Who Are We?
The Columbus Northeast Lions Club is a local community organization made up of men and women who join together to follow the Lions International motto: WE SERVE.
Members volunteer their time for the betterment of the Community through service and fundraising activities. Columbus Northeast Lions Club organized in 1952 and is part of Lions Clubs International which is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in 186 countries.
Members are continually on the prowl, searching for ways to help in their communities. Lions, worldwide, are making great strides in the battle against preventable blindness. We support youth activities including Special Olympics and the Ohio State School for the Blind. We assist in humanitarian efforts at home and around the world.
Our History
The club was originally chartered in March 1952, with the Columbus Northern Lions Club as its sponsor. At that time it was known as the Columbus Linden Lions Club. The first official meeting of the club was at D'Ascanio's Restaurant on April 1, 1952, under the leadership of Lion Charles Taylor, the first president. There were twenty-two members and two guests at that first meeting.
The club charter from Lions International was presented on May 2, 1952, at the Charter Night held at the Southern Hotel. The charter presentation was a dual ceremony with Columbus East Lions Club also receiving their charter at that time. Starting with 26 charter members, the club has reached membership as high as 100 members.
Seven months after the club was chartered, the Lions wives organized an auxiliary which contributed to the Lions service activities. In 1992 this auxiliary became the Columbus Northland Lions Club with Columbus Northeast as its sponsor. In the past the club also sponsored a Leo Club, and on February 4, 1983, sponsored the formation of the Beechcroft Lions Club.
The Columbus Linden Lions Club changed its name to the Linden Northeast Lions Club on October 17, 1967, and in February 1987 changed again to the Columbus Northeast Lions Club. These changes were made to more accurately pinpoint the community service area of our club.
Our club has sponsored numerous fund raising projects. Early projects included the collection of sales tax stamps for refunds, head pin tournaments, Frontier Nights, White Cane Days, trash bag and shower-flo control sales, and for some thirty years an annual light bulb sale. See the projects link for more information on the types of activities in which we are currently involved.
The Columbus Northeast Lions Club has a rich tradition in District 13-F with winners of the Governors Contests, District Bulletin Contests, and members named District Lion of the Year. We are also often selected for key district and state committee assignments. Lion Ralph Stacy was District 13-F Governor for 1989-90, followed by Lion Ray Empson in 1992-93. Lion Ray also served as MD13 State Executive Administrator in 1997-98.
In 2002 our club celebrated its 50th anniversary with a dinner at the State House in downtown Columbus. The featured speaker was Past International Director Bob Klein from New York. There were also tours of the building, and presentations of awards. Many members from years past were in town to take part in the festivities.
Become a Member!
If you are interested in helping those in your community, and enjoying the fellowship of other Lions who share that interest, please drop us an email.