COLLECTOR’S CORNER

A Closer Look at Convention Badges!

BY LION REID MEYER, ELLSWORTH LIONS CLUB

A completist is one who wants to make a collection complete. Finding every item can be very challenging, requires persistence and patience. Having good topical knowledge is also critical – so one actually knows what to look for in order to achieve completeness! A great example is collecting Wisconsin Lions convention badges – these are awesome pieces of Lions history and great collectibles. State Convention badges go waaaaay back in time and District Convention badges can also be old, but this is where topical knowledge becomes very helpful. Wisconsin District 27 was formed in 1922-23 and existed as a single entity until 1936-37, which is when Districts A, B and C were formed; District D was added in 1938, followed by District E in 1949-50. Districts B1-B2 were formed in 1966-67, C1-C2 in 1968-69, A1-A2 in 1971-72, E1-E2 in 1979-80 and D1-D2 in 1980-81. See Doing Something For Someone Else: A History of the Wisconsin Lions, which does a great job visually depicting our Multiple District’s evolution. Pictured are two State Convention badges from the 8th and 9th Annual Conventions. With this topical information in mind, we now know that leaves 13 other badges to collect to complete the Wisconsin District 27 series! State Convention badges starting in 1937-38 would be considered Wisconsin Multiple District 27 badges.

If you have any of these ooooold convention badges, please reach out to Pin Trader Lion Bruce Frei (at yogibearfrei@yahoo.com as he is documenting this collection) or email me at reidmeyer69@gmail.com – Happy Collecting!

PRESCOTT LIONS CLUB –

The Club has had their own Thanksgiving tradition for many years. They take the time to SERVE residents of an Assisted Living Facility a complete Thanksgiving Dinner with all the trimmings. 20 residents enjoyed not just the meal prepared for them but the friendship of the Lions who came to serve them. Prescott will tell you that COVID slowed them down with this tradition, but once through COVID we are back stronger than ever. WE Serve “Serving.”

TREMPEALEAU LIONS CLUB –

Two Lions received Melvin Jones Awards at the meeting on November 14th. Pictured are: Treasurer Mark Greylak and Secretary Vern Jordan

TREMPEALEAU LIONS CLUB – The Club has built handicap ramps for area residents free of charge for a number of years. The dedication in helping the community through the use of a ramp can make all the difference to residents and their being able to get out and about. Most of us can leave our homes safety and when we want to. Much like other missions of the Lions they are here to make a difference in serving others, making lives better. Gaining in education in areas Lions can make things happen. There may be residents in your community who need access to the outside world. You may not be able to do it free of charge. Maybe you seek donations from your businesses, or others. Maybe the resident can afford the ramp materials, but cannot build it. Ramps are another area Lions can make a difference.

ROBERTS LIONS CLUB – Every year members team up with the Hammond Lions Club and the local snowmobile club, Hammond Snow Drifters, to make sure residents of their communities get a Thanksgiving dinner and a Christmas dinner. A full box of food consisting of canned veggies, canned fruit, peanut butter, carrots, potatoes, apples, pasta, pasta sauce, cereal, pie, cool whip, rolls, and topped off with a turkey or a ham for Christmas. At Christmas there are fruit baskets delivered also to those who are ill, have had a death in the family, or need to know we are thinking of them. Another wonderful example of clubs working together and with local organizations to “Serve.”

FROM THE 27-E2 DISTRICT GOVERNOR

MARCIA HAGEN

hagen.rjmk@gmail.com

715-896-0421

District Governor

As we are looking forward to warmer weather in the coming months we are also looking forward to setting some action plans up for our district. The Zone Chairs will be giving feedback soon and you can give your feedback at an exercise called SWOT analysis at our District Convention at the Lismore Hotel March 17-18 in Eau Claire. Along with the fun of convention we will also be planning for the future of the way that you want your district to operate. I encourage all my 27E2 LION friends to consider how each of you might participate at the officer level and at the district level. It is important to get new ideas, new fun projects, and new members.

We will be experiencing some changes such as a small dues increase, a new and improved computer system (so get your officers entered and you members names and contact information double checked and up to date early).

We will welcome these and other changes to move our Lions to serve even more as the largest service organization in the world. Our communities count on us to help and serve efficiently.

Spring will be a time of renewal for our selves and for our clubs.

I have a feeling the Spring will come in LIKE a LION! Thanks for all the work you do.

SOMERSET LIONS CLUB – The Club served up some wonderful frightful scares during their haunted Hayride. It was a beautiful evening for the month of October and perfect for a Haunted Hayride. Complete with hot drinks, fire pits, and food, the Lions brought in hundreds of people to take the ride. Although the hayride was to close at 9:00 pm the line told them that they would be there for a couple more hours to get everyone through the ride. Somerset Lions said it was one of their best years.

ROBERTS LIONS CLUB – Santa along with Mrs. Claus and Santa’s Trusty Elf arrived at the Roberts Park Building by Fire Truck to visit with the children On December 10th. Photos were taken with a fireplace and two wonderfully decorated Christmas trees to set the scene. There was Cocoa with A Cop, craft activities, make your own personalized ornament, and of course cookies. Santa’s visit is a yearly tradition for the Roberts Lions Club, serving over 100 children this year.