[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 131 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING THE TAYLOR LIONS CLUB ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 50TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2004

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my respected 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the Taylor 
Lions Club as it celebrates its 50th Anniversary at St. George's Hall 
in Taylor.
  The Lions Club of Taylor began its charter on Nov. 15, 1954. 
Sponsored by the Old Forge Lions Club, the Taylor Club chose Jay 
Fahringer as its Inaugural President. Over the next 46 years, the Club 
would have two members, Lion Dominic DeAngelo and Lion Joseph Canjar, 
serve in the esteemed position of Area District Governor.
  Canjar and Lion Francis Scott received the Melvin Jones Fellowship 
Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Service from the Lions Club 
International Foundation, the highest award that a member can receive.
  The Lions Club has a long-standing tradition of civic duty and pride. 
I cannot think of a better example for our young people than business 
people taking responsibility for their communities and neighbors. Lions 
Club members have been dedicated to giving their time, talent and 
resources to help our world become a better place since 1917. The Lions 
Club is one of the largest service organizations worldwide.
  Lions Clubs are best known for their work with sight conservation, 
taking on the challenge after Helen Keller proposed it in 1925. Lions 
Clubs raise money for a variety of sight-preserving activities, from 
providing eyeglasses to paying for cataract surgery for needy people.
  The District 14-H Lions Eye Bank was initiated by then-District 
Governor Dominic DeAngelo in 1958. Lion Merwyn Howells was instrumental 
with the inception of the Sergeant Seymore Program, sponsored by the 
Lackawanna Blind Association. The program educates third-graders about 
sight conservation and eye safety, and it concludes with a poster 
contest.
  The District 14-H Lions Eye Bank Banner Patch for the most Cornea Eye 
Pledge Cards in a year was achieved in 1992, during Lion President John 
Souter's term. The Taylor Lions Club has continually provided 
eyeglasses to senior citizens and other members of the community 
throughout the years.
  The District 14-H Hearing Committee's annual donation to the Scranton 
School for the Deaf began during Lion Joe Canjar's term in 1980. This 
tradition continues today.
  Since the Club's beginning, members have provided wheelchairs, 
commodes, walkers, crutches, canes and personal safety items for all 
citizens of the community.
  Over the past 15 years, the Taylor Lions Club's principal fundraiser 
has been a Holiday Basketball Tournament that features both girls' and 
boys' high school teams from Riverside School District and the 
surrounding area. This annual tournament is the only one of its kind to 
feature both a girls' and a boys' division. Eugene Evanish, Ted Evanish 
and Joseph Roberts have co-chaired the event since it began.
  The Taylor Lions Club is also the first club in the history of 
District 14-H to have its Club Pin voted No. 1 in the state of 
Pennsylvania. Member Francis Scott designed the winning emblem.
  The Taylor Lions Club has also taken an active role in District 14-H 
with members Joe Canjar (as past District Governor), Mike Cole, Gene 
King, Fran DeAngelo, Gene Evanish, Ted Evanish, Neil DeAngelo, Robert 
Thomas, Lisa Mekilo and Francis Scott all serving in the District 
Cabinet in recent years.
  The Taylor Lions Club has sponsored teams in the Taylor Little 
League, Taylor Girls' Softball Association, Boys Biddy Basketball 
League, T.C.C. Girls Basketball League, Boy Scout Troop 85 and Cub 
Scout Troop 90.
  The Taylor Lions Junior Football Organization was even named after 
the club, which sponsored it from 1970 through 2000. Lion Frank 
Messoline was one of the primary organizers of the program, while Lion 
Mike Krypel was primarily responsible for its present complex.
  The Taylor Lions Club, in conjunction with the R&L Civic Club, 
American Legion Post 306 and the Taylor Borough Council, organized an 
Easter Egg Hunt in 1985 that has become an annual event for the area's 
children.
  Lion J. Dennis Kryzanowski began the Taylor Lions Scholarship Award 
at Riverside Junior/Senior High School.
  Two hundred and fifty-seven residents of Taylor have been past or 
present members of the Lions Club since its beginning in 1954. Lion 
Lisa Scott Mekilo was the first woman to join the Taylor Lions Club and 
became the Club's first female president in 2003.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me today in paying tribute to such a 
wonderful service organization. It is my honor to represent the members 
of the Taylor Lions Club in the United States Congress.

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