On Jan. 31, the Gresham Lions Club will hold its 55th annual Radar Run and Winter Carnival, one of the club’s two major annual fundraisers.
There will be activities for all ages.
“We try to keep most of our money local,” club President Dave Schoenike said.
The Lions’ other major fundraiser is a trail ride, with about 150 horses, on Memorial Day weekend.
“We work on it a little bit all year long,” Schoenike said.
Some of the trails go through Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe land. The Lions are grateful the tribe allows riders access to the trails, Schoenike said.
“If they didn’t help us by letting us use their land, it (trail ride) probably wouldn’t happen,” he said.
The Lions clubs are all about vision. It has been less than a year since the Gresham Lions and seven other district clubs joined together to purchase equipment that members take to schools to test the children’s eyesight. The results of the tests are sent to the children’s parents.
The Gresham club is awaiting its turn with the equipment, which should be coming soon. Members Bruce Beuttel and John Bauman were trained to conduct the tests.
“It picks up things that eye doctors don’t pick up,” Schoenike said.
The Lions clubs of Wisconsin founded the Wisconsin Lions Camp in Rosholt for visually impaired youth and adults, but it now is also open to people with other disabilities as well.
“I don’t think people realize what that camp is,” Schoenike said.
This year, the Lions plan to help Betty Kort raise a seeing eye dog.
“We told her we would be glad to help her out,” Schoenike said.
Locally, the club has donated to Safe Haven and the Gresham FFA, and helped with the gymnasium floor at the school. It provides scholarships for area students, helps individuals at Christmas and sends money to Lions International. The club also has helped with the softball park, owns and maintains a boat landing, and built the shelter at the park.
Schoenike said he joined the Lions after some friends encouraged him to go to a meeting. He welcomes others to attend a meeting to find out what the Lions are all about.
“They do a lot of good,” he said.
Raymond Rigsby, who was new to the area, joined in 2011. He was club president in 2012 and 2013 and is now the secretary.
“I wanted to meet people,” Rigsby said. “I like what the club gives back to the community.”
Other officers are Bauman, treasurer; Beuttel, tail twister; Trevor Paiser, Lion tamer; and Bob Klopke, first vice president.
The club meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at The Woodland in Gresham. For more information, call Schoenike at 715-853-5447 or Rigsby at 715-851-2251.
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