Strathmore Lions Club
History
Compiled by PDG Lion Gordon Prusky
3rd Edtion 2008
The Strathmore Lions Club hereinafter referred to as the Club was organized on Sept. 12, 1938. First Charter Night was held on Dec. 20,1938 in the Memorial Hall. Sang songs with gusto. Tail twisting was evident $.10. Our sponsor was the Lions Club of Calgary. The Club had 15 Charter Members who paid $5 to join. Meals $0.50.
Early activities: 1939 –July sports day – softball tournament, auction sale and dance. Proceeds to improving swimming “pool”{really a mud hole}. Bricks for the pool cost $.25.
1940's- minstrel show, sponsored a carnival queen, any funds over $250 were used to buy war bonds, all stores closed for sports day, bike races, ball games, bathing beauty contest, raffled a cake, assisted Red Cross with an ambulance, bridge games on Wed. night, Pool funds of $224 in war stamps. Had a Ladies nite in Oct., Sports day proceeds for the comfort of the overseas boys, talking about a post office, Lions met in sample room at King Edward Hotel, had a concert, did a Swedish dialect play, had songs and military whist party, quartette sang, added horseshoes for sports day, had one governor from Edmonton in 1942, dance for Red Cross, war bond canvassing, partridge dinner, looked at Magrath pool, auction sale for bombed out children in Britain, local livestock auction (made $4748) some items sold and then resold, Ukrainian dance group – song, dance, Bonds instead of pool, sent the Strathmore Standard to every boy overseas, need for hospital, cook own supper- 2 members a meeting, were 46 Lions clubs in MD, dance for pool - door prize silk stocking, chocolates and cigar, Mammoth carnival and dance sold $1000 worth of tickets, waiting permit from OTTAWA to build pool in 1945, Standard Lions formed, due to materials shortage Ottawa said no to pool, had clothing drive, entertained by Mary and Chuck Mercer (3 1/2 yr. old). End meeting with “singing” song” Little Liza Jane”.
April 1946 start new pool. Copied Nanton club started a Scott Pot.
Unloaded car load of cement (80# bags in 2 hours. Used conscripted labor. Burns and Dutton awarded contract for pool. {Pool at Kentucky Fried today) July 1 1946 had opening of new pool. Raffles made $1200. Sell holly for Xmas. Pay as you pull raffle tickets for a calf. District Curling league. Had a box social. Sat. night hops. (sock), sponsor travelling Gayland Shows. Carnival type. Wait for steel for wading pool. Dinner raised to $.75. 10-year chevrons awarded…
1950’s – club reps to Home and School, wading pool for kids, donkey baseball, plan bath house at pool, auction sale for arena, Xmas party at theatre for kids, had ice-carnival fund raiser, use old school house for dressing room at pool, sponsored Hanna Lions Club, former principal Lion Samuel Crowther dies 1951, carnival queen, father and son ball game, assisted in planting trees at nuisance grounds (Universal Ford grds), sponsor a master farmer, swimmers receive crests, waterproof cracks at pool, barn dance, sell 100 seats for arena @$5, with Rosebud sponsored Hussar Lions Club, sold “Blind’ made brooms, talk about a community chest, tag people on street for flood relief in Winnipeg 1954, sponsor a farm and home improvement campaign, Lions TV bingo, magician, sports day July 1( 12th annual), heath dept. said get a new filter need $5000. Plan a bingo. Need to heat the water. Fined for not wearing sailor type hat. Sponsored Carseland Lions Club. Had cemetery bee (town paid us $300), sponsor oil forum, kids night supper [80], parade, $11,507 from Bingo. Concession booth at 5 car bingo, money for Hungarian refugees, 53 clubs at district bonspiel, concession at wrestling in arena, Trip to Hawaii with Legion, [1957]
Suggest civic center with arena and curling rink together, April 1958 Erick Cockx dies in pool (muddy- only see 3’), Halloween dance, and turkey shoot at Armories across from old Samuel Crowther School,
Jan. 1960 – Lion Chuck Mercer starts playing the piano for our singsongs, sponsor an electrical fair, upgrading of pool to cost $20,000.
Need a diatomaceous earth filter, did 5 car bingo concession, car rodeo, buy Calgary Crystal Pool filter (1925) did CNIB drive.
3rd. Int. Vice Pres. Claude DeVorrs of Kansas spoke at our 25th C.Night, plan new bath house, Town gave Rec. grant of $6000 for pool, car rodeo, tender for pool filter room and pipes -$24,523, got $7000 from Public Works Dept, $5500 winter works -Fed. Grant, 5500 Lions, County of Wheatland starts 1961, trip to Hawaii made $1113, stop work at pool until get more money, scrap metal drive for pool, 5 car bingo concession, pool fees up to $20 per family, Lions& Legion gave oxygen tanks to Fire Dept, Cheadle Lions formed,Youth Exchange – Don Risdon & Buzz VanderVliet to Kansas, Public Hootenanny at Pool – singing, playing; plan to host trail riders from Med. Hat to Calgary Stampede- start of Whooper Upper, plan new bath house – old school not suitable, paid off loan to town for pool in 1965, last of 5 car bingos in 1964 had cash prizes in 1965, Alex Gibson District Governor from Strathmore, 100 day beard contest May 31 1967 made $7000; playground equipment at pool, birthday calendar, 1968 start walkathon on #21 Highway made $4151, in 69 made $4665- used for new pool floor, talk about high school centralization-vote 793 against, 783 for, , mother’s day dinner,
1970’s - snowmobile races, mother’s day dinner, Stanley cup hockey raffle, bought a cement block for Cheadle Hall, bingo, Mary English spoke about legalizing lotteries for HEALTH reasons, Lion Bill Springthorpe dies. Sleigh rides and wiener roasts, propose to buy 40 acres for rec. complex, built grill for burner for Whopper Upper, newspaper bingo with a trip to
1980s- supervised 75th Homecoming dance & ran bar, DG Ken Seitz, portable washrooms for rodeo, travel draw for BBQ – 350 tickets sold, $2000 for Senior Citizens, Hire-a-lion paints an apartment, host breakfast for Prov. Volleyball, sponsor blood donor clinic, bought bucking chute, did club officers training school, new piano for community center given by Lioness, miniature car raffle, bought 3 wheel Amigo wheelchair with Cheadle and our Lioness, bought $700 diabetes monitoring machine, With Cheadle raised $6000 for Journey for Sight, pancake breakfast for 4H, raffle all-terrain vehicle, built youth camp fence at Cremona 1983, $6000 for arena Zamboni, shelter for Lambert Park skating & ball club, built patio at SR’s home at Sunset Haven , $200 planter in Valley General Hospital, Start Bethany Care Lifeline, did rodeo concession, raffle and old time dance, $6000 from birthday calendar, June walkathon made $10,000, paid $2400 for Lions Quest in schools, made $600at Auction, held a diabetes clinic, sold mints at various businesses, new pool hot tub beside family center cost us $53,123, air-conditioning at Srs. Sunset Haven, $17,000 for washrooms at Ag grounds, stopped selling 200 club tickets, sold Olympic Souvenir books, ordered blue sweaters with our crests on them, 50th Charter Night in new curling rink, sponsor youth at Forums in Ottawa and Edmonton, sponsored old members night, collected paper for recycling each Saturday.
