The Coon Valley Lions Club was chartered in May, 1960 with 22 members. Today, we have 63 members from many communities in the area and have an active, successful and fun club. A little more about us...
Through our fund raising activities, we have raised substantial amounts of money over our 60+ year history. Much of that total has supported Lions state and international programs. The rest has stayed local: we have supported scholarships, youth baseball programs, park buildings and recreational facilities, local fire and rescue and many community needs. The entire club participates in decisions about where to spend our funds, based on Board recommendations.
Dues to our club are $60 per year, payable in July as the Lion year Runs from July 1 to June 30.
Our club meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Coon Valley American Legion Hall in Coon Valley. We have a social hour at 6:00pm, dinner at 7:00pm, and the meeting and program starting around 7:30pm. We have a lot of fellowship and fun featuring home cooked meals mainly, with some catered events. June features "Roar Night" with no formal meeting, but free food and drinks for our members to celebrate the end to another successful Lion year. July is a Family Picnic, again, with no formal meeting. Our spouses and families are encouraged to attend this pot-luck picnic. In August, we once again invite our spouses to attend our Steak Fry which features delicious steaks and succulent corn on the cob prepared to perfection by a few of our members. In December, we celebrate the Holiday season with our annual Christmas Party traditionally held at the Stockyard in Coon Valley.
On the 1st Wednesday of the month the Club Board meets at 7:30pm. All members are welcome to attend. We keep track of attendance and perfect attendance awards are given if you attend a Board or Regular meeting each month. Many of our members have over 25 years of perfect attendance!
Every member is asked to work at least two of our fundraising and/or service events throughout the year. In the spring we hold a Valentine's Raffle along with a hospitality night, we have a Chicken Q the third Sunday in July, we have adopted a highway and perform cleanup before the 3 major Summer Holidays, as well as other community and Lion based service projects.
Our service project each year include two scholarships to area graduating youth; vision screening at area schools; highway cleanup; Holiday Food Drive to benefit area food pantries; collection of used eye glasses and hearing aids for distribution to needy people; Westby Area High School Honor Society banquet; and many gifts to area organizations and fundraisers for worthy causes.
There are opportunities for service at regional, state, and international levels. Eight Lions have been officers at the District or State level, including three district governors - Lion Arnie Schlicht in 1976, Lion Dick Bestingen in 1990-91, and Cedric Veum in 2000-01. We have also sponsored three other local clubs.