On August 17, the Mason Lions Club met at Nacho’s for their weekly meeting.

We had an excellent program on an exciting new initiative coming to Mason County as early as next month. The Rural Health Institute at TAMU is responding proactively to the growing shortage of health-care providers in rural Texas counties. Texas has 254 counties, half of which (127 counties) have no resident physician. The situation will only worsen as more and more new doctors specialize and gravitate to practice in areas with large hospitals, the latest medical equipment, and large numbers of potential patients, leaving the rural counties bereft of local medical treatment. What can we do?

Sheree Hardin, administrative assistant to Mason County Judge Jerry Bearden, and Kaleigh Walker, science teacher at Mason High School, explained that The Rural Health Institute is developing a program to attract young doctors to rural counties. Three counties will pilot the program: Bee, Fayette, and Mason.

The Mason County effort will be a partnership among the Rural Health Care Institute of TAMU, Mason High School, the Mason County Rural Healthcare Advisory Board, and Frontera Clinic, led by Dr. Monte Horne. Texas A&M Medical School has appointed Dr. Horne to be a member of its faculty so that the students receive credit for their work here.

Mason ISD will receive K-12 classroom resources and high school students who are interested in the medical field will receive mentoring from the A&M students.

Medical students will begin their time here as early as September. The Mason community can assist by welcoming them and showing them the advantages of rural living: no traffic jams, nice people, everything close to home, topaz hunting, kayaking down the Llano River, and inviting them over for dinner.

One local B&B has already offered them reduced lodging rates for their two-week stay. Imagine what else we might do to make rural living attractive for the medical students!

Guests in support of the program were Curtis Donaldson, representing the Texas A&M Rural Healthcare Advisory Board and the Mason County Rural Healthcare Advisory Board, and Jimmie Bratton, representing the Mason County Rural Healthcare Advisory Board.

The Mason Lions Club is very proud of its state and national service contributions in addition to its many local service activities. Won't you come and join this group in actively serving our community and nation? Any ladies or gentlemen who are interested in joining the Mason Lions Club and serving the Mason community need only ask any Mason Lion!

The Mason Lions Club also promotes sight conservation in our community. Anyone who has used eyeglasses to donate may give them to a Lions Club member or place them in collection boxes at the local banks. Also, if anyone needs financial assistance with eyeglasses, please speak to a local Lions Club member.

The Mason Lions Club Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to service to the community. If you wish to serve your community, come join the Mason Lions Club.