Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, USA, in 1880, Helen Keller developed a fever at 18 months of age that left her blind and deaf. With the help of an exceptional teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan of the Perkins School for the Blind, Helen Keller learned sign language and braille. A few years later, she learned to speak. As an adult she became a tireless advocate for people with disabilities.

In 1925, she attended the Lions Clubs International Convention and challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.”

The Lions accepted Ms. Keller’s challenge — and one of Lions Club’s most compelling missions has included sight programs aimed at preventable blindness.

Helen Keller’s Speech at 1925 International Convention, Cedar Point, Ohio, USA; June 30, 1925

Dear Lions and Ladies:

I suppose you have heard the legend that represents opportunity as a capricious lady, who knocks at every door but once, and if the door isn’t opened quickly, she passes on, never to return. And that is as it should be. Lovely, desirable ladies won’t wait. You have to go out and grab ‘em.

I am your opportunity. I am knocking at your door. I want to be adopted. The legend doesn’t say what you are to do when several beautiful opportunities present themselves at the same door. I guess you have to choose the one you love best. I hope you will adopt me. I am the youngest here, and what I offer you is full of splendid opportunities for service.

The American Foundation for the Blind is only four years old. It grew out of the imperative needs of the blind, and was called into existence by the sightless themselves. It is national and international in scope and in importance. It represents the best and most enlightened thought on our subject that has been reached so far. Its object is to make the lives of the blind more worthwhile everywhere by increasing their economic value and giving them the joy of normal activity.

Try to imagine how you would feel if you were suddenly stricken blind today. Picture yourself stumbling and groping at noonday as in the night; your work, your independence, gone. In that dark world wouldn’t you be glad if a friend took you by the hand and said, “Come with me and I will teach you how to do some of the things you us

ed to do when you could see?” That is just the kind of friend the American Foundation is going to be to all the blind in this country if seeing people will give it the support it must have.

You have heard how through a little word dropped from the fingers of another, a ray of light from another soul touched the darkness of my mind and I found myself, found the world, found God. It is because my teacher learned about me and broke through the dark, silent imprisonment which held me that I am able to work for myself and for others. It is the caring we want more than money. The gift without the sympathy and interest of the giver i

s empty. If you care, if we can make the people of this great country care, the blind will indeed triumph over blindness.

The opportunity I bring to you, Lions, is this: To foster and sponsor the work of the American Foundation for the Blind. Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?

I thank you.

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A colorful framed and signed poster for the 2013 Willow Glen Lions Wine Tasting will also be given to one lucky winner at the Wine Tasting. Must be present to win! For a pdf of this poster to send to friends, please contact webmaster.

SAVE THE DATE: coming to you just in time for Valentine’s Day is the second annual Willow Glen Lions Wine Tasting. Sponsored in part by Joseph George Fine Wines, located just north of Hamilton on Meridian in Willow Glen, this Wine Tasting is becoming a much-anticipated event for the fun and the exciting wine experience it provides.

The tasting is from 5 to 7 pm on Friday night, February 8th. Tickets are just $30 each, for a great selection of wines and delicious hors d’oeuvres. The ticket fee is 100% tax deductible, and the funds go entirely into Willow Glen Lions Charities. In addition, attendees of the event who find a wine they really enjoy can purchase it on the spot from Joseph George, who also gives Willow Glen Lions part of the proceeds.

With a generous partner like Joseph George, and the efforts of some of WGLions gourmet chefs, this event will be one you won’t want to miss!

ONLY 80 TICKETS are available for the event, and they’ll go fast. All tickets are sold in advance of the event. To reserve tickets, call (408) 978-7700. Call soon to participate in one of the Willow Glen Lions’ most successful and fun fundraisers!

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Hi Jim,
Thank you so much for helping our students get the basic supplies they need  in order to learn.

DCP is the Silicon Valley’s only college-prep public school to explicitly target underperforming students — and help them succeed.

Your support has been invaluable. It is like magic. After having a student fill out a referral form, they miss class for part of a day in order to get glasses and they come back a new person. They are more eager to participate and doing better in class.

