Brooklyn Center Lions Club History

The Club was chartered March 1955 with 44 new members.

Norris O. Johnson -Charter President.

First project: scrap drive September 1955.

We sponsored firearm safety training for youth in Brooklyn Center.

It was the first of many youth sponsorships, including baseball, football, hockey, swimming and scouts.

The Lions purchased the first pair of Eyeglasses for a needy child. There would be hundreds more purchased in the coming years.

Over the past 50 years the Brooklyn Center Lions Club has sponsored five new clubs:

Brooklyn Center Lioness 1979

Brooklyn Park Lions 1961

Brooklyn Center Leo Club 1999

Camden Lions Club 2002

Minneapolis Ambassador Lions Club 2004.

This club has had Eight District Governors, three Council of Governors Chairs and one International Director:

Frank Erwin 1962-1963

Bill Legler 1969-1970

Richard Risley 1986-1987 Council Chair 1987-1988

Robert Vokes (5M10) 1996-1997

Ross Thorfinnson 1996-1997 Council Chair 1997-1998

Thomas Shinnick 1997-1998

Orlander Nelson 2004-2005

Bob Jechorek 2006-2007 Council Chair 2007-2008

Ross Thorfinnson was an International Director 2001-2003.

We have had 43 members presented with the Melvin Jones award, 27 with the Helen Keller award, 18 with the Hearing Foundation award and 9 with the  Diabetes Foundation Award.

In the summer of 1956, the club participated in the first of many parades. We are now one of the sponsors of the Earle Brown Days Parade held annually in June. This was the first of many civic betterment projects including building a park in the city of an incredibly beautiful park dedicated in May of 1968. Of course, it is called Lions Park, what else? In 1999 we paid for a Picnic Shelter built in that Park.

We have donated money for a puppet wagon that traveled to the various Parks in Brooklyn Center throughout the summer entertaining children and adults alike. The Club donated thousands of dollars over the years for crime prevention and drug awareness programs. We currently are working with the Brooklyn Center High School sponsoring the Leos.

Where there is a need, there is a Leo.

 “Leadership, Experience, Opportunity.” That is what makes a Leo. As the youngest members of Lions Clubs International, Leos embody the best qualities of our incredible organization. They are devoted young people who realize the power of action. Together, Leos and Lions form a powerful partnership one of mutual respect where Lions learn from the innovative insights of Leos, and where Leos gain access to the proven strategies of those who have successfully served the world for decades.

 We are a sponsor of Holly Sunday, the Ceap Quilters, Scouting and various High School youth programs.

We donate to MN Lions Projects through the “M5M Parade of Checks.”

Projects such as MN Lions Diabetics Foundation, MN Lions Vision Foundation, MN Lions Hearing Foundation, Can Do Canines and MN Special Olympics

In addition to our local projects, we are involved in Lions International projects such as Lions Clubs International Foundation (worldwide disaster relief). Hearing and Service Dogs for the hearing impaired, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Minnesota Lions Eye Bank and Children’s Eye Clinic, Macular Degeneration Center, and Lions Research Building, Lions of 5M Hearing Foundation all located at the University of Minnesota. Another project is the Lions of Minnesota Diabetes Research and Treatment at the International Diabetes Center. We raised money for a Diabetes Van when one of our members Dick Risley was District Governor and have been heavily involved in diabetes funding ever since.

We hope this gives you some idea of what the Brooklyn Center Lions Club has accomplished and is doing.