Montezuma Lions hosts picnic, celebrate 75 years of community service

     Isabelle Sanders, middle, is all smiles as she joins her grandmother, Audrey Lang, left, and others at the Montezuma Lions 75th Anniversary picnic at the Diamond Lake main shelter house on Monday, Sept. 12. The event drew 52 Lions Club members, former members and guests.

By J.O. Parker
 
      Members of the Montezuma Lions Club celebrated the club’s 75th anniversary at a picnic held on Monday, Sept. 12 at the main shelter house at Diamond Lake.
     According to long-time Lion, Roger Allen, 52 Lions and guests, including several former members, were present at the picnic. Everyone enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixings during the evening event.
       Special guests included Vice District Governor Jimmy Bacon of Des Moines, District Governor David Coates of Des Moines and Gary Fry, a Past International Director and past State Secretary and longtime state and national leader from Mitchellville. Also speaking was Steve Halstead of Bondurant, who coordinates the corneal tissue transport program from west central Iowa to the Lions Eye Bank in Coralville.
       “He was excited to meet in person several of the Montezuma Lions who area tissue transporters, relaying from Grinnell to Coralville,” noted Allen.
       In an article written by Allen, the Montezuma Lions Club held its Charter Night Banquet on April 21, 1947. Wayne Hill was elected president of the newly formed club. Other officers plus their committee chairmanships were as follows: Irving Gabriel, first vice-president and membership chairman; Gene Hopton, second vice-president and program chairman; Maynard Hutchinson, third vice-president and finance chairman; Jack Swink, secretary and treasurer; David Sutherland, Lion Tamer; E.W. McNeil, Tail Twister; Cletus Harden and Carroll Byers, directors for two year terms; and Thomas Ross and Keith Steffy, directors for one year terms.
       The Montezuma Lions Club currently has 33 members. Membership is by invitation but interested citizens are invited to express their interest to any member. There is a modest one-time initiation fee and there are annual dues, currently $80, with a second adult household member’s dues being half that amount. There are no rituals involved. Providing community service – locally to worldwide – and enjoying fellowship in the process are primary goals.
      Current members would love to have interested individuals express an interest. Members are encouraged to attend the twice-monthly meetings but it is not required. Participation in the few fundraising events the club conducts is an expectation as personal schedules permit. Lions International is the world’s largest non-governmental service organization – and has the lowest dues among leading service organizations.
Service projects
      The Montezuma club is an active participant in four service projects that can be life changing for those served, as listed below:
       Since 2009, member volunteers have been “tissue transporters,” in a network of clubs relaying sight-saving cornea eye tissue to the Iowa Lions Eye Bank in Coralville. Montezuma Lions have driven over 100,000 miles, from a pick up meeting place in Grinnell to Coralville.
        Since 2002 the club has been part of “Iowa KidSight,” screening the eyes of children from six months to age 5. Early discovery of vision conditions needing attention can best be corrected at a young age. About five percent of children screened need to be referred for further examination.
       Projects 3 and 4: For many years the local Lions have helped people of insufficient funds obtain eye glasses or get damaged ones replaced. Lions also help eligible people obtain hearing aids, through the Iowa Lions Hearing Aid Bank. The club collects used eye glasses and hearing aids as part of these efforts.
Community service
        The Montezuma Lions Club has been involved in many community service events from the early days of the square dance festivals and horse shows to the annual chicken BBQ served during the “Let Freedom Ring” Celebration to the fall hunter pancake breakfasts. The club has donated to numerous community and school projects, including recently donating tables and table carts for the school along with 220 padded folding chairs for the school’s auditorium floor seating.  In addition, the club has built and maintained park shelters and constructed bicycle and walking paths, including at Wayside Park south of town. The club donated $4,000 to purchase land for construction of the Sunnyview Apartments and for more than 40 years, sponsored the Honor M Banquet, an event recognizing students accomplishments in sports and other extracurricular activities. The club has also been a major supporter of the After Prom Party. They also hold an annual citywide street clean up in the spring each year. And for the last 28-years, the club has held the annual Lions’ Toy and Craft Show.
        The club meets at the First Presbyterian Evangelical Church the second and fourth Monday night of each month, with exceptions. A meal is served at 6:30 p.m. and meetings begin about 7 p.m.  A change is anticipated in the above details in the near future due to the retirement of Terri Salnave who has been in charge of the meal at the church since 2013. Her team has been using proceeds from the meal service to support a missionary.
      Editor’s Note: Roger Allen, a long-time Lion, provided much of the information for this article.