 |
District 14 P Club Number: 0000006379 Pennsylvania, United States  |
| HISTORY
OF THE AVON-GROVE LIONS CLUB The First 17 Years from 1950 to 1967 written by Dr. Agnew R. Ewing, President of the Avon Grove Lions Club (1950-1951) THE AVON-GROVE LIONS CLUB was founded on March 7, 1950, in the West Grove Methodist Church Social Room -- primarily through the efforts of MONROE NUTE of Kennett Square. The Club was sponsored by the KENNETT SQUARE LIONS CLUB. There were 43 charter members. Most of the original members were contacted by PAUL STRODE and ARTHUR TRIMBLE who became respectively the president and first vice-president. MONROE NUTE installed the officers on March 21, 1950. Of the original officers, only three are still club members. These are CASS BECK (who was the Club's first Lion Tamer) and MEL FRANK and CLAIR BEYER who were directors. The first program chairman was EARL HALL, "CY" THOMAS of Kennett Square (deceased) was the club's first speaker -- the title of his talk was "GEMOLOGY." The first nominating committee consisted of CHAIRMAN GUS SPEAKMAN, MATSON DOUGHERTY, AUSTIN PYLE and GEORGE COLLETTE. THE FIRST CHARTER NIGHT CELEBRATION OF THE AVON-GROVE LIONS CLUB was held on May 9, 1950, at the AVONDALE FIRE HALL. The banquet was served by the Ladies Society of the West Grove Methodist Church. This activity was perhaps our best attended charter night -- 145 members and guests being present. Nearby Lions Clubs were represented as follows: Kennett Square - 30, Hockessin - 2, Oxford - 3, Coatesville - 6, Honeybrook - 6, Paradise - 8, and Frederickburg - 5. Entertainment was provided by a three-piece musical trio, a hillbilly singer and an elocutionist. DUER PIERCE of Kennett Square served as Toastmaster. MONTY NUTE gave a splendid and inspiring talk on the privilege of being a LION and the duties of being a good LION. DISTRICT GOVERNOR, PAUL HOFFER spoke on Lionism and presented the International Charter to PRESIDENT PAUL STRODE. DISTRICT SECRETARY, JIM BARR (who until his death was a frequent visitor to our club) presented the State Charter to FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT, ARTHUR TRIMBLE. MAX PIERCE of the Kennett Square Club extended greetings and presented the club with its original Gavel and Gong as a gift from the KENNETT SQUARE LIONS CLUB. The first four years were hectic; yet exciting and productive years as the club struggled to find its nitch in the Community and to develop into a "working club." However, it must be stated that from its very origin, the club carried forth the concept that "the only successful Lion's Club is a busy Lion's Club" and efforts all through the years paid tribute to the fact that ours must never drift into the easy status of a "supper club" but constantly pursue its objective of "service." In those early years attrition of members was great -- as many joined without fully understanding our objectives or realizing the work involved. However, a "firm" core of members gradually formed around which the club developed, gathered strength, became a real factor in the life of our community. These constantly accentuated and emphasized our sole purpose and objective of service to our community. As one of our early Presidents remarked to the club, (MC NEMAR) "We cannot climb a ladder with our hands in our pockets" and we labored long and hard. Any history of those early years would be remiss if neglected to mention WALTER SCHOCH, our first club secretary. No man, not even a club's president, is more important in the development of a successful club than its secretary. The successful accomplishments of his many activities make him indeed "a president's qood right arm." Well deserving of all the accolades possible, it can be said in all truth that WALTER was "one of the greatest"; known and respected by our own and all the clubs in the district. One of his reports to LIONS INTERNATIONAL is quoted directly from his records in which he reported one of our earliest projects. "The Club's Pancake Supper is a public affair and very well supported. A fine spirit of cooperation prevails in this activity by the club membership. Forty-one out of forty-three members turned out and performed some type of work which in the end spells "SUCCESS." "Such reports have typified all our club's projects over its seventeen year history. During these years, your club has planned, executed and completed the amazing total of sixty "money making" activities without a single incident of failure. Truly a great and commendable record." To digress for a moment to impress a fact that all must know to properly under-stand LIONISM. It should be stated that every LION'S CLUB has "two funds" an "administrative" and a "service or activities fund." Money for the ADMINISTRATIVE FUND come from initiation fees ($20.00), yearly dues ($22.00), less $5.50 which goes to INTERNATIONAL