Lions Club of Kingston
"In Our 70th Year of Service to Lionism"
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Current and past PRESIDENTS OF THE KINGSTON LIONS:
Al Reina * 1941-42
Ernest DuBois * 1942-43
Roger B. Schwartz * 1943-44
Bert Bishop * 1944-45
Rabbi Herbert I. Bloom * 1945-46
George E. Yerry * 1946-47
Walter Donnaruma* 1947-48
Francis Martocci * 1948-49
Theodore R. Lee * 1949-50
C. Robert Cousins * 1950-51
Alwin Feuerstein * 1951-52
Robert E. Teetsel * 1952-53
William R. Stall * 1953-54
Lawrence M. Jenson* 1954-55
Harry Gold * 1955-56
Warren F. Smith * 1956-57
J. Wilson Tinney 1957-58
George Svirsky* 1958-59
Donald E. Briggs* 1959-60
Richard M. Kalish * 1960-61
Stephen T. McGrath, DMD * 1961-62
Stuart E. Munson* 1962-63
Joseph D. Scholar, Jr.* 1963-64
John G. Reynolds * 1964-65
Karl L. Pitcock * 1965-66
John L. Feltham* 1966-67
John Holochuck* 1967-68
Meredith E. Morgan * 1968-69
Thomas W. Henebery * 1969-70
Alfred J. Brocco* 1970-71
Francis Kugelman, Jr.* 1971-72
Richard R. Fredenberg * 1972-73
Ellsworth L. Johnson 1973-74
Brian D. Smith * 1974-75
Charles Schaller* 1975-76
Clifford V. Bunting * 1976-77
Paul H. Johnson 1977-78
Frank Fabbie * 1978-79
Ronald J. Lifshin * 1979-80
Arthur G. Crist * 1980-81
Milton Reynolds * 1981-82
Ralph Biche * 1982-83
Edward Levine 1983-84
Lewis Kirschner 1984-85
Joseph M. Ingarra, Esq. 1985-86
John Mizerak 1986-87
Peter A. Incalcaterra 1987-88
Carlo N. Castiglione 1988-89
Dorris Dabney, Jr. 1989-90
Bernhardt Kramer * 1990-91
Donald H. Short 1991-92
Mary E. McMickle 1992-93
Kevin Gilfeather 1993-94
John H. Burlingham 1994-95
Diane Wiegand 1995-96
Theodore W. Zager 1996-97
DianaLou Wolff 1997-98
Steven A. Fischer 1998-99
Robert J. Gaus 1999-00
Cheryl A. Alger* 2000-01
Laurie A. Kelley 2001-02
Hildy Meissner 2002-03
John Macaluso 2003-04
Charlet Wenzel 2004-06
Daniel Terpening 2006-07
Nancy L. Rafter 2007-08
Nancy L. Rafter 2008-09
Dorris Dabney, Jr. 2009-10
John H. Burlingham 2010-12
Daniel Terpening 2012-13
(*) deceased

Robert E. Teetsel Lions Service Award:
Formerly the "Lion of the Year" Community Service Award and the President's Award

This award is an annual presentation by the Kingston Lions Club to a member who has given outstanding service over the years, to the Club, the community, and to the aims and objectives of Lions International. Since 1993, the award is named in memory of the late Robert E. Teetsel, for his many years of faithful service to the Kingston Lions Club.
Matthias G. Richardson 1974-75
Lawrence M. Jenson 1975-76
Richard Kalish 1976-77
Clifford V. Bunting 1977-78
Joseph D. Scholar, Jr. 1978-79
William R. Stall 1979-80
Frank Fabbie 1980-81
John Ferguson 1981-82
John G. Reynolds 1982-83
Ralph T. Sisco 1983-84
Everett Hodge 1984-85
Ellsworth L. Johnson 1985-86
Alfred J. Brocco 1986-87
Anthony F. Turck 1987-88
Dennis W. Robinson 1988-89
Peter A. Incalcaterra 1989-90
Carlo H. Castiglione 1990-91   Diane Wiegand 2007-08
Lewis C. Kirschner 1991-92   Hildy Meissner 2009-10
Dorris D. Dabney, Jr 1992-93   Daniel Terpening 2010-11
Arthur G. Crist 1993-94   Joseph Thurin 2011-12
Robert J. Gaus 1994-95      
Dina Zager 1995-96      
Edward Levine 1996-97      
Mary E. McMickle 1997-98      
George Svirsky 1998-99      
John H. Burlingham 1999-00      
Steven A. Fischer 2000-01      
Kevin Gilfeather 2001-02      
Dr. Lewis M. Neporent 2002-03      
Thomas Keehn 2003-04      
Walter C. Maxwell 2004-05      
John Macaluso 2005-06      