1990’s – walkathon made $3100, Heritage days made $14,000, did breakfast at Hospital, Sr. pancake breakfast, collect used eyeglasses, won ball at Cairnhill tournament, first Charity golf, wine & cheese in Oct. at golf course, host Dist. 37E golf tourney, Peace Poster submissions, only club officers training school we did not host was in 1993. STARS had Ton of Pennies drive {$200}, send to Ag society 25% of our net proceeds, start Charity - $2696 Golf, set up a table for info about us at the REVS sign up for various things, $4000 for Crisis Center opened May 17, 1993, not able to get a grant for the new elevator we put in the arena because our records with Corporate Affairs not up to date, was done and we applied for grant, still had Strathmore Lioness in 1993. Food bank assisted started in 1990. Bought Xmas hampers @$125. 1993 started first timer pins at district convention; Govt. grant for elevator was $30,330. Cost $55,000. Entered in Grey Coupe parade in Calgary in 93, 94 Whooper Upper changed because of conflict with Fort Whoop Up days near Lethbridge, bought a heart defibrillator, $10,000- activates the heart, 55th CN at Strathmore Family Center [arena], life memberships started for members to Lions Foundation of Canada @$100, people who built the elevator at the arena are bankrupt, Lions still have a Lions Housing Committee and look after seniors in Dr. Giffen Manor and Sunset Haven, Lioness used to cater at the first meeting of the month, Cheadle Lions request to do infield catering – we say no again, Y Exchange to Pittsburgh, Royal Insurance our Lions International Insurance Company does not cover us for liability if alcohol is served- suggest we buy separate pal insurance for each function, walkathon May 1994, first highway clean up on # 1 highway, Lions Eyebank at the Rockyview is $100,000 in debt, hope to get 4 defibrillators – 1 for us, 1 for Carseland, 1 for Standard and 1 for Langdon, auction used to buy our machine; member drove cancer patient in to the hospital for a few trips, town got a Pepsi sign across from cemetery on highway #1, old YDC vacant, later bought by Covenant Bible College, Ag society talking a new grandstand, sell Pepsi at Heritage days – Ag society got $8000 from Pepsi, Dogpound district campout called off – not enough interest –1994, $6000 at 94 walkathon around town, Project Pride where all grade ones get a small Canadian flag and a certificate, $500 for a person to go to Mayo Clinic, did float for our parade, Lion Norm Morton wins $200,000 at the Lions Pot of Gold at the Calgary Stampede, gave $4000 to Project Hope – help autistic children at Westmount school, 2nd. Charity Golf made $2000 for Sight First.
