Springfield Host Lions Club
Springfield Host Lions Club was organized in 1921 with 76 members. We are most noted for our aid to the blind. We also sponsor the Host Lions Club History Walk in Nathanael Greene Park.
"It Can Make A Difference In Your Life and the Lives of the Visually Impaired"
Melvin Jones, founder of Lions Clubs, and friends meeting, in Chicago decided to organize and International Lions Club to foster good will and provide humanitarian service. (His stone was dedicated at our 2010 History Walk).
Springfield Host Club was organized in 1921 with 76 members. We are most noted for our aid to the blind.
We have operated the Duck Pond at the Ozark Empire fair since 1948. Probably our most unusual service, was in 1929 when we bought gloves for all the newsboys in the city.
Our first picnic for the blind was in August 1932 at Phelps Grove Park. (still going today). The Club gave the first Lion Of The Year Award" in 1948. Our club is truly International in scope, as we often have members attend the International Lions Convention somewhere in the world. The President of Lions International from Japan, gave the keynote address at our sixtieth anniversary in 1981.
We have furnished 9 District Governors in our almost 90 years of service. We will celebrate our 90th anniversary in 2011 and are second oldest Lions Club in Missouri.
International: http://www.lionsclubs.org (Link to: Our Work)
Local Host Lions Club: http://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/springfieldhostmo/
This picture of the annual Blind Christmas Party won the
Lions International photo contest for service projects
for the fiscal year 2003-2004. It was taken by Lion Virgil Calhoun.
The Jungle Jottings is a monthly newsletter sent to each Host Club Member, updating them of local happenings, news of activities and projects and details of programs at weekly meetings. The first Jottings was distributed in 1936.
We are proud to belong to the world's largest service organization. There were 1.8 million members in October 2010, in 48,000 clubs in 204 countries and areas of the world. We wear the famous lapel pin identifying us as part of the world wide movement doing good works for so many in all varied cultures, all speaking the universal language of humanitarian services.
The club has sponsored many and varied money making projects for our many service programs. Now members choose to earn funds through the operation of the Duck Pond at the Ozark Empire Fair. Over two million ducks have been dipped since we started counting in 1948. In 2010, this service project netted almost $11,000 used for helping others.
International President Sid L. Scruggs III, a retired surgeon, stresses "the importance of eye screening in the countries he visits". "He encourages Lions to rededicate themselves and have hands on service."
Since 1968, LCIF has donated $700,000,000 to such cause as $7.8 million for hurricane relief during Katrina and $15 million to Tsunami Relief. Lion relief was in Haiti the day after the earthquake. Closer to home, LCIF gave grants of $30,000 for the victims of the Billings, Clever and Nixa tornados of 2003 and 2006 and the 2007 Springfield ice storm.
Ask a Host Lion how to join. Help those who are less fortunate.
How do you become a Lion member? Contact our membership committee.
Phone:
Lions Wyman Grindstaff, Judy Young or Fred Brice at 417-833-9879
Mail:
The Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center
2400 S. Scenic Ave
Springfield, MO 65807
417.891.1515
Botanical Center & Gardens Brochure (782.17 kB) Park Bench Winter 2011-2012 (3.32 MB)The Friends of the Garden mission is to "inspire the discovery, understanding and appreciation of nature by creating and maintaining gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park and by supporting the mission of the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center and Park Board."
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