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Lion Harold Walz, left, and former Waterloo Lion Obe Rozendal play with these bear cubs shortly after the bear pen was completed in Waterloo Park‘s wildlife display. The display in the park is one of the club‘s biggest contributions to the community. Lions Club th h 40 years of service By Terry James _ Liberty, Intelligence, and Our Nation‘s Safety was the motto that brought 21 men together on the evening of Jan. 20, 1938 at the Hotel Waterloo. This weekend the Waterloo Lions Club is celebrating that historical evening and looking back over 40 years of dedicated service to the community. _ Norman G. Bolduc, town treasurer, Richard M. Braunlich, merchant tailor; P. Buddell, garage; R.S. Chadder, Hotel Waterloo; A.D. Cook, baker; J.D. Munroe Fisher, service station; Edwin G. Fry, chiropractor; George Hollinger, hardware; LJ. Klopp, dry goods; Dr. Joseph E. Johnson, veteriâ€" nary surgeon; John C. Lea, pool car operators; J.S. McMillan, banker; R.S. McPhail, sporting goods; Albert Moellmann, professor; Charles E. Moreau, Chief of Police; Jacob Rahn, shoes; H.E. Ratz, lumâ€" ber; Herb Schaus, life insurance;, Paul Schendel, general agent, were the founding fathers. Although few records were kept on the club‘s inâ€" fant years, it is known that their first attempt to raise funds was in the form of a regatta held at Puslinch Lake in the summer of 1938. It was proâ€" posed and generally managed by Lion Perc Buddell, an active powerboat racer. Admission and draw tickets were sold in advance but depression condâ€" itions still existed and the take was comparatively small. Few persons owned cars making transportâ€" ation a major problem. Despite this the regatta was entertaining and exciting and was repeated in 1939. Past and present members and the community are invited to take part in ‘"A Winter Fling," an anniâ€" versary dinner and dance to be held at the Waterâ€" loo Motor Inn on Sat. Feb. 25. In the spring of 1940 the club acquired the refreshâ€" ment concession at Waterloo Park for the rental fee of $750 per season. The profit amounted to apâ€" proximately $900. When food rationing came into being a paid attendant could not be hired and the work was done mostly beâ€" volunteers. An arrangeâ€" ment madé between the club and the park board, allowed them to pay a percentage of sales instead of rent. When the refreshment business was taken over by the club, members purchased six canoes from the previous operator and went into the canoe rentâ€" al business. Shortly after the beginning of this venâ€" ture tragedy struck. Two teenagers, trying to exâ€" change seats, fell out of a canoe and one drowned. The canoe business folded. Credit should be given to the Lionesses for their work in the refreshment booth at Sunday night band concerts and particularly for their contribuâ€" tion in the 40‘s in preparing hot dogs and hamburgers for the thousands of visitors attending the famous Band Festivals at which 50 to 60 bands took part. An activity which gave the club much satisfaction was the Youth Centre operated during the last war Lions were quick to realize that the profit made on a Friday and Saturday night bingo was greater than the season‘s take on the refreshment business. Needless to say the latter was given up. from the space where Wallar‘s Store is now located. The purpose was to provide some leadership to «children whose homes:were disturbed by war conâ€" ditions. \__,.. #Eâ€"M B Helr 77 § When conditions became somewhat settled after World War Two, the club g:bmor.ed an outdoor carâ€" nival at Waterloo Park. This may have been the Fund raising projects vary from year to year and a Charity Jamboree, Light Bulb Blitz, T.V. Bingo and auctions are tentatively in the plans for the club‘s fortieth year. nmval at Walerlioo Park. Ihis may have been the most profitable undertaking the club ever sponsored. If records are accurate the profit amounted to $7,500. Carnivals were held for several years but the project was abandoned after numerous rainâ€"outs. How does one hold the public‘s interest from year to year? This was one of the problems facing Lions since the beginning of their organization. One of their first contributions to the community came in the form of a skateâ€"changing shack at an outdoor skating rink at what is now the corner of Alexandra and Roslin Ave. When this rink was abandoned the building was moved to a rink operated by the St. Louis School. Cabins were donated to the Boy Scouts~ ‘ Camp at Erindale and to a youth band training near Bamberg, operated by the Waterloo Bandleader, C.F. Thiel. » ~ ‘The reasoning behind a service club is that everyone has to contribute to the community whether it‘s through the writing of a cheque or helping out in their neighbourhood," said Mr. Sustin. ‘"We raise money and disperse it to a worthwhile charitable organization. We have no overhead and this approach is becoming a big thing.~ At present the local Lions club boasts 50 memâ€" bers and officers including Russell McLaughlin, president: Jim Baird, first viceâ€"president; William Carr, second viceâ€"president: Don Young. third viceâ€" president: Ed Waugh, secretary and Gary Ford treasurer. The Lions make up the largest international servâ€" ice clutb and can be found in every country in the world Why the need for them? What‘s in store for the future? According to Glen Austin, Public Relations Chairman, the club will respond to any request made by minor sports asâ€" sociations or youth in general and tentative plans have been made to sponsor a soap box derby durâ€" ing Waterloo Days. ‘‘We‘ve done all we can in Waterloo Park and now we‘re looking at what we could do in Bechtel Park," said Mr. Austin. Today the Lions can add a number of achieveâ€" ments to an ever growing list. The Waterioo Park Swimming Pool Complex and wildlife display are two of the largest contributions to the community. The donation of a $12,000 zoom lens surgical microâ€" scope to St. Mary‘s Hospital, a $25,000 donation to the Waterloo Family "Y*"‘ swimming Pool, donations to St. John‘s ambulance, and the funding of teletype machines for the deaf to the tune of $5,000 are among some of their recent contributions.