East Lyme, June 19, 2013-- An installation ceremony was held on June 19, 2013, 6:30 PM at Flanders Fish Market and Restaurant for incoming officers of the Niantic Lions Club. Craig Woody was elected as the club president for 2013 -14. Woody has been an active member of the Niantic Lions Club for the past 5 years.

Terry and Craig Carucci were elected to serve as club secretary and treasurer, respectively. Other club officers include 1st vice-president - Deb Updyke, 2nd vice-president - Vicki Keens, 3rd vice-president – Ed Keens. Also installed were Board Members - Joseph Taraya, Jim Zoldy, Joanne Delucco, Ed Tanguay, Edie Watrous and Pat Hanney; Lion Tamer – Ed Borque; Tail Twister – Laurie Majewski; Membership Chair – Marie La tourette and Immediate Past President – Jack Kinkler.

According to incoming President Woody, “I am looking forward to leading various projects and continuing the Niantic Lions Club’s commitment to serving the community.”

Since the club’s chartering in 1949, its members have worked on a variety of projects in the local community, such as sponsors of the Shoreline Leos Club, eye glass recycling, Senior Center Dinner, health screening, hearing aid recycling and a variety of others. Proceeds from past fundraising events have gone to support resources for the blind/visually impaired, scholarships for graduating high school seniors, Holiday Food Baskets (in collaboration with Care and Share) and many others that can be found listed on our website. The Niantic Lions are currently engaged in preparation for its two major fundraising events, the 53rd Annual Juried Arts and Craft Show and the 35th Annual Lobsterfest and Chicken Barbecue both to be held July 6&7 on the grounds of the East Lyme Town Hall.

The Niantic Lions Club has 72 members and meets at 6:30 PM on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, September through June, at Flanders Fish Market and Restaurant, East Lyme. Lions clubs are a group of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For more information or to get involved with the Niantic Lions Club, please contact our club secretary at 860-739-2805 or go to our website at www.nianticlions.org.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit the Web site at www.lionsclubs.org.