In the Beginning
On January 18, 1923, 18 men from Santa Rosa met with a delegation of Lions from San Rafael to form the Santa Rosa Lions Club. Three months later, on April 7, 1923, the Santa Rosa Lions Club was officially chartered, becoming the second oldest Lions Club in the Northern California area, and the 57th chartered club in California. From this small and humble beginning, the Santa Rosa Lions Club has been serving the community of Santa Rosa for almost a century.
Throughout the more than 90 year history of the Santa Rosa Lions Club, the members have donated countless hours, effort and means to further charitable projects within the community. Monetary value of the projects supported over the past decades would total in the millions of dollars.
The Santa Rosa Lions Club has been a vital part of the growth and development of the Santa Rosa area for most of the Twentieth Century, and looks forward to the challenges of the 21st Century, to further demonstrate by our actions that our motto "We Serve" is not an idle claim.
Clubs Sponsored by the Santa Rosa Host Club
The Santa Rosa Host Lions Club, not content to work in just the local community, has also actively furthered the cause of Lionism by sponsoring new Lions clubs in the surrounding communities.
- 1923 Valley of the Moon
- 1925 Petaluma
- 1927 Mendocino
- 1950 Cloverdale
- 1950 Healdsburg
- 1950 Sebastopol
- 1951 Cotati
- 1951 Roseland
- 1952 Montgomery Village
- 1957 Russian River
- 1964 Petaluma Host Lions
- 1966 Rohnert Park
- 1968 Sonoma
- 1974 Windsor
- 2005 Roseland
- 2013 Sonoma County Leones en Accion
Distinguished Members
Over the years the Santa Rosa Host Lions Club has had the honor to have had several members who have distinguished themselves as outstanding in their service to the Community. These are:
In 1926, Luther Burbank, famed horticulturist, lecturer and traveler was made an honorary member of the Santa Rosa Lions Club, the only person to have been so honored.
The Santa Rosa Lions Club is also proud to have provided no fewer than three District Governors for District 4-C2. John Bacci (now deceased), 1960-61, Douglas H. Weber 1973-74, and Claude Schwarz 1981-82.
In addition, Joe Massoni and Bob Reuther are Past District Governors from other Lions clubs, who are now active members of our Club.
In 2014 the Santa Rosa Lioness Club, an auxiliary club founded in 1953, and sponsored by the Santa Rosa Host Lions Club merged with the Santa Rosa Host Club. Distinguished members of the Lioness Club are Past Governor Nan Bardes (now deceased) , and Past Governor Henrietta Sommerville.
Community Services
The Santa Rosa Host Lions Club, in association with other local Lions Clubs raises money for many different causes and organizations. Our Club has greatly benefited the community by providing millions of dollars in support. Past projects include:
- Building a Braille Trail Bridge at Spring Lake
- Supporting local Scouting
- Soccer Clubs & Pop Warner football
- Youth Groups, Elderly Groups
- Visually Impaired, Hearing Impaired
- Student Speaker Contest
- Canine Companions for Independence
- Cancer, AIDS & Diabetes Research
- Schools Plus & Student Scholarship
- Salvation Army
