Over its 50 years of existence, the Olds Lions Club has had a huge impact on the community, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper says.
Cooper made that point during the club's charter night April 28 at the legion.
Cooper said when talking to club members, it was estimated that 150 to 200 people had served in the club during its history.
"It's amazing to think of what a club and the lives that have been positively impacted in our community because of those 150 families," he said. "I was chatting with (club member) Henry (Czarnota) and he speculates that the club has probably donated close to a million dollars to worthy causes over those 50 years.
"And if there's one thing that I know today more than ever, it's that a small group of well-meaning individuals can outperform the government every single day of the week, and that's exactly what this Lions Club is and the Lions Club down the road and the Lions clubs all across the constituency, across the province and around the world," he said, sparking applause.
"All too often, even as a club here in Olds or as folks -- we often underestimate the power of a small group of committed people," Cooper said.
"Because if we think of the impact of those people here in our community -- even if it's just the economic impact that they've had, but more importantly than the charities that they've given to or the projects that they've helped -- it's the lives that have been changed as a result of the Lions Club of Olds over the last 50 years, and it is an incredible feat."
He said club members have also had positive influence on "the lives of young people in our community who may have wound up not being before the judge because of a Lion who helped them out along the way."
"We never know where our influence stops, and so I encourage you, members of the Lions Club of Olds, people who are here, to continue using our influence for good.
"Because we all have the opportunity to do that and when we look back over the past 50 years, this club has been responsible for impacting our community for the better," Cooper said.
