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Holbrook Lions lend a hand to community projects
HOLBROOK -- Members of Lions Clubs all across America approve their motions with a loud and resounding "Roar!"
There has been a lot of roaring -- LOTS of roaring -- in Holbrook since the Lions Club there received its charter in 1971. Zoos and circuses would have trouble keeping up with the amount of roaring that has sounded in Holbrook over the past 38 years as club members approve projects and donations to help their community.
A list of Lions projects covers the front and most of the back of a piece of typing paper. And members, during a regular meeting recently, remembered projects not on the list. Start another page ...
The Holbrook Lions' biggest project every year is the fund-raising consignment sale on a Saturday in March. The first sale, involving two rings of auctioneers in 1973, grossed about $8,000. The sale has grown immensely since then -- to seven rings and gross sales of about $250,000 in March 2009.
Lion Corvin Stark said that out of the gross sales, they pay the auctioneers, the consignors, advertising, operating expenses and sales tax. And, then the proceeds help fund the Lions' own projects.
In the park and on the former school sports field where the Lions conduct their sale each year, Lions funds have been used to build the concession stand and rest rooms, pour the concrete walking path, purchase tables for the shelter and concrete benches for the park and install a lighted flag pole.
Lions club members were also involved, along with the Furnas-Gosper Historical Society, in the relocation of the community's historic log cabin from private property to the city park in 2005, and in its preservation into a "site of interest" recognized by the Nebraska/U.S. Route 6 Tourist Association.
Labor ... time ... materials ... money ... Holbrook Lions Club members have always been right there when something is needed in their community.
For the community, the Lions have:
Purchased the community's Christmas decorations.
Helped pay for railroad crossing arms.
Purchased grass seed and planted it in the park.
Purchased lumber and paint to repair teeter-totters.
Purchased tables for the community building.
Donated $1,500 toward the purchase of a fire truck.
Picked up trash on Highway 6&34 from Holbrook two miles east.
Donate to "Relay for Life."
Donated money for Christmas baskets to the Cambridge Lions and the Arapahoe food pantry, and helped deliver them.
Donated money to Holbrook and Arapahoe fire departments and EMTs.
During Holbrook Days, sponsored the Lions' mobile health screening unit and put on pancake feeds to fund donations to the cemetery and playground.
Purchased a recliner chair for Cambridge Memorial Hospital.
Helped with Holbrook's annual clean-up days.
Helped trim trees in the city park and dispose of limbs.
Donated funds to Furnas County Head Start.
Repaired doors and the roof on the community building, and approved funds for new carpeting in the community building.
Provided financial relief for Lions in need of help with living and/or medical expenses.
Built a handicap-assessable ramp for a fellow member.
Built a float to take to parades.
Put out the American flags for holidays.
For cemeteries in the area, Lions have:
Put up flag poles (donated by Lion G. Wolfe) and purchased flags and row numbers at the Holbrook Cemetery.
Put out American flags at area cemeteries.
Bought a bugle for use at funeral services.
For schools, 4-H and children, the Lions have:
Paid for glasses and eye exams for children in need.
Sponsored girls and boys to Nebraska Girls and Boys State.
Issued scholarships to Arapahoe and Holbrook high school graduates.
Purchased a sewing machine for Furnas County 4-H.
Provided two football scoreboards for the high school.
Purchased a bugle for Arapahoe/Holbrook High School.
Donated toward a child's dream.
Purchased banners for the Cambridge sports field.
For soldiers, the Lions have:
Donated to "Strength for Service" to purchase prayer books for American troops overseas.
Donated to the American Veterans Foundation.
Prepared "Care" packages for soldiers serving overseas.
In support of Lions Club projects, the Holbrook Lions Club has:
Donated money (about $15,500 thus far) toward the purchase of leader dogs for the blind.
Charter members of Holbrook Lions Club are:
Donald C. and Donald H. Andrews, Gary Hilker, Charles Huxoll, Richard Andrews, Norman Kinder, Ronald Barnett, Gerald Meyerle, Frank Burton, Robert Majors, Gerald Cotnoir, Tom Maline, Wilford Brown, Tom Martin, Brent Garretson, Burton Moseley, Warren Curry, Adolph Phillipson, S.F. Curry, Eldon Reese, Gene Glanzer, Corvin Stark, Walter Glanzer, Roger Schroeder, George Haussler, Charles Schroeder, H.F. Haussler, Kenneth Traupe, William Dreher, Rodney Warner, Lester Eubanks and Victor Wendland.
Today, the club has 30 members: Leslie and Terry Smith, Jim McBride, Dale Winston, Bob Andrews, Norman Hockemeier, Harold "Shorty" McClintic, Corvin Stark, Louie Guthrie, Dallas Garey, Jerry Meyerle, Roger Schroeder, Doc Maline, Gerald Disney, Gary Hilker, Paul Klinkebiel, Paul Wolfe, Karla Warner, Reginald Warner, Gale Wolfe, LeAndra Monie, Todd Monie, Daniel Schaben, Anna Schaben, Floyd Bales, Ray McKenney, Vaughn Cross, Howard Davis, Lorris Haarberg and Robert Haussler.