District 18A started the 80’s with the following Clubs:

1980 - 81 Year

At the District Convention in March 1980, the following District Officers were elected:

District Governor - Albert Johnson (Betty)
Cabinet Secretary Treasurer - Charles Turner (Fran)
District Librarian - Stan Kelley (Emily)
Cabinet Advisor - Melville Johnson (Ellen)
The Cabinet Officers were as follows:

There were 54 Lion Clubs in District 18A and 4 Lioness Clubs. The following Lions Clubs were dropped during the year: Cohutta, Marietta Noon, and Smyrna Jonquil City Club.

The 1980 - 81 District Convention was held on March 14, 1981 at Marriott Hotel.

The District Peach Bowl princess Pageant was held in Rome on October 25, 1980. Lion Jerry Curtis was in charge of the festivities. Ms. Mitzi Smith was the winner. She will represent District 18A for the peach Bowl Queen. Ms. Smith represented the East Marietta Lions Club.

There were 10 Leo Clubs in District 18A, five of them active.

There were 52 entries from 18A for state awards. There were 13 first place and 11 second place winners.

Contributions to the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation: $35,948.14. 255 cases were handled for District 18A at a cost of $32,53 1.36. The Lighthouse realized over $l0,000.00 from the sale of metal frames from used eye glasses. 18A had 1,329 eye donors wills and 136 used hearing aids turned in. The Lighthouse dispensed 45 of these aids.

Lion Joe Reynolds was Vice President of the Lighthouse. The motto of the year was "Touch a Life with Hope."

The following Clubs celebrated anniversaries during the year: 30 years Henry Grady, 40 years Atlanta Buckhead and Rome, and 60 years Atlanta.

1981- 82

At the district convention on March 14, 198 1, the following officers were elected:

District Governor - George B. Haney (Dot)
Cabinet Secretary - Aubrey Lewis (Jackie)
District Librarian - Stan Kelley (Emily)
Cabinet Advisor - Albert Johnson (Betty)

The Cabinet officers were as follows:

There were 52 clubs in the District and 3 Lioness Clubs. Douglasville Lioness was dropped. The Atlanta Korean Club was added. The District Convention was held in Marietta on March 20, 1982. The speaker was incoming International President, Everett Grindstaff of Texas. The 65th International Convention was held in Atlanta from June 30 to July 3, 1982. The Convention General Chairman was Past International Director, George Crumbley.

Preparations were coordinated by the International Convention Committee and all Districts of Georgia. Visiting Lions were awed by personally viewing cornea transplant surgery at Emory Hospital. The international parade was a thrilling climax to an interesting and exciting year.

The Peach Bowl Princess Pageant was held at Southeast High School in Dalton, Georgia on October 24,1981. There were 19 contestants. The name of the winner was not available. She represented District 18A in the Peach Bowl Queen Contest.

Lighthouse meetings were held in Macon on October 18, 1981 and February 21, 1982.

During the 1981-82 year the Lions of District 18A donated to the Lighthouse $69,678.92. Returned as services to District 18A was $63,771.75. 437 people in our District were assisted. The White Cane contributions were $23,638,89. 716 eye donor cards were turned in and 248 hearing aids.

The Lighthouse received $50,000.00 from the proceeds of the Peach Bowl Game.

Our District spent $16,709 on eye conservation projects, which included 423 pairs of eye glasses for the needy. Lion, Ken Massingale was Vice-President of the Lighthouse for District 18A.

Over $7,000 was raided to support the Leader Dog Program. $2,700 was donated to LCIF. The top club in the district for 198 l-82 was South Cobb Lions Club.

The following clubs celebrated anniversaries during the year: 30 years Boynton, and Roswell; 40 years Adairsville, Marietta, and McCouville; 50 years Canton, Chatsworth and LaFayette.

1982 - 83

At the District Convention on March 20, 1982, the following officers were elected for the 1982-83 Lion year:

District Governor - Fred Wilenchek (Helen)
Cabinet Secretary - Ron Porter (Barbara)
Cabinet Advisor - George Haney (Dot)
District Librarian - Stan Kelley (Emily)

The Cabinet Officers were as follows:

There were 52 Lions and 6 Lioness Clubs in District 18A - one new club added (Atlanta Korean). The District Convention was held at Dalton on March 19, 1983.

The Peach Bowl Princess Pageant was held in Rome on October 23, 1982 to select the 18A representative for the Peach Bowl Queen Pageant.

The Roswell Lions Club celebrated their 30th anniversary on February 15, 1983.

