Michael Petty retired from Federal Civil Service at Madigan Army Medical Center in the fall of 2007. But he didn’t just hit the golf course. In his retirement, Petty continues to serve the community he loves through his volunteer work at the Lions Low Vision Resource Center, which he was recently recognized for by the AARP.
“I knew that it was important to stay active after retirement so I agreed to attend one of the weekly meetings of my friend’s Lions Club, the Olympia Host Lions,” share Petty. “The lunch meeting I attended was interesting, lively, and I already knew some of the members, as we attended the same church. What I learned was that the Lions Club is the largest service organization in the world and their areas of service appealed to me.”
He attended a few meetings, applied for membership and was approved in October 2007.
Michael Petty: Serving Others in Retirement
Since 2007, Petty has been involved in many community service projects through the Olympia Host Lions Club. In 2018, he was a member of the team that built a tiny home for the Plum Street Village. In 2020, he helped with the “Food Is Free Olympia” campaign. “The Olympia project was operated by a local activist who oversaw an emergency relief program, delivering free produce to community members of any income through sharing tables and community drive-thru events,” he shares. The Olympia Lions club helped pick up food in Woodinville and distributed it in the Olympia area.
Ongoing projects that Petty is a part of include the plastic recycling project, where they sort plastics to be turned into Trex benches that are then donated to the community; annually handing out dictionaries to third grade students in the Olympia School District; vision and hearing tests at Olympia School District schools; and the Lions Club’s annual Fuji apple sale that involves over 30 other Lions Clubs. The sales of the apples raise funds for community nonprofits.
Lions Low Vision Resource Center a Natural Fit for Petty
After 42 years in healthcare and medical management with the Air Force in active duty and the Army in civil service, the Olympia Host Lions Club’s low vision center was a natural fit for Petty to continue to serve the community he loves. “After retiring, I joined the Board of the Madigan Foundation,” he explains. “It was because of my work with the Foundation in its Vision Support Program that I was drawn to become more involved in the Lions Low Vision Resource Center.”
Petty says the program is rare because there is no charge for equipment or supplies. “If someone has failing vision or no vision, they are welcome at the Lions Low Vision Resource Center,” he adds. “We do not ask about income or status of any kind. Most if not all the equipment, supplies or tools we have in our inventory have been donated. If we have something that a client could use to improve their daily life, they are welcome to it.”
Some items are given outright to people, others are on indefinite loan: the person can keep it as long as they need and bring it back to the Center when they are done with it.
“When we can provide a piece of equipment that allows a client to continue or resume reading, craft work or what improves their daily living that makes our day,” Petty shares. “So often we hear clients state, ‘You just gave me my life back!’”
Petty says vision equipment donations are always welcome! “We are most grateful for those who send us equipment we can use instead of send to the landfill.
“We are the only Resource Center in the area that does what we do. The need is great and the cost of much of the equipment we loan out is expensive and is beyond the income level of many who have failing eyesight.”
AARP Honors Michael Petty’s Life of Service
In 2024, Micheal Petty was honored by AARP for his dedicated work with the Lions Low Vision Resource Center in Olympia.
“In recognition of his service to others, AARP has awarded Michael with the 2024 Washington State Andrus Award for Community Service – the Association’s most prestigious and visible volunteer award,” writes Jason Erskine, AARP Washington communications director. “Recipients across the nation were chosen for their ability to enhance the lives of older adults, improve the community in or for which the work was performed, and inspire others to volunteer.
Part of the award includes a $2,000 donation to the Lions Low Vision Resource Center by AARP Washington.
“When Michael retired from a career in medical management, he scarcely took a deep breath before plunging into the world of service in the Olympia Host Lions Club,” says fellow Lions Club Member Karen Sell. “At a time when some people might have chosen to kick back and rest a bit, Michael chose to use his management skills to help people with low vision live better.”
