The Exchange Club started in 1928 in Myrtle Point but found little support, only one other club around, that down in Gold Beach.  So they affiliated with the growing Lions Club.  They became the second Lions Club to form in SW Oregon after Coquille.

Up above Schroeder’s Furniture store, in Woodman’s Hall, 135 Lions and guests from all over celebrated with dinner and speech after speech.  The Charter membership was 29, of those Elton Schroeder went on to become District Governor. 

Lions are community minded people from diverse occupations.  They put aside differences in politics and religion to feature community service.  Included in the first group of Myrtle Point Lions were:

John Arnold, barber                            John Breslin,  grocer

C.E. Brodrick, garage owner              James Bunch, dentist

Karl Clinton, confectioner                Earl Cooley, instructor

William Coleman, lawyer                   P.W. Culver, Chief of Police

Wallace Dement, lawyer                    Ross Dey, butcher

B.D. Emery, service station owner    W.R. Endicott, oil salesman

Reed Farmer, Cheesemaker               Clark W. Fensler, clothier

A.E. Gault, auto dealer                      Charles S. Harlocker, druggist

Verl Johnson, hospital worker           Karl Kaufman, bank cashier

P.O.Lund, clothier                              W.E. Lundy, hardware provisioner

Harrison Mast, physician                   Rev. E.V. Ostrander, minister

Flentge Perkins, pharmicist               Carl Schmitt, grocer

Elton Schroeder, furniture store operator

L.L. Sumerlin, dentist                        Lawton Von Pegert, cafe operator

J.E. Whitaker, logscaler                     M. Earl Wilson, physician

In 1928 we constructed highway signs, organized a basketball team, secured a new street lighting system, sponsored movement for a new water system, cleaned the city streets, helped bring new industries to town and supplied milk to undernourished children.

In 1929 we held a dance and made the inner part of the race track into a landing field.  We worked on town lighting and aided the Boy Scouts.  We organized a garden club.

In 1930 we organized a businessmen’s volleyball team,. We sponsored a Boy Scout troop.  We paid to transport a sick person by ambulance to Portland.  We donated to Future Farmers of America and worked with the Coquille Lions to promote the construction of a $11,00 golf course midway between our towns.

In 1931 we continued to sponsor the Boy Scouts, which we continue still today, so we don’t need to mention that every year.  We improved the city water system, we worked with a women’s club to raise money for charity.  We worked on inter-club meetings and bought a crippled boy a radio.  We sponsored a basketball tournament, built tennis courts and gave two children eyeglasses.

In 1932 we provided extensive advertising to promote the local Coos County Fair.  We presented a hog to Smith-Hughes boy with the best project and $10 cash prize to the best of the poultry division.  We sponsored a Community Day and built a lighting system and tennis courts for the townspeople.  We gave booklets on our Moral Code of Youth to the local schools.

In 1933 we helped organize the high school band and supported the football squad.  We worked with the American Legion and city firemen to put on a Christmas tree program.  We helped develop interest in a community hall.

In 1934 we started our annual picnic and promoted the decoration of business houses and streets for the County Fair.  We beautified city parks and playgrounds.  We cooperated with the Chamber of Commerce in a campaign to secure new industries for our city.  We helped put on a President Roosevelt Birthday Ball.

In 1935 we staged a dance to support improving the city park and playground.  We added projects to assist the blind and gave three children eyeglasses.  One dance netted $50.30.  We promoted the oiling of two city blocks leading to the county fairgrounds.

In 1936 we had a float in the Coos Bay Bridge dedication parade, held our annual picnic, and entertained guests from the Coquille and Marshfield Lions Clubs.  We sponsored the compilation and printing of a 25 year local logging history.  We helped our friends in Bandon recover from their big fire.

In 1937 we continued to sponsor student athletes and teams. We worked with the Chamber of Commerce to support our city parks and supported the oiling of our streets.  We supported the County Fair and helped honor Melvin Jones in a local visit.

In 1938 we sponsored a “mutt” show at the fair, raised $90 at a dance, donated to purchase band uniforms, sponsored street decorations for Christmas, helped pass a bill to exempt blind people from certain taxes and advocated for community beautification.

