Here - Lions Club of Denver

HISTORY OF THE DENVER
LIONS CLUB
1917- 2011
THE LIONS CLUB OF DENVER
By Lion Ed Walsh
Updated by Lion Don Fullerton 2011
So much has been written about the history of the Denver Den over
the years that some may think past events should not be reiterated. But the
Denver Den has a great story to tell, and like the Bible, it is important to
review the highlights from time to time.
In order to keep your undivided attention throughout this historical
account we have opted to tell the story in chronological order by dividing
the span into decades. We hope to highlight some of the events which
occurred in each decade and insofar as possible quote recollections from
some of our current members who first joined the Denver Den during the
decade in question.
1917-1919
The first interval of our Club’s existence, strictly for purposes of this
narrative, covered the years 1917-1919.
The Lions Club of Denver was founded on June 15, 1917, as shown
by a copy of our Charter in the Club’s office. The original Charter has never
been located and is presumed lost. The Charter contains the names of the
53 charter members.
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By virtue of being organized in the same year as Lions International
the Denver Den is recognized as a Founder’s Club. Only 23 Lions Clubs in
the world can claim the honor of being a Founder’s Club.
The first president of our Founder’s Club was Dr. Charles C. Reid, an
osteopathic physician specializing in eye, ear, nose and throat problems.
The new Lions Club was eager to grow and grow it did. At the end
of its first year the Club had 150 members and in the following year the
membership had grown to about 200 which was the maximum number set
by the Club. You may recall that World War I was going on for much of the
time and the business and professional men of Denver were anxious to
band together to help our Country and Denver in any way they could. One
way to help was to join a civic club as this seemed to be the right thing to do
in those hectic days. As a result, membership grew rapidly.
Another reason for the young Club’s rapid growth was its strong
appeal to men who were anxious to serve the people of Denver. The
original constitution of the Club stated that one of the objectives of the Club
was “to strive for the civic betterment of the City of Denver.”
In general, funds for the Club’s welfare work in those days came
from the pockets of its members and sometimes they were supplemented
by public contributions.
One of the 1917 charter members, Judge Halstead Ritter, created
the slogan “Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety” (using the first letter
of each word to spell LIONS), which still continues to be the official slogan
for Lions Clubs all over the world.
Another 1917 charter member, Joseph Schwartz, a retail jeweler, is
credited as the designer of the Lions emblem or pin as most of us call it
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now. The two Lions on it have been described by a Past International
President as: “One Lion looking proudly to the past, the other confidently to
the future.”
As none of the 53 charter members are living at this time, we shall
proceed to the first decade.
1920-1929
This decade began with an important event. In 1920 the Lions
International Convention was held in Denver and the Denver Den’s Dr. Reid
was elected Lions International President. At the time there were about 600
Lions who attended the convention in the Mile High city, practically all of
whom were from the United States with a few from Canada and that is why
it was an “International Convention.)
Another important event in this decade was the election of John S.
Fabling, also a charter member of the Denver Den, as an International
Director of Lions to serve from 1920-23. “J.S.” as he was known to his
fellow Lions, was General Agent for the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance
Company in Denver at that time.
As in prior years, funds for the Club’s welfare and charitable work
principally came out of the individual members’ pockets as there was no
Lions foundation in those days. However, to supplement those funds the
members produced and presented a minstrel show each year during the
1920’s which helped a lot.
In 1921, the Children’s Milk Fund was established. Following World
War I many children of poor families were attending public schools without
adequate nourishment. Our Lions Club funded the purchase of milk and
crackers for many of those needy children in the 1920’s. $1.00 would buy
40 half-pints of milk! This worthwhile program continued until 1961 but on
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a declining basis, since the State and Federal Governments took over, there
was no longer a need for a privately-financed milk fund.
Among other activities, the colorful children’s Christmas party has
been a Denver Den tradition for many years starting in the 1920’s. When
some of our present members were kids, they came to the Christmas
parties and other Lions events with their dads or granddads, or both. If you
have any doubt about this, just ask Lee Schlessman, Hank Edler, Ed O’brien,
and Taylor Albrecht and they will tell you.
The Denver Den supplied milk and biscuits
to children at Valverde Elementary School
Lion Jean Bain had this to say about going to Lions Club picnics with
her dad who was a member of the Denver Den in the 1920’s.
“IN THE GOOD OL’ DAYS—THE GREAT PICNICS”
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“It was in the nineteen twenties that my brother and I went with our father,
Roger Knight, and our mother to wonderful Lions Club picnics at Motor Club
in Idledale on the south side of Bear Creek. On a house near that location
was a sign, FORTY-FIVE MINUTES FROM BROADWAY –a popular song in
those days and I think that is how long it took us to get there over dirt roads
and probably a flat tire each trip.)
The automobiles were open, five or seven passenger, and if it rained
you got out of the car and waited while the isinglass curtains were taken
from under the back seat and snapped along the sides. As we rode along
we sang songs and played games identifying the other cars on the road.
(Now I can’t tell one from another.)
“Well, I guess it was all worth it because I won a door prize worth
$200 from Lions Pat Patino and Jim Pilon at the Lions Club picnic in Genesee
in August 1997.
Children’s Christmas Party at the Denver
Den with Lion Rich Shaffer as Santa
The Denver Den sponsored two Lions Clubs in the 1920’s.
The Denver Den sponsored the Douglas County Lions Club. On November
29, 1922, six members of the Denver Den attended the Charter night
ceremony in Castle Rock. By 2011 there were ten members in the Douglas
County Lions Club. Including four women.
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Most of the members are from Castle Rock with several members from
outside Castle Rock who travel some distance for Club meetings.. The Club
meets the 4th Tuesday of each month 6:30 p.m. at the Pegasus Restaurant
in Castle Rock.
Each year the Club: 1) screens children through the KidSight
program, 2) collects between 200 to 300 used eye glasses, 3) budgeted 22
pair of new eye glasses this past year 2011, 4) prepared Christmas Turkey
dinner for about 160 seniors (the 51st year), 5) donated $500 in Christmas
gift cards to the local TASK Force, 6) Money managed the Castle Rock 9
Health Fair, the 32nd year, 7) provided $1000 scholarships each year to a
senior graduating from each of the two high schools, 8) donated and
provided labor to International Hearing Dogs for various fund raising
projects, 9) donated funds for one camper through the dollar a month club
and pennies for people for the Lions camp. Funding for these projects result
from the sale of two large CD’s, the sale of some land which was given to
them and various fund raising projects.
In 1926, the Denver Den sponsored the Englewood Lions Club. In
2011 they meet every Wednesday noon in the restaurant at the Englewood
Golf Course. They have approximately ninety members including eight
women.
The club has a motorized train which runs around Belleview Park. It
has two open air coaches and holds about 40 passengers. The ride lasts
about 7 minutes and costs 50 cents for anyone over two years of age. The
fares are used to maintain the train, track, trestle and tunnel.
The Club has a foundation which is funded from their money raising
projects. The income is used in: 1) eye screening of pre-school children; 2)
monthly grants of $500 each to the Anchor Center for Blind Children, Meals
on Wheels and Interfaith Task Force, 3) expenditure of about $1000 per
month to pay for eye exams and glasses for needy students; 4) participation
in the $1.00 per member per month club for the benefit of the Colorado
Lions Camp and 5) many other charitable activities.
