October 16, 2015 at 2:31 p.m.
A Celebration of Service
Rhinelander Lions Club commemorates 75 years
A Celebration of Service
By Kayla Thomason-
In attendance were 60 Lions, Lionesses, spouses and guests. Also present was the president of the Merrill club (which sponsored the Rhinelander club 75 years ago) and his spouse, members of the Mercer Lioness Club, Mercer Lions Club, the Zone Chairperson from the Gleason Lions Club, members of the Hazelhurst Lions Club, St. Germain Lions Club and the District First Vice Governor. A Past International Director from Dorchester also attended the celebration.
"Our special guest and speaker was a Lion that has served on our Lions International Board for July 2011 through June 2013," said Harry Helwig, past district governor (PDG) of the Rhinelander Lions Club. "PID (Past International Director) Mark Hintzmann is from Watertown and not only spoke to all members and guests but presented our club with a special 75th congratulatory certificate from LCI (Lions Club International)."
Hintzmann presented Scott Campbell, a member of the Rhinelander Lions Club, with the Melvin Jones plaque, letter and pin.
"The Melvin Jones award is the highest award any club member can receive," Helwig said. "He also presented Lion Tony Cirilli with the Birch-Sturm award which is the state of Wisconsin's highest award."
Four Lions Club International Presidential awards were presented to Lion Rhae Ellen Schnoor, Lion Dick Garrow, and PDGs Chuck Franz and Harry Helwig.
Helwig presented the Rhinelander Lions Club with a state of Wisconsin plaque for 75 years of service. Rep. Rob Swearingen and State Sen. Tom Tiffany signed the plaque and citation that went with it.
After the awards were presented, Mayor Dick Johns proclaimed Oct. 10, 2015 as Rhinelander Lions Day.
"The proclamation noted the local humanitarian services provided by our club in addition to being sponsors and supporters of the (Rhinelander) Area Food Pantry, providing vision screening for all area children from K4 to the 4th grade and providing funds for eyeglasses for the very needy and supporting NATH in various ways," Helwig said.
The Lions Club has always strived to help others in the community and beyond.
"For 75 years now the Rhinelander club has been committed to serving our community," Helwig said. "However, it is not just the local community that we serve. We give significant funds each year to our Wisconsin Lions Foundation which runs a camp for the cognitively disabled, blind, hearing impaired and diabetic kids ages 6 to 18 each summer."
The camp is entirely funded by the Lions Clubs all over Wisconsin Approximately 1,300 children attend each year. The Rhinelander Lions support and sponsor many functions, organizations and activities including the Leader Dog Program for the Blind, Wisconsin Lions Camp for Blind, Hearing Impaired, Diabetic and Cognitively Disabled in Rosholt; the Oneida County Eye Care Fund, Camp Birchrock, Babe Ruth Baseball, Rhinelander Soccer Club, Hodag Water Shows, Badger Boys State, Post Prom, the Rhinelander Alpine Ski Team, the Alzheimer's Association, the YMCA of the Northwoods, Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing (NATH), the Oneida County Fair, Highway 8 cleanup, July 4 Kiddie Parade, the RHS mock trial team, the Boom Lake Fisheree, the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry and the Wisconsin Eye Bank.
The club also awards a scholarship to a Rhinelander High School student, participates in White Cane Days, gives funds to help prevent domestic abuse, hosts an annual free Christmas dinner, and hands out Christmas presents to the children and the elderly.
"Our club serves at the international level as well with funds for major disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and tornadoes," Helwig said. "I could not even venture a guess of the thousands of dollars that we have raised and donated to various causes."
Members of the Lions Club have had an enormous positive impact on the lives of many people, both in the club and those they help.
"The greatest satisfaction a Lion can receive by being a member is knowing you are giving to others who are in need of something," Helwig said. "Whether it is testing the eyes of children, as we do each year, or sending a child to our Lions camp in Rosholt or providing a meal to some 300 on Christmas Day as we have done for many years."
The Rhinelander Lions Club was formed in August of 1940 and was sponsored by the Merrill Lions Club. In the beginning the Rhinelander Lions Club had 31 charter members.
The members were Bruce Anderson, R.A. Carlson, Norman Danner, H.T. Decker, N.C. Ehlko, Dr. Walter Gagner, Charles Gibson, Kris Gilbertson, Dr. C.P. Goossen, Lloyd B. Gullickson, H. Hanson, J. Gordon Hough, Barto Howard, Oscar W. Johnson, Dr. L.F. Kais, A.L. Lange, Edwin Lillrose, H. Linder, Fred P. Locke, Jack McIsaac, W.L. Madson, George Moiser, Earl A. Korth, E.V. Peterson, George Richards, W.S. Thomas, Lloyd R. Taylor, Lloyd Verage, W.A. Webster, F.G. Weigil and Ted H. Wheeler.
Globally, there are 1.4 million Lions in approximately 208 countries - making the Lions Club International the largest service organization in the world, according to Helwig.
The Rhinelander Lions Club held its first meeting Sept. 3. The first Charter Night was Oct. 8.
"We are a volunteer organization and our motto is 'We Serve' and that is what the Rhinelander Lions Club has now done for 75 years," Helwig said. "We thank our community for their generous support over the years."
To become a member of the Rhinelander Lions Club, contact Helwig at (715) 369-2549, visit www.e-clubhouse/sites/rhinelander, or email [email protected].
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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