Where: Lariat Steakhouse,
2232 West Glen Avenue,
Peoria, Illinois
| Name | Office Tel | Home Tel |
| President | Jean G. Sanger | | 309-682-2614 |
| 1st Vice President | Jim M. Scott | | 309-692-4196 |
| Secretary |
| 309-231-0051 | 309-692-3946 |
| Treasurer | Richard A. Ballor | | 309-657-3928 |
| Membership Chairman | Chet H. Sanger | 309-682-0662 | 309-682-2614 |
*Thank you for visiting our web page. *We are very grateful to those of you who have purchased Greater Peoria Dining Tour Books, the proceeds of which support our local vision and hearing program.
*If you or someone you know are in need of eye glasses or a hearing aid please contact our Sight & Hearing Chairman Rev. Richard Hanson at 681-1175 for an application. *If you are interested in becoming a member of the Lions Club of Peoria or wish to transfer your membership to this club from your former club after moving to Peoria, keeping in mind that membership is open to both male and female, please contact us. *On Tuesday, May 13, 2008, our speaker will be Jim Baske, representing the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation. We invite all interested persons to attend our meetings. *
-------------------------------------A BRIEF HISTORY-------------------------------------On March 19, 1920 seventy-eight Charter Members signed the Charter of the new Peoria Lions Club.
The Peoria Lions Club was the seventh club in Illinois, among the first sixty clubs in the Association and is the oldest club in District
1-H. The club membership grew to in excess of
one hundred thirty members at one time but has declined to where there are twenty-three members today.
Although the club has provided eye glasses, hearing aids, eye and hearing examinations, Christmas baskets and has assisted the less fortunate in many ways their greatest accomplishment has been the birth of the White Cane. In the fall of 1930 club president George A. Bonham saw the difficulty blind persons had trying to cross streets in traffic and devised a plan to paint canes white with a band of red. The club unanimously accepted the plan and canes were painted and given to the blind in the city. The Peoria City Council, on December 9, 1930, passed an ordinance giving the right-of-way to a blind person using a white cane. This first White Cane Safety Law spread to every state in the nation by 1956. The club also sponsored ten new clubs over the years, four of which still remain active.
The Peoria Lions Club has been an active club over the years participating in many of Lionism's projects and activities. Some of those projects and activities include: participate in various International programs such as Sight First and Sight First II: assist the Multiple District purchase the State Office Building in Petersburg; assist in the establishment of Illinois Eye Research Institute in Chicago; sponsor Infant Hearing Testing; sponsor Diabetic Retinopathy/Macular Degeneration Screening; sponsor Hearing Screening Bus; participate in Diabetes Awareness program; participate in Candy Day; participate in Sight and Sound Sweepstakes; collection of Used Eye Glasses and Hearing Aids; participate in District 1-H fundraisers; contribute to Leader Dogs for the Blind; contribute to Lions Project for Canine Companions for Independence; contribute to Habitat for Humanity; support the Peoria Area World Afffairs Council and select a local person to recognize with an annual Outstanding Service Award. The club is probably the largest purchaser of eye glasses and hearing aids in the district.
Four Past District Governors have called the Peoria Lions Club home. Members have served at the District, State, USA/Canada Forum and International level. The club has nine Melvin Jones Fellows, one Illinois Foundation Fellow, three Life Members, one recipient of the International President's Leadership Award and eleven International President's Certificates of Appreciation have been presented to members of the club. During 2004-2005 six members received the International President's Certificate of Appreciation. And, of course, the club has adopted a Lion at the Peoria Zoo. Group Email
Lions of Illinois
Lions of Illinois Foundation
District 1-H, Lions of Illinois
City of Peoria, Illinois
Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce
