2017 Summer Newsletter

Lions are 100 years old

1917 was the beginnings of WW I for the United States and was the start of In ternational Lions Clubs. Lions was started in Chicago under the lead ership of Melvin Jones as a service organization to improve the life and welfare of the local communi ties and life of the citizens of the world.

use in a picnic table and gazebo setting for the Gardens. These are planned for construction in the very near future. The fencing was from the Paola City Square Park that surrounded the water fountain in the early 1900’s. The Museum also has provided sev eral programs to the Lions for their meetings over the years. The Lions in turn have supported the Museum with a donation to assist with the renovations of the Indian Room and to the general fund. So, the Lions Club has been a great partner for our Museum and both have sup ported the Paola Community. The Lions motto is “We Serve”. Which could well also apply to the Museum, the “Story of Us”. Some of the projects include clean up of a section of highway #68, sponsor of Farmer’s Market on the square in the sum mers,-Lion’s Park at Lake Miola, scholarships to PHS seniors, swim lesson scholarships, support for Boy’s State, eye glasses for needy adults, Halloween treats for the square parade, and a host of other community projects. The Lions meet twice each month on the 1st & 3rd Friday mornings at 6:45 at Circle C Cafe. Several Lions members are also members of the Museum and vol unteer as well. And no one else in all this world is searching for this man, So I play gene-solitaire to find him, if I can. I’m told he’s buried in a plot with tombstone he was bless ed, But the weather took the engraving and some vandals took the rest. He died before the county clerks decided to keep records. No family Bible has emerged in spite of all my efforts. To top it off this ancestor who caused me many groans, Just to give me one more pain…bethrothed a girl named Jones. Author Unknown……..

Lions began in Paola in 1942 (thus our local club’s 75th year). The Paola Lions Club has part nered with the Miami County Museum on projects in the past. The Museum donated two original metal gas light poles to the Lions for their use on the Courthouse grounds. The Courthouse Gardens are co-sponsored by the Lions and the Miami County Master Gardeners. The Museum also donated metal wrought iron fenc ing to the Courthouse Gardens for

THE ELUSIVE ANCESTOR I went searching for an ancestor, I cannot find him still. He moved around from place to place and did not leave a will. He married where a courthouse burned, he mended all his fences. He avoided any man who came to take the U.S. Census. He always kept his luggage packed, this man who had no fame. And every twenty years or so, this rascal changed his name. His parents came from Europe, they should be on a list Of passengers to the USA, but somehow they got missed.

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