The Englewood Club sponsored a new Lions Club in Highlands
Ranch, appropriately called the Highlands Ranch Lions Club. This list of
activities are really only a few of the worthy projects of this active Club.
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To the best of our knowledge, none of the Lions who joined the
Denver Den in the 1920’s are living. Therefore, we will skip to the 1930’s for
the next decade.
1930-39
This was a great decade for the Denver Den. A major event was the
1930 International Convention held in Denver and hosted by our Club. This
time there were more than 6,000 delegates present from every State in the
Union as well as from Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Cuba, Greenland, India and
China. Things were looking up.
In 1935 the Lions International Convention was held in Mexico City.
We might not have mentioned this except at that convention another
charter member of the Denver Den Richard J. Osenbaugh, was elected
President of Lions International. That is quite an honor! Dick Osenbaugh, as
he was generally known in the Denver Den, was the CEO of the Denver
Sewer Pipe & Clay Company
Another honor came to the Denver Den in the 1930’s. Lion B.W.
Kelly, called Bert by his fellow Lions, was elected an International Director in
1938 to serve for three years. Bert was in the petroleum business and was
with the Navy Gas & Supply Company in Denver.
In the early 1930’s, the Denver Den began to furnish one piece of
solid wood white canes for the blind. Over the years hundreds of these
white canes were distributed by the Denver Den to blind or visually
impaired persons. This worthwhile endeavor has greatly diminished over
the past several years, however, with the advent of newer technology such
as telescopic and fluorescent tipped canes, as well as Leader (we used to call
them “seeing eye” dogs) which have replaced most of the older type white
canes.
In the early 1930’s the Denver Den had several members who loved
to sing. They organized a Glee Club which grew in popularity over many
years. There were usually between 20 -30 voices in the Glee Club and when
they were performing all decked out in their tuxedos they not only made a
good impression but made good music as well. The Glee Club performed at
District and State Lions Conventions, Lions Valentine parties, Lions Minstrel
shows and many other special occasions.
Our records disclose that in March 1936 the Denver Den sponsored
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the Hugo Lions Club. Many members of our Club journeyed all the way to
Hugo (guess how far) to present a Lions Club Charter to the then new Hugo
Club. Although there is presently a Lions Club in Hugo, the one sponsored
by the Denver Den was dissolved many years ago and is no longer active.
In 1937 there were 215 active members in the Denver Den.
According to our own “reliable sources”, having this many members made
the Denver Den the largest Lions Club in the world.
Following are some of Lion Fran Bain’s thoughts about the highlights
of the 1930-39 decade.
“THE DECADE BETWEEN THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND WORLD WAR
II – THE THIRTIES”
During the thirties, there were door prizes at every meeting such as:
$2.50 dinner at the Park Lane Hotel, including a pint of imported
champagne.
A 6 by 8 foot auto robe for your rumble seat.
The Denver Den Glee Club
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A $2.50 gift certificate from Neusteters, courtesy of Lion Bud
Neusteter.
Advice in the Bulletin: “If you’d like to stay alive, don’t drive over
35.”
During the Depression, the Lions Collected clothes for the needy.
They put on a Christmas party for 600 kids.
Request for milk for school children doubled and doubled again.
78rpm victrola records were brought to a meeting and taken to the
workers at the Moffat Tunnel to ease their boredom.
The Albany Hotel agreed to cut the cost of the meals 15% to 85
cents. (and dessert was served with the lunches!)
On Washington’s Birthday in 1932 the Lions gathered in Cheesman
Park and planted a Chinese Elm tree with a marker designating it as a Lions
Club Tree.
“During Carl Best’s year as President, 1931-32, the Club took in 72
new members. In September, 1980, Carl Best was presented with a T-shirt
on which was printed: “I’ve been a lyin for fifty five years.”
There are no living members in our club who joined in the 19301939 era.
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1940-1949
In 1942, prior to our entry in World War II, the members of the
Denver Den and their wives and guests celebrated the Silver Anniversary of
our Club with a formal banquet in the Silver Glade Room at the
Cosmopolitan Hotel in Denver. The Cosmo, as it was known to about
everyone, was later torn down and is no more.
Certainly one of the most important events of this decade was the
involvement of the men and women of our Country in World War II. The
men of the Denver Den played a part. Thirty-five members of the Club went
off to fight for Uncle Sam. The Denver Den kept them on as members and
stayed in touch with them throughout the war years.
Within three weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7,
1941, our Club bought $2500 of United States War Bonds which was a lot of
money in those days. In June, 1943, the Club collected from its members
and others a huge collection of “junk jewelry” which was then sold and the
proceeds used for the war effort. And in 1944 many members of the
Denver Den donated blood for those in the armed services who needed
transfusions.
In October1942, our Club sponsored the Golden Lions Club into the
world of Lionism. For some reason or other, however the actual ceremony
of presenting the charter to the Golden Club did not take place until
February 4, 1943. A large contingent from the Denver Den went to Golden
that day via the interurban railway and each member brought a gift from his
business to give to each Golden Lion. One lucky recipient was presented
with a six pack of motor oil from a Denver Lion’s filling station owner and
we understand that one of the doctors from the Denver Den brought along
a package of tongue depressors as his gift!
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By 2011, the Golden Lions Club had about 72 members, all male.
They meet at the Buffalo Rose Saloon on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the
month at 6:30 p.m. The Club is very civic minded. They built a restroom in
town, appropriately named the “Taj-ma Stall”. In addition, starting in the
1940’s and over the years they built a city park and named it “Lions Park.”
Every 4th of July there is a festival in the park with fireworks, food and
drinks. Several years ago the Club also built a community baseball field
called “Ulysses Park” located on Ulysses Street in Golden. In 1985 that
project won a “Top Ten Award” which means that it was one of the ten best
Lions Club projects in the world!
In 2011, they had 2 teams doing KidSight screening, they collect used eye
glasses (one member collected over 40,000 used eyeglasses), furnish hot
cider for all the marchers at Golden’s Candlelight Walk in December, have
just finished installing roofs on six baseball dugouts in Golden’s city park,
have built gazebos in a few parks and do a lot of work for the local History
Museum. Their major project is the July 4th celebration for the City of
Golden which includes bands, kiddy carnival, food, beer, Lions raffle and
fireworks at the end of the day. They get about 200 donated prizes and the
Golden Lions toss in $1,000 as the grand prize for a raffle. To support their
projects, a major fundraiser is selling adult beverages at the Buffalo Bill Days
(Fri.-Sun). They also have had a motorcycle raffle for 3 years, a Chili supper
in January, staffed a beer tent for the big bike race that came through
Golden in 2011. As you can see, the Golden Lions Club is very active in
support of their community.
On October 2, 1947, The Denver Den celebrated its 30th Anniversary
with an elaborate banquet at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Melvin Jones, the
founder of Lions International, was the principal speaker at the event.