District I8A contributed $87,208.23 to the Lighthouse. They also paid for 367 eye examinations, 367 pairs of glasses at a cost of $19,5 12.77. They also donated 133 used hearing aids. There were 106 referrals to the Lighthouse at a cost of $24,569.23.

The following Clubs celebrated anniversaries during the year: 25 years East Marietta, 30 years Alpharetta, Cedartown, Lakeview, and Fort Oglethorpe.

1983 - 84

At the District Convention on March 19, 1983, the following officers were elected:

District Governor - Jerry Curtis (Linda)
Cabinet Secretary - Andrew Derrick (Camille)
District Librarian - Stan Kelley (Emily)
Cabinet Advisor - Fred Wilenchek (Helen)

The following cabinet officers were as follows:

There were 52 Lions Clubs and 9 Lioness Clubs in the District. The Lioness added the Smyrna Lioness, Jasper Lioness, and Henry Grady Lioness in 1984. The Powder Springs Lions Club was dropped.

The District Convention was held in Marietta on March 3, 1984 at the NW Hilton Hotel. The speaker was 1st Vice President, Bert Mason, from Northern Ireland.

District 18A became the first district in Georgia to exceed $100,000.00 in Lighthouse contributions in one year. The total was $103,782.32.

PDG, Charles Pickell, was the current Lighthouse Vice President. He will be succeeded by PDG Mel Johnson.

103 used hearing aids were collected during the year with 136 being dispensed. There were 31 referrals to the Lighthouse for sight and hearing help. The total paid services was $6 I,96352 for District 18A. The local clubs paid for 327 eye exams, and 298 eye glasses at a cost of $17,122.79.

Lighthouse meetings were held in Macon on October 16, 1983 and February 19, 1984.

The Alpharetta Lighthouse Golf Classic was held on September 26, 1983.

The Peach Bowl Princess Pageant was held in Rome on October 22, following the 2nd cabinet meeting.

The top Lions Club in District 18A was the Rome Club, followed by South Cobb, Dalton, and Jasper.

Austell was the top Lioness Club.

‘I’hc following Clubs celebrated anniversaries during the year: 30 years Sandy Springs, 50 years Dade County and Ellijay.

1984 - 85

At the District Convention on March 3, 1984 at Marietta, GA the following officers for District 18A were elected.

District Governor - Grover Newman (Darlene)
Cabinet Secretary - J. D. Woodward (Sara)
Cabinet Advisor - Jerry Curtis (Linda)
District Librarian - Stan Kelley (Emily)

The Cabinet officers were as follows:

The officers for the 1985-86 Lion year were elected at the March 2, 1985 cabinet meeting. The speaker was International Director, Vern Seipks.

The Peach Bowl Princess Pageant was held at the NW Hilton Hotel in Smyrna on October 8, 1984. Over 300 people were in attendance. There were 23 contestants entered. This was the largest pageant ever. The winner was Karen Marie Crawford from Rossville, Ga.

As of December 31, 1984, District 18A has donated $3,546 to the Lions Camp for the Blind for the 1984 Lion year.

The State Convention was held in Albany, GA. on May 17-19, 1985.

The Lions Lighthouse District 18A contributions for the 1984-85 year was:

Club contribution          $35,970.02
Other contribution        $18,753.27
White Cane                  $67,393.50
Building Fund               $11,710.00
Totals                         $133.826.79

District 18A collected 198 used hearing aids.

One Club in 18A gave no money to the Lighthouse, and 4 gave less than $100.00 District 18A received $68,243.00 for 286 sight service cases, and $5,521.99 for 244 hearing cases. The Clubs of 18A paid for 92 eye exams and 128 pairs of eye glasses.

The following Clubs celebrated anniversary dates during the year: 30 years Austell and Rossville.

1985-86

At the District 18A Convention on March 2, 1985, the following officers were elected for the 1985-86 Lion year:

District Governor- Bill Tamer
Cabinet Advisor- Grover Newman (Darlene)
Secretary-Treasurer- Broward Garrison (Polly)
District Librarian- Stan Kelley (Emily)

The Cabinet Officers were as follows:

The officers for the 1986-87 were elected February 22, 1986 in Rome, Ga. at the third cabinet meeting. The speaker for the District Convention was International Director, Ernie Moore of Bramales, Ontario, Canada.

The Peach Bowl Princess Beauty Pageant was held in Dalton, GA on October 26, 1985. There were 22 contestants. The winner was Miss Debbi Kittrel representing South Cobb Lions Club.

There were. 48 Lions Clubs and 10 Lioness Clubs in District 18A.

The 1985-86 State Convention was held in Macon, GA on May 23-25, 1986.

International Director George Crumbley resigned as Executive Director of the Peach Bowl, but will remain until a replacement has been named.

