South Shuswap Scoop March 2022

Sorrento Lions Club is on the Move

By Judi Kembel

After 49 years with the Sorrento Memorial Hall (SMH), we have a new home. The Sorrento Lions will have a new meeting place at Lions Manor in Sorrento.

The Sorrento Lions have a proud history with the SMH over the past 49 years and we were instrumental in creating the addition, improving the main Hall, renovating the basement, and helping to maintain it.

The original Sorrento Hall established in 1946 was destroyed to make way for the new Trans Canada Hwy. The CSRD donated land to build a new one and when the Sorrento Lions received its charter on May 12, 1973, the hall had a plywood floor and bare walls. The Lions donated time and resources and along side community volunteers, made improvements to the hall.

In an effort to make SMH a more attractive place for Lions Charter Night in 1973, the Lions purchased battleship linoleum to cover the floor and also finished the walls. Later, around 1980, the Sorrento Lions paid for and installed the present parquet floor. A $25,000 grant from the government allowed the Lions to drop the Hall ceiling and install the fluorescent lights.

In the late 1970’s, the Lions began to build the addition that is the current Hall Boardroom. Mr. Ramsay, Lions President at the time, who also owned Ramsay Construction, donated lumber for the addition. The Lions then built the Boardroom, bar and kitchen and paid for all the additional material and did all the work in constructing the addition. Several of our members also donated money to pay for the addition.

Shortly thereafter, the Lions began meeting in the Boardroom and displayed a collection of banners received from clubs around the world. Originally, the Lions had a dedicated representative on the Board of SMH and continued that practice until 2013 when Lion Brian Butcher resigned as the Lions representative and the Board Treasurer. That Lion Wayne Kembel was a member of the Board for one year is only as a result of a vacancy, election, and coin toss.

Sorrento Lions have been an integral part of the story of the Sorrento Memorial Hall, but a recent 46% rent increase proved to be too much to absorb.

We have a long and proud history of serving the community. Our annual events include Canada Day Pancake Breakfast and Beer Garden; Children’s Easter Egg Hunt; Fathers’ Day Pancake Breakfast; Garage Sale; Children’s Halloween Event including the Pumpkin Patch on school field; Senior’ Christmas Party and Silent Auction; Weekly Meat Draws; Farmers’ Market Pancake Breakfasts. Unfortunately, we have had to cancel fund-raising events due to the pandemic. We hope to be able to resume these events in the near future.

Every year, we donate to: Student Bursaries – four at $2,000 each; BC Diabetes - $800; Camp Winfield Camperships and Maintenance - $5,000; South Shuswap Health Services Society – $1,000; Shuswap Hospital Foundation - $1,000; Sorrento Elementary School - $1,250; and the Women’s Shelter in Salmon Arm - $1,200 - to name a few.

We look forward to continuing our work in the community and new members are always welcome. If you are interested in helping in your community, please consider joining our club as either a member or a “Friend of the Lions” volunteer. Both women and men over 19 years of age are welcome to join. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month (September to June) at 6:45 pm. If you would like more information about becoming a Lion, please contact the Sorrento Lions Club at our email address: sorrentolionsclub@yahoo.ca . We would love to hear from you! Check out our website at http:// e-clubhouse.org/sites/sorrentobc/ .

PLEASE NOTE: MEAT DRAWS AT THE COPPER ISLAND PUB IN SORRENTO HAVE RESUMED AS OF FEBRUARY 25. Contact us about our Community Appreciation Dinner and Open House” on April 7, 2022 at the Shuswap Lake Estates Community Centre at 5:30 pm.