Those of us who wear glasses often take them for granted, but imagine sitting through class being unable to follow the discussion because you can’t see the board or read from your book.  This  is the reality that some of our students are dealing with.

At Downtown College Prep, 100% of our students qualify for free and reduced priced lunch (about 90% live below the federal poverty level) and their families are unable to pay for glasses.  Your support is making it possible for our students to focus on learning and preparing for college.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you! Happy Holidays!

— Michelle Koo
Blended Mathematics
Downtown College Prep Alum Rock
    Ganas, Orgullo, Communidad
    Desire, Pride, Community

If you need support that the Lions Club can provide, we want to help. See this link to learn about how to apply for help regarding blindness, need for eyeglasses or hearing impairment.

http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/our-work/sight-programs/assistance-requests.php

And to learn more about Downtown College Prep and their programs to help first generation students to achieve their dream of being the first in their family to attend college, visit http://www.downtowncollegeprep.org/content/fast-facts

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This winning Peace Poster was designed by Mary Jo Mendoza, age 11, from Miller Middle School in San Jose.

Lions Clubs around the world proudly sponsor the Lions International Peace Poster Contest in local schools and youth groups.

This art contest for kids encourages young people worldwide to express their visions of peace. For 25 years, more than four million children from nearly 100 countries have participated in the contest.

The theme of the 2012-13 Peace Poster Contest is “Imagine Peace.” Students, ages 11, 12 or 13 were eligible to participate.

Mary Jo Mendoza displays a congratulatory certificate she received from the Willow Glen Lions Club.

As with judging every year, each poster was judged on originality, artistic merit and expression of the theme. 10 posters were submitted at the District Cabinet meeting judging on November 10, 2012.

This year the winner with the best judged Peace Poster in District 4-C6 is Mary Jo Mendoza, age 11 from Miller Middle School in San Jose. She and her parents will meet the Willow Glen Lions during the November 28, 2012 evening meeting.

Willow Glen Lions’ Helen Tindall chaired the Peace Poster effort this year. To the right of the poster, Medy Malate, District Peace Poster Chairperson helps Helen hold the winning poster, by Mary Jo Mendoza.

Posters advance through several judging levels: local, district, multiple district and international. At the international level, judges from the art, peace, youth, education and media communities select one grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners.

The winning poster by Ms. Mendoza has been forwarded to MD4 for judging by December 15.  Then, the winning poster gets forwarded to the international stage, where the international winners will be notified on or before February 1, 2013.

Awards given for Peace Poster

Willow Glen Lions President George Jewett and Peace Poster chair Helen Tindall proudly show the winning posterPeace Poster Contest Awards

• One international grand prize winner will receive US$5,000 and a trip to a special award ceremony with the sponsoring club president and two family members at Lions Day with the United Nations (subject to change).

• Each of the 23 merit award winners will receive a cash award of US$500 and a certificate of achievement.

You can learn more about the Peace Poster contest by visiting

http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/our-work/youth-programs/peace-poster-contest/index.php

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Partners in fundraising: Willow Glen Lions’ immediate past president Luis Krystal, SBI’s Christine and Tony Camara, and WG Lions’ Ellen Krystal who chaired our participation in this great event.

On Friday November 1st, 2012, the Willow Glen Lions helped out with the fundraiser, providing crudites and hors d’oeuvres, and helping to serve SBI’s guests. The evening was an enormous achievement for SBI. And we Lions are so proud to be part of the event.

Joseph George in located just north of Hamilton, at 1559 Meridian Avenue, in Willow Glen. They also sponsor the Willow Glen Lions Club fundraiser in February. http://josephgeorge.com/

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Oversized characters greeted kids and did tricks for them! Posing for photos, local politicians smiled for the camera and talked to parents. Yellow balloons floated overhead, making it an even more beautiful and fun event!

The crowd of children, parents and volunteers bustled around among the yellow balloons, outrageous characters danced and played with the kids and generous businesses were on hand to participate in the festivities.