Lion Hubert Hobbs, Activities Chairman of District 18A, reported on the Golden Chain Award. This is a new award for Lions who meet the criteria listed on the form. It was introduced to District 18A by Lion Hobbs.

District 18A donated $143,142.80 to the Lighthouse during the 1985-86 year. During this same year District 18A received for sight services $56,030.35 for 337 cases. For 62 hearing patients we received $1,985.90.

The following clubs celebrated anniversaries during the year: 25 years Woodstock, 40 years Smyrna and Calhoun.

1986-87

The following officers were elected in Rome, GA at the third cabinet meeting on February 28, 1986:

District Governor - Bob Jamison (Carol)
Cabinet Advisor - Bill Tanner
Cabinet Secretary - Carroll Shirley (Mickey)
Cabinet Treasurer - Wallace Blaylock (Miriam)
District Librarian - Stan Kelley (Emily)

The cabinet officers were as follows:

The District Convention and Cabinet meeting was held in Rome, GA on March 28, 1987. At this time the officers for the 87-88 year were elected.

The speaker for this affair was Lion Joseph Wrolewski, Immediate Past President of Lions International.

There was one new club chartered in District 18A during the year. The Rising Fawn Lookout Mountain Lions was chartered on June 27, 1986.

The following clubs celebrated anniversaries during the year: 50 years Dalton and Summerville.

The first cabinet meeting was held at Waleska, GA on August 17, 1986. Lion Jot Reynolds reported that District 18A had received 16 first place and 10 second place awards in the state program.

The second cabinet meeting was held in Dalton on November 8, 1986. It was attended by 85 Lions and Lionesses.

As of November 1, 18A had dropped 61 members, however, 98 new members were taken in for a net gain of 37. The clubs reported 56 new members during the October membership drive.

The third cabinet meeting was held in Rome, GA at the Hill Top Holiday Inn on March 28, 1987.

The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation held a special open house of the new Lighthouse Executive offices on Sunday, November 9, 1986 at 1775 Clairmont Road in Decatur. District 18A donated to the Lighthouse $126,146.47 during the 86-87 Lion year. District 18A received from the Lighthouse sight services $89,577.52 for 501 cases. 18A also received $3,948.14 for 211 hearing patients. The District White Cane Collections for 18A was $72,843.63.

1987 - 88

The following officers were elected at the third cabinet meeting in Rome, GA on March 28, 1987:

District Governor - Ron Porter (Barbara)
Cabinet Secretary Treasurer - Howard Jones (Pat)
District Librarian - Stan Kelley (Emily)
Cabinet Advisor - Bob Jamison (Carol)

The cabinet officers were as follows:

At the International Convention in Taipei Taiwan, the delegates voted to accept females into the Lions Organization. Within two hours after the vote, nine ladies from Arizona were taken into Lionism. Shortly thereafter, three ladies from Dalton joined the Dalton Noon Lions Club.

They were Donna Townsend, Sylvia Summers and Katharine Ravenholt.

During 1987-88 the following 18A Lions Clubs celebrated anniversaries: 30 years East Point and Hapeville, 50 years Atlanta Northeast.

The District Convention was held on March 19, 1988 in Dalton, GA. The offices for the 1988 - 89 year were elected at this time. The keynote speaker for this convention was International Director, Robert Tonjes.

At the cabinet meeting District Governor Ron Porter announced that a $50,000 grant for the Diabetic Retinopathy screening program had been approved by L.C.I.F.

Our first Lt. Governor candidate was nominated by Gary Bullock of the Cobb Country Club. Being no opposition, he was elected.

The 1988 State Convention was hosted by District 18A at the Waverly Hotel on May 13th, 14th, and 15th.

The Miss Georgia Lions Pageant was held in Rome, GA on April 16, 1988, at the Holiday Inn in Rome. The winner was Miss Alexis Colleen Kelly. She was a student at Georgia Tech. She was sponsored by the Marietta Lions Club. She represented District 18A in the State Pageant at the State Convention.

There were 72 senior professional golfers entered in the 1987 Pepsi Senior Challenge.

The Alpharetta Lions presented the Georgia Lions Classic on September 2 1, 1987. This project has raised about $50,000 for the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation. District 18A donated $133,692.93 to the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation during the 1987-88 year. $116,640.26 was received for 468 sight cases. District 18A received $2,229.72 for 149 hearing cases. District 18A also donated 206 used hearing aids.

The Summerville Lions Club turned in their charter in June of 1988.