Our booth, plan a summer Celebrity Golf –had 144 golfers, made $10,000 split for STARS & P. HOPE, asked to administer the Ag society campground- [we declined], we support grade nine student going to eastern Canada [about $900 a year); we made $1650 from Pot of Gold – normally goes to Eyebank, realigned the fence at the Ag society to allow us to serve from both sides of our concession booth, George Risdon made a Life member, Myron & Russel Christensen made privileged members, added to Melvin Jones Fellowships, Govt. plans to cut out our Housing Committee that looks after Sunset Haven, Dr. Giffen Manor and one in Gleichen & Carseland, horse races, Youth Exchange student Michelle Hudson made honorary citizen in Pittsburgh, lay wreaths at Remembrance Day services, allowed Ag. Society to use our $11,000 in trust to be used for covered grandstand, we pay Ag. Society 25% of profit from booth unless we have repairs or capital outlay to offset it, Lion Cave Starling updated our books with the Corporate Affairs to keep our Societies number and our incorporation, 1995 first highway one cleanup by old weigh scales, had a portable sign to rent, did a budget 1995, Eugene Helfrich hosts again the nomination meeting, MD loses about 190 net Lions a year, have sent to LCI Sight First $4300 of our $5000, Hugh Brown Life member 1995, April6, 1995 started attendance joker jackpot- put in a loonie get half pot if draw joker, gave WFCS $3000, bowled in Calgary, new Ag. Soc. Agreement we pay them 8% of our gross 1995, cater to high school rodeos, town population now 5,000 in 1995, paint the meeting room &library made $1000, Bozeman tried sustaining members that are now called affiliates, United Inc. offer us free Lambert Village we said no they paid us $15,000 for use of our name, were going to be life leasebacks but now outright condos- huge project, Rotary Club tried to form –it did not, commit $10,000 to Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guide school at Oakville Ontario, concessions at ProGun rally at Ag. Gds., walk in Stampede Parade beside Pot of Gold float, back to catering one meal per month – Sept. 95, dues now $50, no 3rd. VP at LCI, 50 year member George Risdon dies we plan a ladder in his name at the outdoor pool beside the arena, no region chair in 1995 on, USA Canada Forum in Edmonton attended by us, bowling alley in Strathmore, brass plaque put on Lambert Village, walkathon fall of 95, since 1980 have 37E directory, $300 for CNIB van, had region membership seminar 1995, gave $200 to Food Bank, $3200 walkathon 96, Ag Soc. Selling 400(@$375) club reserved seats at grandstand for 5 years, United Inc. hard time selling units at Lambert Village just about pulled out, bar & food service for Legends made $400, new booth plans with a crawl space approved 96, assist girl guides to Australia, grandstand to cost $750,000, Reese Risdon talks about Youth Exchange to Australia there 6 weeks, Lioness club quit June 1996, Maggie’s Country Kitchen does catering @$8min. of 25, burnt the old concession ( Log Cabin ) booth, no grant for new booth, Celebrity Golf Tourn. For covered grandstand {not a wise choice made only $1657}, we cater to our own auction was Lioness, May 16/96 thank you dinner to past & Present Lioness members, leisure golfers Wed for any Lions at about 3:30,auction makes $13,385 – 1996, bar for 15 year old Brentwood- school staff, painted 2 offices - $125, interclub golf, start Peace Poster kit idea-$50 1st and $25 for second motion to accept Lioness was defeated, any woman can join since 1987- still no women 1996, used 4’ walls for $27,420.74 booth – not need engineer’s stamp, sold tickets for Crisis. C. car, $100 for band parents, Royal Purple new caterer for our meals $8, $250 for Ruppe Children educ. Fund, new booth built July 1996, serve burgers at Cel. Golf, $200 for phone a friend, did Sr. Xmas party for first time since Lioness used to do it, gave LOFT kids $500 for help in selling goods in stands, $500 to Library for talking books, 20 first aid kits for soccer teams, spearhead a new civic center building back in 1996, motion to allow sustaining members defeated, 4 day rodeos next yr., Y. Exchange student Christene Perkin to Texas, wet weather in Sept. 96 to slow Lambert Village digging, and 4 days of chuckwagons in 97, endorsed Art Eeles as Vice District Governor, lot of people at conventions in Canmore then Olds, Ton of Pennies for STARS made $395 in 96, $501 for Xmas hamper, commit $100,00 over 5 years to new civic center motion defeated, George Risdon memorial ladder at pool cost $3,787 we had only $1250 in account, added bronze plaque to elevator in arena, gave $751for cop cards, 50% of walkathon in 97 towards Samuel Crowther new playground- made $4000 for them,$4T for us- great response from Samuel Crowther Middle school students new pin for Art Eeles as Governor, hosted training school and our auction same day, 97 had concession at Bullorama, lion sits on board that handles Dr. Giffen Manor, Sunset Haven and Wheatland Lodge- that is being expanded, Gordon Hilton wins first joker jackpot his share - $573.50. That is fitting because when we short of funds he donated to us $751. Put in furnace in booth in crawl space, Dennis Mockford resigns but gives us a $500 donation, bought $1000 treadmill for Sunset Haven, bought before a $675 treadmill for Dr. Giffen Manor, free meeting room at Lambert Village turned down – could have our bar there but had to use their caterer, $401 for scouts to go to Thunder Bay, Lutheran ladies to run infield booth at rodeo for 50%(they made $1000), Loft kids made flat fee of $375, Bill Webber new fellowship $500 for Eyebank – 1997, $100 for heart patient operation, built booth in the stands, but $4500 convection oven instead of grills for booth, ran hospitality room at Canmore & Olds for candidate Art Eeles-Governor 1998-99, won most miles traveled award for convention, moisture buckles particle board flooring at booth, Ag society attendance tripled from 94 to 97. Good shape money wise, at Olds convention – 2 locals spoke: teacher Karen Harris on corneal transplant and Michelle Hudson on Y. Exchange to Pittsburgh, club to host 37E Convention in Canmore, $125 each for Wheatland Jr. high staff & Westmount for Lions Quest training, committee recommends joint use civic center with new school west of arena ,our first casino Jan 11-12 1998 at Frank Sissons- made $8,516.81-20%@ Crisis S, Food Bank, Xmas Food hamper, Youth Camp and Eyebank. , paid $700 for fridge & freezer for Jr. High, helped Crisis Center with manpower for their first casino Apr. 27-28, card party for members for campaign expenses, gave $500 for meat for P. Hope auction, Connie Kopp and Laurie Huntley can teach Lion’ s Quest now- save us thousands, dress regulations for DG – blue blazer, Grey pants, special tie; 98 auction made $20,000 cost us about $3 a plate to cater, Elks no longer cater at Ag Soc. Gds., bought 100 club banners, $100 to hockey Grizzlies team, $1000 to high school football team storage building, cater to H. school rodeo $735 and walkathon same