Ken Weimer, president of the London Lions Club, can’t wait to see what he’s gotten himself into.
On Feb. 19, the club will hold its annual auction. The last item to hit the block will be his meeting gavel, which his fellow club members stole a few weeks ago. With help from club and community donors, Weimer will buy back the gavel. Last year, the sale raised $1,200. The new president aims to beat that total.
"It is my dream to raise more money than we ever have during this auction," Weimer said.
The auction, which is open to the public and set for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Red Brick Tavern in Lafayette, features more than the president’s gavel. Attendees can bid on everything from baseball hats and kitchen appliances to a handmade table made by one of the club’s members.
"Every penny of what we raise must be spent in the community. It stays right here," said Weimer, explaining that the London Lions Club serves all of Madison County, except West Jefferson where a new club was formed last year.
The Lions’ primary cause is to provide free eyeglasses for those in need. The group also has donated low-vision readers to local libraries and schools, sent children with disabilities to camp, provided food baskets for needy families, and sponsored college scholarships for local students. The Lions work with the Madison County Diabetes Association, Boy Scouts, Central Ohio Lions Eye Bank, Central Ohio Radio Reading Service, Madison County Junior Fair, Pilot Dogs, Ohio Lions Eye Research Foundation and many other groups.
The Feb. 19 auction will be proceeded by a dinner. To make dinner reservations, call Lions member Dick Hughes at 740-852-9646 by Feb. 16. The cost of the meal is $11. Reservations are not needed to attend the auction only.
The London Lions Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Red Brick Tavern. The club has 45 active members. Anyone interested in joining can contact Ken Weimer at 614-879-6177.
The club’s officers, in addition to Weimer, are: Kathy Fisher, second vice president; Liz Finchum, third vice president; Howard Reynolds, treasurer; and June Hughes, secretary.