1988 - 89

The following officers were elected for the 1988-89 Lion year at the District Convention at Dalton, GA on March 19, 1988:

District Governor - Harold Hobbs (B. J.)
Lieutenant Governor - Jay Benson (Sandra)
Cabinet Secretary Treasurer - Hubert Hobbs (Clara)
District Librarian - Stan Kelley (Emily)
Cabinet Advisor - Ron Porter (Barbara)

The cabinet officers were as follows:

The NE Cobb Lioness Club was dropped as per their request and the Atlanta Lioness Club was dropped as per their request in July 1988. The year started with 48 Lions Clubs and 7 Lioness Clubs.

The following clubs celebrated anniversaries during the 1988-89 Lion year: 25 years Northeast Cobb, 30 years Dallas, 50 years Ball Ground, Jasper and Trion.

The District Convention was held in Smyrna, GA at the NW Hilton Hotel on March 11, 1989. The International speaker for this convention was International Director James Cameron of Urbane, Indiana. A banquet was held in his honor at Dobbins Air Force Base on the eve of the convention. The third cabinet meeting was held the following day. At this time, the district officers for the 1989-90 Lion year were elected.

The Miss Georgia Pageant was held at the Amuchee High School in Rome, GA on November 5, 1988. The winner of this pageant was Lora Scogin representing the Marietta Lions Club.

During the 88-89 Lion year we lost 20 Lions due to death. These Lions will be greatly missed. The Hapeville Lioness Club lost three dedicated Lionesses due to death.

$267,000 was reported on the club M&A reports as being donated to local, state and international charities during the 1988-89 year.

The State Convention was held in Albany, GA on May 12 - 14, 1989. The International Speaker for the District Governors Banquet was International Director Earnes Tizek of Tuscan AZ.

During 1988-89 the Lions of District 18A donated $136,426 to the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation. In turn, we received $114,351.87 for sight services. This was for 440 patients. 18A also received $2,834.32 for 118 hearing cases.

District Governor Harold Hobbs received the award for best overall support of the Lighthouse during his term.

Lion Hobbs led his District in bringing in $136,426 to the Lighthouse. This was more than any other district. Also, 18A had the highest white cane day donation - 451,982. Governor Hobbs was instrumental in getting a state Lions newsletter in the hands of over 9,500 Lions Club members in 1988-89.

District 18A ended the year with Lions clubs and 6 Lioness Clubs.

Lion Ken Fuller LCIF chairman reported that over $25,000 had been donated to LCIF over the last year.

Leader Dog donations for the 1988-89 year were $8,809.

1989 - 90

At the district convention in Smyrna, GA on March 11, 1989 the following officers were elected for the 1989-90 year:

District Governor - Hart Gates (Roberta)
Lieutenant Governor - Wayne O’Neal (Della Marie)
Cabinet Secretary - Roberta Gates (Hart)
Cabinet Treasurer - William Dodd III (Lucy)
District Librarian - Hanes Townsend (Donna)
Cabinet Advisor - Harold Hobbs (BJ)

The cabinet officers were as follows:

District 18A started the year with 48 Lions Clubs and 7 Lioness Clubs. The following clubs celebrated anniversaries this year: 25 years Douglasville, Tunnel Hill, and West Cobb; 30 years Henry Grady Lions. The Atlanta Lions Club celebrated its 60th anniversary. It was the fist Lions Club in the southeast, founded on December 17, 1920. This was just a little over three years after the founding of Lionism. The Atlanta Club held its first meeting on March 1, 1921 in order to have Melvin Jones as a guest. Practically all of the 117 members were present, and Thomas Hardwick, Governor of Georgia, was the speaker. The meeting was climaxed with the presentation of the charter by Melvin Jones, himself.

The District Convention was held in Cartersville, GA on March 10, 1990. The District officers for the 1990 - 91 year were elected at this time. The speaker for the occasion was immediate past president of Lions International, Austin Jennings, of Woodbury, TN.

The Miss Georgia Lions pageant was held at Dalton High School in Dalton, GA on October 28, 1989. The winner was Melissa Hope Griffin representing Dalton Lions Club.

It is with report that 28 Lions passed away during the year.

The State Convention was held in Columbus, GA on May 18 - 20, 1990, at the Iron Works Convention Center. The International speaker was Gil Constantini, Intemational director from Markham, Ontario, Canada.

During the 89-90 year the Lions of district 18A donated $120,2 12.16 to the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation. In return we received $154,038.48 in sight services, and on hearing service we received $5,450.14.

District 18A had the highest per capita regular club contribution in the state ($31.34 per member), and had the highest per capita increase in regular club contributions over the previous ear (increase of $4.57 per member).

The Lions of District 18A ended the 80’s with the following clubs:

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