Officers

The Highland Lions Club received its charter on March 20, 1975 as nearly 250 people attended the
ceremony and banquet at the Exhibition Building at Lindendale Park. Among the dignitaries present
were Immediate Past President of Lions International, Tris Coffin of Canada, International Director
Wm. E. Steinbreuck of the Bohomme Lions, and Highland Mayor Bill Steib. Mannie Lopez of the Marine
Lions Club, the guiding Lion for the Highland Club, served as Master of Ceremonies.

Since its founding the club has raised money for charitable and community causes. The Annual Memorial
Day Biathlon, now in its twenty-seventh year, attracts nearly five hundred participants. It remains
the club's single largest one day fund raiser. Lions selling bratwurst are a common sight at fairs and
festivals throughout the area. Bratwurst sales account for the bulk of funds raised by the club. Among
the club's earliest projects was the purchase and installation of a scoreboard at VFW Park for use by
the American Legion baseball team. Later the club placed benches, which they still maintain, on the
Highland Square and in community parks. In 1980, in conjunction with Highland Parks and Recreation, the
club established a basketball league for twenty-five girls. This year over 160 girls played, at no cost
to the family. Annually a $1000 scholarship goes to a graduating Highland High School senior. The club
supported three Habitat for Humanity houses with grants of over $6000, purchased an Easy Reader for an
elementary school student, gives annually to the Highland Schools' VIP program, and participates
annually in candy day and diabetes awareness fund raisers. Through the years local Lions sponsored free
vision and hearing screenings for adults and infants and purchased or supplemented the cost of
eyeglasses and hearing aids for those in need.

The club meets a Ponderosa but has met at The Cypress, Family Inn, and, during some dark days, in a
station wagon in a parking lot. Among the sixty members are four, William Ambuehl, Dr. Jim Rehberger,
Russ Rieke, and Earl Steiner, who are Charter members. Earl Steiner is a Past District Governor and
Dale Schmalz is Past Council Chairman.

The Club was District Club of the Year in 1982-83, 1986-87, 1997-98, 2001-02, and 2002-03.