John F. Kennedy became president of the United States. "Ben-Hur" won the Academy Award for best picture. Elvis Presley returned home after a two-year stint with the Army in Germany.

And, in 1960, 20 charter members established the Ledyard Lions Club.

At an anniversary celebration Saturday night at the Coast Guard Academy officer's club, members estimated that the local Lions Club has donated $1 million in services, goods, grants and scholarships – with the poor and disadvantaged the beneficiaries.

Past District Governor Eric Jacobson told the large audience that members are on the front lines of community service. "You are the silent and not so silent warriors who every week and every month make a real difference in so many lives," he said.

He added, "The first 50 years are only a prelude to all of the things you are going to do."

Club members provide help both locally and internationally. The Lions Club in the largest international service club organization, with 1.3 members in 206 countries and geographic areas. There are 45,000 local clubs around the world.

Speakers on Saturday painted the Ledyard Lions as a microcosm of what clubs do everywhere. Fifty years have seen the local club flip thousands of hamburgers and pancakes and host many pasta and fish dinners. Members have gone through storage bins, picking up truckloads of second-hand goods for auction. There have been countless bingo nights.

Howard Kaminske, among the 20 founders of the club, said every year the local Lions donate $10,000 to needy Ledyard families during the holiday season. The money is handed out in $200 parcels for Christmas presents.

"It adds a little cheer in a season where there otherwise wouldn't be a whole lot of it," Kaminske said.

Ledyard isn't known as a community with many hungry and needy children. But, as Kaminske put it, "There are poor people in every town."

Among the contributions the local Lions Club has provided over the years are the following:

• Provided free eye exams and eyeglasses. Also, thousands of used glasses have been shipped to underdeveloped countries.
• Donated many thousands of dollars in college scholarships.
• Assembled food baskets for the elderly and those in need.
• Donated funding for several guide dogs, helping the blind regain their independence.
• Donated money, along with other Lions Clubs around the globe, to help those affected by natural disasters, such as those in Haiti and Pakistan.

There currently are more than 70 members in the Ledyard club. It received letters of commendation from members of Connecticut's congressional delegation as well as from Gov. M. Jodi Rell. Former President Jimmy Carter even sent a greeting.

Kaminske, who received a special service award, joked about joining the initial group of 20 , recalling his response when one of the other founders first approached him.

"I had no idea what it was," he said. "I asked what they did and they said they sell light bulbs and things like that. I asked what it paid and they said, 'Nothing.' And I said, "Well, I don't know if I want to get involved in that."

Since then, he said, he has discovered that joining Lions was one of the great decisions of his life. He especially enjoys helping needy children.

"Any kid who really needs something should be given a fresh start in life," he said.