Insurance in 1979, and is still currently active. Lion Woody joined the Mason Neck Lions Club in April 1996, and served as Secretary from September 1996 to June 1998. He has served as President from July 1998 to July 2000. He has served as Bulletin Editor, Zone Chairman, and District 24-A Cabinet Secretary for Lions Year 2001-2002 and District Treasurer for Lions Year 2002-2003. District Governor Coordinator & Retention Chair for 2003-2004. Lion Woody is a Melvin Jones Fellow.
What We Do
From 1925 to the present , Lions have been recognized throughout the world for their service to the blind and visually impaired. A majority of the world's eye banks are established and supported by Lions, as are hundreds of Clinics, Hospitals and Eye Research Centers.
Since our club was chartered in 1967 , countless members of our local community have been helped with free quality eye care, eyeglasses and hearing exams, that they would not have otherwise been able to obtain. The majority of our funds are used to support the Lorton Community Action Center and the Local Community.
Fund-Raising
One of our major fund raising projects is the sale of Fresh Shrimp during the months of September thru December. (When the Florida and/or Carolina Shrimp are running). Our Shrimp Chairman, Lion Tom Nally (703-451-8508), or Lion Joe Chudzik (703-541-3123) will be happy to assist you or your club in obtaining Shrimp, either for your own consumption, or for resale by your club (ask about bulk sales discount).
When and Where We Meet
Our Club holds its dinner meetings on the Second and Fourth Wednesday of each month at the Polo Grill 7784 Gunston Plaza Dr. at 6:30 PM. All are welcome to attend. Please e-mail the secretary if you plan on visiting. We conduct Lions business at our monthly board meetings, held the Fourth Wednesday of each month. Currently, all active members of the club are considered to be board members. Each 3rd Wednesday morning, we host a breakfast get together at 8:00AM at the American BBQ Cafe located on the corner of Lockport Pl. and Telegraph Rd. in Lorton, VA. Everyone is invited.
Becoming a Member
Membership in a Lions Club is by invitation only. Through membership, Lions not only help people in need, but also have opportunities to develop personal friendships and gain valuable leadership skills. The membership committee may be reached as follows:
Lion Elisabeth Carrol 703-569-9207
Lion Benice Dinion 703-339-7130
Lion Stephen Mahan 703-799-0345
Lion Joe Chudzik 703-541-3123
Lion Tom Nally 703-451-5358
Lion Mike Perez 703-339-0828
Lion Glenn Ryburn 703-550-7439
Lion Paul Tompkins 703-339-0352
Lion Woody Woodard 703-451-8508
Lion Foster Morse 703-339-7099
You may also obtain Lionism information from any other member of the Mason Neck Lions Club.
Please contact us to receive an invitation to one of our meetings, and thenjoin us, and learn more about Lionism.
Eyeglass Collection Sites
Please look for our eyeglass donation boxes at the following area locations:
POHICK EPISCOPAL CHURCH
OLD COLCHESTER RD AND RT. 1
9301 RICHMOND HIGHWAY
LORTON VA. 22199
703-339-6572
LORTON SENIOR CENTER
7722 GUNSTON PLAZA
RT 1 & RICHMOND HIGHWAY
LORTON. VA. 22199
703-550-7195
ACT 11 RESALE BUILDING
CHERWEK DR.
9506 RICHMOND HIGHWAY
WILLIAMSBURG SQUARE
LORTON, VA. 22199
703-339-8611
GUNSTON VOL. FIRE DEPT .
7701 ARMISTEAD RD
LORTON, VA. 22199
703-339-5141
SUNRISE SENIOR ASSISTED LIVING HOME
RT 1 AND LORTON RD.
7665 LORTON RD.
LORTON, VA. 22199
703-550-2400
CRANFORD U. M. CHURCH
9912 OLD COLCHESTER RD.
LORTON, VA. 22199
703-339-5382
FOOD LION INC.
7760 GUNSTON PLAZA DR
RT 1 & RICHMOND HIGHWAY
LORTON, VA. 22199
703-550-9166
LORTON REGIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARY
Richmond Highway
Lorton, VA
RITE-AID PHARMACY
Gunston Plaza
Lorton, VA
TOWN CLEANERS
7750 GUNSTON PLAZA
LORTON, VA
Do You Need The Lions Help
In our continuing effort to serve our communities, the Lions Clubs of Northern Virginia provide several telephone help hotlines. Some telephone help hotlines use voice mail recordings. Messages left on these voice mail systems are checked daily. Each message is then forwarded to the Lions Club responsible for serving the caller's locale.
Although the primary mission of the Lions Clubs is in the areas of sight, hearing, and diabetes, all Lions are committed to assist everyone in their community that requires help. Therefore, our help hotlines are available to anyone needing help or wanting to learn more about Lionism.
Calls to the hotlines range from the local resident who needs assistance to a traveling or vacationing Lion looking for a club to visit. More than one person has called looking for a Lions Club to join.