On July 13, 1948, perhaps the most unforgettable program ever to
come before a regular Tuesday meeting of our Club occurred in the Albany
Hotel where for years the Club held it’s Tuesday meetings. Lud Rettig
(grandfather of Vern and Steve Playton) was President of the Club at that
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time. He was a prankster at heart and much beloved by all. The invited
guest speaker was introduced as Father Igor Kagnovitch, a Russian Orthodo
Priest, born and educated in Tomak, Siberia. Fortunately, he spoke
understandable English, although with an accent, and then proceeded to
absolutely astound his audience. Past President Lee Fondren, who was
there at the time, described the speech in these words.
“From his first breath and forcefully uttered words came nothing
but a scathing diatribe on the American way of life – on a doomsday
prediction for the future failure of the U.S.A. and on the praises of
Communism and how the Soviet Union would soon control the world! Not
only did Father Igor offer condemnation of the U.S.A., he also targeted the
whole idea of civic clubs and especially Lions International with special
emphasis on the Lions Club of Denver. According to the good Father, all
civic clubs, and especially Lions, were nothing but tools of capitalistic greed
and undercover operations in a world wide conspiracy to deny the people of
the world the benefits of Communism.”
You can imagine the turmoil that followed. Several long time
members of the Denver Den walked out and threatened to resign their
membership in protest. President Rettig, seemingly embarrassed beyond
belief, rose and pushed the speaker from the microphone, apologizing to
the members for having brought the man to the meeting. Just before the
meeting was to close, however, President Lud disclosed to the startled
audience that “Father Igor” was in fact none other than Ed O’Brien, father
of our Ed O’Brien Jr., and that the entire program was a sham! Everyone
gave a huge sigh of relief.
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Lion Dr. Charles C. Reid, First International President from the
Denver Den (left), Lion Richard J. Osenbaugh (Center), and Lion
Melvin P. Jones (right0 in attendance at the Denver Den’s 30th
Anniversary Celebration, October 7, 1947 at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.
Lion Dr. Al Patten is the only member still active in the Denver Den from this
decade.
1950-1959
Truly the decade of the 1950’s were the years when important
changes were made in the operation of the Denver Den. Let’s see what
those changes were and how they came about.
For more than 30 years after the Club was founded in 1917 the
charitable and welfare work of the Club was administered by committees
appointed annually by the Club officers. After investigation, the committees
made recommendations to the Board of Directors who decided what action
would be taken and would approve any necessary expenditures.
Fran Bain, President of the Club in 1951-1952 and other officers and
members of the Board of Director at the time, believed that an organization
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such as a foundation would give more time and thought to committee
recommendations, thereby relieving the Board of that burden and
permitting the Board to concentrate on its primary responsibility, that of
managing the Club.
In September 1952, the Directors approved the establishment of a
foundation and on October 14th of that year, Articles of Incorporation were
filed with the Colorado Secretary of State and Denver Lions Foundation was
born. The Foundation has been ruled tax exempt by the Internal Revenue
Service and all contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible.
The principal aim of the Foundation as expressed in its Articles of
Incorporation is to receive and disburse its funds to assist, encourage and
promote the general well-being of the human race and particularly of the
residents of the City and County of Denver.
The new Foundation made a fresh start by immediately setting up
three committees: Sight Conservation, Social Service, and Youth Service, all
of which are active today.
The first major project of the Foundation was the construction and
furnishing of the Eisenhower Chapel located on the 2nd Floor of the Denver
Club Building on 17th Street in downtown Denver. The concept of the Chapel
originated with one of our Club’s Past President, Dr. Harold Magoun. It was
completed and dedicated on Palm Sunday, April 3, 1955. The Chapel was
built by a construction company owned by our own Lion Ed Jones and his
brother. Almost all of the materials and labor to construct, furnish and
decorate the Chapel were donated by members of the Denver Den. The
actual cost to the Foundation was relatively minor. It is a beautiful Chapel
and if you want a moment of quiet meditation and prayer, take the time to
go there the next time you are near the Denver Club Building.
The second major project of the Foundation was the construction in
1958-59 of a day nursery which is now known as the Rude Park Mile High
Montessori Early Learning Center. (Rude is pronounced “Rudy”). A local
savings and loan association loaned $25,000 to the Foundation to get
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started on the construction and the promissory note of the Foundation was
personally guaranteed by 25 member of the Denver Den. The Foundation
paid off the note in 1961.
Eisenhower Chapel
2nd floor of Denver Club Bldg
Rude Park Child Care Center
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Lion Ed Jones was President of the Foundation during the Rude Park
construction and his construction company was the general contractor that
built the facility on land donated to the Foundation by the Desk and Derrick
Club, a women’s club whose members were secretaries to attorneys and oil
company executives. In addition to the foregoing there were many Denver
Lions who contributed their time money, materials and expertise to bring
the building to completion.
In 1972, the Foundation negotiated a 99 year lease of the facility to
the Rude Park Community Nursery, Inc. for the sum of $1.00 per year. That
organization through its Board of Directors sublets the facility to Mie High
Montessori Early Learning Center Association, a non-profit corporation,
which hires the staff and runs the program. A majority of the present Board
of Directors are members of the Denver Den and the Denver Mile High
Lioness Lions Club.
In 1989, a major renovation of the facility was made possible
through the partnership of the Rude Park Board of Directors, local
government, private foundations and the Lions Club of Denver.
Rededication ceremonies were held on November 15, 1989.
The Center offers comprehensive day care service for children age’s
6 weeks through 5 years. The children of the center are primarily from very
low-income single parent homes, living at or below the poverty level. The
parent must be actively working or enrolled in school to learn a vocation.
Rude has become one of the outstanding early learning centers in Denver
using the incredible Montessori method of teaching.
The present enrollment capacity at the center is 41 children. It has
a staff of 1 Director, 9 teachers and 1 cook.
An invitation is always open to our Denver Den members to visit
one of the Rude Park Board meetings. For more information, contact one of
the Board members listed in the Lions Club of Denver roster.
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The Foundation has distributed funds for many other worthy
projects such as, but not limited to, aid for the blind and deaf and support
for the Colorado Lions Camp for the Handicapped in Woodland Park.
Before concluding the 1950’s decade, we must mention that the
Denver Den celebrated its 40th anniversary with a banquet in the Lincoln
Room of the Shirley Savoy Hotel on November 26, 1957. Lee Fondren was
the MC at the gala affair attended by over 500 members, wives and guests.
Here are some comments from Al Moore regarding the 1950’s:
I don’t remember a lot. I had a better memory when I had
Alzheimers! Anyway, here goes:
Byron Rogers, U.S. Congressman from Colorado, was a member of
our Club. Chuck Collins who had his own radio show on KOA was also a
member of our Club. He was blind and would walk from his office to the
Lions meeting in the Albany Hotel without a cane. He just snapped his
fingers along the way and this was his own radar. Several times Chuck would
play the piano at our meetings and bring along his daughter Judy Collins, now
of international fame, who then was a student at East High
School, to sing along with him.
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One of our speakers was Tom Harmon, a halfback at the University
of Michigan, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1940.
One of our members, Harry Morton, was a great singer. He was
selected International Song Leader at the Lions International Convention in
New York City in the 1950’s. The Club also had an outstanding quartet.