Melvin Jones Fellows:
The Melvin Jones Fellowship is a recognition of humanitarian work, a Fellow is an honor presented by Lions International to those members, non-members or clubs who contribute $1,000 to the International Lions Foundation.
John G. Reynolds 1991
William R. Stall 1991
Alfred J. Brocco 1994
Peter A. Incalcaterra 1994
Lewis C. Kirschner 1994
Joseph D. Scholar, Jr. 1994
Ralph T. Sisco 1994
Dorris D. Dabney, Jr 1995
Ellsworth L. Johnson 1995
Robert J. Gaus 1996
Edward Levine 1996
Mary E. McMickle 1996
Dr. Lewis M. Neporent 1996
Harry Gold 1997
Dina Zager 1997
Joseph M. Ingarra, Esq. 1998
George Svirsky 1998
John H. Burlingham 1999
DianaLou Wolff 1999
Kevin Gilfeather 2000
Bernhardt Kramer 2001
Theodore W. Zager 2001
Carolyn Short 2002
Theodore W. Zager * 2002
Joseph S. Thurin 2003
Walter C. Maxwell 2004
Charlet Wenzel 2005
Robert J. Gaus* 2005
(*) progressive Melvin Jones

Robert J. Uplinger Award:
Established in 1993 by THE NEW YORK STATE AND BERMUDA LIONS FOUNDATION, INC., the award honors outstanding Lions and non-Lions or organizations who perform exemplary service to a Club, district, or community. These honorees possess the highest examples of Lionistic character, ideals, purpose, and service. The award cannot be purchased by an individual-it must be presented as a recognition of the recipient's service.
                                                                              (*) progressive Robert J. Uplinger Award
Arthur G. Crist 1995
William R. Stall 1996
Walter C. Maxwell 2000
Connimarie Zager 2000
Dina Zager 2001
John H. Burlingham 2002
Theodore W. Zager 2002
Hans Meissner 2003   Doris J. Dabney 2008
George Voegler 2003   Joseph S. Thurin 2009
Alfred J. Brocco 2004   Walter C Maxwell* 2010
Hildy Meissner 2004   Richard Sturmer 2011
Carolyn Short 2005   Thomas Keehn 2012
Hildy Meissner* 2006      
Nancy L Rafter 2007      
Lions Club of Kingston Projects & Programs

SIGHT CONSERVATION AND BLIND PROJECTS: (More than $299,906)
In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions International Convention. At that time she challenged the Lions to become "Knights Of The Blind". The Lions took up the challenge and adopted sight and blind projects as a major objective of Lions Clubs everywhere. Their activities in this field have been outstanding world-wide. The Kingston Lions are no exception. From the beginning, they have been leaders in this important work. Below is a partial list of some of the activities and concerns of the Kingston Lions Club:
  • Purchased radios for the blind
  • Pre-school visual screening
  • Provided white canes
  • Gave Thanksgiving dinners
  • Funded eye operations
  • Gave Braille Scout handbooks
  • Collected eye glasses
  • Funds to Sight Conservation Society of NY
  • Gave Christmas parties
  • Funds to Blind Commission
  • Furnished Braille typewriters
  • Furnished Braille books
  • Furnished talking books
  • Furnished Braille watches sponsored SEEC Club
  • Eye care - school nurses
  • Amblyopia screening
  • Established local eye bank
  • Gave summer picnics
  • Gave glaucoma screening
  • Funds - Vacation Camp for blind

SEEC CLUB:
In 1966 the Kingston Lions Club, under the leadership of Karl Pitcock sponsored and helped organize the SEEC Club of Kingston. He was assisted in this project by Dorrey Hamma, herself a blind person. The name 'SEEC' is derived from the first letters of the words that describe its objectives: Social - Economic - Educational - Cultural. Its success has been outstanding. SEEC elects its officers and holds monthly meetings at Kingston's VFW hall. Lions Club members provide transportation for the meetings, act in an advisory capacity and are there to help with refreshments etc. Each year the Kingston Lions sponsor a picnic for SEEC at a local park. Lions cook and serve the food and help out with the entertainment. Another annual event for SEEC is the Thanksgiving/ Holiday Luncheon. The Lions furnish the transportation and entertainment.

