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History of the Alexandria Lions
Club |
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A representative of the
Shreveport Lions Club contacted Joe W. Pitts, Sr. in the fall of 1928
and requested that he explore the possibility of forming a Lions Club in
Alexandria. After a few months of contacts, he had generated
enough interest in forming a club and on March 11, 1929, the Alexandria
Lions Club became a reality with twenty-nine members signing the
charter. It has served the community continuously since that time.
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The Alexandria Lions Club has recruited well over 650 persons to become
Lions since its inception in 1929. Ten of its members have been
elected to serve as District Governors of the International Association
of Lions Clubs.
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The club survived
the ravages of The Great Depression and also the absence of members as
they served in the armed forces during World War II. The
membership of several current members dates back to this time in our
history.
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Historically, the members bought eyesight
testing equipment and had a continuing program that tested the vision of
every student in the Rapides Parish School System. The Alexandria
Lions Club members were instrumental in the formation of what was
originally known as the Lions
Crippled Children's Camp, located originally in Central Louisiana,
and now located near Leesville, Louisiana. The Alexandria Lions
Club also played a significant part in the establishment of the Louisiana Lions Eye
Foundation.
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Many thousands of dollars have been
raised in order to fund the multitude of service projects that have been
accomplished. For several years, the total membership sponsored
and participated in the Lions Club Rodeo in Alexandria - from assisting
in the calf-roping and cattle herding to the planning and production of
the huge Rodeo Parade through the downtown area. Members of the
Alexandria Lions Club in past years have worked the Super Bingo games at
the Rapides Parish Coliseum. Major fundraisers of recent and
current years are the annual $15,000 Raffle, and the Joe W. Pitts, Sr.
Memorial Golf Tournament. |
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