In 1982, representatives from the River Valley Lions Club of Stillwater, Minnesota, helped form the Scandia-Marine Lions Club. The first Scandia-Marine Lions Club meeting, held at Crabtree’s Kitchen, was presided over by Lion Maurice Faehnrich, a Lions Extension Representative. Twelve charter members were present and three Lions from other clubs attended.
OFFICERS
Election of officers was held. The founding officers included:
Lion Jon T. Ording — President
Lion Jim Lindberg — First Vice President
Lion Jack Reese — Second Vice President
Lion Robert Elmstrom — Third Vice President
Lion Wendell Johnson — Secretary
Lion Daniel Sandager — Treasurer
Lion Robert Burch — Tail Twister
Lion Richard Heller — Lion Tamer
Lion Wayne Erickson — Two Year Director
Lion Edsel Johnson — Two Year Director
Lion Eulis Pierce — One Year Director
Lion Jack L. Turner — One Year Director
Women have become a vital part of the Scandia-Marine Lions Club. In 2006, we elected our first woman President, Lion Marilyn Opp.
MEMBERSHIP
The club started with a core group of members. Now, the Scandia-Marine Lions Club is in its 47th year (2023-2024) and its membership is about 125 Lions.
FUNDRAISING
The club’s first fundraiser, held in 1982, was to sell roses. The funds raised were used to help visually- and hearing-impaired persons; and to provide support for local needs whenever possible. As the club grew, so did the types of fundraisers held: selling brats at the Marine Art Fair; BMX races at the old gravel put at the intersection of Highway 97 and County Road 15; dances at Withrow Ballroom; a pig roast; and Wild Game Dinners.
Bingo was held at the Community Center and then at the Washington County Fair. As time went on, the Scandia-Marine Lions started selling Super Saver Books with discounts by local merchants; and raffle tickets for monthly monetary prizes.
The Scandia-Marine Lions have coordinated several major fundraising events in the past: a chicken dinner for college scholarships in May; Saint Croix Fat Cat Triathlon in July; and Taco Daze in September. Currently, the Lions are focusing the club’s efforts on Taco Daze.
SERVICE
The Scandia-Marine Lions Club supports the American Red Cross by doing quarterly blood drives and also serves lunch for all donors.
Pancake breakfasts are held in October and January; and attendees bring donations to support the Scandia-Marine Food Shelf as well as other non-profits. In December, the Scandia-Marine Lions have a Breakfast with Santa. Children get to visit with Santa; have their picture taken with him; and receive candy and gifts from the Lions.
The Scandia-Marine Lions Club and its foundation support a wide variety of projects benefiting local, statewide, national, and international charities. Scandia-Marine Lions always have been generous to local families who had fires or traumatic medical issues.
SERVING FUTURE GENERATIONS
Our Lions Club is proud to help our local schools; and participates in the annual Wild Walk, sponsors a Peace Poster Contest, donates dictionaries to 3rd graders, and distributes copies of the U.S. Constitution to 5th-grade students.
A very important annual tradition has become the awarding of college scholarships to graduating high school seniors.