County LVA officials to be lionized for their role in local club’s revival

County LVA officials to be lionized

for their role in local club’s revival

BY TERRY SCHMIDA

A little over a year ago, the Key West Lions Club building on North Roosevelt reflected the state of the organization it housed: diminished and run-down; in need of a little love.

Fortunately for the Lions help materialized in the form of the Monroe County Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA), which sought a new place to hang out its shingle. Over the past 14 months, LVA Board President Peary Fowler, Executive Director Mary Cassanova, and Key West optometrist Dr. Steve Oppenheimer have pulled out all the stops in a major effort to refurbish the Lions organization.

At 6:30 p.m. on July 23, visiting Lions Past District Governor Alfonso Ortega will preside over an invitation-only swearing-in ceremony at the clubhouse for new Lions officers and members.

He’ll also be on-hand to award a number of honors to some of those who have poured their time, toil, and sweat into the Lions in recent months.

Fowler, who will be sworn in as Lions vice-president, will also receive Lion of the Year recognition. Cassanova and Oppenheimer, and Lakay Benett – whose Friday night bingo fundraising helps keep the lights on – will also be feted for their hard work on the club’s behalf.

“Peary Fowler has come into our club and brought with her 18 new members,” said Lions Club Treasurer Mary Boa. “We just love her. She and Steve Oppenheimer put in a new roof, painted everything, and have done a really nice job. [Cassanova] has been a great help also. Our partnership has been a tremendous success.”

Cassanova herself credited Fowler with spearheading the effort to revitalize both the Lions and the LVA, which had been pinballing around increasingly tight spaces on School District property for years.

“[Fowler] has really expanded the Lions membership, and raised a lot of money to help fix their building so that we can use it for events,” Cassanova said. “Her energy level is unbelievably high, which is a lucky thing for the LVA, too, because she has helped us as much as the Lions. This woman never quits.”

Now that the Lions Club and its building are back on firmer footing, focus is shifting toward reopening the Dr. Jose Sanchez Lions Eye Clinic which was once the organization’s main raison d’etre, but closed its doors around the beginning of the year.

“In order to keep that clinic serving Key Westers, we’re going to need to do constant fundraisers,” Boa said. “And we’re going to start doing them soon. We also need to get an eye doctor in there for three days per week. Sight restoration is our main goal at the Lions. It’s a really exciting time right now for us Lions.”