Dear Lions, Lioness & Leos of MD33:

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as President of Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund, Inc.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have given me their support; my club - the Hinsdale Lions Club, MLERF Board and especially my wife, Ann.  I am looking forward to this year with much enthusiasm and dedication.

We must continue to dedicate ourselves to being the Knights of the Blind as Helen Heller challenged us to do in 1925.   We were a fairly young organization then – only 8 years old – and Helen was representing another young organization, The American Foundation for The Blind.  Its object was to make the lives of the blind more worthwhile everywhere by increasing their economic value and giving them the joy of normal activity.  Helen asked the Lions to hasten the day when there would be no preventable blindness.  Have we met that challenge?  Do our newest Lions understand that challenge?  One way that we can continue to meet that challenge is by raising money and donating it to Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund, Inc..   We must go forth and raise as many dollars as we possibly can.

All the funds that we raise are given out in the form of grants to the research laboratories and facilities in Massachusetts.  These grants have been used by the facilities to make new discoveries in eye disease, pioneer instrumentation used for both surgery and diagnostic purposes, and to study ways to eradicate and prevent blindness worldwide.  I know when I listen to the research doctors speak about the incredible, almost futuristic sounding advancements in eye health and eye disease treatments, it motivates me and makes me so proud to be a Lion.  

The "Pennies for Sight" canister drive is a great and simple way to raise funds for Eye Research also.  Please encourage the Lions in your club to put out Pennies for Sight canisters in your community. 

I would like to thank all the clubs for their donations during 2006-2007; every dollar counts towards reaching our goal.  Let’s strive to reach “The Million Dollar Mark” again in Multiple District 33.  We have proven we can do it.  With determination, focus and hard work, together we can do it again!  In closing, I hope you all have a great year.

Yours in Lionism,

Paul E. Snow, PDG 33Y, PCC

President MLERFI 2007-2008