In 1939 we continued these projects with a greater emphasis on dairy events at the County Fair.  We put on a children’s Halloween entertainment and oiled a stretch of the road to Coquille City.  We helped the Boy Scouts and got them a place to meet and, also, for the Girl Scouts.  We welcomed the Bandon Lions with a flag presentation at their Charter Night.

In 1940 we participated in the Red Cross Drive. We presented another flag at the Reedsport/Gardiner Charter Night. We raised $230 toward the grandstand at high school field.  We held a goodwill event in Powers.

In 1941 we played Donkey Basketball at the Fair. We contributed $130 to the Blind Fund. We added contributions to TB Health and Infantile Paralysis.  We advocated vocational training at the high school.  We helped start a flying club and field.  We entertained 250 children at our Easter Egg Hunt.

 

In 1942 we provided entertainment at CCC Camp.  We increased the clean-up and beautification campaign with prizes.  We helped develop a supervised playground for children.  We asked the state to set aside space for the Hermann Wayside.  We netted $13 on an animal oddities show.  We supported the Red Cross, the Salvage Campaign, the March of Dimes and sponsored yard clean-up.    We sponsored the Powers Lions Club and assisted our Women’s Club in purchase of a tree grove as a site for a community building.

In 1943 we contributed to the Children’s Playground Fund and the USO.  We donated to the Blood Bank and sponsored a scrap rubber campaign to benefit the Boy Scouts (collected 40 tons). We encourage War Stamp and Bond sales.

In 1944 we sponsored a community cannery and set up a Victory Garden exhibit at the Fair.  We bought and deeded two lots to the high school for the cannery.  We arranged for work on juvenile delinquency problem.

In 1945 we sponsored a war fund drive.  We held a Sadie Hawkins Dance and made $175 for the schools. We conducted monthly paper and tin can pick-ups.

In 1946 we assisted with Seventh War Loan, continued the recycling programs, netted $1,123 from concessions at the Coos County Fair, made $550 from a dance, conducted a Steelhead Derby and set up lighting for the high school football field. We donated to the polio drive and continued to sponsor high school athletics and the Easter Egg Hunt.

In 1947 we helped reopen the hospital and held a Christmas party for children.  We assisted the Red Cross to develop a swimming program.   We continued projects from previous years.

In 1948 we purchased a plastic eye for a Boy Scout Leader.

In 1949 we operated a Wheel of Fortune at the County Fair.  We supported the school music department.  We continued sponsoring dances, swimming classes, and the scouts.  We bought a sound projector for the school for $633.

In 1950 we rebuilt the Boy Scout cabin, improved the swimming hole, operated the concessions at the fair, held the Steelhead Derby, provided sideline jackets to the football team, supported the blood donor program of the Red Cross, sponsored the Boy Scout troop, assisted in Community Chest drive, staged a pet show, put on a football banquet, staged a Christmas party, helped build a boy scout building, put on the Easter Egg Hunt and participated in a World’s Fair Pageant.

In 1951 we did most of the above, put on a family picnic, played donkey basketball and donated to Crusade for Freedom.

In 1952 we held a golf tournament, operated the Fair concessions, held a ladies night picnic, held a children’s Christmas theater party and sponsored a trap shoot which made us $500 for a community building project.  We held that good old Easter Egg Hunt, too.

In 1953 we made another $400 with the trap shoot for community building. Our booth at the fair netted $1,372 to the same purpose.  The Sadie Hawkins dances continue to raise $500 toward that purpose. We sold brooms made by the blind.  We collected and sent clothing to Korea.  We purchased two hearing aids for local children.  We provided medical care of the eyes for five persons and fitted one person with glasses.

In 1954 we raised $350 for an eye operation for one child.  We sponsored a Pee Wee baseball team and Learn-to-Swim Program. We held the Easter Egg Hunt and Christmas party and remodeled the community building.

In 1955 we dedicated the community building. We worked all previous ongoing projects and added in the March of Dimes and a summer recreation program for children.

In 1956 we sponsored a team to the State Marble Tournament and joined the United Fund program.  We continued Lions programs which included providing glasses to seven individuals.

In 1957 we added support for skating lessons and continued support for the State Marble Tournament participation.  We provided an eye operation to one person.  We donated to improve the highway.  We built tables for the community building.  We held the Forest Grove Gleeman concert.