weekend 98, set up visitation schedule for all 60 clubs for DG Art Eeles, Cheadle Lions booth where Elks was at Ag. Gds., dues $60 July 1 98, another casino Aug 17-18,98 100% proceeds for new hall- made $22,000, 98 Celeb. Golf made $400 for STARS and $4000 for Crisis S., condiment roof at gds., paid the last of the $10,000 owing to Lions Foundation of Canada for dog guides, served dinner to cabinet & Gleichen choir at DG A.Eeles first meeting of cabinet which was preceded by a golf tournament, made $570 catering to chucks vying for spot at Stampede, in travels with DG A. Eeles see women in other clubs humm!, hosted Larry Colbert of Arizona Leader Dog rep before convention, got $15,000 from United Inc. used $1159.19 for hair parlor at Lambert Village, Supt. Of Schools Dr. Garry McKinnon wrote letter asking parties to consider joint facilities to be located West of Arena for Ag Society, Golden Hills and Town Civic Center –Nov. 18,1998, 60th Charter Night 1999at hall with 213 there, motion to support Gordon Prusky as Vice D.Gov. for 1999-2000(no names put forth at convention-need special cabinet vote) W. Lodge goes from 55 units to 102, designed a new 60th anniv. Pin.from us to help us cater at Heritage Days, Grizzlies Hockey team did, Jr.High did, Dog Guides Fellowship for DG Art Eeles and Cab. Sec. G. Prusky, civic center to be where it is today- Hall $1M;pool $2M, school $11M, Lions spearheading the civic center idea called a community meeting, $1000 to Handibus Soc, Heather Ledene off to Y. Exch. in Finland, STARS bought a Human patient simulator cost $250,000 our share plus a mobile home van, LCI headquarters $7M in red dues increase failed at past Int. conventions, H. school raised $20,000($3000 ours) for cancer shaving heads – Sec. Bruce Bishop and Pres. Fred Rappel and member Gordie bald McCracken, help with our hospital casino at Frank Sissons, tried to make 4 nonprofit societies get casino dates but not incorporated so not let us, ads in 37E directory for incoming and past D Gov., 1999 Chuck Mercer dies asked town to name a room after him in civic center, we serve is our motto – did just that for Crisis center casino, Oct. 99 new high school approved, first Bill Webber Fellowships given to Fred Rappel and Norm Morton cost $500 for Eyebank, attendance Scott pot is now $.50, tractor-pull cater made $2000, town plan sewer upgrades not a pool, we commit $100,000 to new civic center, over $3200 for memorial to Lion Chuck Mercer’s room, Town said we could put our portable sign up anywhere we wanted once told by another town official to not sell ads for profit,
2000’s - Casino made $25,142, rodeo 5 days now, raised our pledge to $200,000 for new civic center, concern about methane gas for new complex from old nuisance grounds where ball diamonds are now located, new members orientation at Art Eeles Jan.13, 2000, electric wheel chair donated by Ernie Johnsgaard once used by Chuck Mercer to Health unit for their use, town still recognizes us as the real pushers for new complex, Prov. Govt. approved school plans as long as it had a civic center attached, town hesitant about new pool, $1300 for HS basketball teams to go to Nova Scotia, concern where we would meet if kicked out of Community Center before civic center built, auction -$20 per at door attendee, site plan Jan. 10,2000 for complex, town runs pool vote, we plan to canvas every house for a yes vote, Feb. 3 suggest an Aquatic Society be formed, lot of meetings, town worried if vote fails for pool will we still give $100,000 we said yes, lot of scenarios about cost per home for taxes for pool and water /sewer upgrades, Lions will pay half cost of pool drawings if vote fails. Told to get out of community center May 31,2000 but library not have money to expand to hall side, $500 for seniors abuse center at Kerby Center in Calgary, town agreed to keep the large hall open for us until new one built, buy Ducks Unlimited prints for our annual auction, vote on pool 769 no, 692 yes; format for Celebrity golf a pro am with pros and amateurs planned- cancelled lack of entries, $3300 for local gym mats hauled by Cool X from Winnipeg compliments of John Mikula, annual auction, $500 for Allison Mercer to go Rosebud School of Arts, Aquatic Society sold $10 memberships paid all the ads and printing bills, made $1158 at High School rodeo catering, storage area built on the north cloak room, we give kids hotdogs Ag. Society give kids the redeemable coupons, concessions to Stampede trail riders from Hanna ranch-$500, asked to share loss on truck tractor pull we said no way, complaints about long lineups at concessions for bullorama, ladies join our Lions Club spring 2001, pool is a go, sold first brick at Heritage Days 2001 to Hussar Credit Union for $2600, July 1 beef on a bun made $1000, Art Eeles council chairman 2000-2001. Langdon a new Lions club, bought a TV viewer that magnifies things - $2400 put it in Lodge, helped masons with casino for pool, auction made $25,000 our biggest local fund raiser, agreed we run Bullorama and Cheadle runs western classic, $500 for student to go to tumbling in Denmark, VP Albert Dutka to Chicago for Lions Institute, if get 70 members look at splitting the club into 2, a county taxpayer group was formed in Standard to push for rec. taxes from the county- never did it, rent a tent from Standard Lions for eating at rodeo, protocol on immediate death in lions family – sent a card, $25 to persons’ choice or Eyebank, host 37E convention at Royal Inn in Calgary 2001, Town says all our $200,000 can go to pool, Aquatic Society having house built to sell- made $27,000, bought Elks meat slicer for $300, bronze plaque for Chuck Mercer room, IGA gave 10% of grocery certificates to raise funds for pool-$5000, approved legacy scholarship of $750 for secondary student, tenders for pool opened Nov. 14,2001 .Devitt and Forand contractors, town borrows max of $900,000 to build pool, any Bethany Lifeline money goes to convention acct, 2002 auction made about $40,000 includes $10,000 from Strathmore Homes for pool, canvas town with aquatic society raised $27,000 for pool, secret lion - shakes hands with all or maybe get fined $.25, use Home Ec. room at new school ,Royal Purple cater first Thursday they also use Home Ec rm., free rent for us using the Chuck Mercer room because of our $200,000 commitment to pool, used commercial kitchen for hosting prov. Basketball tournament breakfast, moved the Lioness piano from downtown to Chuck Mercer room, $1000 for single mom to go to Mayo clinic, bought another TV reader, meal guarantee is now 35, Board of Directors allowed to spend up to $1000 otherwise to general meeting, plan new infield booth, helped crisis center move to new location, toured pool Oct. 15, 2002. Official opening Oct. 20 ,2002. Betty Bishops’ dad Lion Ben Dueck passes away. He gave us the first $200 to give away by raffle as the last auction item. Thanks to all the past secretaries who have the minutes for us to read at the next meeting. Lioness Club folded in 1997 and we took over the Senior’s Party at Xmas.
