LITTLE VALLEY — Little Valley Lion’s Club members both past and present joined Lion’s Club officials, members from other area clubs and local dignitaries last week in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Little Valley organization.
Guests included one of two current charter members as well as a handful of those who have been part of the organization for more than 25 years. Family members of some charter members were also in attendance.
The group gathered March 2 at the Little Valley American Legion for dinner and heard remarks from Dr. James Reynolds, a Little Valley native and member of the Lion’s Club for 23 years.
Dr. Reynolds, who is now chairman of the ophthalmology department at the University at Buffalo and director of the Ross Eye Institute, was able to speak to both the work the Lion’s Club does in helping those with vision needs and also what is being accomplished at places like UB and the Ross Eye Institute.
“Whatever (problem) you have, whatever you need, we want to supply it and we want to do it in as effective, efficient and regular way as we can,” said Dr. Reynolds about the eye care needs that arrive at places like the Ross Eye Institute.
“We are all regular joes up at Ross,” he added. Turning a bit emotional, he said he thinks “part of that is the reflection of the leadership. I’d like to think the real reason I see myself as a regular guy is because I grew up in a real regular town.”
Dr. Reynolds also spoke on both the research being conducted at Ross Eye Institute and the work his departments are performing in the realm of pediatric eye care.
“We feel we really are on the cutting edge at the Ross,” he said. “We feel, especially in pediatric vision, we are on the cutting edge. And we couldn’t do this without contributions.”
Little Valley Lion’s Club President Kevin Andrew served as the master of ceremonies for the dinner celebration and began the event by recognizing many Lion’s Club dignitaries and members in attendance.
Charles Huntington, a charter member, was among those recognized. The other charter member still involved in the group, Rick Johnson, was out of town for the event but was given a round of applause for his 40 years of service.
Other longtime members of the Little Valley Lion’s Club include William Campbell and Wayne Reed with 38 years, Andrew with 26 years and Robert Erdmann and Myrna Reynolds with 25 years.
Also in attendance were members of the Randolph Lions Club, the sponsor club when Little Valley’s organization started in 1977.
Andrew said the Little Valley Lion’s Club has inducted 12 members in the last two years after being down to only about 13 members.
“We were starting to wonder where we were going to go,” he said. “Now we have a lot more younger families in here. We’re very pleased with our club and think we are going in the right direction. When we are needed, we want to be here for people. We couldn’t imagine the thought of not being here in someone needed glasses.”
Among the Lion’s Club contributions to vision needs and research, the Little Valley group annually holds the David Campbell 5K Run/Walk to benefit Vision Beyond Sight. Andrew said almost $16,000 has been raised from the run in 11 years.
Also as part of the anniversary dinner, Dr. Reynold’s son, Dr. Andrew Reynolds, was inducted into the Little Valley Lion’s Club in a special ceremony.
At the end of the event, Andrew, the Lion’s Club president and member since 1991, was awarded the Robert J. Uplinger Distinguished Service Award by District Governor John Haak.