Local Lions Clubs losing members

Since 1921, Marion’s Lions Club has been helping provide for the community, however, they are
facing the fear of disbandment.
Tim Canode, treasurer, said that the Lions Club has been fundraising for the community for years
but has faced some trouble due to Mississinewa 1812.
“We have been fundraising at Mississinewa 1812 for years, but with the changes this year, we
lost a lot of money,” Canode said. “This year we only made about 2,000 dollars when in the
past we made more than that.”
Canode said that some of the trouble comes as the club has been losing members over the years.
“We used to have over 90 members but now we only have 12,” Canode said. “The issue is that
no one is really interested in joining anymore.”
Kurt Hensel, first vice president, said that one issue is the club has a stigma of being for older
people.
“There’s this stigma around the club where people believe it is for older people,” Hensel said.
“This younger generation has no interest in joining the club as we have this stigma to it.”
Hensel said that with the loss of members, the club has been struggling with recruitment like
other Lions Clubs are.
“We have been trying to recruit more people, but it is hard when we have lost such key figures to
our club these past couple of years,” Hensel said. “The Sweetser club just voted to disband, and
we don’t want to do that if we can prevent it.”
Carol Hamilton, a club member, said that they have reached out to the Marion high school
principal to see if any students would be willing to help the club.
“We have reached out to the Marion High School’s principal, and he said there were plenty of
students who could help us with fundraising and other events we have,” Hamilton said. “We
hope that some of these students will be able to learn more about our club and potentially be
willing to join in the future.”
Hamilton said that the Lions Club also has a club called Leos Club for younger kids to help them
learn more about the club.
“The Lions Club has created the Leos Club a long time ago, which helps teach children the
values of the club in hopes that when they get older, they will be willing to join as a member,”
Hamilton said.
Canode said that the next two events the Lions Club will be working are the “Walkway of
Lights” and the “Ringing of the Bell” for the Salvation Army.

Hensel said that all the funds raised from these events will go straight back out into the
community in hopes to help support those in need.