ORIGIN AND HISTORY
MARYSTOWN LIONS CLUB
For a number of years the Mortier Bay Lions Club and the Burin Lions Club served the residents of the Burin - Marystown area. However, by the late 1960's both clubs had given up their charters and had ceased to operate.
Many discussions concerning the value of Lions Clubs took place in the ensuing years, especially with an influx of people (some former Lions) into the Marystown - Burin area, as prosperity from the shipyard and fish processing industry grew. During the winter of 1974, the late Alvin Wiscombe and a group of "service minded citizens" believed that the time was right for a service club such as "the Lions" in the Marystown - Burin area.
In March of 1974, Past District Governor, the late Lion Jim Soper of Mount Pearl, was asked to come to Marystown to explain what Lionism was all about, and to set the stage for the organization of the Marystown Lions Club. Lion Jim motivated this group to action and two weeks later the Marystown Lions Club was officially organized with members from both Marystown and Burin.
This second meeting, held on April 10, 1974, was presided over by Zone Chairman Basil Collier and Deputy District Governor Junior King. It was decided that: the name of the club would be the Marystown Lions Club; the regular dinner meetings would be held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday nights of each month at Motel Mortier at 7:30 PM; and the Fortune Lions Club would be the sponsoring club.
According to the official Charter Roster from Lions International, the Marystown Lions Club is recorded as organized on May 8, 1974, by Lion Jim Soper.
CHARTER NIGHT
The Marystown Lions Club was presented with its Charter by District Governor, the late Lion George Whitten, on June 21, 1974. He also installed the Charter Executive. In attendance were Past District Governor Lion Jim Soper, Zone Chairman Basil Collier, and Lions from Fortune, St. Lawrence, and Conception Bay South . The attendance numbered some sixty Lions and their guests.
Charter President Alvin Wiscombe received an Extension Award from Lions International for his role in the formation of the club.