THE EYE BANK:
In 1954, under the leadership of Lion Bob Teetsel, the Kingston Lions embarked upon a program of obtaining pledges from local citizens, donating their eyes, after death, to be used in cornea transplant operations. The Lions have professionals remove the eyes after death and see to it that they are delivered to the Sight conservation Society of Northeastern New York where they are used in cornea transplant operations. Past President Charles Schaller received a service award from the Kingston Lions Club for his outstanding work in delivering the donated eyes. When the Kingston Lions launched this project, they promoted it with the slogan, "Let Your Eyes Live After You." The success of the program has been phenomenal. In the beginning many Kingston Lions thought that if, as a result of their efforts, just one person could see again, the entire project would be a success. What is the value of eyesight? It is worth more than all the money in the world. To date, over 150 pairs of eyes have been provided. The City of Kingston and its Lions Club can indeed be proud.

CIVIC IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY BETTERMENT: (More than $124,611)
  • Reactivated Chamber of Commerce
  • Interchange Beautification
  • Refurbished City Rec. Center
  • Kingston Trash Baskets
  • Kingston Lions Community Center
  • Sprayed Kingston Trees
  • Sponsored Kingston Planning Board
  • Kingston Area Community Chest
  • Cerebral Palsy Clinic
  • Children's Rehab. Center
  • Harry Thayer Memorial Park
  • Participated in citywide Spring clean-up

KINGSTON AREA COMMUNITY CHEST:
In 1954, the Kingston Lions Club, along with three other service clubs founded the Kingston Area Community Chest. The organizational committee consisted of the four service club presidents. They were: N. Jansen Fowler, Lawrence Bogart, William R. Stall, and Robert Stedge for Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, and Jr. Chamber of Commerce respectively. The Community Chest later became the United Way of Ulster County. The Kingston Lions Club has been the most generous of the service clubs in funding it. The Club has also furnished manpower for the organization, both in the office of President and Campaign Chairman. Lion Richard R. Fredenberg served as Executive Director for many years.

CEREBRAL PALSY CLINIC:
Under the leadership of Lion Dr. Henry L. Bibby, the Ulster County Cerebral Palsy Clinic was organized. The Kingston Lions Club furnished the seed money ($3,500) to get the clinic started and has furnished manpower and money over the years. The center was re-named the CHILDREN'S REHABILITATION CENTER and, more recently re-named the COMMUNITY REHABILITATION CENTER. The latest contribution by the Kingston Lions to their building fund was $10,000.

THAYER PARK:
Lion William Lorenzen organized a project to create a picnic park on unused County property adjacent to Thruway Exit #19 at Kingston. The park provided picnic facilities especially for those who travel the Thruway and Route 28 and who may visit Kingston and make use of the Information Caboose nearby. The Lions built the picnic tables, constructed the concrete platforms for them and installed charcoal grills for cooking. While in operation, the park was known as the Harry Thayer Memorial Park, in memory of a local radio station owner and commentator.

BOYS & GIRLS COMMITTEE - (YOUTH OUTREACH): (More than $377,431)
  • 4-H Clubs
  • Junior Olympics
  • High School Awards Dinners Kingston Boy's Club Christmas Parties
  • Boy Scouts R.V. Council Juvenile Safety Field Day
  • Habitat for Humanity sponsorship
  • Special Olympics
  • Kingston High School Choir
  • Big Brothers & Big Sisters
  • Project Climb
  • Lions Junior Drum Corps
  • YMCA Camperships
  • Youth Exchange Program
  • Sponsor - Little League Teams New Century Baptist Ch. Nursery
  • Children's Library
  • Boy Scout Troop 63
  • Auto Youth Safety Program
  • Project Step
  • ARC Camperships
  • Kingston Children's Home
  • Camp Badger
  • Kingston Kinderland
  • Holiday Gifts for Needy families
  • Forsythe Nature Center

THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARY:
Under the leadership of Lion Jack Reynolds, the Kingston Lions Club created and financed the Children's Library in conjunction with the Kingston Area Library. The Children's Library was housed in a dwelling which stood on property adjacent to the Kingston Area Library on Broadway, Kingston. The Club paid for the property and improvements as well as the furniture and fixtures to make it a suitable library for children. (The Club spent over $7,500 on the project.) The Kingston Lions can be proud of the success of this project.

SPEECH AND HEARING: (More than $28,770)
At the 1970 New York State Lions Convention in Lake Placid, N.Y., the Lions voted to make the Ithaca Speech and Hearing Clinic the official New York State Lions Project. Since that time, the Kingston Lions Club has been the leader in District 20-0 in support of the clinic. They have contributed many thousands of dollars in financial support and also have sent work crews to Camp Badger to work on the cabins and help in the Spring cleanup of the camp grounds. During the summer, school children receive expert and professional treatment and rehabilitation for speech and hearing defects. The facility has been named 'Camp Badger' in memory of its founder, Edward T. Badger. The clinic is fully accredited by the New York State Education Department.

