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WE ARE ALL “EVERYDAY HEROES
That was the theme of keynote speaker Lion Dennis R. Tichenor at the Eugene Downtown Lions Club’s 85th Anniversary celebration at the Eugene Country Club, Friday, March 20th.
 Tichenor, Past International Director, gave examples of how priceless we all are when we volunteer to help others. He wanted the Downtown Club’s members, and the representatives from a dozen other clubs who were in attendance, to understand their importance even while doing the smallest service.
The festivities started off with the pledge of allegiance led by Lion Don Bowers and the invocation by Lion Jeff Musgrove.
 Lion Past International Director and long-standing member of the Eugene Downtown Lions Club Ed Gear was the master of ceremonies for the evening. He introduced the club’s president Bob Stansbury who welcomed everyone to the 85th anniversary celebration.
 Dinner, which was enjoyed by more than 90 attendees, was followed by a retrospective presented by Lion Past President (1961-62) Ralph Cobb.
Lion Ralph used the story of long ago about the little girl Virginia who asked if there really was a Santa Claus. Lion Ralph said that as Lions we are all “Santa’s helpers” because we serve, we care, and we love. Lion Ralph listed the officers of the club and related how their work in the club made each one of them “Santa’s helpers.”
The keynote speech was next after which Lion PID Dennis gave a special award to Lion PID Ed Gear from the chair and co-chair of Lions Clubs International Campaign Sight First II. Lion Ed was the very successful coordinator for the northwestern U.S. and was also given pins for each year the campaign has continued.
A special cake was made for the occasion (twice the size of a normal sheet cake) and it was cut and distributed to all.
 As a finale to the evening Lion Past President Yvonne Hamson, who was the chair for organizing the party, thanked all of those who helped make it such a great evening by giving them all a token of her appreciation.
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