CALUMET CITY
LIONS CLUB
1939 - (Our 86th year of Community Service) - 2026
We were chartered on November 1, 1939, and have provided help and served those in need in the community ever since. Our club is part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service organization, with more than 1.4 million members in hundreds of countries and geographical areas. The proceeds from our fund-raisers are used to provide aid for the blind, visually-handicapped, deaf and hearing-impaired as well as many other worthwhile causes. Current members of the Calumet City Lions Club represent more than 1,000 years of community service through Lionism. (Click on PHOTO GALLERY on the upper left to view a picture of our current members.)
More info: Calumet City Lions, PO Box 67, Calumet City Il 60409 or denhalloran@gmail.com
JULY
Dear Calumet City Lions Club Members,
I am honored to serve as your next President. Our club was chartered on November 1, 1939. Despite Calumet City changing its name from West Hammond in 1923 and its growing middle class community, it struggled to change its national reputation as an entertainment district because of “Sin Strip”.
Perhaps that is why the growing blue collar community united together to formulate our chapter. During 1939, The Daily Calumet covered stories that showed everyday life in Calumet City centered on families, schools, churches, and local businesses.
As I reflect on our club’s history, it is clear that my theme for the year is COMMUNITY! At its core, a community is a group of people who choose to belong to one another and share responsibility for one another’s well-being. We SERVE! THANK YOU for caring about my well-being and embracing me so that I belong. For the past 10 years, it’s been my pleasure to serve alongside of you. This year I’m humbled to serve as your 87th President!
What was happening in 1939?
Dixie Highway (now part of Torrance Avenue / State Street corridor) connected Calumet City to the greater Chicago region. Where the Cubs finished second in the National League, the Sox were sixth in the American League and the Bears were one of the NFL’s premier franchises.
Everyday Life in 1939:
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Movie tickets were 10 cents
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To see Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz premiers
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Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra was top of the charts for 12 weeks
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Gasoline was 18 - 20 cents
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People listened to President Roosevelt’s “fireside chats” on the radio
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People read the daily newspaper to keep up with the escalating conflict in Europe
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And, Lion Esther was 10 years old.
What is happening this year? (These dates are tentative, 95% finalized, but I wanted to get them in front of you asap. Especially, the dates in red. We will add our community meal dates and raffle dates later).
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August 5 - Dist. 1-A Golf Outing
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August 7 - LARC Golf Outing
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September 8 - General Meeting
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September 19 - South Haven Social Event
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Save the date: If needed we will provide transportation. All club members and their families are invited. Day trip to South Haven for laughter, swimming, community, and Michigan sun. More details to come. Here is the link to the house we will be visiting.
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If any club members want to make a weekend out of the event for their family, please email me individually as I know a handful of property owners that you might want to book with outside the app to save a little money.
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September 22 - Board Meeting
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September 25 - LARC Fall Fest
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October 18 - General Meeting - Bears vs Felcon’s Social Event at Club Temulac
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October 27 - Board Meeting
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November 10 - General Meeting
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In honor of all of our members that have passed away we will host a Día de los Muertos event with an ofrenda at the VFW, more details to come.
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November 24 - Board Meeting
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December 13 - Tentative Holiday party to go see It’s A Wonderful Life: Live Radio Play 3 pm at the Theater at the Center in Muster, IN and dinner afterwards
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December 22 - Board Meeting
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January 26 - Board Meeting
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February 9 - General Meeting
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February 23 - Board Meeting
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March 9 - General Meeting
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March 19 - 21 Possible dates for District 1A Convention
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March 23 - Board Meeting
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April 4 or 11 - Possible dates for Pancake Breakfast
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April 13 - General Meeting
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April 27 - Board Meeting
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May 1 - Tentative Mystery Trip
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May 11 - General Meeting - Awards Night
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May 25 Board Meeting
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June 8 - Board Meeting
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June TBD - White Sox Family Social - we will tailgate at the game and get group tickets. More details to come when schedule comes out.
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June 26 - Possible Installation Dinner
I am so excited about spending the next year with people who choose to belong to one another and share responsibility for one another’s well-being, the CALUMET CITY LIONS CLUB!
WE SERVE,
Oh, What a Night!
And, the winners are ...
Our annual $20,000 Raffle was a "roaring" success. We sold 'em all and are fully funded as we prepare for our 87th year of Community Service. The lucky winners are:
#310 ($20,000) sold by Lion Steve Drew
#144 ($2,000) sold by Lion Brenda Morrison
#407 ($1,000) sold by Lion Bob Lake
#380 ($500) sold by Lion Denny Halloran
#160 (250) sold by Lady Lion Stella Torres
#211 ($250) sold by Lion Joe Stachulak
#364 ($250) sold by Lion Jim Gigliotti
#110 ($200) sold by Lion Steve Drew
#072 ($200) sold by Lion Steve Drew
#355 ($200) sold by Lion Denny Halloran
Congrats to all! Thanks for helping us help others.
What a way to put an exclamation point on an awesome 86th year of Community Service. Our annial Awards Night on Tuesday, May 12, attracted an overflow crowd to the Main Room at the VFW. We packed the place!
It began with fellowship followed by a delicious meal catered by JJ Kelley's. Then on to the big show where we recognized public servants, educators and presented scholarships to five outstanding students at TF North. The 13th annual Sister Alban Award presentation was the icing on the cake. All in all, it was a night that made you feel proud to be a Lion. Or, better yet, a CALUMET CITY Lion!
Wow! What a great event!
Thanks to the leadership of Lion Colleen Schutz and her crew backed up by the "Kingfish" Lion Steve Sikorski, our 70th annaul Pancake Breakfast was a "ROARING" success. The result:
Good food - Good friends - Good fun
A job well done! (see photos on our Facebook page)
A heartfelt thank you to all the Lions who came out to support our 70th Annual Pancake Breakfast! It was great to see so many of our supporters come out for this special event and to share such wonderful fellowship together. Seeing so many smiling faces made the morning even more meaningful. The pancakes were delicious, and a very special thank you goes to Lion Colleen, our chairperson, for doing an amazing job organizing everything! Your dedication made this event a true success! 
Many thanks to the guest speakers Mike Wolski and Joe Plovich from the Calumet City Historical Society, who provided fascinating insights into our local history and spurred conversations and encouraged fond memories of the "good old days" at our April 14 general meeting. It was an evening of great food, great friends, great fun. A good time was had by all!
Mystery Trip is solved!
And . . . The Beat Goes On!
Happy Birthday_________
July 4 - AMERICA
July 13 - Felicia Houston
July 18 - Kathy Halloran
Happy Anniversary_________
July 11 - Dave/Barb Kacanowski
July 12 - Larry/Terri Morrison
Ju,ly 17 - Dwayne/Andrea Evans
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.