AND STATE HEADQUARTERS, Tail-twister fines of 1C I, birthday donations of $1.00 per member per year, and the 50-50 club. Receipts from these sources is used solely for club purposes, i.e., stationery, ladies nights, convention expenses, club bulletins, etc. This fund helps to keep a club functioning, interesting and strong. Not one cent of this should be spent on charity or service. The ACTIVITIES or SERVICE FUND is composed of the receipts from its various "money making" activities. The receipts from these activities finances all the club's charitable and service activities. Our fund raising activities are documented as follows: four plays, fifteen amateur shows, (13 local and 2 district) seventeen benefit suppers, three scrap-iron drives, eight broom sales, three light bulb sales, one circus, one auction, seven suit clubs and twenty-five gum machines -- a grand total of SIXTY. Quick to recognize the needs in the community, we early established as one of our service activities an emergency fund. (HALL) In any tragedy, fire, fatal accident, etc., our president can write a check "on the spot" for up to $50.00 to tide needy families or persons over that initial period (where food and clothing, etc., are so essential) until the usual means of assistance can be made available. Over the years this fund has been utilized by our president on twenty-five occasions. But in addition to working, we have all had "a lot of fun." We have held annually a Christmas party for our ladies and guests. We have attended many big league ball games (who will ever forget the game "we won" for the Phillies -- against St. Louis)! We have had annual picnics, stag parties, joint meetings, conventions, rallies, "Bum's Balls", bow-tie nights, loud shirt nights and golf matches. During our first six years we were regarded as the "singingest club" in our district, thanks to two female piano players from the Avon-Grove school faculty. For both loudness and harmony our District Governors told us we were unexcelled. We have had many notable, memorable, and enjoyable ladies nights. Who, of those present, will ever forget our 5th anniversary at New London Presbyterian Church, (100% attendance) where the oldest member sported a cane, the youngest wore a baby bonnet and five of our members were called upon to assemble an orchestra (musical instruments secretly brought by their wives) playing instruments they had neglected for years. The recollection of a Ladle's Night at the Oxford Hotel where the wives brought (secretly) the baby pictures of their husbands and these were projected on a screen for all to see was a lively and memorable occasion. More recently (GRAY) who will soon forget the real "Blue Ribbon" ladies nights at THOMPFORD'S BARN or the RED COACH staged by WILLIE NEEDHAM and GEORGE CARLSON. And finally what good LION would permit him-self and wife to miss those more reserved, dignified and inspiring occasions we call our annual Charter Nights which without an exception have been memorable and unforgettable affairs. What has all this meant to the individual member of our LIONS CLUB? Sitting around the luncheon table, singing, joking and working together on club projects many friendships have developed that will last a lifetime. Mutual respect has been born and nurtured between individuals in this manner who except for their club's membership, might never even have known each other. A philosophy of service has often been born and kindled into a flaming individual consciousness of the needs of others and of the community in general. Lastly, the feeling of belonging to a world-wide force of two-thirds of a million of similarly thinking, and acting individuals whose membership circles the globe is in itself soul inspiring. Finally, and with deep pride, one cannot help but become a little less than boastful when he considers the outstanding and enviable record of our wonderful club over these past seventeen years. During this period, the most amazing sum of $153,620.23, or over 1/8 OF A MILLION DOLLARS, has passed through our treasury of which an estimated $59,308.19 has been net for use by the club on itself and on service projects. Over these interesting, exciting and wonderful years, shoulder to shoulder, we have completed the amazing total of 1,086 activities, 706 of which were engaged in service to others. LIONS CLUBS were once dubbed the great "DOERS." We believe we can readily accept this title for of a truth, we have not sat on our hands. We have, as our motto states, "SERVED". |
Avon Grove Lions Club serving West Grove, Avondale, New London, Jennersville, Kemblesville, Cochranville and surrounding areas in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania
HOME PAGE Founded in 1950. © 2010 Avon Grove Lions Club Media Consent Form
HOME PAGE Founded in 1950. © 2010 Avon Grove Lions Club Media Consent Form