Wayland News

The Wayland Lions Club met on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the Wayland Community Center. President Marianne Pattyson called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Brian Pattyson gave the Invocation. The meeting was adjourned for all to enjoy the delicious meal catered by Alice Hochstetler.

When the meeting resumed, Carol Shumaker gave the treasurer?s report and secretary Gail Simmering gave the minutes of the previous meeting. A thank-you note from the Mississippi Valley Blood Center for the August Blood Drive was read by Secretary Simmering.

Membership Chairman and Leo representative Brian Pattyson informed the Wayland Lions that a WACO Leo banner would be presented to the WACO Leo Club at a ceremony at 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27, at the WACO High School. The WACO Leo Club is sponsored by the Wayland, Crawfordsville and Olds Lions clubs. They funded the purchase of the Leo banner.

Carole Martins, WACO Leo Club adviser, invited all three Lions clubs to take part in the ceremony. Carole informed the sponsoring Lions clubs that she would be awarding certificates to all the Leos which will recognize the hours they served their communities. The WACO Leo Club now boasts over 55 members due to Martins' efforts to involve the students in community projects to benefit the recipients and to build the character of the participating members.

The Wayland Lions approved a donation to the Iowa Lions Foundation that sponsors the programs of Iowa School for the Deaf, Puppy Program, Iowa Lions Hearing Aid Bank, Iowa Lions Eye Bank, Education for Blind Children (Braille Challenge), Iowa KidSight, and Cochlear Implant Center.

The 2014 fundraising activities for charity and other activities were listed for members? calendars: Easter Egg Hunt and KidSight in April, blood drive in June, pancake breakfast on July 4, potential car show in August, September rose sale, and fruit sale in December.

The formal meeting adjourned and guest speakers Police Chief Ron Roth and his wife, Barbi, outlined the history of the Wayland Youth Center. Ron and Barbi implemented the youth program eight years ago with eight other interested members of the Wayland community who wanted to establish a location where the youth of Wayland could gather for socializing. The Wayland Youth Center is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The police chief stressed that volunteers are needed to open the center more days of the week to meet the social requirements that are important for the youth to build positive relationships and contribute their talents to their community. It should be mentioned that Candie Arbogast and Connie Freyenberger have been an instrumental part of the Wayland Youth Center from its inception by volunteering to chaperone during the scheduled days and hours.

Those interested in volunteering a few hours a week may contact Ron Roth at 319-256-3276 or at the Wayland Youth Center during the times the center is open as listed above.

The Wayland Lions Club expressed its appreciation for the Wayland Youth Center?s great collective efforts to keep the community strong with youth involvement.