District Governor Mitchell visits Belle Fourche Lions

While the Belle Fourche Lions Club has demonstrated its deep involvement in helping solve community problems and enhance the quality of life in our community, Lions International continues to leave a big footprint around the entire world.

District 5SW Governor Wanda Mitchell
of Custer with President Brian Kline

And Lions have never shied away from challenges, especially when the stakes are so high.

District Governor Wanda Mitchell of Custer outlined a relatively new Lions International initiative to the Belle Fourche club this week (11/10/11) at their regular meeting at The Mulligan in the Belle Fourche Country Club.  Lions International has teamed up with the Bill Gates Foundation and will be working to help eradicate measles in developing countries around the globe.

“Every day, 200 children die from measles in Third World countries.  I find that almost unbelievable,” said Mitchell. 

“Even children who survive the disease end up with blindness, so we’re hoping that – with the combined resources of the Bill Gates Foundations and Lions International Foundation – we can eradicate measles in Third World countries.”

District Governor Mitchell also told of the enormous positive response to President Tam’s initiative to have Lions plant one million trees around the world.  While that goal has already be surpassed, district 5SW has established a goal of planting 500 trees -- most likely concentrating on the Pierre and Fort Pierre areas, which lost an enormous number of trees in recent flooding.

The next Lions meeting will be December 8th, and plans are already underway for a Lions Christmas Party on Friday, December 16th at Mulligan's.

Of special note during the November 10th meeting was presentation of awards for the annual Peace Poster contest sponsored by Lions.  This year, First Place went to Marcella Tyrell, and Second Place was awarded to Caden Kinter.  Both are 6th Graders at the Belle Fourche Middle School.  Marcella was awarded $50, and her entry will be sent to the Lion's district Peace Poster competition. Caden received $25 for his poster entry.    

Winners of the 2011-12 Belle Fourche Lions Club Peace Poster contest are shown after receiving
their awards Thursday evening (11/10/11).  Left-to-right are Marcella Tyrell, who received First
Prize; her mother, Shandra Klienhan; LeAnn Steffen is standing behind her son, Caden, who was
awarded Second Prize.  At right is Middle School teacher and contest supervisor Kristy Messner.