Another member of the Denver Den Jonny Roberts, Superintendent
of Music for the Denver public schools, formed a choral group of several
men in the Club. Yours truly was a member of that group (Oh Lord, it’s hard
to be humble!!) We performed at several functions around the State. I
remember when we chartered a bus and drove to Canon City to entertain
the convicts. It was a treat to have a captive audience – no one got up to
leave during the concert!
“We had Secretary’s Day once a year and Lud Rettig, a Past
President, would always find a way to say: “There is no Safe-way”. He
owned Save—a-Nickel stores. (On today’s market, what does a nickel buy?)
Those of our current members who joined the Denver Den in the
1950’s were: Bill MacDougall, Lee Schlessman and Kurt Warshauer.
1960-1969
In the later part of the 1960’s, the Denver Den began to participate
In a Youth Exchange Program and for several years this activity played an
important part in the lives of our members and their families. Under the
Youth Exchange Program, boys and girls between the ages of 15 and 21
whose parents were members of the Denver Den, lived with families of
Lions in foreign countries and visa versa. Lion Mick Meek, along with his
sister, Karen, and one other boy comprised the first contingent to
participate in the Youth Exchange Program from the Denver Den. They have
very fond memories of their trip to Japan in 1968.
When the Youth Exchange Program first started, all young people
from the Denver Den invariably went to Nagoya, Japan, as the Nagoya East
Lions Club and the Denver Den are sister Lions Clubs. In turn, we hosted
young Japanese students in our homes. The only expense involved was the
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cost of transportation and some pocket money for our children. All other
expenses, including room and board, were borne by the host families. This
was an unforgettable experience for those who participated in the program.
Today, the program has broadened to over many other countries as well.
Listen to what Don Fullerton, our Youth Exchange Chairman, has to say
about this stimulating and exciting program.
“In the past, the Denver Den was a leader in District 6C in promoting
Youth Exchange and during that time we had many children from various
countries participate in a learning experience in our community as well as
some of our own children who likewise benefitted in the cultural exchange.
I have been fortunate in the past few years to host several youths in my
home and we both (myself and my visitor) gained immensely in the dialog
and interchange of information.
In 1994, I had two youths at the same time, one boy from Finland
and a boy from Switzerland. Although their personalities were entirely
different, we all learned equally about our respective countries. In 1995, I
had a very interesting youth from Germany and his enthusiasm about his
visit was equally voiced at the time and later correspondence. In 1997, my
wife and I hosted a Finnish girl who was a delight to both of us. Her English
was excellent and her personality was one of eagerness to learn and
understand our ways.
We spent a lot of time and energy in our efforts to show our visitors
an overall view of our way of life, our beautiful Colorado scenery, and our
local entertainment. It was quite simple to to do this and although we
didn’t have any teen age children for our guest to compare with, we still had
many adults who were interested in our guests and their countries.
I would like to make a suggestion that the Denver Den again be a
leader in the this field of Youth Exchange. As a host, it is not necessary to
carry all of the entertainment and education of a particular youth, we could
share this experience across many members’ households. For example, if I
were the host and another Denver Den Lion has access to a Rockies
baseball game, my youth would go with them on that day to participate in
this activity.
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Mike Walsh, Youth Exchange
Student – Nagoya, Japan (1969)
L to R: Uhah, Germany, Warnke, Switzerland
with host, Don Fullerton (1994)
There are many other examples such as an afternoon or evening at Elitch
Gardens, a day at the Air Force Academy, or maybe something as simple as
a trip to a favorite vacation spot (1 or 2 day visit). The primary thing though
is to have Denver Lions volunteer to host a youth and the cooperative effort
can and will follow.
On September 9. 1961, the Denver Den sponsored the Denver
Skyline Lions Club. Unfortunately, this club does not exist. At its inception,
they had 31 Lions, which included among others, one women and 15 past
presidents, one of whom is also a Melvin Jones Fellow. They had a
Foundation when they disbanded which held almost $100,000 of bingo
game proceeds waiting to be used for their various charities.
On October 3, 1962, the Denver Den celebrated its 45th
anniversary with a banquet at the Denver Hilton Hotel.
On September 17, 1964, the Denver Den sponsored the Denver
International Airport Lions Club (now known as the Centennial Airport Lions
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Club (which at the time was located in the Stapleton Airport.) The Club now
meets on the firstt and third Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. at the Ramada Hotel at
Centennial Airport.
The Club was chartered while its members were flying over the City
of Denver on a Continental Airlines Viscount.
Thursty Jenkins then
President of the Denver Den, officiated at the ski-high chartering ceremony.
There are presently 24 active members in the Airport Club which
includes 6 women. The primary source of the Club’s funds comes from its
sponsorship of a golf contest each year. This event yield approximately
$30,000 to $40,000 annually. From the proceeds of this event, they very
generously provide funds for most of the major programs in the District.
Checks are issued at the annual Christmas party with attendance by most of
the Clubs in the District. They usually have a choir from a local high school
and music from the Salvation Army band.
Also, in 1964 the Denver Den and the Aurora Lions club jointly
sponsored the Aurora Eastgate Lions Club. Unfortunately, this club no
longer exists.
Jim Blackinton mentions below some of the highlights of the 1960
decade:
“The decade of the 60’s was an exciting time for the Denver Lions.
Membership which had been increasing for years, continued to grow until in
1963, under the helm of Past President Lloyd King it reached its maximum
394 members which remains a record to this day.
“An ongoing program at the Denver Den consisted of inviting a
foreign student from Denver University to become a Denver Junior Lion for
a luncheon meeting and at the last meeting of the month the student would
be asked to say a few words to us about his country, family and his life.
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Also, at every luncheon we normally would be visited by several Lion
members from other Clubs and the one coming the greatest distance from
home would be given a Denver Club memento. When you visit our Club
office, take a good look at our collection of flags from Lions Clubs all over
the world.
“In December. 1960, the Denver Den won the National Attendance
Award. averaging an attendance of 89.4 percent at each meeting. As we
used to say: Attendance is the price of membership.
“Lastly, we and the Airport Lions Club then located at Stapleton
Airport, agreed that there should be a Chapel at Stapleton Airport
something like our own Eisenhower Chapel. Soon thereafter the Stapleton
Chapel was designed and built by members of the Denver Den and the
members of the Airport Club continued to maintain the Chapel until
Stapleton was abandoned as an airport.”
There are nine current members who joined the Denver Den in the
1960’s, They are: Jim Anderson, Emerson Bails, Swede Carlson, George
Custard, Russ Lynn, Don Neithercut, Dr. Lou Orzolek, Dean Troyer and Ed
Walsh.
1970-1979
Clearly, the highlight of the 1970’s was the alignment of Savio
House by the Denver Den. The acquisition did not come easily. Many
members believed that to own and operate a residential child care facility
such as Savio House was too great a responsibility. It was only after a
thorough two year investigation of Savio House by the Youth Services
Committee and much debate among the members of the Club that the
matter was finally put to a vote by mail. The final vote was 89 in favor and
41 opposed. Since the Board leadership was assumed by the Denver Den,
Savio House and its programs have grown substantially. It has achieved a
22
reputation for excellence in carrying out its mission “of eliminating violence,
crime, abuse, neglect and other destructive behaviors in adolescents and
families.” In 1986 it was recognized as one of the 10 best Lion Club projects
in the entire world.
