Breaking from Eight Decades of Tradition, The OCLC Holds First Evening Meeting August 1

The public is invited to come tonight to learn more about the world's largest service organization

For the first time in 88 years, the Oak Cliff Lions Club is introducing a dinner meeting. 

“I realize this is a new and different concept and I hope you will take advantage of this unique venue,” says newly-installed Oak Cliff Lions Club President John McCall Jr. His reign began June 29, 2017 with the Lions Club’s annual Installation Banquet, and McCall plans to try a few new tweaks to help grow the club. Oak Cliff used to boast the largest Lions Club in the world. It is still one of the largest with more than 100 members.

The dinner meeting will be Tuesday, August 1, at LA CALLE DOLCE on 12th St. in the back private dining room. A special menu will be offered, and Happy Hour prices for Margaritas will be available for the first hour. 

The Oak Cliff Lions Club of Dallas is a member of Lions Clubs International, the World’s largest service Club’s organization with over 1.3 million members in nearly 46,000 Clubs and 750 Districts in some 193 countries and geographic areas of the World.

The Motto of the organization is “We Serve.” Lions are “Knights of the Blind,” as labeled by blind teacher Helen Keller, a key founder of the organization. The local club provides free monthly eye clinics and exams for the uninsured and underinsured, and new eye glasses for school children whose parents can't afford them.  

The objectives are the club include:

• To create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world.
• To promote the principles of good government and good citizenship.
• To take an active interest in the civic, cultural social and moral welfare of the community.
• To unite the members in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding.
• To provide a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however, that Club members shall not debate partisan politics and sectarian religion.
• To encourage service-minded people to serve their community without personal financial reward and to encourage efficiency and promote high ethical standards in commerce, industry, professions, public works and private endeavors.

For more than eight decades the Oak Cliff Lions Club has met for a weekly noon lunch on Wednesdays, most recently at the Methodist Health Center’s Weiss auditorium. Recognizing that not everyone who wants to join the club can attend these noon meetings, McCall searched for a place to have a monthly evening meeting.

The pay-as-you-go evening meeting is open to the public, and a speaker is coming to update the group on the Kidney Foundation’s work to help those with kidney issues.

The regular Wednesday Club meetings are from 12:10 – 12:55 PM every Wednesday. Guests are welcome.

Martin L. Koonsman, MD, FACS, is president of Methodist Dallas Medical Center, is the speaker this week. He has been practicing medicine for 27 years as a general surgeon. Prior to be named president, he served as the chief medical officer for Methodist Dallas, working with all medical staff to advance the quality of care provided and services offered.

For more information see the club’s website: www.oakclifflions.com

Questions? Call Sara Kitto at (214) 943-9725 or contact any board member listed below:

President John McCall Jr. john@attorneymccall.com

1st VP Tasie Semos aksemos@sbcglobal.net

2nd VP Diana Ezzell diana.ezzell@yahoo.com

3rd VP Paul Nielsen pauln@texaspnc.com

Secretary Nia MacKay niamackay@aol.com

Treasurer Stan Altschuler alt7811@sbcglobal.net

Chaplain Judy Porter judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

Lion Tamer Brooks Morrow brooks.morrow@lpl.com

Tail Twister Perry Flowers  perryflowers@ebby.com