The District Governor for Charter Night – D.G. Lion Ed Mann
Charter proceedings were started under the late D.G. Harry James in 1978.
Our Sponsoring Club – Lumsden & District Lions
Our two sponsoring Guiding Lions were: Lion Ron Kidd and Lion Jim Sinclair
The Mayor of Regina Beach was Lion Ben Brewer On March 14th, 1979, a meeting was organized by Morley Alexander; the father to our club and from there developed a group of dedicated men and women who only wish to better serve the community and help those in need. The clubs first meetings were held at the old Pearl Shells Hotel on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month.
Our Charter Night was May 5th, 1979 and Lion Maurice Butler served as Master of Ceremonies.
A highway sign was purchased shortly there after and erected on the outskirts of town so that all knew we were here to stay.
Our Lions Club Charter pins depicted the SS Qu"Appelle on it. The pin’s art work was designed by Lion Cliff Mould.
Over the 25 years of our existence as a Lions Club we have been involved in many projects. Some of them of course were a lot more fun than others but all were equally important to our Community as well it’s people and to the fund raising needed to operate a Lions Club. But Service is the true
purpose of a Lions Club.
Not all of these will be referred too; as I intend this to be a brief History of our club. Our first Bingo was held on June 5th, 1979.
On October 14th, 1979 the Regina Beach & District Lions held their first of many Fowl Suppers. These have become an annual event on the last Sunday of September seeing numbers of between 800 – 900 people being served. Lion Eldon Trytten has chaired the past 10 Fowl Suppers.
Our first annual Pit Beef Bar B Q was on August 2nd, 1981 and has continued for a number of years and now has been converted to the now Annual Chicken Bar B Q Dinner.
We hold a pancake breakfast on the third Saturday of every July.
Another major project of this Club was the Annual Bathtub Races. These races saw our beach and shore line packed with people who came from everywhere to watch. These started out as home made crafts and through the years developed to be mini speed boats.
The first event fell after a night in which 73.6 centimeters of rain fell on
the city of Regina flooding subways and basements. Despite these flooding conditions, on July 9th, 1983 in the early morning; large crowds followed a CJME cavalcade , led by the Majestic, Antique and Corvette car clubs. They made their way northwest 30 miles to Regina Beach for the 1st Annual Bathtub Race. Lion Gordon Hopkins was dubbed the Commodore and proudly displaying his uniform led a parade down Center St accompanied
by the Regina Harmony Lions Club Band. It was indeed a spectacular day. For the start of the first race, I remember Kay Saddlemeyer (a close personal friend) and CBC Radio DJ racing; almost to the start line before his craft sank.
We even hosted and sponsored Donkey Baseball at Regina Beach.
Large crowds came out to watch as we rode around the bases. I think most were there only to watch our asses.
Over the years there were many other projects: CNIB Canvasses which still occur every October. We put on Crib Tournaments, Senior Appreciation suppers, donate playground equipment,
baseball sponsorship and funded ball diamond repairs and Dog Sled races were among some of the Clubs successes.
Youth Programs: We help sponsor the Cub Scouts at the Beach. The outdoor rink on McMurchy Ave., Minor Hockey in Lumsden, and the Lumsden & area School Band program. We made many contributions to this the South Shore School. One of the most important youth programs being the DARE program for the young students of our community. We sponsor an annual scholarship at the High School; named in honour of Lion Morley Alexander.
Another large undertaking was this fine facility that we are in tonight – the School Rec center and the storage shed outside the west door as well as some of the equipment within. The Rec Center contribution was in excess of $ 110,000.00 in all.
The "Rails to Trails" program in which we contributed $ 28,694.00 in developing a walkway from Kinookimaw to Buena Vista was another major undertaking. The Activity Center and paved lot was another project as well the Lions Park next to the Activity
Center.
Over the years we have made donations supporting the Burn and Opthomology Units in Regina. We have provided short-term assistance to fire victims living in our community. Supported the CNIB, Saskatchewan Lions Eye Bank, the Lions Foundation of Canada – DogGuides and the Lions Memorial Forest of which there are several trees honouring our Lions.
We as a Lions Club on May 1st, 1985 sponsored the Regina Beach & District Lioness Club. A Leos Club was formed in 1987.
Most recently; we donated $ 5,000.00 per year for 5 the past years ($25,000) to the Town towards a newer Fire Truck and Fire Hall.
This is not all, but it does portray a vast assortment of the things the Regina Beach & District Lions have been involved in over the past 25 years. In going through past Treasurer’s records it has revealed that this Lions Club has in it’s 25 year history raised and contributed back to the betterment of our friends and communities throughout our world; a total in excess of $ 503,424.67 not taking into consideration
this Lions year projects.
Yes; over a half a million dollars that would not have been there for many local projects and services, if the Lions Club had not been formed and committed to the service of our friends.
Had not the men and women of this club donated their personal time and efforts showing that they care and are willing to sacrifice their own time and efforts and only wish to help others. They do this not to seek any reward. They truly live up to the International Lions Clubs motto of "WE SERVE". It is a fact that Lions are people from the Communities that they serve. They are every day people just like you and me.
To you the present, past and future members of this Lions club: Good Luck, congratulations and may God Bless you all. It is Great to be a Lion. The work that you have done in the name of Lionism has made a difference in this world. It may not be highly covered in the media and it may not be National headlines but it is appreciated by those that you have and will continue to help – because you are
Lions.
