What does March 26 mean to you? Bangladesh Independence Day? The birthday of Robert Frost? How about Lions Day? In just a few weeks, this will be the case.

Fritz Baesman, member of the Lopez Lions, is not exactly sure what prompted the U.N to recognize the international service organization with its own day, however 2010 will mark its 32nd anniversary.

On a more domestic level, this is the first year that the San Juan County Council has officially recognized the day. A proclamation issued by the council notes the various aid and service related achievements of the clubs on each major San Juan Island. Because of these contributions to the community, “Lions Day” has been officially made local, with Councilman Bob Myhr presenting the proclamation to the Lopez club at its general meeting on Thursday, March 4.

This is representative of the effective way in which the Lions reconcile the international and local aspect to the club. Although proud of being part of a global organization (with 1.3 million

members worldwide the Lions is the largest service club in the world) Baesman is firm in stating that the priorty of the Lopez chapter is local “we are all about Lopez” he says.

The chapter can also congratulate itself this March for the fact that 2010 is its 35th anniversary. Started in 1975 with 41 founders, the group remains around the 45 member mark. With their yellow vests donned with badges they are regular spots of gold on the Lopez landscape, the chapter accumulating a total of over 2,770 hours of service last year.

Their position as aides to the community can be seen not only in the physical, like fence painting or fire safety workshops, but in the innovative, the club being responsible for a variety of educational and general grants.

Since the Lions motto is “we serve”, it seems appropriate that their official day will be spent not in self congratulation, but in doing what they do best. Helping out the community. “We got discussing what we would like to do to celebrate,” says Baesman, explaing how the upshot of that discussion was the selection of a special project, namely, the food bank.

On the appointed day the group will be collecting food donations for the Lopez food bank outside the Lopez market. The items they will be collecting include ready-to-eat cereals, canned soups, vegetables or canned fish. Peanut butter and paper products are also welcome or, if preferred, cash donations are accepted as well.