2002 - Went to Calgary Flames game and collected used eyeglasses. Art Eeles and Glen DeGoeji (RCMP) said 1200 pairs collected at game. Twin club for visitation was the Northeast Eyeopener Club. The largest club in the district with 49 active members. They do weekly bingos at the Fanning Centre. They cook burgers at all the home games of the Stampeders, They hosted MD 37 Winter Conference, They held it at the Royal Inn. Great fun Friday night-golf, pie throwing, worm betting, chicken shit bingo. They made $10,000. Ticket selling at the Stampede. First it was selling programs for the Flames games, then we sold programs for the rodeo and chucks and now to raffle tickets called Pot ‘O Gold.
We get paid about $6 per hour by the controllers the North Hill Lions.
2003 - Went to Irricana played pool, crib, and curled in interclub. Moving to new civic center- took a poll on meals – 22 left as Royal Purple doing firs we do second one, 11 Royal Purple do both, 3 get Blaine Julien to do both. So Royal does first and we do second using the School’s Home Ec. Room. Trouble getting a quorum a Bd. Meeting. Pres. Albert Dutka asked phoning committee to phone Board members. Crossfield Lions had a 25th Charter Night. Outstanding success kept 25 year’s ago prices: Cost $7.50 each, drinks 2 for $5. Great fun. Probably the greatest dance floor in
Great to see auction at civic center. But stuffy, hot and overcrowded. But what a success. Thanks to Bob Pitts and crew and especially to Bruce Bishop for over 70 items secured. First time special napkins and table cloths rented from Town. Paid $350 to rent commercial kitchen shared by Town and school. Sold hay for the firs time at our auction. Paid $350 for DU cougar print for auction. Lioness once bought a piano for old community centre. Now is at new civic center. Renewed our clean the highway contract for our 6 miles by old weigh scales for another 3 years. Started that in 1995. Official visit of the District Governor and entourage was Nov. 21. Past Pres. Dan Specht was zone chairman. Dan was also zone chair in Carbon in 1984-85.
Dan Specht the fabulous cook or chef did beef on the bun for Canada Day. Really waste of time. Too many other vendors. When will people learn?
STARS was really a Lions Project but International were too scared of lawsuits. We gave them $50,000 seed money and another $50,000 loan to get started. To date the Lions have given over $1million towards STARS. Health and Welfare report on a regular item at each general meeting. We got lack in the past. Missed some. It hurts when some get it and others do not. Lion Donna Specht is now looking after it. Albert Herr takes a harvested set of eyes to Eyebank from Medicine Hat via Bassano somewhere to Rockyview hospital. He gets pin and letter. New club is Calgary Woodcreek. Previous last one was Langdon. We are working on forming a club at Chestermere. 18 Lions went to Standard. They meet only once a month. Helped with Crisis Society and Mason’s casino. Thanks to Lion Al Guthro we used Quebecor (Owners of paper Strathmore Standard) Visa and Master Card machine at the auction. A first. Rang through $17,312. Cost us nothing. They pay less than 1% per. New school and civic center has an alarm. Needed for insurance. Well we trip the odd one or forget to arm it. OH well. We learn. Made $40,000 at auction but $10,000 of that Eyebank - was from Cindy Chan Strathmore Homes for pool. Meal guarantee is now 35. Bought 25 new purple aprons for booth $12.19 each. At Eyebank Tourney we sponsored a hole for $1000. Catered to high school rodeo over May long weekend. Made $600. Secretary George Pinchbeck uses email to send out minutes. Welcome to John Cooper who joined out club. Mike Cooper’s dad. Board allowed to spend up to $1000 without general meeting approval.
Cold and wet Heritage Days. Sold coffee. Need proper infield booth. Changing 7 districts to present 5. Name them L<I>O>N>S.
Heard from Dick Corne MD Sec.Treas. from
New blood donor clinic area in
2003 - All the bricks are sold for Aquatic Society. Orientation night Jan. 30, 2003 for new and old. Still supporting the Eyebank. Started in 1985 at
Brian Grier running as Vice Governor in Canmore at district convention. New member Margaret Betts. Bill McPhee drops out.
Did breakfast at Country Lane Mall and Hospital. Norm Morton head honcho. Aquatic Society had dunk tank at Legion on Heritage days. Made $500.RCMP Glen Lion DeGoeji was there in full uniform minus artillery. Lions helped the Aquatic Society with their 54 hole golf-athon. They made about $5000.Last 2 years the Coopers especially John and Mike for arranging for Heritage Days float. Gerry Ledene arranges for some ball players to play in Celebrity Ball Game. We made about $1700. RCMP accompanies Fred Rappel give out Project Pride flags and certificates to grade ones. Impressive to see full uniformed LION RCMP Glen, the late, DeGoeji. Full catering to our 2 meals starts Sept. 2003. Participated in Angus Spence, former mayor Lion, horseshoe tourney. Ringers were Ken Ross, Edgar Watt and Ken Morrison. Donna Specht arranges fro Wildrose Auction tent to be used in infield booth area. Did a retirement party for Lion School Supt, Dr. Garry McKinnon. We gave him a Melvin Jones Fellowship. The highest honor in Lions. Dan Specht updated the plaques for the Past Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers. Made $48,000 at Heritage days with 2 booths, Little infield booth made $15.5 of it. Used the Lutheran tent beside the infield booth for food. Country Lane mall gives us $300 for doing their heritage days breakfast. We give $50 gift cert. to George Freeman for his help with Legion wagon and for Mike Eleniak for his help at Co-op. Coopers for the last 2 years have had the appreciation BBQ there. Thanks. Equipment for infield booth $15,310.38. Cost to make at least $17,992.90 as of Aug,28, 2003. Gave $5000 to Reds Peewee baseball to go to BC. Ag society plan to buy land outside of Strathmore. We held a membership seminar at High School. 4 attended. Went to Mikulas after the highway clean up. Great food and bought a $400 walker for a person. Pay Project Hope $5000 over 2 years. Brian Grier as VDG goes to USA Canada Lions Leadership Forum in Portland. Garry McKinnon, Art Eeles and Gerry Ledene forming a Leo club at High school with Donalda Ledene’s help. Send Dan Ferguson (Ist. VP) to Chicago for Lions Training Institute. Bought a table for 8 for Calgary’s 75th Charter Night. Lions did the supper for about 400 at 2nd. Aquatic Xmas party. They made $5688.45. Had out peace posters judged at 37-0 Convention. Several went to Rosebuds 50 th.
