The Lions Clubs of Northern Virginia (District 24-A) and the Virginia Lions Eye Institute Foundation (VLEIF) will furnish over $160,000 in equipment to set up an additional low vision exam site at the Virginia Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI) Fairfax office.

District 24-A Lions have entered into an agreement with the DBVI whereby the Lions will furnish the Fairfax regional DBVI clinic with a complete set of low vision examination equipment that will provide comprehensive low vision evaluations to visually impaired patients.

The DBVI catchment area covers approximately 2.3 million people and currently has eighteen examination sites.

The agreement was officially signed on Aug. 19, by Lion District 24-A Governor, Dennis Brining; DBVI Deputy Commissioner for Services, Robert Burton; and Virginia Lions Eye Institute President, Elden Wright.

“We are very excited to be working with an organization that shares a common vision. Today we bring our strengths together to reach a larger portion of the population with hopes to continue to expand this effort in the years to come,” stated Lions District 24-A Governor Brining. “Today is the first step of what I hope to be many.”

In addition to the furnishing of equipment, District 24-A Lions have agreed to maintain and calibrate the equipment as well as provide volunteer support to assist in the Low Vision exam site.

“The Department of the Blind and Visually Impaired is very pleased to be working with the Lions,” stated DBVI Commissioner Burton. “We look forward to a long and positive relationship that will benefit the blind and visually impaired throughout this region.”

The term of the current agreement is for three years. The purpose for this agreement is to provide DBVI low vision practitioners access to equipment as well as prescriptive aids on the premises of DBVI offices in Fairfax.

“Broad coverage low vision support has been a goal of VLEIF all along,” noted Wright. “This is a great start; it is the first of multiple centers we plan to support in Northern Virginia”.

DBVI plans to use this exam equipment to open its nineteenth exam site for patients in the Northern Virginia area.

Lions have been involved with the DBVI for many years. Today’s agreement is an extension of this long-term relationship.

Virginia Lions Eye Institute Foundation (VLEIF) operates as a separate entity with the partnership of the Inova Health System. It is governed by a Board of Directors representing the Lions Clubs of District 24-A (Northern Virginia), community ophthalmologists, and the Inova Health Systems Foundation.

VLEIF funds are used for the purchase of equipment, education, scholarships, and clinical research. Additionally, VLEI supports symposia and continuing medical education for nurses and para-professionals in the ophthalmic field. VLEIF recently instituted a scholarship award for sight handicapped individuals.

• District 24-A Lions includes 69 clubs spanning from Leesburg to Montrose VA. With over 1905 members proudly living up to Lions Clubs International motto “We Serve”, and taking on Helen Keller’s challenge to the Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.”

Since 1917, Lions have worked tirelessly to aid their communities, the blind and visually impaired, as well as the hearing impaired.

• The Virginia Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI) is committed to providing quality services to assist Virginia’s citizens who are blind, deaf blind or vision impaired in achieving their maximum level of employment, education, and personal independence. The department provides an array of specialized services to blind Virginians of all ages to assist them in attaining the skills, confidence and positive outlook that are critical to independence.

The Bland Music Scholarship Competition, sponsored by the Fairfax Host Lions Club, was held on Sunday, February 21, 2010, at Old Town Hall in the City of Fairfax. Given the earlier snowstorms, we were very fortunate that our contest was held as originally scheduled. Seven of last year’s contestants returned to compete again this year. Twenty of the area’s most talented singers and musicians delighted a very appreciative audience.

Taking 1st place (for the second year in a row) in the vocal category was soprano, Anne Hruskoci, a junior at Annandale High School. Anne sang The Trees on the Mountains composed by Carlisle Floyd. Tenor, Andreas Moffet, earned the 2nd place vocal award after a heart-felt rendition of Non T’amo Piu (I Don’t Love You Anymore) by Francesco Tosti. Andreas is a junior at Woodson High School.

2010 Fairfax Bland Competition Participants

Ten musicians competed for the instrumental 1st place award. That honor went to pianist, Kevin Shu, a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Kevin played Ludwig van Beethoven’s Tempest Sonata mvt.1. Capturing 2nd place in the instrumental category was pianist, Elaine Chen, a 10th grader also attending TJHSST. Elaine played Mephisto Waltz by Franz Liszt.

Anne and Kevin represented Fairfax Host Lions Club as they advanced to the Region III Bland Music Scholarship Competition held at Melodee Music Center; 46077 Lake Center Plaza; Sterling, Virginia on March 21, 2010, at 2:00pm.

Much of the success of this year’s Bland Music Scholarship Competition goes to our enthusiastic and reliable group of volunteers. This year’s volunteers included the following Fairfax Host Lions and Lion associates: Past District Governor Bill Bartlett, Sarah Bartlett, Jeff Root (Club President), Lion Elden Wright, Mary Ellen Wright, Lion Bill Trent, Margaret Trent, Lions Steve and Paew Haywood, Lion Tom Edick, Lion Pete Conklin, Lion Ken Schutz, Lion Jim Dellinger, Chuck Higdon and Marilyn Tanner (Bland Chairperson).