Savio House Staff (1997)
What is Savio House? What is its purpose? Who pays the bills to
operate it? What success has it had in carrying out its objectives? We asked
Bill Hildenbrand, the Executive Director of Savio House, to come up with the
answers and here is what he said:
Savio House is a non-profit organization operated by the Lions Club
of Denver to serve children, adolescents and families who are suffering from
the problems of abuse and neglect, abandonment, delinquency, family
violence and poverty. Savio serves these people through shelter and
23
residential care, a day service of special education and counseling and a
community based service which intervenes in the home to strengthen
families in crisis. In the 1980’s, Savio was a $3.2 million agency with 85
employees. (Please see the decade 2000-2010 for an update on this).
“Savio House is financed by several different means. The operating
budget is funded principally by State and County Governmental agencies
and by local school districts. The plant fund, comprising the buildings and
major improvements, is supported contributions and funds set aside for
depreciation. Lastly, the Savio House Endowment Fund is financed through
individual contributions.
Is Savio House successful? The feedback from clients, professionals
and the community at large is overwhelmingly positive.
In 1996 Savio House served 357 families which represents
approximately 1,600 individuals. Our goal, for the youthful single parent
with children to the adolescent emancipating to independent living, is to
provide these people with the skills and hope to survive in today’s world.
This is a monumental task and Savio is making steady progress with the
leadership of the Lions Club of Denver.”
A letter received by Lion Bill Hildenbrand from a young single
mother who received counseling from one of the professionals of Savio
House. It follows verbatim:
24
Reproduction of an anonymous letter to Bill
Hildenbrand, Executive Director of Savio House
An update on Savio House is included in a another section of this history
under the heading of the decade 2000-2011
The following Lions joined the Denver Den in the 1970’s: Bob
Backus, Paul Barbour, Hank Edler, Bob Frye, Dean Haave, Harold Hein, Wen
Johnson, Jim Nussbaum, and Ed O’Brien.
25
1980-1989
Certainly one of the highlights of this decade was the 71st
International Lions Convention held in Denver in 1988. Although the exact
number is unknown, reliable estimates indicate that more than 40,000 Lions
from the 162 nations throughout the world attended the convention. The
Denver Den played a very active role in working with the Colorado State
Lions Convention Committee. Our Board of Directors believed that as our
Club was one of the 23 Founders Clubs of Lions International that we should
pull out all the stops to make the Convention a memorable one for visiting
Lions as well as for members of the Denver Den, their families and friends.
Among the highlights were: (1) A huge International parade in
downtown Denver which lasted almost five hours and included floats,
marching units and bands; (2) A western style barbeque at the beautiful
home of Lion Bob Sturm and Sharon Sturm, in Kittredge where the Denver
Den played host to the Nagoya East Lions Club (our sister club in Japan), as
well as to numerous dignitaries from Lions International and 100 or more
Lions from the Denver Den and their guests, (3) A sumptuous Founder’s
Club Luncheon (with desserts too!) at the Petroleum Club with Lions from
six other Founder’s Clubs there as well as many members of the Denver
Den, and (4). A catered reception at the Governor’s Mansion for the Lions
International and Colorado VIP’s, both past and present, together with
beaucoup Lions from the Denver Den and their spouses. At this reception,
Governor Roy Romer welcomed Judge Brian Stevenson, President of Lions
International (from Calgary, Canada), who presented the Melvin Jones
Fellowship Award to Lion Ken King, the first Lion in the Denver Den to
receive this high award.
Another important event of the 1980’s was the founding of the Mile
High Lioness Club of Denver in 1984 under the sponsorship of the Denver
Den.
26
Our Lions Club is indeed honored to have such a close rapport with the Mile
High Lioness Club.
Following is an update by Betty Edler, a Past President and one of
the charter members of the Denver Mile High Lioness Club (Now Lioness
Lions Club).
“We currently have 11 members and meet at Blossom Restaurant,
in Heather Gardens on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. for
lunch and a program., which is usually related to the community needs or
service. Over the years we have supported such charitable organizations as
the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute, Savio house, Rude Park Child Care
Center, the Colorado Lions Camp, International Hearing Dogs, the Channel 9
Health Fair and the Anchor Center for Blind Children.
Our major fund raisers are an annual Christmas Craft Auction and
Bake Sale and a Salad/Desert Luncheon in June. We have also successfully
auctioned off three machine/hand made quilts stitched by our Lioness
members.”
Still another highlight of the 1980’s was the change in the Lions
International Constitution which broadened membership in all Lions Clubs,
wherever located to include both men and women.
The first woman to become a member of the Denver Den was the
late Jacque Webster, wife of Lion Bill Webster. Lion Jacque joined our Club
on October 13, 1987, having previously been a member of the Mile High
Lioness Club and Executive Director of the Denver Den since 1981.
There are now 31 women members in the Denver Den and here’s
who they are:
Myrna Adkins, Anita Albrecht, Alice Applebaum, Bronwyn Bateman,
27
Rebecca Dillahunty, Judy Dowling, Janice Fritsch, Linda Holloway, Sally
Hooks, Cheryl Kisling, Carolyn McDonald, Betty McKenzie, Michele Morris,
Carol Nickell, Flossie O’Leary, Susana Osorio, Dani Osterloth, Catherine
Ostrander, Dee Pape, Patricia Pascoe, Shari Shink, Nancy Snyder, Paula
Weygand.
Lion Jacque Webster, the Denver Den’s first woman Lion
The Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank was also started in the 1982.
The Eye Bank has played an integral part in the constant battle to help the
blind in a practical way just as our Club has been involved in the same battle
over the past 95 years.
We asked Lion Ed Jacobs, a member of the Denver Den and the
Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank to give us some
current information about the Eye Bank.
28
“The Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank is celebrating its 30th year of
sight restoration in 2012 because of support from Lions Clubs throughout
Colorado and Wyoming. The Lions Club of Denver specifically has helped by
providing financial support and one of our laboratory microscopes used in
the evaluation of corneal tissue. Having the best diagnostic equipment
available allows our eye bank to provide safe, high quality corneal tissue for
transplantation. Denver Den Lion Ed Jacobs, Executive Director of the Eye
Bank comments.
“From our humble beginning in 1982 through today we have been
fortunate that Lions Club members have volunteered to transport donated
eyes to be processed in our laboratory in Denver. Driving day or night,
timely delivery of eyes maintains tissue viability and helps ensure successful
transplantation. Because our eye bank has grown, we need your help now
more than ever. If you would be willing to volunteer by transporting eyes to
surgeons in the Denver area and help with deliveries to the airport , bus
station and blood testing lab, we would be greatly appreciative. Specifically,
we are able to reimburse mileage to volunteer drivers and provide
documentation of service hours to be included in Club activity reports.