2004 - At our District Convention for the first time we elect our own Hall of Fame winner. It was PID Jack Isaman from NEE that won. Instead of second meeting in December had a social on Dec. 18. Like an appreciation night. Few attended. Attended Standard Lions auction. They support ours we support theirs. They like buying the bottles of. Gave $1000 to Crisis Society from casino. ExLion Ernie Johnsgaard gave an electric wheelchair for our use. Lion Chuck Mercer used it at the Fanning Center. It is now at the Health Unit for their use. Lion Art Eeles and Cliff Hermanson busy installing private Bethany Life Lines. Nov. 14-16, 2003 Brian Grier wins VDG. Assisted with Bearspaw Lions on Xmas splendor at Telus Conv. Centre in Calgary. Turned down to sell raffle tickets from new co-op Kiosk. (Was that Key sock)? Sec. Stan Glydon filled out the annual return papers fro Corporate Registry. Gave $100 - SHSchool career fair Feb. 24, 2004. Expect 1000 people. Started selling Grey Coup tickets. Who else but again Bruce Bishop who started it and ran with it. Took over Rob Rebeyka hockey tourney. But still Lion Dale Glydon did all the work. Gave $500 towards Larry Olson starting 4H gun club. (Air pistols, archery, rifle) Not hold 65 th. C. Night. Not enough interest. Twinned with Milo at Hidden Valley golf club. Lion Alton Stairs has made a recognition plaque for donors from $100 to $499 for the pool. Leo formal induction into Lions at SHS April 21. We took the desserts (30 Lions). May 24 - 3 new clubs –Korean, Mosaic, Wildrose. Larry Hamel moves to Medicine Hat. Great help with Gene Helfrich on the bar duties. Ron Hilton gets first PID(past Int. Direcor) Jack & Denise Isaman Fellowship for CNIB. $2000 for ExLion John Ledoldus park gazebo or BBQ in Hillview. Pool’s name-Centennial (Alberta’s) Aquatic and Civic Centre. Still bring 2 pies each for auction. Entered a team (Griers &editor) in Woodcreek car rally from Spruce Meadows. Released second meal caterer. First club retreat at Nightingale Hall May 1, 2004. 5 New districts instead of 7 July 1, 2004.
Great auction. Ken Ross chair. We (Norm Morton) and Crew cook IGA supplied breakfast for Spring Festival on main street. Cold-made $400 for Crisis Society. Gave $300 for flag sets for Project Pride for one of three new Calgary clubs. Blood donor clinics go on. Without the Hutterite support we would be down about 45%. Lion Mark Gibeau on housing committee but also gives us big selling item at auction – glass bowl. Y.Exch. student off to New Zealand- but did not go. . For retreat facilitator had a Club Dynamics questionnaire. Action plan followed. Dan Specht puts fans in booth. Relocate friers. Rodeo at Heritage Days called a stampede. Made 38% of Heritage total of $37,364.82 at infield booth. Did a 2-day casino Aug16 &17 right after Heritage Days. Busy busy. At casino use electronic tracking devices. Recorded at Gaming instantly. No more paper work almost. Taking longer to get a new casino. Too popular. Now over 2 years. Incoming DG Brian Grier made a promise that he would visit every club as Vice Gov. Sign above concessions missing. Cheadle puts an old stove on top of our booth. Fred rappel’s son Rob rushed to Foothills. Arrives fully uniformed Bob Pitts and Glen DeGoeji with flowers. You should have seen the stares. If sick get $25 fruit basket or $35 flowers. Not the money but the thought. Still support the cadets- a credit to Strathmore. Gene Helfrich and others to horseraces. Ken Ross and Stan Glydon not many ringers at horseshoe tourney at Legion. Lion Len Wathen dies. First at canoe race on Lambert Park Lake. Thanks to Mike Lloyd. Plan first Grey Cup raffle- tickets @$2, 1st& 3rd.Q-$100, Half$200, Final $500.Reverese final $100.1682 tickets. Scores from, 0 to 41. Gave $500 for ex Y. Exchanger Gavin John while he is in India. He works with aids patients there. Gave $1000 to youth camp near Cremona for large bathroom and kitchen upgrades. First affiliate member Cave Starling – Our dues $70 his $100. Not expected to attend all meetings- active status. Thanks to John & Betty; Mike and Linda Cooper for the BBQ appreciation after the Heritage Days. Lucella Main a worldwind in the booth for working. Fred Salame great worker in booths but does multitasking (from his Pizza training days)
2005 - VDG Brian Grier attends Forum in Reno. Fund raising committee of Dan Ferguson thought we should have a Sweetheart Dance. Sweat equity at youth camp by 5 members. Brian Grier elected DGE. Assisted Dan Specht with his 65 years birthday/50 years John Deere. Gave town $13,000 for logo on electronic sign Highway#1.
