On this week’s episode of the Swimming Upstream Radio Show, host Dorothy Wilhelm welcomes Michael Petty. He is a board member of the Olympia Chapter of the Lions Clubs International and director of its Low Vision Resource Center. They discuss the history and role of the Lions Clubs both in Washington and around the world. Petty also shares how people can benefit from and be involved in the Low Vision Resource Center and its various community support mechanisms.
Key Topics
- History of Lions Clubs International
- The mission and projects of Lions Clubs
- The Low Vision Resource Center in Olympia
- How volunteers support vision and community
- The impact of service projects on lives
Chapters
- 00:00 – Introduction and Guest Introduction
- 02:18 – Why the Name ‘Lions’? The Club’s Early Days
- 03:10 – What Sets Lions Apart from Other Service Clubs
- 05:33 – Why Join Lions? Personal Motivation and Benefits
- 06:52 – The Club’s Service Projects and Vision Work
- 07:18 – The Low Vision Resource Center: Origins and Goals
- 08:17 – Providing Equipment and Support for Low Vision
- 12:22 – Who Benefits from the Vision Support? Older Adults
- 16:34 – Small Tools Making a Big Difference for Low Vision
- 17:44 – The Role of Technology and Smartphone Accessibility
- 18:24 – How to Contact Lions and Get Involved
- 20:03 – Encouragement for Shy or Limited Volunteers
Resources