Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 13/02) - Dwindling memberships create challenges for any volunteer organization.

The Yellowknife Lions Club is looking to expand from its current 15 members to 30 members.

"We had 60 to 70 in the early years, but we were the only service group in town," said Lions president Mike Oram.

The Lions are gearing up for their 38th anniversary and expanding their membership is an identified long-term goal.

"I would like to see us double our membership.

"It would mean the same people aren't doing the same things over and over again. It's pretty difficult to do what we need to with 15 members," said Oram.

Joining the Lions is by invitation only, but according to Lions vice president, Tim Jaworski, the club may do a membership drive to help boost club numbers.

"It's just a matter of the members going out and contacting people," said Jaworski.

A larger base of members would also help next year as the club is planning to add a fifth bingo to their activity list.

In celebration of their anniversary the club will be hosting Lions' District Governor Ken Pickett at a dinner on Nov. 20.

The Lions contribute a great deal to the community, according to Oram.

Every year they raise approximately $15,000 that goes back into the community.

"Our mandate is to provide services to the community. We focus quite a bit on the sightless. We've given equipment to assist a couple of blind (CNIB) students here in Yellowknife," said Oram.

As well, the club donates $3,500 annually to the Canadian Institute for the Blind; they co-sponsor the CNIB Lions' Golf Tournament; and, with the help of local optometry centres they send boxes of used eye wear to developing nations.

Jaworski said the club was also instrumental in the construction of the Abe Miller building.

"In 1989 we raised over $100,000. Without us, that building wouldn't have been built," he said.

The Lions sponsor the annual spook-a-rama during Halloween and they are gearing up now for their Christmas campaign.

"We have our Gifts for Christmas. We collect gifts, wrap them up and take them around to families with kids 14 and under who aren't covered by the Salvation Army Christmas hamper program," said Oram.

As well, after a year sabbatical, the Lions are bringing back the truck raffle.

The draw for the vehicle will be on July 1, but Oram said he doesn't know yet what model of truck will be raffled.

"We're going out for proposals on the truck but the value should be between $40,000 and $45,000," he said.

Charter member

Ed Jeske was a charter member of the Yellowknife Lions.

"It's still going and I talk to the guys sometimes," said Jeske.

Of the charter members Jeske said he is one of the few who remain and he is glad to see the club is still around.

"They're not as big as the elks or the legion but they raise a lot of money. They are good for the community," said Jeske.

The Lions began with approximately 30 members and Jeske said even back then membership was an issue.

"It's like any organization you do good for a while and then some people drop out. For a while we were very strong," he said.