Sunday, May 27, 2007
CORTLAND – Barry Mazarik isn’t a joiner.
But feeling the desire to help others, the 48-year-old Cortland resident joined the Lions Club in Cortland this March.
“What’s so hard about giving up a couple hours of your time so somebody can have eyeglasses?” says Mazarik.
The Lions are best known for helping those with sight problems. In 1925, Helen Keller challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.”
Mazarik lived in Warren and volunteered at his church festivals. When he moved his family to Cortland in 1993, he became interested in Lakeview Band Boosters because his daughters played in the band. He eventually became its president and learned about the community’s willingness to give.
Other than the boosters and joining a summer campground along Lake Erie, Mazarik hasn’t been a joiner.
Being forced to retire from Delphi Packard Electric after 29 1/2 years, Mazarik had more time on his hands and decided to join the Lions.
“It’s a pretty good group of guys,” Mazarik says.
Lions Club members must be asked to join.
Danny Pedigo, Cortland Lions president, said membership has remained stable over the 68-year history of the local group that numbers 47.
“We’ve done fairly well over the years,” Pedigo said, noting that as older members die younger men are asked to join. This leaves a pretty good mix of new and old ideas.
Mazarik is unusual just because he has joined such a group. Today, veterans organizations and fraternal and social groups in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys are finding it difficult to attract new members.
Some, however, have have been able to stabilize their membership decline.
For complete story, see The Vindicator or vindy.com on Monday.