KINGSTON LIONS SUPPORT MISC. FUND DRIVES: (More than $190,800)
  • Kingston Hospital Foundation
  • Benedictine Hospital Foundation
  • Children's Library
  • American Red Cross
  • City of Kingston
  • YMCA Bldg. Fund
  • Kingston Boy's & Girl's Club
  • Children's Rehabilitation Center
  • Lions Eye Institute in Albany
  • Empire Speech & Hearing

DIABETES & HEALTH ACTIVITIES: (More than $137,685)
Health Activities have always been of high priority of the Kingston Lions. The Club has given strong support to the following:
  • American Red Cross
  • Cancer Crusade
  • American Cancer Society
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Diabetes Awareness Projects
  • Family of Woodstock
  • Health screening projects
  • Ulster Home Health Services
  • U.C. TB & Health Assn.
  • Catskill Region TB & Health Assn.
  • Mid-Hudson Heart Assn.
  • Ulster Co. Heart Assn.

SCHOLARSHIPS: (More than $317,950)
A continuing project of the Kingston Lions Club has been college scholarships for deserving High School graduates. The Club has also supported the Ulster County Community College Work/Study Program. Every year the Club has presented scholarships based on academic achievement. During the past two years, the Club has changed its policy of basing scholarships on academic achievement alone and instead has been granting scholarships to worthy students who have physical disabilities. 

KINGSTON LIONS CLUB EXPOSITIONS:
The principle money maker for the Club has been its annual Exposition and Home Show known as "Kingston Area On Parade". The first six years were lean ones for the young Club. Funds were scarce and there was little that the Lions could do for the community without a dependable source of income. The idea of producing an Exposition and Home Show developed into action in 1948. The first Expo committee was chaired by Lion Larry MacAvery and Clifford V. Bunting was Vice Chairman. Other committee members were: Ernest J. DuBois, Alwin 'Sarge' Feuerstein, Schuyler C. Schultz, Jr., and William R. Stall. Expo '48 opened its doors at Kingston's Municipal Auditorium on March 9th of that year to enthusiastic crowds. There were 37 10 x 12 colorfully decorated booths with a wide variety of displays. The price of admission was ten cents. New York City entertainers were featured each night with a different vaudeville act. Door prizes were a popular feature. Early in the planning stage, chairman MacAvery was hospitalized with an operation. Vice Chairman Bunting did an outstanding job of making the show a success. That first Expo netted a profit of $3,400. (This would be equivalent to about $34,000 today.) Our Club had never had so much money. The Kingston Lions Club had truly 'come of Age'! Success followed success. The Expo became an annual event that was looked forward to by the entire community. The rest is history. In recognition of the outstanding job he did on the first Expo, Bunting was made chairman of Expo '49. That year the show moved out to the NYS Armory on Manor Ave. It opened with almost 100 booths and a large section of floor space featuring an auto show. The attendance swelled to over 15,000. Experts in the business have told us that the average life of this type of show is about three years. After 57 successful Expos to date, the Kingston Lions must be doing something right. For many years the Expo carried the name "Kingston Area On Parade". Later, some of the shows developed "themes" that were used in advertising. Some of the more popular ones were: "Gracious Living" '61; "Our Town" '70; "Silver Jubilee" '72; "Happiness Is" '74; "Spirit of '76"; "Swing Into Spring" '80; "Good Old Days" '82; "Let Liberty Prevail" '85; "Our 40th Year - It's A Giant Year" '87; "Jump Into Spring" '88; "Salute To The American Family" '89; "Salute to America" '91. Every year Kingstonians know that spring has arrived when they observe the Kingston Lions dressed in their gold vests and caps at the various shopping areas selling 'Advance Sale' tickets for Expo. These advance sales have been very successful. Some years, more than 10,000 tickets have been sold before the show opened. The Expo has traditionally filled the Armory gymnasium, drill shed and food concession areas. Nightly entertainment is a continuing feature and attendance figures usually exceed 15,000 persons. More recently the shows ran nightly, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and during the day on Saturday. Many exhibitors offer valuable prizes and the Club offers valuable door prizes. In Expo '91, the grand prize was an automobile. The annual Expo ran Saturday & Sunday in March each year at the Hudson Valley Mall. 2011 was the last year for the EXPO.

