Lions reach critical levels

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Lions Club is launching a campaign to recruit new members to the club, as membership is on the decline. 

Additionally, the club has decided to not host a Seniors Christmas Party this year, as well as to host the Strathmore Lions Auction every second year. 

“It is a concern. These events are important to the club. We like to reach out to the seniors, and the auction is a venerable fundraiser for us,” said Wayne Herdman, president of the Strathmore Lions Club. “We are in a position where our membership is dropping and we have just found that and decided this year we could not really put on these two particular functions and that we want to start a campaign to attract more members.”

As it currently stands, the Strathmore Lions Club has 24 members. Another concern is several members of the club are either older and are no longer able to help out like they used to, and several members no longer live in Strathmore.

Herdman added there are roughly 12 people among the Lions membership who are largely unable to take part in club functions and activities.

“We have been holding these annually for a great number of years. I am not sure when they started, but our club has been around for 85 years. In my memory, these have been annual events,” said Herdman.

Outside of COVID-19 public health restrictions preventing the Strathmore Lions from hosting in-person events, Herdman explained this is the first instance of having to cancel club events due to lack of membership.

The Strathmore Lions Club is seeking members of any age, and is hoping to see eager young faces to be able to continue club efforts for a long time to come. 

In working to recruit new members, the club is hosting a “Just Ask Campaign” event through February 2024. Anyone who is interested in joining the club and being of service to the local community is encouraged to reach out and inquire. 

“If you contact our club and express an interest, we will get you to fill out an application and everything and we will invite you to meetings so they can talk to other new prospective members and get an idea of who the Lions are,” said Herdman. “We do not have a definite list of obligations; however the expectation is that if (members) have available time that they will take part in these activities … all we are asking is whatever available time you have, maybe put it forward to the club.”

Strathmore Lions Club meeting are held every third Thursday each month at the Strathmore Civic Centre.