Wednesday, December 17, 2014

South Dakota Lions Eye & Tissue Bank highlighted

Belle Fourche Lions club members -- joined by the Northern Lights Lions club -- learned a bit more about the South Dakota Lions Eye & Tissue Bank this week (12/11/14).

Alan Berdahl from the SD Eye & Tissue Bank
Lion Alan Berdahl, who is Community Outreach Coordinator for the Eye & Tissue Bank, provided a bit of history about the organization and focused on the importance of donors to the program.  They provide corneas and other tissues to citizens across South Dakota, the United States, and even the world. 

Located in Sioux Falls, the non-profit organization primarily serves southwest Minnesota, northern Nebraska, and all of South Dakota, but their reach is worldwide. They partner with hospitals, hospices, funeral homes, coroners, as well as EMS and law enforcement personnel.

To be a donor to the eye bank, you merely have to have it noted on your driver's license, but Berdahl recommended that you plan ahead and "get your family on board," which he said makes the process much easier.

Who can be a donor?  Almost "everyone" said Berdahl.  Eyesight or lack of it is irrelevant to cornea viability. "One donor can help hundreds of people," he said.  To learn more about eye and tissue donation, visit the South Dakota Lions Eye & Tissue Bank website.

New Belle Fourche Lions member Jeremy Biegert (left)
is welcomed by club president Rick Walton
In the final meeting for calendar 2014, there was lots of business conducted by Lions.  President Rick Walton reported that -- thanks to extra effort by new Lion Jeremy Biegert -- the posts for a new shelter next to Bowman Hall will soon be installed.

Lion Harry Haivala reported that the Lions "Christmas Family" has received their $250 gift care from Walmart for the purchase of food and other necessary items.

There was also recognition given to Lion Tim Cleveland for his 15 years of service and to Lion Brian Kline for receiving a "Sable" award from District Governor Arient-Rollman for his good work "behind the scene" as a Lion.  You'll find photos of Lions Cleveland, Kline, and others in our Lions Gallery.

President Rick Walton finalized the committee structures for the coming year.  You'll find a complete listing of assignments by clicking on the "Committees" tab at the top of this page.  And to get details about this meeting -- or any of our meetings for the past couple of years -- click on "Minutes."  A tip of the hat to Secretary Del Neumeister for his continuing diligence and promptness in generating minutes.  Our next meeting will be January 8, 2015.

And if you enjoy photographs, we have something of a "family album" of photographs from the December 11th meeting, as well as many meetings over the past several years.  You'll find them in our Lions Gallery.