KINGSTON LIONS CLUB FOUNDATION INC.:
When the Kingston Lions Club sold the Community Center property, the funds derived there from were used to establish the Kingston Lions Club Foundation, Inc. as a separate corporation with a Board of nine Kingston Lions as Directors. Any member of the Kingston Lions Club may be a member of the Foundation by signing the Foundation roster.

The Kingston Lions Club Foundation, Inc. was incorporated April 3, 1986. Shortly thereafter it received approval from the Internal Revenue Service to operate as an approved 501 (c) (3) charitable foundation. All contributions to the Kingston Lions Club Foundation are fully tax deductible.

The mission of the foundation is to disburse all investment income to worthwhile charities each year. Grants on a 'matching fund' basis are used as a catalyst to encourage new programs and directions or to provide equipment not in the day-to-day budget of the beneficiary organization. Grants are not made to support on-going programs.

The criteria for these grants are:

  • Generally to organizations in Ulster County, New York
  • Aid for the sight-impaired, persons with speech and hearing defects, physically handicapped and other projects that Lions Clubs typically support.
  • Grants cannot be made for day-to-day operating expenses, scholarships, or to reduce debt.
  • Grants will be made only to tax-exempt or not-for-profit organizations.
  • Grants will be made only to organizations and projects that do not discriminate on the grounds of race, sex, religion or nationality.

As of June 30, 2012, the Foundation has made a total of 120 grants for a total of $136,864 for new programs and unbudgeted items for the following worthy organizations -  Benedictine Hospital - Big Brothers & Big Sisters - Children's Home Of Kingston - Children's Rehabilitation - Empire State Speech and Hearing Clinic - Family of Woodstock - Gateway Community Industries - Holly's Comets - Kingston Area Library - Kingston Boy's & Girl's Club - Project Climb (Chambers School) - Rip Van Winkle Council Boy Scouts - Boy Scout Troop 63 - Ronald McDonald House - Ulster Home Health Service - Ulster Performing Arts Center - United Way of Ulster County - YMCA Of Kingston.

In addition to receiving some assistance from the fund-raising activities of the Kingston Lions Club, the Foundation has received memorial contributions in memory of many loved ones. The public is encouraged to remember the Kingston Lions Club Foundation when making special gifts, memorials, and bequests.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CLUB'S CHARTER?
The charter which is issued by Lions International and presented to each Lions Club at its Charter Night Dinner, is a large, impressive document, framed under glass. Lions Clubs highly prize their Charter and bring it out on special occasions for display.

Our Club was no exception. On the occasion of the visit of Admiral Richard Byrd, in 1941, the Charter was on display. The Club saw fit to make Admiral Byrd an honorary member and his signature was added to those of the Charter members on the document.

Manuel (Al) Reina, the Charter President of the Club, kept the Charter in his office for safekeeping. However, when he terminated his business in Kingston and retired to Florida, he neglected to move his belongings out of his rented office on Franklin Street. In cleaning up the premises, the landlord took the Charter down from the wall and disposed of it with the trash.

And so, friends, even though its Charter has gone the way of trash, the Lions Club of Kingston, New York, is alive and well and is proud of its 60+ year history of service to the residents of Kingston and to mankind throughout the world.

THE TIME CAPSULE:
On Sunday, July 7, 1991, (Exactly 50 years to the day, from its Charter Night), the Kingston Lions Club will put down a 100-year Time Capsule in the grounds of the Ulster County Court House on Wall Street, Kingston, N.Y. The capsule, containing some interesting trivia, is to be opened in the year 2091 - marking the 150th Anniversary of the Lions Club of Kingston, New York.

THE ROAR'N PRIDE:
For years, it was generally conceded that the Club was large enough to have its own band; but no one was ever sufficiently interested to explore the possibility. Then in the fall of 1988, Past Presidents Scholar and Incalcaterra initiated a recruitment program in earnest. Successful 'auditions' were contingent upon positive responses to three questions: have you ever played a musical instrument, do you still have it, and can you spell band?

The first rehearsals were gruesome and grueling. However, under the patient leadership of Peter Incalcaterra, the small group of two trumpets, three saxes and piano persist tenaciously. Three months later...

The Kingston Lion Club Band, showing more guts than talent, had its premier performance at the St. Valentines Spouses Night Dinner Meeting. The rest is history!

Since that humble beginning, the Roar'n Pride has grown to seventeen members, including a full percussion section. It has performed in several parades, for most of the other Lions Clubs in the zone, at a couple of senior citizen functions, for the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce. For more information call Tom Keehn the band director at  845-679-7127.

If commitment and dedication are indicators for success, then there can be little doubt that a bright future lies ahead for the Roar'n Pride.

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