In 1958 we helped a person paralyzed from a swimming accident.  We continued our fair concession and donations to student athletes with a focus on underprivileged players.  We donated blood, held the Sadie Hawkins dance and operated a skating rink weekly in the Oaks Pavillion.  We held the children’s Christmas Show, a New Year’s Eve dance, and donated to a foreign exchange student program.  We held the Easter Egg Hunt and completed the kitchen facilities in the community building at a cost of about $7,000.

In 1959 we held the school athletic banquet as in the past, helped send representatives to Boys State and 4-H Leaders Association.  We provided food and clothing for needy families, and donated to support the recreation program.  We resurfaced the floor of the roller skating rink.  We bought a wheel chair for a disabled girl.  We held the usual events, too.

In 1960 we rested.   Just kidding!  We added an international connection to all our traditional activity, making contact with the Lions Club of Bergen, Norway via a local foreign exchange student from there.  We added support for dental needs.  We participated in the Coos County Fair Parade and in the Bandon Cranberry Festival Parade.

In 1961 we provide an eye clinic which served 509 children (tested). We made $600 from a lightbulb sale. 

In 1962 we staged our annual Coos County Fair dance, cleared a location for tennis courts, opened the skating rink for the winter, made money on dances, held the Easter Egg Hunt, formed a Ladies Auxiliary, donated to the South Umpqua swimming pool and raised money for our many projects.

In 1963 we continued the dances and fair concessions, the skating rink and Easter and Christmas events.  We sponsored a clinic for tetanus shots (350 given). We purchased two pair of glasses and sponsored the blood drive and the athletic banquet.

In 1964 our concessions at the fair netted over $4,000 which we used to build the tennis courts in the park (later called Rotary Park).  We helped Santa visit our local Rest Home and provided eyeglasses to two children.

In 1965 we raised $2,620 at the Coos County Fair dance and concessions and built a wire fence around the tennis courts.  We sponsored a hearing-aid program and purchased eyeglasses.  We provided TB skin tests to 306 people. We aided in the purchase of an artificial leg. 

In 1966 we sold fireworks, dedicated the tennis court, honored a nurse, organized the fair parade, staged a teen dance,  donated for street decor, sponsored the football team, gave gifts to patients in the hospitals and rest homes, purchased 9 pair of eyeglasses and operated the bloodmobile, held the Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored a father-son-daughter banquet and gave $3,500 to the city for a playground (Maple Street).  We sponsored the local scout troop, bought them tents, sent students to state and national events in wrestling and sold light bulbs in support of the playground.

In 1967 we held the dances and operated the concessions and paid three payments of $1,8000 toward the playground park.

In 1968 we forgot to write down what we did.

In 1969 we donated to Camping Unlimited, sponsored two dances, operated a paddle wheel, organized a parade and sponsored the Tom and Jerry Christmas Party for Kids.  We did all the regular and annual Lions events and then donated to support the summer recreation program

In 1970 we added a litter clean-up campaign.  We put up fencing in the Maple Street Lions Club playground and built swings and teeter-totters at the other park.

In 1971 we worked hard down at the fair and helped purchase a scoreboard for the football field.

In 1972 we held a family picnic and rebuilt the bleachers for the Myrtle Crest Grad School athletic field.  We carried on all now traditional Lions events.

In 1973 we added a celebration of Past Presidents and Founders.

In 1974 we added support for a Myrtle Point Athletic Club.

In 1975 we built benches for downtown Myrtle Point and paid for dental work for an elderly lady. We held a carnival.

In 1976 we held a bi-centennial dance and supported Fourth of  July fireworks.

In 1977 we celebrated our 50th year in operation by continuing to operate.

In 1978 we paid for a heart machine for the local medical clinic and cared for all Lions events.

Record keeping changed over the next decade, the treasurer reports indicate income from mints, paper recycling, pull tabs, dances, vending machines and bingo.  Activities for the community included baking meals at the Senior Center, hosting visitors, the fair parade, the Easter Egg Hunt, purchasing eyeglasses, city cleanup, repairs of Lions Park, painting the bus shelter, flags for first grades, donations to project graduation, donations to sponsor the Cub Scout Pack and the Boy Scout Troop, costs to send individuals to the eye clinic, scholarships to graduating seniors, the Christmas party, paint for the 4_H barns, blood sugar testing, blood pressure testing, and support for Lions participating in regional events.

