Community Update

The New London Lions Club has turned 90 years old. The Club was chartered August 1922, sponsored by Lions International Clubs.
A celebration of its 90th Anniversary will be held Tuesday evening at the Groton Inn & Suites, Gold Star Highway, Groton, CT. Festivities begin at 6:00 PM. Our Keynote Speaker is Past International Director Scott Storms, of the Windsor Locks Lions Club.
Emcee for the night will be Alexis Ann, Founder of the Resident, a magazine distributed throughout the state.
Tickets can be obtained at the door or contact Tom Santos, Chairman, at 860-599-5067 or email santostom@comcast.net.
The New London Lions Club was organized August 5, 1922, sponsored by Lions Clubs International. During the past 90 years, the oldest club in District 23-C, has been serving the New London community and communities throughout the world. These Lions have collected thousands of pairs of eye glasses and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars which has enabled them to support worthy causes such as the Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation was well as the blind in their community
The Lions are famous for their aids and research for eyes. We are also involved with Diabetes and Hearing research. Locally the New London Lions have donated to several local groups including Local High School Scholarships, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and many other programs. One of our special programs is Southeastern CT Center for the Blind, a picnic every summer and a dinner at Christmas, plus donations.
For many years the New London Lions Club’s primary fundraiser was the New London Annual Flower Show. Today, they participate in the Home Show at Connecticut College, and host several pancake breakfasts during the year
Each year the New London Lions award three scholarships to graduating New London High School Students.
The Club has sponsored numerous other Lions Clubs. During the years 1929 and 1930, the club sponsored clubs in East Lyme, Niantic, and Newport, RI, the first Rhode Island Lions Club,. The Norwich Club was sponsored in 1939 and the New London Ocean City Lions Club was sponsored in 1992.
Over the years, the Club has been proud to have many of its members serve as Deputy District Governors, Zone Chairmen, Region Chairman and many Cabinet members. Joseph L. Raub, served as District Governor in 1971-1972, who went on to serve as an International Director, 1980-1982. At a later date, New London Lion member, Ernest Kopec served as District Governor, 1971-1972 .
We are always looking for volunteers to join our organization. We also accept donations to help with our programs. We don not deduct administration fees from your donations, 100% goes to the Lions charities.