WHO ARE THE EDEN PRAIRIE LIONS?
We are men, drawn together in a spirit of service and
fellowship, who volunteer our time and talent to
humanitarian causes in our local and world communities. By
conducting service projects and raising funds, we strive to help
those in need, wherever need exists. Our motto is “We Serve.” Today
our Club has over 100
members.Eden Prairie Lions
Club is located in the city of
Eden Prairie, a prosperous Minnesota community of over 55,000
residents located just west of Minneapolis.
EARLY HISTORY
In 1960 Eden Prairie was a small, rural village of about 2,000
people. Late that year a group of local men decided to form a
Lions Club. Although the
group wasn't officially chartered until January 1961, the club
had its first meeting on October 17, 1960 at the Fellowship Hall
of the Presbyterian Church. During this meeting
they decided future meetings would take place on the first and third Mondays of each
month at 6:30pm and that the Prairie Hotel Restaurant would be
the club's
official meeting place. |
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The Lions first official project occurred that holiday season. Truman
Bates, the chairman at that time, donated a 15-foot blue spruce tree to
be cut down on his property. This tree was then transported to Eden
Prairie School and decorated with lights. Before the year was up, the
Lions made a commitment to the community to provide eyeglasses to anyone
who needed them but could not afford them.
When the club was officially chartered, they numbered 41 members.
Shortly after that the Lions launched their first fund-raising project:
a light bulb sale. 750 bags of bulbs were sold
and the Lions raised $1500!
In June of 1961 the Lions hired a director by the name of Dave Dillon
to organize a summer recreation program for the community. This was
quite successful and the following year the village took this over.
In September of the same year the Lions sponsored the first annual
community picnic. Over 500 residents attended and were treated to free hot dogs, a band concert, planned games, ice cream and pop.
1962 saw the Lions become even more involved in the community.
For example, they supported the High School by sponsoring a dinner to
honor the football students and their parents, sent the seniors to
the Guthrie Theatre, and donated money to help pay for band uniforms.
In August 1963 the first annual Golf Tournament was held at Cedar
Hills Golf Club.
The first Lions awards night was held in February 1964. Lions and
their spouses were invited, and recognition was given to a number of
Lions for outstanding service.
The first Schooner Days event was held in June of 1964, although it
was originally called Prairie Schooner Day. It was held in the
pasture of Lion Larry Wilson on Riverview Road. They had a good-sized
parade including a procession of small children, 4 high school marching
bands, floats, etc. They raised $1100.
As Schooner Days became bigger and raised more funds, the Lions Club
eagerly reinvested back into the community. With fundraising activities
in full swing, the Lions Club bought the village their first fire truck ($10,000) and rescue vehicle
($4000).
The fire
truck
had a 1000-gallon tank, but unfortunately could only pump at the rate
of about 300 gallons per minute, a far cry from today's trucks of 1200 -
1500. And beginning in 1966, the Prairie Schooner Program that had
been originally
published for Schooner Days had evolved to become the Eden Prairie
Directory and was provided free to every resident at a cost to
the Lions Club of $2,000 per year.
Over the first ten years the Club supported many
organizations and causes. Among them were:
- Foreign Exchange Students
- Little League Baseball
- Boy Scouts
- Girl Scouts
- Sent special education children to the circus
- A High School Graduation Party
- A beauty contest
- A Pediatric Eye Clinic at the University of Minnesota
- Sent underprivileged kids to the Old Log Theatre
- Promoted School Bus Shelters
- "Children at Play" signs
- Citizen of the Year Award
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