Lisa Lee
Contributing Writer

(Courtesy photo: This May 18, 1983 photo from “The Volunteer” shows proud Lions members installing the sign at Lions Park. Pictured from left to right are: then President  J.B. Johnson, Dave Kries, unknown person, Bill Long and Dick McMahon.) 

 

It all started back in 1962, when service-minded Dimondale residents gathered to establish the first Lion’s Club there. Will 2026 be the end of the story?

Over the past 70 years, the Lions Club has been a formative movement in the shaping of community traditions. 

Made up of men and women who simply wanted to do their part in service to others, have been hosting the Red Cross Blood drives, the annual Easter Egg Hunt, the Memorial Day Parade, and even the more recent handing out of doughnuts and cider at Trunk or Treat events.  

In its heyday, the club had over 100 members annually from the community, donating an hour a month for meetings and a few hours a year to carry out events and special projects. 

The Dimondale chapter was considered “The Gem of the District.” It was so dynamic, it spurred five other communities to get involved and create their own chapters, with Holt being its nearest fledgling, in 1968.

In May’s meeting of Dimondale Club #4554, the membership voted to close the Dimondale Chapter due to lack of new members. At present, they have five active members with the average age of 80 years. The last day of operation will be June 30.   

One of the many contributions the Lions have made to the Village was the funding for the construction of the Dorothy Hull Library. Combined with the efforts of the Dimondale Culture Club, the two groups were able to raise $40,000 in 1969 to build a library that is in use still today.

The national chapter is known for its White Cane projects and offering services for the blind. Locally, each chapter is allowed to find their own service projects to support. 

Dimondale had many over the years including providing Holiday Gift Baskets to a local convalescent home and building the Lions park which houses a pavilion, playground and green space in the Village. They also helped address specific needs of veterans and families struck by tragedy.

Will anyone be willing to step up and fill the void that will be made when the last formal adult service group leaves?  Already gone are the Masons, the Kiwanis, the Eagles and the American Legion.

Mark Jorgenson of the Vermontville Lions Club was at the May 11 Village Council Meeting to address the council regarding the closing of the club and asked the Council to take on the roles that the Lions have filled in the past.

The Village will honor the work of the past Lion’s Club members in a ceremony at Lion’s Park on Thursday, June 11 at 5 p.m. Jorgenson is organizing the event and hoping persons interested in reviving the Dimondale Chapter will attend.