Members of surrounding area Lions Clubs joined the Lehigh Township Lions Club at the Lehigh Township Firehouse as it celebrated its 60th anniversary on Jan. 29. Among them were people from Slatington which sponsored the new club in January 1951, though its informal meetings began Nov. 9, 1950.

Dale Benninger, Slatington first vice president, said, "We helped them get their charter." At the time Slatington was only two years old. Thirty years later Lehigh sponsored a Lioness Club.The meeting began with a moment of silence for President Scott Ellis and his family who had a death in the family. Leading the meeting in Ellis' place was Ed Miller, Lehigh's first vice president.Congressional Representative Charlie Dent, who provided a congressional citation for the club, said, " The Lions are really a cornerstone of the community. This is America as it should be."The seating at the State of the Union message "felt like going to a prom." He sat with someone from Western Pennsylvania and "It really was nice."State Representative Julie Harhart said she was honored for the invitation. "Lions do a lot for the community. It's not just glasses for the blind but helping the food bank and much more. It says a lot about you." She presented a citation from "myself and the House of Representatives."State Senator David Argall, himself a Lion, said he is taking classes at Penn State, Harrisburg, about how organizations survive and it hasn't gotten any easier. The Lions are successful.He read from the citation he brought in the name of the Senate that the Senate compliments the club and foresees a future replete with an increasing success.Fred Folland, Region 1 chairman, introduced District Governor April Kucsan. He said she had 10-years perfect attendance and has held many positions at the district level. She was an employee of the Nazareth School District and works with the Pa. Association of School Retirees.Kucsan complimented the club for its anniversary and said it is her pleasure to introduce past District Governor Ray Taylor, a member of the Upper Lehigh Lions who had received both the Melvin Jones award and the International Presidential award.He said when the club began gas was 27 cents a gallon, homes cost $16,000 and the minimum wage was 75 cents. Popular music was "How High the Moon" and "Be My Love." The New York Yankees won their third World Series and Jackie Robinson was the first African-American in the major leagues "and it was memorial for me because I graduated from high school."When Slatington sponsored the club it was a highlight in the township, said Taylor. He had been given a booklet about the first 50 years of the club and read some of the accomplishments of Lehigh Lions: $29,000 for the Northampton Association for the Blind, $27,000 for Northampton Area High School scholarships, $24,000 for district Lions projects, $11,000 to the Lehigh Township Fire Company, $10,000 to the Lehigh Township Athletic Association, $10,000 for the severe medical problems of a child, $7,500 to Bryfogal Park and many smaller amounts. They have delivered 3,700 fruit baskets to people who live alone."Your community has been enriched by what the Lions did. You can't imagine what it would be like without them. May God bless this club and may it continue," Taylor said.Slatington Lions President Herman Schiffer presented a plaque in honor of the 60 years.Secretary Doug Hall presented a special award to Lion Ray Miller who handles many responsibilities including taking care of dinners and the pig roast and letting the Lions use his garage to pack the fruit baskets. He received the Distinguished Service Award.Dale Benninger said Lehigh was the most civic-minded club in the Lehigh Valley because Slatington was a good teacher. He spoke for his brother Wayne who was vacationing. Wayne, through Dale, said a half hour into the first fruit basket delivery he got a call from Ed Miller who could not find one residence. It seems he was on the wrong road. When he was straightened out Wayne said it was a good thing the house wasn't on fire, but Miller said he'd follow the smoke. Miller is a fireman.Wayne was put on speakerphone and congratulated Miller for his Distinguished Service Award.Scott Ellis was credited for creating the booklets and programs.Ed Miller said he was president of the fire company and proud to be a Lion. "It is good to be a member of an organization that doesn't look for anything back."Lehigh Township Lions meet every second and fourth Tuesday at the Terrace Restaurant. Anyone interested in joining can call (610) 767-2298.