WHEN THE LIONS CAME TO WAUPACA

   October 8, 1925 was the start of something great for the city of Waupaca. It was on that date that Waupaca Chartered it's Lion Club. The Charter itself is a great piece of Lions history as it bears the signatures of International President Beufaruirt Jones and Secretary Melvin Jones. The Charter has the signatures of the 20 original members.

The club immediately made a difference to the Waupaca by sponsoring the first community X-mas Tree on the courthouse square. In 1926 the Lions assisted in financing an Infant Health Clinic, helped organize a boy scout troop, and assisted the scouts in collecting and repairing of old toys to be distributed to poor children at Christmas time for many years. In 1929 they donated $1500 to the Children’s Health Clinic and help support Waupaca In the supplying of Christmas Baskets for the needy.

In 1935 Waupaca Lion A. M. Scheller was elected as District Governor of M.D. 27.

The Waupaca Lions sponsored a children’s eye testing project in the early years and prior to 1942 had examined 600 children and 140 pair of glasses furnished at a cost of $1018.00.  From 1941-1945 some of the fund raising projects were: 5 annual Harvest Days, Minstrel Shows, Amateur Plays, Movies Shows and many others events.

In 1955 they sponsored a blind person to the Twin Lakes Camp for $30.00. The camp was a project of the Poy Sippi Lions Club. In 1957 they sent a visually handicapped boy to the camp in Rosholt.

In 1978 the Lions had the privilege of sponsoring the Waupaca Lioness Club and in 2003 they sponsored the Waupaca Leo’s Club.

Over the years the Club has given out 2 or 3 scholarships to high school graduates per year, Built shelters in parks, built many wheelchair ramps, purchased large print books and other reading equipment for the library, purchased hundreds of pair of glasses, supported with our donations; Food Bank, Tomorrows Children, School Drug Programs, Senior Center, Nursing Center, etc.

Fund Raisers have been: Broom and Bulb Sales, Sale of American Flags, Sports Show, Chicken Barbecues Bowling Tournaments, Rose Sale, Fly in Breakfast, Candy Days, Car Show, State Curling Bonspiel and many others.

It was a great day when the Lions came to town and it still is today!