By LAURA BROOKHART / Community Columnist

The Helena Lions Club has been officially chartered and is looking to further recruit more charter members within the next 90 days.

Lions Clubs International, founded in 1917, is the world’s largest service club with more than 1.35 million members worldwide. The state of Alabama has three districts, each with approximately 50 clubs.

Each club is autonomous and may choose projects and activities that fit the lifestyle of its members and impacts the community the greatest. Currently under consideration for the Helena chapter are vision screenings/eye tests for HES students who cannot afford such and/or providing lab equipment for the new HHS.

At a recent meeting, Mayor Mark Hall addressed the organization saying, “There’s nothing that speaks better for your community than to have active service organizations.”

Hall recapped other community progress of the past two years including making the city more solvent and improving services without relying on tax increases. He noted many improvements in Parks and Recreation implemented with the $180,000 bond refinance and that includes the youth football and soccer field that has just been finished.

He also addressed the upcoming EPA mandates that must be met by the Utility Board to correct wastewater issues.

Hall told the club that the community would welcome the Lions Club assistance with eyeglasses and hearing aids for local children as well as community counseling and more resource services for those depressed about the job economy, as that was the underlying issue with the most of the 18 suicides Helena has seen over the past three years.

Local lawyer, Emmanuel Scozzaro is president of the Helena Lions Club chapter; Dr. Jamie Reid is vice-president and Bill May will serve as secretary/treasurer.

“We will continue open enrollment for new charter members who have a heart for serving this community,” Kristi Scozzaro, membership chairman, said. “For an application, please call me at 965-3977.”

The Lions Club will hold a Bell Ringer program during the Helena’s First Friday in November.

The newly formed Helena Lions Club will meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (usually at the Sports Complex) from 7– 8 p.m.