Lions Club members are dedicated to helping their communities. Cecil Lions Club charter member Dave Bahr is an excellent example of that dedication.
“The community is always first,” Bahr said. “I just enjoyed the camaraderie and what it meant to help people in the community.”
The club was chartered in 1973 under the sponsorship of the Bonduel Lions Club. Bahr said the club started with 25 members. Through the years, the membership has gone up and down, but their resolve to help the community remains.
Over the years, members have helped with improvements at the Cecil park, food pantry, fire department, welcome sign, handicapped dock on Shawano Lake and Christmas decorations.
The Lions also sponsor scholarships for Bonduel High School students who are from Cecil or the town of Washington. They support the K-9 unit, provide free equipment to the handicapped and promote diabetes awareness. Lions statewide donate to the Lions Camp at Rosholt and the leader dog program.
They also collect used eyeglasses.
“We help at least six to eight people a year with eyeglasses,” he said.
The Lions recently have been conducting eye screenings for school children using a high-tech camera that performs the screening quickly and easily. A readout of the screening results is given to the parents, who can follow up with an eye doctor.
Bahr has been the club president, the secretary for 40 years and a member of the board of directors. He has been to state and international conventions and was district commander from 1980-1981, when he visited all 72 clubs in the district.
“I have pins from all 50 states,” he said.
The Lions have helped Bahr’s wife, Erna, who is losing her eyesight, with a telesensory magnifier machine so she can read.
To continue to help their community, the Lions have held a porkie pancake breakfast for over 30 years. The menu also includes scrambled eggs, hash and desserts.
In April, the club will host a garage sale featuring donated items. The items won’t be priced; they’ll be sold to anyone who offers a fair price.
The Lions are always looking for new members. Bahr said. They meet once a month, at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday, at the Washington Inn. For more information, call Bahr at 715-745-6291.
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