[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22961]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DOWNINGTOWN LIONS CLUB

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                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 27, 2008

  Mr. GERLACH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
Downingtown Lions Club on its 80th Anniversary and to honor the service 
organization for its commitment to serving the community.
   Founded in 1928, the Downingtown Lions Club is part of the largest 
service organization in the world, with approximately 1.3 million 
members in 202 nations.
   National Lions Club founder and Chicago businessman Melvin Jones 
said in 1917 that the organization was created to allow their service 
clubs to give something back to their communities. And the Downingtown 
Lions Club has certainly carried out that mission admirably.
   Thanks to the dedication and work of its members and volunteers, the 
Club built the Kerr Park Pavilion and installed a drinking fountain 
along the Struble Trail. Hundreds of people in the community have 
benefited from the Club's distribution of free eyeglasses and funding 
raised for sight and hearing programs, including the Leader Dog 
Program.
   The Club will celebrate its 80th Anniversary on Saturday, October 
4th during a dinner at the Thorndale Inn.
   Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing 
the Downingtown Lions Club for reaching this special milestone and in 
commending the efforts of Club members, both past and present, for 
their tireless dedication and service to the Downingtown area 
community.

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