The pancake breakfast rally at the Bella Vista on Sunday, March 18 netted enough members for a new edition of the Humboldt Lions Club. Members of the Lake Lenore and provincial Lions were on hand to guide new and prospective members through the organization and what awaits for the Club and the city once the new Lions Chapter is established. 

District Governor for northern Saskatchewan Beryl Bauer talked about the benefits and the mechanics of setting up the new chapter. He also explained how provincial Lions Clubs have already been supporting residents and organizations in Humboldt. Saskatoon Lions donated two laptop computers to assist two visually impaired residents in 2012. The Richmound Lions Club arranged for the assignment of a companion dog for a young woman with diabetes. The dog is able to alert her handler of blood sugar drops and can trigger alarms, if necessary. In 2018, Lions Clubs across Saskatchewan contributed to a fund establishing scholarship opportunities for athletic therapists in the name of Dayna Brons. That’s in addition to the donations the group has supported to the Food Bank, the Humboldt and District Hospital Foundation, and other organizations. This is the kind of outreach that the new club will become part of, in addition to supporting community members and ventures in Humboldt and area, says Bauer. 

“Its mission is to empower Lions Clubs, volunteers and partners to improve the health and well-being of people, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian services,” explained Bauer. “We believe Lions Clubs help sustain communities, and they do that through a wide variety of service projects. Lions Clubs give people an additional opportunity to fulfill needs in the community that only service minded volunteers can provide.”

Bauer noted the presence of a number of former Jaycee members, whose club ceased operation several years ago. He pointed out that with no age restriction for membership, those service oriented individuals would find a welcoming home with the Lions.

The threshold to form a local club is 20 people, and Bauer indicated by the end of the morning gathering of several dozen people, they’d surpassed that number of members. Bauer will serve as mentor to the new club, along with Lake Lenore Lions members like President Tim Prodahl and other local members. Bauer noted that while the membership threshold had been surpassed, new prospective members are strongly encouraged to connect with Bauer at (306) 231-9987 to join. The more members, the more challenges that can be undertaken by the new Humboldt Lions Club.