The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
On Saturday night, the Legion Hall was the scene of the Flin Flon Lions Club's 50th anniversary celebration and banquet. The evening started off with both National Anthems, led by Past District Governor (PDG) Andy Stewart and the Lions President Alan French, and was followed by the invocation led by PDG Stan Curtis. Then the pledge of Allegiance (American) done by Vice District Governor (VDG) Richard Plaisier and (Canadian) done by Past District Governor Sharon Brooks. There was also the toast to the President of the United States done by PDG Andy Stewart and the toast to the Queen done by PDG Kjell Hvidsten. (There is no US/Canada border in the Lions, only districts, and part of Manitoba is in a district that includes part of the United States). After dinner, there were greetings from Flin Flon MLA Gerard Jennissen; Flin Flon City Councillor Tom Therien; Lion Doug McKenzie of Cranberry Portage; VDG Richard Plaisier; Lion Chief Phillip Hi Eagle from Virden; PDG Roly Holyoake from Souris and Dauphin, one of the members who helped the Lions become established in this area. The only charter member of the Flin Flon Lions Club in attendance was Larry Hall, with fellow charter member Les Alexander sending a message to the guests. Guest speaker Bruce Schwartz of Bismarck, North Dakota, a Lions International Director, was then introduced. In his 27 years as a Lion, Schwartz has acquired many honours, but one that stands out in mind is that he has perfect attendance. In his speech, he congratulated the Lions on their dedication, enthusiasm and the strength of their club, which he said was shown in Saturday's celebration. "If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there," he said. "One of the many qualities of a true leader is attitude. Attitude determines the altitude in life and attitude is contagious. Is yours infectious?" Schwartz also said, "Leaders know that those who judge don't matter and that those who matter don't judge." See 'Leadership' P.# Con't from P.# "Leadership is excelling not competing." He went on to say that "leadership is facing the weaknesses in yourself and others and then turning that weakness into strength. Leadership is trusting enough to be trusted and should be fun to be around. "Leadership is doing all you can do, having the skin of a rhino, the Sault of an angel and the heart of a lion." He concluded by saying, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the numbers of things in life that take your breath away." Needless to say Schwartz received a standing ovation. Lion Ted Ohlsen then presented to Schwartz and his wife hand-carved pieces that Ted had made from diamond willow. As Ted said, the pieces were "taken from a negative force and, with love, made into something positive." It was a very impressive ceremony. Congratulations to the Flin Flon Lions Club on 50 years of community service. History The Flin Flon Lions Club has provided The Reminder with the following information on the club's history. Lions are men and women who volunteer their time to humanitarian causes in their local communities and throughout the world, by conducting service projects and raising funds. The Lions motto is "We Serve." The association began as a dream of Chicago insurance man Melvin Jones, who wondered why local business clubs could not expand their horizons to the betterment of their communities and the world at large. The association was founded in Chicago in 1917. Since then, Lions have served the world's largest service club organization with over 1.4 million members in more than 44,909 clubs in 738 districts in 189 countries and areas. Perhaps the single event having the greatest impact on the association's service commitment occurred in 1925 when Helen Keller addressed the Lions at the International convention in Cedar Point, Ohio. It was there that she challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." Lions participate in service activities emphasizing community welfare, work with the physically and mentally challenged, education and research, diabetes awareness, Sightfirst, drug awareness and Leo clubs, where young people serve. The Flin Flon Lions Club was established on October 20, 1953. Led by the inspirational R.M. Locker, 25 men accepted the charter from Dr. George Hamlin, Deputy District Governor of District 5M13. Lion Stan Brickman presented the Flin Flon members with a gong and a gavel to celebrate the occasion. The charter members were: L.A. Alexander; A.S. Craig; J.A. Forion; J. Kingdom; H. Maxwell; H.T. Shead; S. Andrusiak; D.W. Craig; L.E. Hall; S. Leach; G.McCrimmon; H.W. Shockey; L. Wilson; D.H. Bushell; H.L. Crockett; F. Hill; D.A. Locker; P.P. Rudd; J.J. Thiele; R.D. Cameron; F. Fahlman; G.G. Hodges; R.M. Locker; A. Pollmeier; and H.J. Wiig.
