Lions celebrate 60 years of service

On Sept. 27, 1957, the Mapleton Lions Club was officially chartered by Lions Clubs international.  With 33 charter members, the club’s first president, Robert E. Johnson, began 60 years of community service in Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and beyond.   

On Nov. 6, the club celebrated its anniversary with dinner with guests, Maine Lions District Governor Norm Hartt, District Vice Governor Neil Iverson and Zone Chair George Groghs.  Several past club presidents also attended the dinner cluding David Rand (1975-76), James Thompson (1976-77), Ron Leonard (1979-80, 1988-89, and 1993-94), Terry Sandusky (1987-88), Peter Greenier (1990-91), Dennis Hoffses (1994-1997), Elvin McPherson (1997-98), Steve Hanning (2000-03 and 2010-11), Kendall Webber (2003-06), Lloyd Archer (2006-2009), Kevin Nightingale (2009-2010) and Allen Salo (2015-16).  

Additionally, there were several Fort Fairfield Lions Club members present.

District Governor Hartt recognized Lions Matt Gregg, Terry Sandusky and Dale McHatten  for continued membership of 10, 35 and 56 years, respectively.  He congratulated the Mapleton Lions Club for its 60 years of service, and said while the club is small, it has had a large impact on the community in both its service and leadership to meet community needs.  

The New Member Recruiting Award was presented to Tim Graham. A second recruiting award will be presented to Paul Grendell at a later date.

The highlight of the evening was the naming of the Lion of the Year award for 2017.  This award is presented to the lion who reflects the ethics and conduct of Lions Club International and has shown substantial support to the Mapleton Lions Club through the year.  Club President Adam Nicak presented the award to Richard Fowler, who has worked on almost every club project for the past two years.

Club Secretary Sandusky presented club highlights.  The club’s early years saw many small projects, such as buying eyeglasses for those in need and providing some special-needs assistance to Mapleton Elementary School.  In 1962, the club’s Charity Auction began and has continued for the past 55 years.  After a drowning of a youngster in Mapleton, club members saw the need for a community swimming pool.  Using funds raised through the auction and other projects, the Lions Community Swimming Pool was built in 1967 with additional improvements in 1968.  In 1997, the town decided a renovation of the pool was needed.  The club became the largest donor group providing matching funds for the renovation.

In the early 70’s, the club assumed responsibility for operating the Mapleton Little League, upgrading both the Little League and Babe Ruth League diamonds and managing the program for over 20 years until the town created a recreation department took over the baseball program.  Today the club partners with the Town of Mapleton to provide additional summer recreation activities at the Mapleton Lions Hall at no charge to the town.  

The club maintains its sponsorship of Boy Scout Troop 176 and Cub Scout Pack 176.  Both organizations use the Lions Hall for meetings.  The club also supports other youth organizations and activities such as the Aroostook Teen Leadership Camp, Presque Isle High School Project Graduation, the Mapleton Recreation Department, Camp Adventure for Adolescents with Diabetes, Destination D.C. student trip to the nation’s capital, and Mapleton Elementary special events.

The club has always had military veterans in its membership and in the early 1980s decided there should be a memorial and remembrance ceremony for those who served and sacrificed in a time of war.  In 1985, the club installed the Veteran Memorial at the Mapleton Elementary School.  Memorial stones have engraved all of the names of men and women from the three towns who served during the time of war.  That same year, the club started its annual Memorial Day Parade and Remembrance Ceremony, which continues to be an ongoing event.

The Mapleton Community Hall, built in 1947 by the Mapleton Community Association, had fallen into disrepair and was in poor condition by the early 1990s.  In 1998, the club acquired the hall and began renovations. Today the hall is a hub of public activity.  Besides renting the hall for private events and parties, the Lions use the hall as community support resource by providing the hall to civic and school groups to use and as a fundraising help to individuals and families with critical medical needs.  The club estimates that in the last 10 years nearly $300,000 has been raised at the hall.

In recent years, the Lions have become the host sponsors for three major area events and festivals: Mapleton Daze, starting in 1992; the Maple Meadow Farm Fest, which began in 2007; and the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest in 2012.  These events draw several thousands of people to the area.  The club partners with the Mapleton Daze Committee, the Gregg Family of Maple Meadow Farm and the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, respectively, on these events.

One highlight of the 2016 was the recognition of the Club by the Aroostook County Commissioners with the “Aroostook County Spirit of America Ceremony” for the club’s unwavering dedication and commitment to community service.  The Mapleton Lions Club recognizes that it could only have been able to all these projects and receive this recognition because of the support it receives from residents and local businesses.

So the next time you see the flags waving on Main Street, the Christmas lights lit, a parade approaching or hot air balloons flying overhead, know the Mapleton Lions Club is at work.  The club expects to continue with its major projects and plans do much more in the next 60 years.

Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.