YOUNGSTOWN Southside Lions Club celebrates 50th year, honors charter members

The group observed 50 years of service to the community.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Southside Lions Club celebrated 50 years of community service Oct. 16 at the Pyatt Street Diner.
Two charter members, Jack Ritter and Dr. Robert V.C. Carr, and one active 50-year member, Anthony Ameduri, were honored for their many years of service to the organization. Ameduri serves as the chapter's secretary.
The organization: The club has been active in serving the community and providing assistance to many local charities as well as the Lions' district, state and international programs. Among those are providing local residents with eyeglasses, Southside Ministries, The Needle's Eye, Williamson School, the Rescue Mission, school drug programs, retardation program, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown Symphony, Junior Achievement, Meals on Wheels, Youngstown Boys and Girls Club, St. Patrick School, Youngstown State University scholarships, Radio Reading Service, Pilot Dogs, eye research, diabetes, Camp Echoing Hills, Ohio Lions Band, Lions Club International Foundation, Ohio Lions Foundation, International Relations, Melvin Jones Eye Care Foundation and the Youth Exchange.
Partnership: In 1973 the club became partners with Allied Dental Medical Missions, an organization founded by two of its members, to provide emergency dental care in unserved rural areas of Latin America and the Caribbean. Between six and 20 local dentists and volunteers travel at their own expense annually in this endeavor with the chapter paying for needed supplies, interpreters and overweight luggage charges.
Since 1983 the group has also delivered used eyeglasses to nine countries in Central and South America as well as six U.S. Indian Reservations.
Chapter members have also served as district governor and zone chairman.