Remember that one of the most important gifts you can give is the
precious legacy of sight. Please talk to your family about your wishes to
become an eye, organ and tissue donor. With your continued help, we will
be able to answer Helen Keller’s challenge to be Knights of the Blind. For
more information about the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank, you can
schedule a program for your Lions Club, tour our office and laboratory
facility or visit our new website at corneas.org.” The Eye Bank moved into
the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute in 2001 providing much needed
room and a facility closely associated with a research and practicing clinical
Ophthalmology center. The Eye Bank has been recognized nationally for
being in the top 3 eye banks in the United States. They ship corneas all
over the world.”
29
In the 1980-1989 decade the Denver Den sponsored yet another
Lions Club, this time the Denver Park Hill Lions Club which was chartered on
June 23, 1984. The Club now has 13 members, including 1 women, and the
the Past Honorable Mayor Wellington Webb, who was a charter member.
The Club also chartered the Park Hill Lioness Club, the Denver Five Points
Lions Club and co-sponsored the Denver East Leo Club.
The Park Hill Club has also had numerous fund-raisers such as fish
fries, trips by motor coach to Blackhawk and Central City casinos which
reimburse the Club $10 for each passenger on the motor coach.
Donations have been made by the Club to the: (1) Sickle Cell
Foundation; (2) Lions Club International Foundation; (3) International
Hearing Dogs, Inc. and The Volunteer Optometric Service College in
Memphis, TN. The Club also sponsors campers to Woodland Park,
participates in the Channel 9 Health Fair and has had its members march in
the St. Patrick’s Day parades.
Lion Chuck Elliston, a charter club member and Past District
Governor of 6C serves the District as Chaplain and prepares and presents
resolutions at the District conventions.
There are currently 18 Lions in the Denver Den that affiliated in the
1980’s and this is the list:
Bill Adams, Taylor Albrecht, Chuck Anderson, Jim Anderson, Steve Bewley,
Al Cook, Mike Dux, Don Fullerton, Stu Haskins, Bill Hildenbrand, Bill Martin,
Chuck Murray, Ned Nagle, Jim Pilon, Don Smith, Roger Strand, Bob
Sweeney, and Rod Wicklund.
30
1990-1999
In this decade the major project of the Denver Den has been the
participation of its members in establishing the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye
Institute in cooperation with the Lions of Wyoming, University of Colorado
Health Science Center and the University of Colorado Foundation.
The following members of the Denver Den were pioneers on this
project: Steve Kinney, a Past President of our club, along with Mike Dux,
Bob Appleman, Rod Wicklund, Ray Cushman, Bob Litchard, Hal Torgan, Don
Fullerton, Ted Greenfield, Bob Sweeney and Bob Hix.
The concept of a Lions Eye Institute in the Rocky Mountain region is
a project so large that it encompassed all Lions Clubs in Colorado and
Wyoming. We had a precedence for this type of effort in the Rocky
Mountain Lions Eye Bank which uses the Lions of both states in their
program.
In 1991 through the inspiration and leadership of the Denver Den,
The Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute Foundation, a non profit 501c3
foundation was established. The initial goal of the Foundation was to raise
$6 million which would be used to construct a facility on the existing
campus of the Health Science Center. A location west of Colorado Blvd. was
designated to be the site. The Mayor and City of Denver opposed this move.
We were offered floor space in new facility within the medical facility, but
this did not meet our criteria. We wanted a stand alone facility that would
house our current operations with the ability to expand in the future. We
even contemplated purchase of the Rose Foundation Building on Hale
Parkway, but we were turned down by the Health Sciences management
with a statement they could not support us in that facility. (At the time we
did not know that the University was negotiating with the Army for the land
at Fitzsimons Hospital). The Health Sciences did not want us to pursue the
Rose site but it would allow us to be among the first to move to Fitzsimons.
The Fitzsimons site encompassed 217 acres compared to 46 acres currently
31
used at the 9th and Colorado Blvd side. Several members of the Denver Den
were very active within the new Rocky Mountain Lions Institute Foundation
(RMLEIF). The first President was Lion Steve Kinney, who died while serving
as President of the Foundation. Lion Roger Cozens, Lions Club of Greeley,
succeeded Steve Kinney. Don Fullerton succeeded Roger Cozens as
President of RMLEIF when Roger Cozens because of health problems could
no longer serve in this capacity. Jo Ann Corn and Don Fullerton (Denver
Den) were the first elected representatives on the Board of RMLEIF
representing District 6C of Colorado. Lions Jim Nussbaum was in charge of
major gifts, Paul Tschetter, headed up special gifts, Bob Hix was co-chair
with Gib Frye for Public Relations, and Communications and Bob Sweeney
and Dr. Bronwyn Bateman were advisors to the Foundation. Dr. Bateman
was appointed Executive Director of the Foundation.
The RMLEIF board of directors of which 5 members are from the Denver Den. This includes Lion
President Paul Barbour, Harold Hein, Don Fullerton, Dee Pape, and Bob Frye (not shown). 2010
We started actual construction of RMLEI in 1999. It was magnificent to
32
watch the building move toward completion. Don Fullerton represented the
Lions of Colorado and Wyoming to monitor the construction. With
completion of the facility in 2001, it has provided critically needed space for
advanced eye care, education of medical students in ophthalmology, as well
as training individuals interested primarily in basic scientific research. We
have assigned space in the new research building. When we moved into our
new facility, we had a patient load of about 19,000 per year. In the year
2010, we had patients of over 46,000 and staffing has increased as well. In
2010, we were designated in the to 10 Ophthalmological centers in the
country, an amazing feat for our first 10 years. Lions Len McCain and Dean
Troyer still volunteer their time at the information center of RMLEI.
Recent photograph of the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute Building
Current Lions who affiliated with the Denver Den in the 1990-1999 decade
33
are as follows: Myrna Ann Adkins, Anita Albrecht, Dr. Bronwyn Bateman, Joe
Beaghler, Doug Brown. John Corkle, Becca Dillahunty. John Fritchel, Joe
Ignat, Ed Jacobs, Mike James, Ken Kauvar, Steve Kiskey, Tim Krause, John
Love, Terry Lutts, John Maus, Len McCain, John Mollberg, Greg Osterloth,
Pat Pascoe, Dr. Mike Taravella. Mel Tewahade. and Dave Weisberg.
2000-2011
Since the 1980 decade, there has been a different approach
employed at Savio House, so we have placed this information separately
from the founding period of the 1980’s. We asked Bill Hildebrand for this
update and this is what he provided.
“Savio continues to thrive under the leadership of the Lions Club of
Denver. In 2009 Savio served 6,223 individuals, has a 2010 budget of 10.4
million dollars and averages between 165 to 184 employees. The agency is
recognized as a leader in the child welfare and youth corrections fields.
Savio believes in keeping children and families together, even when they are
struggling with very serious problems like child abuse, neglect and
delinquency. Every day we provide therapy and education to families in
crisis because, with our help, children and families avoid residential care and
incarceration and instead learn how to live safe, healthy and happy
lives. Right now there are kids along the Front Range who are victims of
abuse and neglect and there are youth who act out in dangerous ways,
whose actions endanger their classmates and their communities. For years,
our society’s response to these problems has been jail time, foster care and
residential treatment. While there are times then such solutions are
required, jail and residential treatment don’t end the cycle of violence and
neglect. They simply postpone them. Separating families can make
problems worse which is why people who support Savio believe that families
should stay together whenever possible.