The records for the years from the mid 1990s to 2005 lurk somewhere in Portland with former President Lisa P,. who promises to return them and we will post them when they arrive.

In 2004 we completed our final year of Highway 42 litter patrol, not because we planned to stop, but because we were replaced without being informed.  This does leave us more time for the essential and traditional services to our community:  eyeglasses, hearing help, blood pressure and diabetes testing, scholarships, upkeep of our parks, our bus stop shelter, our signs, services to the schools and youth, support of scouting, support of the Fun Bus, support of summer recreation and swim lessons, the Easter Egg Hunt, floats and participation in the local Harvest Festival and Christmas Lights the Night.

In 2005 we created our Community Building Committee to respond to growing concerns for the public welfare.  There was a threat that the old junior high school on Maple Street, more recently an elementary school, then closed, would be sold to the public.  Local sentiment rose against that and the building is now repurposed with a Head Start program, district offices, supplemental educational programs and spaces for community meetings and activities.  Individual Lions took on special projects utilizing their talents.  When the Girl Scouts learned that their sponsorship of the Christmas Lights the Night program foundered on increasing insurance costs, the Lions Club stepped up to cover the event under our umbrella policy.  We also obtained donations of lights from the Shore Acres program, establishing an ongoing support program with them.

In 2006 we continued our support for the operation of the Fairgrounds Museum.  The museum was established in 2005 by Lion Steve Means, initially to house the Gardiner Mill Model for the Coos County Logging Museum of Myrtle Point. It soon became a display facility for the entire Land of the Oregon Myrtle.  We supported the production of an area guidebook to bring vitality back to our region by allocating Lion time to research and photography and donating travel expenses to the South Coast Scenic River Loop. 

In 2007 we augmented individual donations of time and money to the operation of the Fairgrounds Museum by formally adopting the program as part of our Community Building Committee.  We have a bank account for donations and operations at Washington Mutual Bank.  The Museum is developing an outreach program to bring the heritage, history, art and general accomplishments to the public via the Internet. Mobile displays are under development for diverse audiences: for senior centers, for care centers, for hospitals, for young pupils and older students, for those who stand in transition from injury on the job to new employment and for those new to our community. The museum provides a window into the rich heritage that surrounds them. The Internet websites include:

http://sworgeon.org        an umbrella site for The Land of the Oregon Myrtle, which extends from Brookings to Florence and inland to the mountain crests which define us to the East.

http://lions.sworegon.org    this Lions Club history and information site.

http://fgm.sworegon.org   the site covering the Fairgrounds Museum

http://coquillevalley.org    an umbrella site for history, heritage and genealogy in the Valley of the Oregon Myrtle (Upper Coquille River)

This project has involved an average of over 100 volunteer hours per month beginning in October 2007 and continues as I type on Easter 2008.  The sites are represented in the estates of Lion Means and Assistant Fairgrounds Museum Director Robyn Greenlund to assure that they will continue to function and grow.

In 2008 we produced this web site and prepared the Fairgrounds Museum for a fresh fourth year of displays and activities.  We provided Easter Baskets to residents in our local care center.  We gave out flags to First Graders.  We provided scholarships to graduating seniors for further training and college educations.  We put on the 67th Annual Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt.  We have much more to do. It is only Spring now.  We are landscaping the waterfall area on the Coos County Fairgrounds.  We published a new brochure and collected eyeglass frames at a table in McKay’s market.  We have provided numerous eye exams and eyeglasses.  We awarded a music scholarship.  We support the Fun Bus and swimming lessons.

In addition, individual Myrtle Point Lions respond to care for the aging, to support the economically challenged, and on behalf of young persons in their immediate neighborhoods.  Our community faces many challenges in these times. We appreciate the thoughts, prayers and support from Lions and from the many friends of Lions everywhere.

In 2009 we formed an Alpha Leos youth organization to help Myrtle Point teenagers learn through serving their community.  With the guidance of local Lions and Chamber of Commerce leaders, the Leos Club encourages good citizenship and responsible community support.  New Lion President Pat Schirmer continues mentoring the youth in the fashion envisioned by her predecessor Past President Debra Willess Means.  Lion Victor Perez assumed direct responsibility for the Club and serves still as advisor.

In 2010 Myrtle Point Lions continue with our now traditional community service as noted for previous years.  Our outreach program includes this informational and history oriented website.