Aquatic Xmas party (they made $8000)–bar, setup and serving followed the next day with the seniors xmas party. $500 to Medical Missionary. Lisa Eastwood talked about Youth Centre. We gave them $5,000. Got a $20,000. Existed a few years then quit. At old pool beside curling rink. Raised Youth Exchange amount from $1000 per to $1500.Gave $300 to Xmas Splendor feeding homeless at Telus Conv, Center – Calgary. Claude Gauvin inducted. Aug. 13-14, 2004 casino made $44,343.28 with $40,138.83 from 15% of slot revenue that is pooled in the whole city. Gave $10,000 the Lions Foundation of Canada for a dog guide. April we did again the club officers training school catering and hosting. Started in 85 at Samuel Crowther, in 86 to new High School in 2001 to Newer High school and civic centre. Talk about firsts we did first auction in old community center in 86 then moved to civic center in 2002. Held second retreat at Nightingale in 2003 had 15 attend in 2005 had only 11. @ years ago came up with Valentine’s Dance and Grey Cup pool for ff8unds. Gaming says must spend casino money within 2 years of getting it. Kurtis Roy joins. We are all members of the Strathmore & District Agricultural Society. 45 people on Bethany Lifeline. Asked not to put up BBQ in Leboldus park. We put in 2 picnic benches instead. Gave $10,000 to Lions Clubs International Foundation for Tsunami relief. We handed out 10 Melvin Jones Fellowship with the donation. Helped with RCMP Royal Hickey Tournament. Made $400. Chose Sam Blyth, James carver and Marie Burne to go to Europe for Youth Exchange. Stan the man Glydon received 100% secretary pin. Great job. Real professional with a lot of wit thrown in. Doing highway clean up since 1995. We originally asked for the piece closest to Town. Co=op got it. We asked and were given the next 2 miles but Bob Hartell asked if he could do it. We took the next 3 miles basically from the old weigh scale to the Lyalta Road. We do both sides of the road but not the median. Tooo dangerous.
Aquatic Xmas party (they made $8000)–bar, setup and serving followed the next day with the seniors xmas party. $500 to Medical Missionary. Lisa Eastwood talked about Youth Centre. We gave them $5,000. Got a $20,000. Existed a few years then quit. At old pool beside curling rink. Raised Youth Exchange amount from $1000 per to $1500.Gave $300 to Xmas Splendor feeding homeless at Telus Conv, Center – Calgary. Claude Gauvin inducted. Aug. 13-14, 2004 casino made $44,343.28 with $40,138.83 from 15% of slot revenue that is pooled in the whole city. Gave $10,000 the Lions Foundation of Canada for a dog guide. April we did again the club officers training school catering and hosting. Started in 85 at Samuel Crowther, in 86 to new High School in 2001 to Newer High school and civic centre. Talk about firsts we did first auction in old community center in 86 then moved to civic center in 2002. Held second retreat at Nightingale in 2003 had 15 attend in 2005 had only 11. @ years ago came up with Valentine’s Dance and Grey Cup pool for ff8unds. Gaming says must spend casino money within 2 years of getting it. Kurtis Roy joins. We are all members of the Strathmore & District Agricultural Society. 45 people on Bethany Lifeline. Asked not to put up BBQ in Leboldus park. We put in 2 picnic benches instead. Gave $10,000 to Lions Clubs International Foundation for Tsunami relief. We handed out 10 Melvin Jones Fellowship with the donation. Helped with RCMP Royal Hickey Tournament. Made $400. Chose Sam Blyth, James carver and Marie Burne to go to Europe for Youth Exchange. Stan the man Glydon received 100% secretary pin. Great job. Real professional with a lot of wit thrown in. Doing highway clean up since 1995. We originally asked for the piece closest to Town. Co=op got it. We asked and were given the next 2 miles but Bob Hartell asked if he could do it. We took the next 3 miles basically from the old weigh scale to the Lyalta Road. We do both sides of the road but not the median. Tooo dangerous.
We have done that for Art Eeles, Gordon Prusky and for Brian Grier. But most of all you give and learn something in the process. June 11 2005 First Cancer Relay. Did 4am breakfast for all people free. In teams walk all night around SHS track. Tents in the middle. We gave $2000 towards Cancer. Went to horseraces June 12. We fed the horses. Thanks Gene Helfrich. Did a catering questionnaire. Second mtg. caterer quit in April, May and June, and July. Robt. Deblois a lion. Provided Chuck Mercer’s old van (wheelchair accessible) for Miranda Running Rabbit a fetal alcohol girl .She later died.
2006 - Devised action plan from retreat- committee heads to recognize workers immediately, mentor new members; heads to invite new members to their committee; attend clubs to promote convention, get Leos to our meeting; do a community needs survey; no club meeting cancelled without membership approval; keep reports short; feature respect, protocol and procedure; prepare a budget.
Hosted our first District Convention at civic center. Wildly successful. Tip of hat to caterer Dan Specht. $10,000 to Handibus for new bus. Albert Herr and others brought in Emeralds in Sept. We made money. $50 a pop for RCMP regimental Ball. We dressed up and did the bar. Seems like if we have a good contingent of RCMP in our club then we do things for RCMP. Pam Wright joins. Dana Graff transfers from Carbon. He teaches at Westmount. Treasurer allowed to take for public relations the cost of the meals for any guests from public activities monies. Did a casino Dec. 9,10. Thanks to John Mikula we have a seacan for storage that is right close to the fence by the Cheadle’s Booth. Shirts – a lot of Lions have the polyester maroon shirts with some yellow trim But the real problem is not only getting the shirt made but also getting somebody to embroidery “Strathmore Lions” and possibly your name on it. Was done in Strathmore then a lady in Standard did it
now Best Cap in Calgary via exlion Reg McRae the old hospital administrator is part owner of Best Cap. He lives in Strathmore. Cost of my shirt was $52 without any embroidery. We have a Leo club run out of the highschool mainly by Donalda Ledene. Other teachers help. What do they do: BBQ for exchange students- there are lots of them now because it is a money making proposition for the board – pity; exchange dinner, community xmas dinner, run Kid’s carnival with Cheadle, raise money for Haiti, visits seniors, In Rely of Life, Help us at Heritage Days, help with auction.
