Erlanger Lions Club History
The Erlanger Lions Club was organized in March, 1945 by sixteen men dedicated to serving their fellow citizens. From that humble beginning, the Erlanger Lions has developed into the most active service organization in the Erlanger-Elsmere area with activities that provide services to every part of our community .Our members represent a cross section of our citizenry and bring a wide range of ideas about how best we can live up to the Lion motto, "We Serve". From 1945 until October 1973, meetings were held in various places around the city. In 1973, the Erlanger Lions began holding meetings in what is now know as the Erlanger Lions Park Clubhouse (It was unfinished at that time.) Since March 1974, all membership and Board meetings have been held at the Clubhouse.
The first Lions Carnival was held in June 1946 and, at that time was called a Street Fair. As you well know, the annual Lions Carnival has become a fixture in this community and is always held on the third Thursday, Friday and Saturday of July. This is one of the Club's major fundraisers. In August 1982, Lion R.C. "Bingo Bob" Smith suggested that the Club conduct a weekly Bingo to help defray the cost of building an addition to the clubhouse. This was approved by the Board of Directors and a six member committee was appointed to operate the bingo. The first bingo was held on September 8,1982. With the continued support of the players and the willingness of the members to work, the Erlanger Lions Friday Night Bingo has become the Club's largest source of income each year. The Club and the Bingo Committee, chaired by Lion/Lioness Angie Wilmhoff, has continued to grow and improve.
Since 1986, Scholarships have been offered to graduating students at both Lloyd and St. Henry High Schools. Applications are presented to each school the Scholarship Committee meets and reviews the applications and selects the recipients. In addition to the scholarships, education awards are given to the schools each year.
The Erlanger Lions Youth Activities Program is well know and has grown from its inception in 1949 to one serving over 200 youth each year through football, baseball, cheerleading and other programs.
The main thrust of all Lions Clubs worldwide is the prevention of blindness. The Erlanger Lions Club serves hundreds of people each year by purchasing eye examinations, eyeglasses, arranging for eye surgery for some in desperate need. The Erlanger Lions and Lioness conduct eye screening in the Erlanger/Elsmere School District. We also lend our machines to the parochial schools and have trained volunteers to do that screening. Eye-screenings have been held at the Hispanic Health Fair for the last 4 years. We have provided a leader dog for a resident of this area and have continued donating to the Leader Dogs for the Blind program. Thousand of pairs of used eyeglasses have been collected and send to an organization that send them to Third World Countries. Many have been helped to see because of this "recycling". Don't throw away your old glasses. Call the Lions Club for a location where you can donate them. For many years, the Erlanger Lions Club has supported Blind and Hearing Impaired Youth Camps. Lions Camp Crescendo, located at Lebanon Junction, KY has a free camp for blind or hearing impaired children every year. Camp dates this year are July 1 through July 8. If you know a child. Ages 8-15 who qualifies for this camp, call 859-282-9969 and someone will get you the information.