聽 聽 聽The Carlyle & District Lions Club's 24th annual supper, raffle and auction packed the Carlyle Memorial Hall and raised $27,000 for local causes.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t's fabulous,鈥� says Lions member and event chairperson Wayne Wilson. 鈥淲e had a full house and we raised some money.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Over 200 people attended the March 5 event, which enables the Lions to support a variety of local causes and initiatives. For 51 years, the Club has donated funds to local, national and international concerns. However, money stemming from this event is reserved entirely for local use.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淎ll of the funds from this one go back to groups in our community and area,鈥� Wilson explained. 鈥淟ast year, we donated just over $43,000 to a total of eight or nine groups, and this year, we're happy to do it again.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 In the over two decades since the event was started, the local Lions have provided funding to the Crescent Point Leisure Complex, Lions Park, the Carlyle Sports Arena, the Carlyle Curling Rink, Carlyle Memorial Hall, the Carlyle Golf and Country Club, Carlyle Fire and Rescue, the Rusty Relics Museum, the Carlyle Library, Manor Rink, and others. In addition, the Lions Club has also offered assistance to individuals in need.
聽聽聽聽 The event-which has become a fixture on the Carlyle calendar for over 20 years- is not surprisingly, 鈥淪o well-organized,鈥� according to Lions member Myrla Holland.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淲ayne is our chief organizer,鈥� says Holland. 鈥淗e also introduced the application process a few years ago.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he application process allows organizations and groups to tell us what they need and what it will cost,鈥� she adds. 鈥淚t makes it easier for the Lions to decide how much to give and it makes sense for the recipients to request directly what their needs are.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 However, Holland stresses that the application process does not apply to any health-related or emergency situation, where the Lions Club may be called upon to assist.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚n those situations, people are not required to fill out an application. They should get in touch with a member of the Lions Club instead.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 This year, over 500 auction items and raffle prizes were donated by over 160 businesses, organizations, and individuals.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淓veryone is so generous,鈥� says Holland. 鈥淏ecause the community supports this fundraiser, it allows the Lions Club to give back to the community.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 This year, the Lions honoured one of their own, by hanging longtime member Gord Savill's Lions vest and pins in a place of honour in the Hall. Savill passed away in December 2014, and Wilson says, 鈥淕ord was a valued member of he Lions Club for over 50 years. He always had a joke or a case of beer for a work party. He is truly missed and we really wanted to honour him tonight.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 The Carlyle & District Lions also recognized the 20 years of service by auctioneer Ward Cutler. Cutler-who grew up in Carlyle- has returned to be the event's auctioneer for 20 years. Now a sought-after auctioneer and rodeo announcer on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, he makes a concerted effort to work at the Lions' event.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淭his is probably one of the last fundraising auctions that I do,鈥� says Cutler. 鈥淚 believe in what the Lions Club does here and all they put back into the community.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Cutler had to leave before the event was over in order to travel to a job the following day, but was surprised by a presentation from the Lions thanking him for his two decades of service to their cause.
聽聽聽聽聽 While presenting Cutler with a $1,000 gift voucher, Lion Keith Walker said, 鈥淗e's now a world-class auctioneer, but every year, he comes back to our fundraiser, and we just want him to know how much we appreciate it.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 After enthusiastic applause, a gracious Cutler acknowledged his mentor, auctioneer Ken Anderson, and said: 鈥淭his is where I got my start and I know I say it every year, but it is an honour and a pleasure to come back to this great community.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚've enjoyed every minute of it, and whether I'm in the U.S. or Canada, I know I have a great family and a great community. I am very proud to call Carlyle, Saskatchewan, home.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 After a buffet that included turkey, pork, and trifle for dessert, catered by Eileen Corrigan and Linda Chapman, Cutler led the auction action.
聽聽聽聽 One of the items up for bid inspired a letter from last year's successful bidder, which was read to the crowd. The letter praised Dennis Feduk's 'Pie of the Month Club' and the bidder said that this year, they聽 would let someone else enjoy such a special prize.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淭here's friendship baked into a golden delicious crust or Nanaimo bars, or homemade perogies...Dennis also delivers a smile, a kind word, a story from his travels near and far, or an ear to bend, no matter what you need.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 With over 500 live auction, silent auction, and raffle items, both auctioneer Cutler and a team of runners kept the event moving with humour and a sense of fun.
聽聽聽聽 Wilson says the Lions Club appreciates 鈥渆very bit of support we receive.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e had so many donations, that we used Jermey and Sonia Wilson's shop over the last few weeks to store them and organize them,鈥� he says.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淭here are so many thank yous to hand out for this event-our sponsors, our donors, our volunteers, everyone who buys a ticket to attend, our auctioneer, our caterers...There are just so many businesses, groups, and individuals to thank.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淣ext year will be our 25th auction and dinner,鈥� says Walker. 鈥淲e're really looking forward to that one. This evening has been excellent and we're hoping the next one will be, too.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淏ecause the community supports this one so well, the Lions can support the community.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Men and women are invited to join the Carlyle & District Lions Club. For more information, please contact a local Lions member.
