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        August 25, 2000


        Portsmouth Host History 1933-2008

        Charter Date - January 23, 1933Fishing trip

        Sponsor - Norfolk Host

        Charter President - Kenneth A. Bains, Jr.

        The Portsmouth Host Lions Club was chartered with twenty-seven members. Membership has been as high as one hundred twenty-five. At present the club has forty seven members including twenty two active past presidents. The club has also provided two district governors- Sidney Kellor (1949-50) and William E. Cathey (1971-72). Portsmouth Host Lions Club has the distinction of the first member in Virginia, E. E."Slim" Harrell, to receive the prestigious " Key of Nations" award from Lions international for bringing new members into Lionism. Over the years the club's fundraising projects have included the sale of blind made products, minstrel shows, variety shows, car parties, and White Cane Days, which produced revenues of approximately $900,000. All funds generated from these projects have been expended on sight conservation (eye exams, eyeglasses, eye operations), hearing conservation (hearing aids, operations) and diabetes care. In addition, the club strongly supports the youth exchange program, Bland music competition, World Service Day, Journey for Sight, and the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic. Recreation for the blind has been another emphasis of the Portsmouth Host club, particularly blind bowling and fishing. Twenty-six years ago, Bruce Branham, a blind member of the club, was instrumental in getting the United States Coast Guard to join Portsmouth Host in taking the blind on a fishing trip aboard a Coast Guard vessel. This has become an annual event. This year the trip will be on two chartered headboats for easy access to the fishing grounds of the Chesapeake Bay. The club is honored to have a very active member who has served his club, zone and district with distinction, Bernard Levitin. Lion Bernie, who has perfect attendance for 52 years, has served as secretary of Portsmouth Host for the past 28 years. He is a past president of the club, former zone chairman, past district governor, and has served on the cabinets of many district governors. Lion Bernie has received many awards for distinguished service over the years including Extension Key Awards through the master key. He also received Lion of the Year Award and is a Melvin Jones Fellow. The club sponored the Cradock Lions Club (9/23/47) and assisted in the formation of the Churchland Lions Club.