Senate Resolution No. 29 BY: Senator GRIFFO COMMENDING the Rome Lions Club upon the occasion of celebrating its 70th Anniversary on October 21, 2022 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those fraternal organizations of high purpose and worthy accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the citizens of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend the Rome Lions Club upon the occasion of celebrating its 70th Anniversary, to be celebrated on Friday, January 6, 2023, at the Mohawk Valley Community College's Rome Campus; and WHEREAS, The Rome Lions Club was chartered on October 21, 1952, by a group of Rome citizens who believed in the principles of Lionism and the benefits to the community; and WHEREAS, The 14 original charter members include: Leland W. Castle, Dr. G. Frederick Caswell, Richard Flemma, Peter M. Grande, Frank J. Guiltinan, Bernard E. Ingersoll, Haver F. Karlen, Francis R. Loreto, Frank Loreto, Nicholas Mammone, Robert Morris, Joseph Palombi, Stanley Rebisz, and Carl J. Swanson; and WHEREAS, The event will honor the Past District Governor, Joseph DeFina, who passed away in 2021, and was a longtime member of the Rome Lions Club; and WHEREAS, The Rome Lions Club is part of Lions Clubs International, one of the largest service organizations in the world, and is deeply committed to meeting the challenges of public service; currently, there are approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographic areas around the world; and WHEREAS, Lions are also recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired; this service began when Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become her "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness" during the Lions' 1925 International Convention; and WHEREAS, The Rome Lions Club has performed 8,313 vision screenings on the children of Rome resulting in being able to identify several of them with issues that require the earliest possible intervention to prevent permanent blindness; and WHEREAS, In great service to their community, the Rome Lions Club has established service projects now being modeled by other Lions Clubs in District 20Y for their efforts to support literacy in children; and WHEREAS, The Rome Lions Club established the most vibrant Lions Club in District 20Y, helping to provide opportunities for leadership development, community outreach, and overall personal development for their community's children; and WHEREAS, The success of the Rome Lions Club is in direct correlation to the efforts of its members, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the organization and the community it serves; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend the Rome Lions Club upon the occasion of celebrating its 70th Anniversary, and to honor its members, past and present, who have labored so conscientiously to secure and improve the quality of life in the community; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Rome Lions Club.