The
Lions Club of Tavistock was formed in 1976 by a nucleus of around 12
people most of whom were employed by the then West Devon District
Council. Membership, which now stands at 42 people (both male and female
from all walks of life), is by invitation only. The lower age limit is
18 with no upper limit and in fact there is one club member who is soon to celebrate his 93rd birthday.
The principal activity of the club is to raise money within the local
community for distribution to needy causes locally, nationally and
internationally. The Lions Club of Tavistock has a formally registered
charity with the Charity Commission (Charity No. 1128788).
It is estimated that over £380,000 has been raised since the
formation of the club in 1976 with donations being made to organisations
such as local colleges, schools and pre-school groups and youth
organisations such as the Scouts, Guides and junior football and cricket
clubs as well as local and national charities.
Local charities such as Children's Hospice Southwest, St.
Luke's Hospice, British Heart Foundation and the Dartmoor
Rescue Group have also benefited with donations from the Club. Lions
Clubs do tend to concentrate on fund raising for their local community
but donations are often made to the Lions Clubs International Foundation
(LCIF), which is involved with relief effort all over the world
especially where there has been a major disaster such as an earthquake
or flooding.
Much work has also been done over the years with
the visually impaired such as establishing glaucoma screening clinics in
third world countries and providing spectacles made up from recycled
lenses that are no longer required by the original wearer. The Lions
introduced the familiar white sticks carried by some blind people and
the Tavistock Lions Club have also financed 4 guide dogs for use in the
local community.
Tavistock Lions meet at the Tavy Club, Tavistock
with the kind permission of Sally Perkins, the Landlady. The general
club meetings are held at 7.30pm on the second Monday of every month and this is preceded on the same night by the Directors meeting at 6.30pm. The Board of
Directors is made up of the principal officers of the club namely the
President, Vice Presidents of which there can be 3, the immediate past
President, the secretary, treasurer, community service, membership,
social and activities chairmen and the press officer. The Activities committee meets in the same venue on the third Monday of the month and the Community Services committee on the fourth Monday | 