Sent Dale Anderson and Josh Stevenson to baseball school at Vauxhall with $3725 collect for the late cousin Al. July 2006 PDG Brian Grier presents Edgar Watt with hid 50 year pin. Edgar still helps at the booth. Great to still have you around. Crisis center still needs help, They handle about $15 clients a night. In Dec. 6, 2006 we had our last casino. Next one in April-June 2009. 33 months between casinos. Calgary is 18 months. Gave handibus $5000 for new bus plus $500 for hauling seniors to xmas party.
2007 - Bang right off we host for our first the Multiple District Conference. Headed up by PDG Brian Grier. That thing has been on the books for several years to drop it But we could never get the 2/3 majority vote. Often got in the 60%. Ah but remember Pam Wright in Shooting of Dan McGrew, Thanks to Lion Art Eeles and Marg for setting the evening off to a great start. We made money. Get ½ the profits now from hosting MD and Dist. Conventions and Conferences.
50-50 money is supposed to be se aside for convention attendance. Is it? We normally pay at the district level the $25 fee for registration at our 37-0 convention. Cheadle came up with a Canada Food Grains Project wher3 they sold an acre for $250 and then harvest with about 2 4combines the feed wheat at 100 bushels an acre at Bob Hartell’s farm west of Town. They probably made $400-500,000. 2 levels of government match what was made to make that large total. Only problem is all that money goes of shore.
Lost Hugh Brown, Gerry St.Amour to death. Lou Dumesnil went t BC. Margaret Betts to BC. Dale Glydon resigns. Alton Stairs going home to NB. Bill Hagedorn bought on Van. Island. All this happened in 2007-08 year. It adds up. Bigg sponsors – Garry McKinnon -10 members, Bob Haliday 10, Bruce Bishop -10 and Alberta Herr -11. Start of 2007 the Home Ec. class does the second meeting. (3rd. Thursday) Leos serve/clean up.
2008 - Town and us built Splash Park in S. Lambert. Town quite a bit over budget. New change rooms, water and sewer hook ups. Cheadle gave us $10,000 to help out. Supposed to cost $250,000.We got a grant for $125,000. 19 took food safety course for booth etc. Life memberships extended to Albert Herr, Ruth Ginn, and the editor at a special party for the 50 years in Lions on Nov. 1, 2008. Great party thanks. The Life memberships cost $500 US to International but that only pays dues for life at the current rate of $39 per year. The life members should still pay the district dues presently at $16.70 per year. Greg Helfrich and Wayne Sharp join us. Greta additions. Aquatic center has phase one .To get the other 3 phases in 2002 would have cost $1M. now with the boom the cost is about $4.5 million for wading pool, slide, hot tube and 2nd. Level spectator seating. Town embroiled n dispute about effluent going into the Bow River. Cost them millions dealing with Soskice Nation over the dispute. We gave $25,000 for an Auxiliary generator for the Wheatland Lodge just in case there ever is an emergency they will have full power to run essentials for the community. Youth Camp at Cremona building a bunkhouse to sleep 24 in bunks. We gave them $5000 and awarded our first lion Lionel Bird awards to ten recipients. Dan Ferguson ex-principal of Westmount went to the Dept. Of Ed. in Edmonton. He was very active in promoting the Peace Poster. Also past president. He left us. Bruce Bishops spearheaded an addition to our main booth for a work area and a walk-in freezer with a very very modern door. Great addition .Thanks Bruce and others. A Ramona Dee Stephenson has willed 5 groups in Strathmore about $73,000 each. We were one. Not decided where to spend the money. Lion Keith Tenmple running the Relay for Life. At our April auction Kurtis Roy came up with 2 novel ideas. Sold tickets on best of choice. Winner take anything from auction before the bidding. Second had a head table waited on. Waiter Greg Helfrich got their food, drinks and items. Made clear $53,500. Wowee! Highest auction ever. Sent a Kendra Brenin to Denmark for Y. exchange.
SHS has $1000 grade 12 scholarship also for Holy Cross Collegiate. Well Samuel Crowther was given to the Catholic Bd. The call it that now. Strathmore Lions put aside $25,000 in investments to have a Gordon Prusky Scholarship. It is used for Grade 11 Citizenship for $400 and for Grade 12 Citizenship for $600. Thanks guys. Real honor. School picks the winners. Ordered from Mossleigh 10 splash park picnic tables kept in Town compound. Donnie and Linda Murray who sold to Mullen trucking their CoraLynn Drilling outfit gave us $2000 towards assisting anything. That brings their family total of donations to $7000. Still give $1000 now it is $1375 for one grade 9 student to go on Eastern Canada Trip to the east part of Canada. Really central – Ottawa. $2000 for Brentwood playground. Cost over $60,000. Ran breakfast at new Sobey’s store “east” side of town by Walmart. They were downtown as IGA. IGA Very very great supporters for any community cause. Ken and Lucella Main took over Heritage Days float from John and Mike Cooper. Donated $40,000 to allow Skateboard Park to be built by old Youth Center. If they raised $75,000 town would match it. They did. Plan a 70 th. Charter Night in 2009.
Strathmore Lions History PDG Gordon Prusky – Editor - 3rd. Edition 2008