Lions Club celebrates 90th anniversary

CELINA - The city's first and longest-running service club celebrated its 90th anniversary on Tuesday night at Romer's Catering, reflecting on nearly a century of goodwill on both a global and local scale.

Through perseverance and determination, the Celina Lions Club survived the Great Depression and World War II to become the strongest service club in Celina, today consisting of 45 members from varied backgrounds. Among them are businesspeople, farmers, laborers, retirees and other professionals, according to a club booklet handed out on Tuesday night.

Celina Mayor Jeff Hazel, on behalf of the city, handed club president Mary Jo Hellwarth a proclamation recognizing past and present members for actively participating in the development of the Celina community for the past 90 years.

"The Celina Lions Club has exemplified the ideals of voluntary public service through its many contributions to the Celina community … and actively worked to improve the plight of the blind and the sight-impaired and to help fight the disease of diabetes," Hazel said.

The organization received its charter from the International Association of Lions Clubs in March 1929. Its debut was heralded in The Daily Standard on March 14, 1929, according to the booklet.

"The purpose of this club is to promote the principles of good government, good citizenship and an active interest in the civic, commercial, social and moral welfare of the community," the excerpt reads. "In fact anything good that interests Celina is of vital interest to the Lions Club."

Helen Keller at the International Convention held at Cedar Point in 1925 challenged Lions to "become knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness," launching a century-old mission of helping millions of lives through vision-related work, according to the booklet.

Director Bob Nuding said the local club followed suit.

"The Lions' motto: 'We serve.' Take care of your fellow man," he told the newspaper.

To this day it provides eyeglasses to local children in need and contributes toward vaccinations and eye care in third-world countries.

"Our club has always supported and contributed to the programs pertaining to sight and hearing of both Lions International worldwide and the state of Ohio programs, including the popular Pilot Dog program," the booklet states.  

The local club went on to sponsor new clubs in Coldwater, Mendon, Fort Recovery, St. Marys and Wapakoneta.

Over the years, the club has funded a bevy of projects and activities, among them contributions to the city's parks in the form of shelter houses, improvements to ball diamonds, lighting and benches.

It sponsors the annual Halloween parade and scholarships and donates to various organizations.

Lions members now aim to build a 1,500-square-foot multipurpose open-air facility with shelter house, restrooms and kitchenette/concession area for year-round use in the Bryson Park District along Lake Shore Drive to serve as a community gathering place.

Their fundraising goal is $400,000.