Dixon Lions Club is a nonprofit volunteer organization in Dixon since 1954. According to Lions Clubs International, members join for a multitude of reasons, including personal satisfaction, self-development, leadership opportunities and networking. From barbecuing to bartending, Lions Club members help out free of charge Photo courtesy of Dixon Lions Club

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Dixon Lions Club is a nonprofit volunteer organization in Dixon since 1954.

According to Lions Clubs International, members join for a multitude of reasons, including personal satisfaction, self-development, leadership opportunities and networking.

“Members tend to join based on mutual relationships and a need to serve the community,” said Dixon Lions Club public relations officer Scott Smith. “I have been in the Dixon Lions Club for 18 years. A friend of mine was in the club, brought me to an event and I liked it. I saw all the good things they were doing and joined. That’s usually how we get new members.”

Smith said that the Lions Club has two functions: fundraising and volunteer work.

On June 16, the Dixon Lion’s Club nonprofit organization held an induction awards night to celebrate and thank outgoing President Joe Bruch and to induct the new President, Linda Stormont, and her new board members. Photo courtesy of Dixon Lions Club

“First, we do fundraisers where we collect proceeds for the community where there’s a need,” Smith said. “The other thing we do is volunteer. Whether it's barbecuing or bartending, we join in for no charge. The key is to have a group of people working together instead of doing it alone.”

This year, the Lions Club donated thousands of dollars in scholarships to graduating seniors, $1,000 to Bid for Kids and donated to sports teams, such as the Cal-Valley Shuckers youth baseball organization.

Club members also volunteer at major events, such as Celebrate Dixon and the Dixon High School Hall of Fame Awards. Jeff Dwelley, a Lions Club member for the last 20 years, was one of these volunteers.

“A neighbor got me in and just described what the organization did,” Dwelley said. “I still coach at the high school, even though my kids are long gone and I love being involved in community events, so the Lions Club was just the logical choice for me. Then I met the guys and now I’m in a club with a bunch of friends.”

Dwelley said the club is an organization that strives to have fun and to raise money that goes back to the children of Dixon.

“Our money stays in town. I can say with confidence, when I sell a ticket, I can assure a Dixon resident that their money is going to benefit their kids,” Dwelley said.

The Dixon Lion’s Club participated in the Dixon May Fair, promoting its 18th annual Poker Fundraiser and Texas Hold’em Tournament to be held on Aug. 23. The event is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year and costs $75 per person. Photo courtesy of Dixon Lions Club

On June 16, the organization held an induction awards night to celebrate and thank outgoing President Joe Bruch and to induct the new President, Linda Stormont, and her board members.

The Lions Club will host its 18th annual Texas Hold’em Tournament at 5 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Olde Vets Hall, 231 N. First St. The event offers professional dealers, a no-host bar and raffle prizes for $75 per player.

This is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year and is on the same day as the annual Art and Wine Stroll. Participants must be 21 or older. Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite.com but QR codes are available for entry. All proceeds go to Dixon organizations and Lions Club members will deliver tickets to entrants.

For more information about the tournament or the club, visit the Dixon Lions Club Facebook page or call 916-806-7451.