Lions Club surpasses $1 million in service contributions

by Cori Hilsgen

news@thenewsleaders.com

The St. Joseph Lions Club, organized in 1964, has surpassed $1 million in local service contributions.

Public Relations Officer Fran Court said as of Jan. 1 of this year, contributions totaled $1,016,780.94.

The list of contributions from March 1964 – December 2015 is extensive and includes the following: the American Legion; area churches and schools, area youth organizations and sports teams; Food Shelf; Lions Diabetes Program; Lions Drug Awareness-Youth Outreach; Lions Eyebank, Children’s Clinic, Building Fund, Sightfirst 1 and II; Lions Hearing Foundation; Lions Leaderdog Program; Lions Peace Poster Contest; Lions Youth Exchange Program; Mark Zimmer Foundation; projects in the City of St. Joseph including archery range, Christmas lighting, Cloverdale Park, Klinefelter Park shelter, Melody Park, Memorial Park improvement, Millstream Park and shelter, Police (includes D.A.R.E. Program), street beautification, and Welcome Center; St. Joseph City and Township street signs; St. Joseph Volunteer Fire Department; Veterans of Foreign War; and many more.

Court has been a Lions member for 38 years and has served as club president for one term and secretary/treasurer for 10 years.

The St. Joseph Lions Club has 42 members. One charter member, James Kuebelbeck, remains active in the club.

As a founding member, Kuebelbeck has been active with raising funds for the annual July 4 parade, with a goal to make the event one that people would want to attend.

“Through the efforts of others, the organization has grown to become a truly great service organization in the St. Joseph community,” Kuebelbeck said. “Unlike many other clubs and organizations established for the sole purpose of personally benefiting its members, our Lions Club is unique in that our mission is solely to serve others.”

Kuebelbeck said he is often asked why he has been a member of the Lions Club for 52 years and his answer is quite simple.

“I belong to the Lions Club for the satisfaction that comes from knowing that our organization has made, and is making, such a positive contribution in the St. Joseph community and for those less fortunate,” he said. “Ask any member of the Lions and their answer would be the same. We have some of the greatest people in our organization who willingly serve others by their efforts, and I am proud to be associated with this group of individuals.”

Court said new members are recommended to the membership committee by current members in the club. After review, the membership committee makes a recommendation to the club and a secret ballot is taken.

After approval, the nominee is then invited to join the organization.

Contribution requests from the club are submitted to the finance committee which considers each individual request at a separate meeting, and the committee then makes a recommendation to members at a regular meeting. The request is ether approved or not approved based on the majority vote.

The club raises funds by many activities, including brat sales next to the St. Joseph Meat Market during the summer, bake sales, meat raffles, chicken and ham dinners, a fish fry on Good Friday, silent auctions, working at functions at St. John’s University, the July 4 parade and lawful gambling.

“We are kept busy throughout the year, and all the effort is accomplished by volunteers to fulfill our motto ‘We Serve,'” Court said.

He said the club always keeps its motto in the forefront.

“The Lions’ primary concern is helping where help is needed and providing community service,” Court said. “It’s difficult to remember a Lions meeting, for example, where no money was dedicated to helping the community or someone in need.”

Members of the club also participate in service projects such as organizing bingo at senior housing in St. Joseph, highway ditch cleanup and more.

The St. Joseph Lions Club meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the St. Joseph Community Fire Hall or at city parks during the summer. Meetings are dinner meetings, with menus prepared by club member volunteers.