Calendar of Events

  • MD-4 Convention, Friday through Sunday, February 3-5, in Ontario, CA
  • Student Speaker Contest on Tuesday, February 14, at South Hills Country Club
  • Flag Day at local elementary schools on Thursday and Friday, February 16 and 17
  • Lions City of Hope Day on Sunday, March 25
  • District 4-L2 Convention, Thursday through Saturday, May 10-12, at Doral Resort in Palm Springs
  • 42nd Annual Night on the Town on Wednesday, May 23

The President's Corner

Fred Sykes is the 2011-2012 West Covina Lions Club President.

I am very proud to serve as 2011-12 President of the West Covina Lions Club. For me, the Club is an extension of my character and goals as a citizen of the world.

I am a retired Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff, a community activist, and a City of West Covina Councilmember. I have served my community my entire adult life. Being a Lion enhances my ability to serve.

The West Covina Lions Club is a community-based service organization. A few examples of our community support include the West Covina High School teen Leos Club, Meals on Wheels, student scholarships, YWCA WINGS Domestic Violence Shelter, East Valley Community Health Center, Canine Companions for Independence, and many other organizations that serve human needs.

We also participate in a worldwide network through the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF), serving people where help is needed. The following are some examples of our projects:

  • Lions have planted more than 7 million trees globally in less than one year.
  • On January 4, 2012, LCIF partnered with the World Health Organization to aid global efforts to fight blindness caused by diabetes and other conditions.
  • LCIF joined with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners in the Measles Initiative. It helps protect children from measles and strengthens routine immunizations in four African countries. Since 2001, more than 700 million children have been vaccinated. Measles deaths have been reduced by 78% globally, compared to the year 2000. This Initiative saves a life for less that $1.00 US.
  • Lions have provided emergency response to people impacted by earthquakes (Haiti), tsunamis (Japan), and explosions (San Bruno, CA).

To learn more about West Covina Lions, we invite you to review this website, contact us, and attend our weekly meetings at West Covina South Hills Country Club.


Lion President Fred Sykes

Who We Are

Chartered in 1925, the West Covina Lions Club has a long history of serving and improving our community. We are a large club with members who are community leaders and business people.

West Covina Lions support local programs that improve health, nurture youth, promote education and literacy, assist seniors, and support individuals with disabilities.

We sponsor the West Covina High School Leos, a teen Lions club. These students also serve our community through their own projects and Lions activities. As they serve, Leos gain invaluable experience and leadership training.

We reach out to the world through international projects. Our club contributes to Campaign Sight First, a Lions International program created to eradicate preventable blindness worldwide. Lions are renowned for recycling used eyeglasses, which are re-distributed worldwide.

Testimonials

"It was like having a piece of wax paper on my eyes all the time." This is Teresa Faulkner's description of the world as seen through cataracts.

Every October, West Covina Lions sponsor their annual free Eye and Hearing Screening on White Cane Day. Screenings are performed on a Saturday in the Lions Eye Mobile. At the suggestion of a friend, Teresa came to have her eyes tested.

Her cataracts had been diagnosed by an eye care professional several months earlier. At that time, she was informed that surgery would cost thousands of dollars for each eye. "We just couldn't afford the surgery on our income and we have no insurance," she explained.

During her eye screening, West Covina Lion David Hill, an optometrist, confirmed her need for surgery. Given her financial circumstances, Dr. Hill gave her Lions Eye Institute forms to complete. As an area resident, Teresa was eligible for financial assistance from Lions. Our organization covered the entire cost of her surgery.

Within two weeks of her screening, Dr. Hill had arranged for the Pacific Eye Institute to remove the cataract from her right eye. Several months later, the cataract in her other eye was also removed. Then West Covina Lions provided her with a complete eye exam and glasses as part of the post surgery care.

With tears of gratitude, Teresa said, "The best part is that before the surgery, my grandchildren's faces were a blur. After the surgery, I saw my grandson's navy blue eyes and my granddaughter's dimples for the first time."

Upcoming Events

Thirty Years of Jokes--Sam's Creative Fundraiser


Harold "Sam" Swartz became a West Covina Lion in October of 1974. He quickly became known for the jokes he told during Tailtwisting--the fundraising portion of weekly meetings. With great regularity, Lion Sam volunteered to tell a "true story" (synonym for joke). Many members would pay to hear it and some would pay NOT to hear it. All "payments" went into the Tailtwisting Pot to provide funds for the Club's administrative expenses. Everyone loved Sam's true stories.

In recent years, Sam has become too ill to attend meetings and members have missed his jokes.

To remedy the problem, Sam published a book of his favorite jokes. Among the many he included were these:

Why did the couple have to get rid of their water bed?
They were drifting apart.

Why did the Lobster get a divorce?
He was married to a crab.

What kind of dots can dance?
Polka dots.

Sam dedicated his "Thirty Years of Joke Telling" book to his dear wife, Evelyn. Then he sold the book to fellow Lions for any contribution of $20 or more. Sam covered the cost of publication and donated the $365 in proceeds to the West Covina Lions Foundation.

What a great fundraising idea from a loyal Lion.