JAY — At a recent meeting of the Jay-Livermore Falls Lions Club six new members were added to the roster. Joining the group by transfer is Al Godfrey, a member of the Winthrop Lions Club since 1966. In addition, five new members were inducted: Connie Godfrey, Al’s wife, of Fayette; and Robert and Marjorie Rose, Tony Flagg and Kelly Hurlihy, all from Livermore Falls.

Al Godfrey, former vice district governor, conducted the induction of new members in a poignant and thought-provoking exercise of members descending into darkness and attempting to erase from memory any pictures of loved ones, scenes or wildlife. In 1925 Helen Keller addressed the Lions National Convention and asked them to be “Knights of the Blind.” That mission, adopted so long ago, remains today: “To end darkness when we can and to erase the terror of it when we cannot.”

Lions Club exists in 208 nations in the world with a membership of 1,350,000 strong. Added to the commitment to sight, causes such as hearing loss, diabetes and drug abuse have been taken up over the years.

This local club distributes food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas, has a scholarship fund for local students, collects eye glasses to repurpose for those needing them and assists folks in getting hearing aides.

The Jay-Livermore Falls Lions Club meets on the first (at Chuck Wagon) and third (at LaFleurs Restaurant) Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Call Greg at 320-0604 to confirm or for more information. Visitors are always welcome.