Overland Park Host Lions Club History

1950's

Club began on March 16, 1956.

Chartered on May 7, 1957 as the "Tomahawk Lions Club" with 29 members.

Lenexa Lions Club sponsored us.

Charter night was on May 18, 1957 at Milburn Junior High.

We were one of the first, if not the first, clubs to meet in the morning for breakfast. International even sent back our application with AM "corrected" to PM.

Our budget for community services in 1957 was $1,305.

Sponsored Prairie Village Lions Club - February 1958

First eye glasses for local students were provided in 1959.

Activities included Kansas Tornado Relief, startup money for the Shawnee Mission hospital, and sponsorship of a 3/2 baseball team.

1960's

Club meetings where held at Glenwood Manor and board meetings were at board members homes.

Had pancake days fund raising events

"Mystery Lion" concept started. The Mystery Lion won a "free" breakfast for the next meeting (usually accompanied by a large fine by the Tailtwister).

Individual club member point system used to encourage participation and determine the "Lion of the Year".

Stealing other clubs' bells during a visit to that club required that club to visit us in order to get their bell back. At one meeting we had four bells besides ours...

Started the annual Easter Egg hunt in 1962

Glenwood Lake - NW corner of 95th & Metcalf
Eventually 2,800+ eggs at Santa Fe Commons DT OP

Began ringing bells for the Salvation Army in 1963

Traditionally we ring the Saturday before Christmas
Won numerous awards

Metcalf Avenue of Flags -

1965 with 74 flags - Frank Piepenbring main promoter
85 flags during 1967-1968

Sponsored Overland Park Evening Lions Club - July1967

Sponsored Overland Park Noon Lions Club - 1968

1970's

Frank Piepenbring - District Governor - 1971-1972

Club banner purchased in Spring of 1972

125 flags as of May 1972

Number one contributor to the Lions-Optometric Center in KCMO for several years,

Steak dinners at Shawnee Mission Park

Newsletter named "Lion's Briefs" for a period of years.

Returned to "The Lion's Roar" via a vote on June 28, 1975

Won the district governor's point contest 3 years in a row

Held annual Spring Golf Tournaments

Participated in Overland Park and Lions Convention parades

Hosted 1975 State convention - Glenwood Manor

133 Flags as of May 1975

Gave $3,925.88 during 1975-1976 with budget of $4,550 for the year

Collected $562.04 in Dec. 1976 for Salvation Army

Had a float in the 1976 American Royal Parade

Gold Coats as the club's official Lions Jacket in Feb. 1976

Ed Ashburn began his long tenure as the club's Treasurer 1976-1977

Sponsored Overland Park Host Lioness Club - 1977

Met as a club for many years prior to becoming "official"
Garage Sales, Bake Sales, Raffles
Raised over $125,000 in their years of service
Always helped and supported our Lions Club
Started the Kansas School for the Deaf Dental Clinic
Large print book donations to JoCo Library

1980's

Casino Night at the old Glenwood convention Center

Kansas State School for the Blind Endowment Fund - 1983

Newspaper Recycling - daily stacking of papers via club member rotation. Goodyear at 95th & Metcalf.

1990's

Jim Goudelock - District Governor - 1991-1992

Aluminum can collection and recycling - Jim G./Joe E./Don P.

Garage Sales with merchandise from House of Lloyds - Lionesses

Lion Art refinished antique school chairs and sold them as a fund raiser.

Sight Bus (Mobile Screening Unit) funding and use

Kansas Lions Ties - provided funds for the Sight Bus

Lions Field at Kansas State School for the Blind

Only state school without a track and field
15 years - Nelson Lear - letter writing, campaigning
Enacted State bills for funding First track meet held in the Fall of 1994
$120,000 fund for on-going athletics program support

Started support of CCVI - Children's Center for the Visually Impaired

Funding
Volunteers at the Trolley Run - It is the largest four-mile run/walk in the United States. Runners/Walkers come from 38 states and 3 countries to participate. The Trolley Run holds the female and male four-mile American Best Times, making it the fastest course in the U.S.! - Greg Rogers was first blind runner to finish race for two years.

PDG Jim Goudelock was awarded the first Claude DeVorss Fellow

Eye tissue transport for the Kansas Eye Bank

Kansas Lions Audio Reader program

Funding
Volunteer readers - Karen/Mickie

1998 Endowment fund established - John Theison

2000's

Hosted State Convention 2000

Expanded flags south of I-435 - Kent Sherman / Masoulfs

Downtown OP Clock Tower Benches - 2003 - Art

Deanne Rose Children's Farmstead - Audio Domes - Art

Deanne Rose Farmstead - Braille Signage - 2007 - Art/Bill

Won several basket and flower arrangement contests at state and district conventions.

Metcalf Avenue of Flags over 450 flags

New fund raising endeavors

Internet referral marketing
Ink cartridge and cell phone recycling
Cook book

As of tonight we have:

10 Claude DeVorss Fellows
29 Melvin Jones Fellows
1 District Governor Elect

We celebrate our 50 years of service to our community, state, and to those in need.