Over twenty-five years ago, many agencies similar to Savio were
34
investing in building larger facilities to house more youth. Savio went in a
different direction, recognizing that data show that children fare best when
they remain with their families. Savio pioneered intensive in-home
familytherapies and interventions that keep children safe and changed the
behaviors of all family members to make homes positive for
children.involved in drugs and gangs and more parents are able to break
free of addictions and learn the skills they need to be good parents. This
enables both parents and children to become a vital part of society for the
betterment of the communities of Colorado.
Today Savio is at the forefront of care for children and families who
face very serious challenges like abuse and addiction. We take a scientific
approach to evaluating our impact. Study after study shows that our
approach works. Without Savio, children lose and families disintegrate.”
In the 1990’s and since the 1950’s the Denver Lions Foundation has
been the centerpiece of the charitable and service activities of the Denver
Den. It is the principal source of the funds which are distributed to the four
service committees to enable them to carry out their assigned duties.
We all know that the four service committees (in
alphabetical order) are: Hearing, Sight Conservation, Social Services and
Youth Service.
The Hearing Committee is chaired by Lion Ron Ludwig after
taking over from Lion Don Fullerton in 2011.
The Hearing Committee has had a budget from the Foundation of
$7000 to $9000 in the past few years. We have been coming in well under
budget and have provided hearing aid for 5 to 6 patient per year. The
hearing aids we have been providing were very expensive and would
consume our budget rapidly, so we have revised our plan to allow us to
provide more service to those who really need it. We have aligned our
35
giving to two programs that will allow less cost and more patients to be
service. Lions Club International have instituted a program called Affordable
Hearing Aids Project (AHAP) which prices hearing aids in a very affordable
zone. ($200 per hearing aid plus examination and ear molds which
will run an additional $150). This program has been in effect approximately
four years but in some cases we have had a problem with audiologist
not recommending these hearing aids. We have also now aligned
ourselves with a similar program from Starkey called “Hear Now”. With
the two programs in place and with an edict that this is what is
available, we hope to see our expenses fall easily within our yearly budget.
We have worked closely with the Center for Hearing Speech and Language
in their providing patients needing heading aids and also recycling used
hearing aids through their contact with Starkey and we have also supported
their program on screening pre-school children. We also have been giving a
yearly gift to International Hearing Dogs ($500).
.
Lion Roger Cawthon provided us with a summary of the workings of
the Sight Committee.
The Lions Club of Denver sight program is conduced by dedicated
qualified Lions. Chairman Terry Lutts, Emerson Bails, Jim Hannifin, Roger
Cawthon- optician and David Drucker, M.D. Our goal is to provide an eye
exam and glasses to people that qualify and are legal residents of Denver.
Referrals go to Roger through Em and Jim’s voicemail. In addition our Sight
Program has a long standing referral working relationship with non-profit
groups in Denver as well as the Denver Public Schools, Arapahoe House,
Salvation Army, Warren Village and so many more.
The request is sent our qualifying letter that is completed and returned to
Terry for approval. The non-profit sector is pre-qualified and need only to
provide the name of the recipient. When received and approved each
recipient is sent an instructive letter authorizing the two steps to receive
their exam and glasses.
Step1: The eye exam can come from any Optical Professional but if we
36
provide the exam,
(Ophthalmologist).
they
are
referred
to
David
Drucker,
M.D.
Step 2: When the recipient has the prescription, they are instructed to see
Roger on a Tuesday to be fitted for their new frames and Rx lenses. This
fitting is done at Ronald McDonald House Denver who provides our space.
Roger tracks each recipient and processes approximately 260 to 300
recipients annually. They manage to do all of this and stay within the
budget provided by the Denver Lions Foundation. This is a remarkable
success story with so many individual recipients receiving help every year
from the Lions Club of Denver. WE SERVE
We asked Lion Russ Lynn to provide us with the beginning of
KidSight, a most successful sight program of the Denver Lions Club.
“The Colorado Lions Clubs entered a partnership with the
Ophthalmology Department at the University of Colorado Health Sciences
Center at Fitzsimons to create the Colorado Lions KidSight Program in 1999.
In May of 2000, the committee traveled to Nashville Tennessee to see the
Vanderbilt program. The program is committed to ensuring that all children
in the state of Colorado receive the highest quality eye screening available.
The program officially started September 2001. In February 2002, the Lions
terminated the partnership with the Ophthalmology Department. This
program is a “clinic without walls”. This unique program is designed to
screen pre-literate children in the Colorado for vision problems that cause
lazyeye (amblyopia).
Local Lions Clubs conduct vision screenings using a specialized
camera called the MTI PhotoScreener. The Polaroid photographs were sent
to a specially trained reading center for interpretation (as of May 2003.
pictures are no longer being sent to Tennessee, rather they are being read
in Colorado). The KidSight Program maintains an elaborate database, First
Glimpse for the tracking of all outcome measures: photographers and Lions
37
contact, children screened, screening results, follow-up examinations, and
eye care professionals. Screening results are returned to the screening site
for distribution.
Children referred as a result of the screening are given a list of
ophthalmologists and optometrists in their own community, and are
encourage to make an appointment. The results of the exam are sent to the
KidSight office to ensure that follow-up is completed.”
Lion Steve Krebsbach followed up after Russ Lynn with the following
information.
“When he took as chair of the project they had 12 to 15 private day
care centers they were working. The photos that were taken were sent
along with the parent permission slip to one or two people in the state that
would “read” the photo and determine if there was a problem or not. This
was considered a fairly subjective analysis. So the Denver Den working with
the State Kidsight program helped to evaluate the new Welch Allyn
Suresight system which did a more analytical screening of the child’s eyes
with a print out that is much easily interpreted and more consistent than
the previous screenings. The Denver Den purchased one of the first
Suresight in the State and currently own two of them in 2011.
The new screening system and the growth of Kidsight throughout
the State helped the Denver Lions increase the number of kids screened per
year from a few hundred to over 3000 in 2011. The Denver Den
continuously takes the lead with the Kidsight program by helping to get the
Denver Public School system enrolled in our program, also screening at
public events throughout the city. We currently have one of our members,
Lion Steve Krebslbach as President of the newly formed Colorado Lions
Kidsight, a Colorado 501C3 Corporation. We have found that on average we
will refer about 12% of the kids we screen to see a doctor for assistance.
The Denver Den has the ability to follow through and assist those families
that need help in finding an affordable doctor to help with
38
the acquisition of glasses that may be necessary for the child.”
The Kidsight program has been the fastest growing program in the
Denver Den over the past 12 years with upward of 40 members at some
point being involved with the screening. It is the major reason we have had
many new members join our Club, so it has impacted our growth and a drop
in the average age within our club over the past several years.
A Typical Screening by the Denver Lions
The Social Services committee doesn’t formally exist but its duties
are picked up as they occur. Bill Hildenbrand is the chair of this committee.
