About Us

Lions International is the world's largest service organization with approximately 1.3 million members in 200 countries and geographical areas. The primary aim of Lionism is service, first to the club's community, then to those in need wherever they may be. The Lions motto is "We Serve." Service to the blind and visually impaired is one of the association's most significant activities.

Since 1990 Lions Campaign SightFirst has funded more than 7,000,000 cataract surgeries, restored sight to 27,000,000 and improved eye care to more than 100,000,000 people. 207 eye hospitals have been built or expanded, and 314 eye centers have received equipment upgrades. Lions collect more than 7,000,000 pairs of used eyeglasses each year for distribution to developing countries. Lions also provide 600,000 free glaucoma screenings and make 20,000 corneal transplants possible each year.

In Kentucky, the Lions Eye Research Institute in Louisville is one of the top vision research facilities in the nation. Kentucky Lions are also associated with eye clinics and eye banks. Lions sponsor youth camps for the hearing and visually impaired.

Monticello Lions screen children for vision problems, spend several thousand dollars annually purchasing eyeglasses for the local needy, and collecting used eyeglasses for the needy in developing countries. We give to Emergency Outreach, Monticello Memorial Park, WHAS Crusade for Children, The Kentucky Diabetes Foundation, Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, Project Graduation, Youth Camps, Aspire Community Center and Lake Cumberland Children's Advocacy Center. We support other charities and programs whenever the need arises.

Monticello Lions Club projects are financed by donations, mint sales, gum concessions, pancake breakfasts, Lions' concession stand at the Wayne County Fair, and an annual auction.

We meet at 6:30 P.M. on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursdays at Shearer's Buffet. Each meeting consists of a meal, a business session, and, as often as possible, a program. Regular meetings usually last about one hour.

If you would like to make a monetary contribution, please see any Lions Club member or mail it to the address listed on our Home Page. Donations are tax deductible because Lions Clubs International is a non-profit organization.

Lions Clubs of Kentucky are participating in a new Photo Vision Screening Program. This program is offered to children one thru five years of age who have not had a vision screening or examination by an eye doctor within the past two years. This statewide program is conducted in Day Care Centers and Pre-Schools. Throughout Kentucky, vision problems have been detected in approximately 5% of children screened.

Screening with the use of a special Polaroid Camera, provides instant photographs of a child's eyes. By looking at the way light reflects off the eye, we can determine if your child is at risk for some serious eye problems. Lions take pictures and send them to a Lions Photo Interpretation Center where trained professionals determine if conditions exist which may indicate a possible eye disorder. These disorders include Far and Nearsightedness, Astigmatism, Lazy Eye and Cataracts. Parents are required to sign a Result/Consent Form prior to the screening. No physical contact is made with the child and eye drops are not used.

Nine Monticello Lions have had background checks and have taken the formal training necessary to conduct these screenings. Only three Lions are needed to conduct a screening and it takes approximately one hour to screen fifteen children. There are no costs to the parents or the day care center. Lions have purchased the cameras and films needed for these screenings. For additional information or to schedule a screening, please phone 606 348 9517.

Trained Monticello KidSight Vision Screeners: Ralph Martin, Rebecca Martin, Tommy Duncan, Phillip Catron, Bernice Ballou, Cathy New, Bruce New, J.D. Rogers & Martha Blevins.

Monticello Lions Vision Screenings Completed

Date Location Screened

29 September, 2006 Noah's Ark, Monticello 18

17 November, 2006 Thelma's Child Care, Monticello 15

26 January, 2007 Kidz Zone, Monticello 14

13 March, 2007 Health Fair at Aspire Center (Acuity tests) 15

18 May, 2007 United WeeCare, Monticello 9

14 July, 2007 Southeast Community College, Cumberland, Ky. 3

7 September, 2007 Kid's Kingdom, Albany 10

30 November, 2007 Tiny Town Child Care, Albany 6

14 March, 2008 Dinky-Doos Child Care, Stearns 11

25 April, 2008 Tiny Town Child Care, Albany 4

Scheduled Monticello Lions Screenings

Date/Time Location

Russell Springs / Jamestown / Monticello Lions Screenings

Date Location Screened

14 April, 2008 Tot's Landing Child Care, Russell Springs 14

If you need to contact our club, our phone number and address are listed on the Home Page.