The Chesapeake/Rome/Proctorville Lions Club's motto is &#8220we serve” - and they strive each day to live up to that creed.

Formed in the 1950s, the Lions Club is a service organization that, through various projects and fund-raisers, gives assistance to those in need. Through this service, the members also have fun and fellowship with one another, club president Bob Smith said.

&#8220It is a group of men who want to help do good things for other people and at the same time, fellowship,” Smith said.

About 60 men attend the meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at the Chesapeake Giovanni's. Women are also invited to join the group.

As a part of the commitment to serve, the club also works on various service projects. One on-going project is supplying glasses to low income residents and taking up used glasses and sending them in to Lions Club International to be distributed to the needy throughout the world.

So far, the club has collected approximately 500 pairs of used eye glasses and purchased eye exams and lenses for 16 needy individuals.

&#8220We donate when we see a need arise nationally, internationally and locally,” Smith said.

The group also donated to the Red Cross for the tsunami relief and the Hurricane Katrina relief funds. They also serve a pancake breakfast at the Relay for Life and donate the proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

Another local service project of the club is the Chesapeake Community Center, where the group constructed a walking track and a new roof for the picnic shelter. They are also renovating the ball field, placing benches around the field and hope to build a new track soon.

Some other community projects of the club include providing financial support to the Chesapeake Memorial Fund, the Ohio University Building Fund and financial and physical support to the &#8220Tidy up Lawrence County” project.

Various fund-raisers included participating in the Chesapeake Octoberfest, conducting a pancake breakfast and conducting a track meet to support club activities.

&#8220I've always had a service-oriented heart. I enjoyed helping people,” Smith said as to why he joined the club three years ago. &#8220It is a nice club; a lot of good people in it.”

The club is made up of people from many different professions and provides a way for the members to socialize and fellowship with one another as well as help out in the community.

The Lions Club is always looking for new members, Smith said.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Chesapeake/Rome/Proctorville Lions Club can contact membership Chairman Jack Hutchison at (740) 867-5936 or Smith at (740) 886-7816.