Waterloo, Illinois Lions Club
MD 01-District 1-CN Illinois, United States Club Number: 000223
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Our Accomplishments
Waterloo Lions Club currently has 45 members.  In 1952 we sponsored the Columbia Lions Club, and in 1979 we sponsored the Valmeyer Lions Club.  The club is a member of the Regional Eye Care Committee that along with 24 other Lions Club pool their resources, and with the help of the St. Louis hospitals and other benefactors, provide glasses for those in need and for those who need eye surgery.
 
In 1952, the club formed the Khoury League for the young people in the community.  The club purchased a scoreboard for the Jaycee ball diamond.  Since 1954, the club has helped the American Red Cross with their blood drives in Waterloo.  In 1955, the club campaigned actively to promote a referendum that resulted in the formation of the Waterloo Park District.  In the early 1960s, the club actively campaigned for the proposal to have fluoride put into the water supply for the community.  The Waterloo Lions Club donated money to help construct the present swimming pool.  In 1971, the club constructed 2 tennis courts and turned them over to the Waterloo Park District.  During the 1980s, the club operated the "Stop the Pusher" program against drugs in the community and built a Lions Memorial Park.  In 1992, the club purchased the titnus vision screener that is used in all Waterloo schools.  In 1998, the club donated funds for a pavilion at the Memorial Park.  We also purchased a defilabrator for the city police department in 2001, and purchased and helped put together 35 new picnic tables at the Monroe County Fairgrounds which are used for the various picnics and festivals in the community.  In 2002, for our 50th anniversary celebration, we completed a 1 1/4 mile walking trail at Lakeview Park and planted 100 shade trees along the path.  In 2011, the club gave the Waterloo Optimist Club its blessings for turning the unused tennis courts into a new skatepark for the community's youth.
 
The Lions Club helps sponsor two summertime events in our community - Porta Westfalica and Homecoming.  We team up with the Porta Westfalica Committee and the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce to put on "Porta" (as we call it), and join together with the Waterloo Optimist Club and Metzger-Crook VFW Post 6404 to put on the Waterloo Homecoming.  We have a great relationship with these organizations, and not only do we work at these functions but we also enter a float in each parade to make the community aware of our club.
 
Annually, the club holds the "Share-the-Feast" on Thanksgiving Day, in which a homemade Thanksgiving meal is served or delivered to the elderly, homebound, or lonely.  Club members, along with volunteers in the community, help prepare the meal and the deliver meals to homebound people in the community.  Columbia and Valmeyer Lions also pick up take-out orders for homebound people in their communities.
 
Also annually, the club provides Christmas gifts for those in need.  We work in conjunction with the school district to help needy families within the community.  We also Christmas carol at Oak Hill Nursing Home (formerly Monroe County Nursing Home) with Santa Claus and give out gifts to the elderly there to bring some added holiday cheer.
 
The Waterloo Lions Club has been in service for the community since its chartering and will continue helping people in need by obtaining eyeglasses and hearing aids, supporting our youth, and taking care of our environment.  We look forward to future projects in which we may continue to fulfill and aid our service to Waterloo.
Club History
 
The Waterloo Lions Club Charter was signed on 21 December 1951 and received in January of 1952. The East St. Louis Central Lions Club was the sponsoring club. Twenty members signed the Charter, of which a few are still living but are no longer members. The original Charter was replaced after it was destroyed in a fire at the Bee-Hive Restaurant.

 

A Charter Night was held on 31 January 1952 with over 100 guests present. Lion Harry Trotl of the sponsoring club served as toastmaster. Lion Sam Cohen, president of the sponsoring club, presented the gavel and gong to Lion Bob Schmitt, and the Charter was presented by the District Governor Lion James L. Kitchen of Belleville. Lion Harvey W. Hoover, President of the Centerville Township Lions Club was the principal speaker. Clubs represented included: East. St. Louis, Belleville, Centerville, New Athens, Dupo, Edgemount, and Red Bud.

 

The fund raisers were of many kinds - you name it, the club has tried it; from growing pumpkins in a creek bottom near Maeystown to cutting fire wood in two feet of drifted snow out at Herb Mueller's.

 

In 1986, Lion Don Dietz was elected to serve as the District 1-CN Governor. Lion Don selected Lion Fred Meister to serve as Cabinet/Treasurer with him. This was a first for the Waterloo Lions Club. Other Lions of the Waterloo club have served on the 1-CN cabinet during the past years.

 

Since the Lions Club International Foundation established the Melvin Jones Fellowship, members of the Waterloo Lions Club have selected seven of its members to receive this most prestigious honor for their continued service to Lionism over the years. Life memberships have been bestowed on five of our members.

 

Waterloo Lion members are well known for their commitment to the Lions International and State Foundations by club and individuals monetary giving, as well as community projects for the residents of the Waterloo area. Without the continued community support, the Lions Club could not have accomplished these projects.

Why a Lion?
According to the January 1931 issue of the Lions Magazine, here's why we're called a Lion.
 
"Our name was not selected at random, neither was it a coined name. From time immemorial, the lion has been the symbol of all that was good, and because of the symbolism that name was chosen. Four outstanding qualities – Courage, Strength, Activity and Fidelity – had largely to do with the adoption of the name. The last mentioned of these qualities, Fidelity, has a deep and peculiar significance for all Lions. The lion symbol has been a symbol of Fidelity through the ages and among all nations, ancient and modern. It stands for loyalty to a friend, loyalty to a principle, loyalty to a duty, loyalty to a trust."
 
 
What does it mean to be a Lion?
According to Halsted Ritter, who spoke at the 1919 convention about being a Lion:
 
"The name Lions stands not only for fraternity, good fellowship, strength of character and purpose, but above all, its combination of L-I-O-N-S heralds to the country the true meaning of citizenship: LIBERTY, INTELLIGENCE, OUR NATION'S SAFETY."
 
And to think there were members there who wanted to change the emblem from a lion!