If a particular project or need does not fall under the umbrella of one of the
Committees named above, it usually is handled by the Social Service
Committee. For example, at Thanksgiving and Christmas time the
committee will deliver baskets of food to needy families in the Denver area.
It also has helped to build three ramps for blind or visually handicapped
persons.
The Youth Service Committee has been chaired in the past by Lion
Ned Nagle. Ned has this to say about this committee assignment.
“The purpose of the Youth Service Committee is to assist
39
encourage, initiate and carry on activities which will promote the health,
welfare and broad education of Denver area youth, whether by means of
financial contributions, volunteerism or through cooperation with agencies
and institutions already in existence, or by any other means which, from
time to time shall be considered appropriate to the Youth Service
Committee and the Denver Lions Foundation.
In the 1990’s, some of the programs involved are listed below.
Unfortunately, none of these activities are active in 2011.
Schmitt Elementary School Study Hall: We adopted the entire third grade
and began a program focused entirely on tutoring children to read and to
become literate. Lion volunteer tutors were trained, workbooks to help all
of us to stay on track were furnished, and Lions Club donated $500 worth
of books for the program to encourage the students to read on their own.
Results were measured through tests completed at year end and we did,
indeed, make progress. We believe that the best way to teach kids to read
is one-on-one, which means we need more volunteers than ever.
Volunteers received the most satisfaction when they know they have truly
accomplished something. All the kids in Denver start out with spirit,
interest and enthusiasm; it’s up to all of us to keep that spirit alive!
Urban Peak: The Lions Club of Denver has been a supporter of Urban Peak since its
founding in 1988. This program assists runaway and homeless youths by connecting
them with services to meet their most immediate needs – food, shelter, clothing
and medical care. We also strive to assist young persons to leave the streets by
providing them with the skills and support necessary to either create an
independent life off the streets or help repair the family life they left behind.
40
Kathy Griswold tutoring a Denver Elementary student
Rishel Middle School Student of the Month Program. A new program
begun in the 1996-97 Club year, this program’s aim was to catch students “”doing
something right”. The principal, staff and students at Rishel select a deserving
student each month to be recognized by our Club. The main criteria for selection
included good citizenship and good academic effort with an emphasis on a high
level of participation in classroom activities and support for fellow students. The
student and his parents are invited to our luncheon and the student’s name is
placed on a permanent plaque displayed in the schools office. “As stated by Lions
International Second vice President James E. Ervin at last spring’s President Summit
Juan Ramirez, the Denver Den’s first Student of the Month
for Americas Future: “We as Lions, must always realize that young people don’t
represent 100 percent of our population but they certainly do represent 100
percent of our future”. We could not say it with any more clarity than that..
41
Come join us!”
Another Denver Den Committee which is of recent origin, but is
nevertheless becoming more and more important is the Networking
Committee. (Editor’s Note: This committee was formed in the late 1980’s
but currently hasn’t been active. We have extracted the text as it occurred
in the original copy with minor corrections)
Lion Rod Wicklund has this to say about Networking: “It is well said that
“LIONS DO BUSINESS WITH LIONS”, They do. And that is networking. It is just
another plus in belonging to the Lions Club of Denver. And the better a member
gets known and gets to know the others in the Club, the more networking becomes
a part of a member’s life.
“But in order to be of more help to members looking for contacts in
business, a group of Lions from the Denver Den meet every other Thursday morning
at 7:30 a.m. in the Club’s office for coffee and rolls. We spend the first half hour
discussing general business topics and the last 30 minutes explaining our business
and our needs. In this environment we feel comfortable in making these request
known to our fellow Lions. We encourage each member of our networking group
to let other lions at the Tuesday luncheon know that we have an active networking
group. We encourage all Lions that would like to enhance their business to join us.”
Lion Bob Sturm, who heads the Networking Committee, adds the following
comments:
“Denver Den Lions who are networking members are trying to encourage
our younger members to join us not only as a way to participate in community
service but at the same time to enjoy and benefits of knowing a whole new group
of potential business prospects.
Current Lions who became affiliated with the Denver Den in the period 1990-1999
are listed below: Ron Abo, Myrna Ann Adkins, Anita Albrecht, Dr. Bronwyn
Bateman, Joe Beaghler, Doug Brown, John Corkle, Kathy Collins, Becca
Dillahunty, Joe Ignat, Ed Jacobs, Mike James, Ken Kauvar, Steve Kinsky,
42
Tim Krause, John Love, Terry Lutts, John Maus, Len McCain, Bob McCormick,
Carolyn McDonald, Andy McKean, John Molberg, Joel Mosser, Roger Newell,
Flossie O’Leary, Dani Osterloth, Greg Osterloth, Pat Pascoe, Dr. Mike
Taravella, Mel Tewahade, Ron Vaughn, and Dave Weisberg.
A few general comments follow which outline some of the things that the
Lions club of Denver does year in and year out in addition to the activities of those
Lions who serve on the Sight Conservation, Hearing Conservation, Social Service
and Youth Service Committees already described.
Other miscellaneous charitable work includes but is not limited to (1)
assisting the Colorado Lions Camp in Woodland Park by cash donations and
occasional manual labor; (2) ringing bells and manning kettles on the streets of
Denver for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Drive; (3) assisting teachers in the Day
School at Savio House; (4) visiting the Eisenhower Chapel each week to make
certain it is in good order and occasionally to do minor maintenance; (5) working at
the Channel 9 Health Fair.
We enjoy socializing with other members in the Denver Den such as: (1)
attending professional sports events; (2) going on a picnic in the hills each summer;
(3) spending a day skiing in the mountains and afterwards relaxing in a member’s
mountain cabin; (4) enjoying informal mixers at member’s places of business; (5)
taking one’s spouse or guest on Valentine’s Day to a country club for an elegant
meal followed by a formal dance; (6) meeting once a month in the home of a fellow
Lion to discuss investments and to buy and sell securities in our Monarch and Lion
Mane Investment Club’s portfolios and (7) inviting spouses of deceased members to
an annual luncheon to let them know we have not forgotten.
In the Denver Den, a life membership comes only after having been in the
Club for 40 years. We want all to know that we have 12 life members currently in
the Denver Den.
We also have 17 members who have been chosen as Melvin Jones Fellow
which is a most distinguished honor. These distinguished Lions are: Bill Adams, Em
Bails, Paul Barbour, Dr. Bronwyn Bateman, Swede Carlson, George Custard, Hank
Edler, Bob Frye, Don Fullerton, Dean Haave, Bill Hildenbrand, Russ Lynn, Don
Neithercut, Lee Schlessman, Don Smith, Bob Sweeney and Dean Troyer
43
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The text of the original printing was maintained except where there
has been a change. We recognize the excellent work of Lion Ed Walsh in the
original text along with those who assisted him
In updating the history, we want to thank those Lions who took the
time to review and edit the final copy. We thank you for all of the effort you
spent in this review. Those Lions were as follows:
Bob Frye
Bill Hildebrand
Ed Jacobs
Russ Lynn
Steve Krebsbach
Steve Kinsky
Dean Troyer
Emerson Bails
Stuart Haskins
Bob Sweeney
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