30 Years Remembered

Past Club Presidents

30 Years Remembered
by King Lion Rick Mechalske

The Park Ridge Lions club, yes; the Park Ridge Lions Club was chartered in December 1970. The name was changed later to Signal Hill Lions on July 1 st, 1973.

The first Charter night was held on Feb. 26 1971 at the Downtowner Inn in Manassas . The club quickly began to grow and unite as a family; records indicate there were family picnic outings to Middleburg. Surprisingly, one of the first big fundraisers held was to sponsor the Earnest Tubb Show; this took place in November of 1971. Sort of a large undertaking for a club less than a year old by today's standards but even more surprising is the fact that less than 2 months later they followed with a very successful New Years Eve Dance. Along the way they stopped and made several donations to the community and also began what have become our longest tradition, the collection and distribution of Christmas baskets to needy families.

During 1972, catastrophe struck the Manassas Park Area with the sweeping floodwaters of Hurricane Agnes. She also swept away several of our earlier records. The Park Ridge Lions were there to assist many of the families and records do show that 13 families were assisted with lost eyeglasses. Along the way were a couple of raffles, prizes included a shotgun and a trail bike. But one of the earliest reports from the club, in August of 1972, showed a reflection that they truly had found their calling, "The month of August 1972 was not as active as July, but did produce the most moving experience in the Club's history. It had been brought to our attention that a child in the community had been deaf since birth. The Doctors had told the family that the child may hear with an Aid. The Park Ridge Lions in conjunction with the Mid-Day Lions, bought a hearing Aid for 14 year old Wilmer Landsdown, and for the first time he was able to hear and distinguish sounds clearly. Wilmer had always been a problem child but his behavior patters changed completely after receiving the aid. He is now doing well in school."

The club was very active with such things as Teen Dances, they sponsored many and these were profitable fund raisers also. In 1973 began what would be a long running fund raiser, Pizza Sales. I think they would, and still will, raffle anything donated to them. From Trail Bikes to boats and motors to later on when there were Beef Raffles. Any celebration brought them out too, from selling cotton candy at Manaport Day, I guess it was an activity at the Manaport Shopping Center, to fun days in the City of Manassas and Forth of July celebrations, this is still happening. Look who has the biggest "production" at the Forth of July. When this club gets involved WE DO IT RIGHT! The New Years Eve Dances continued for many years as did the Pizza sales, pop corn, snow cones which by the way, in the earlier years ,were prepared by the wives.

Fund raisers came in many shapes and forms over the years. The club sponsored a rodeo, horse show, candy sales, and selling wood. One earlier activity was maintaining the Spook Room for the parks and recreation on Halloween, now we participate in the trail of Terror. As years progressed so did our fund raising. The mid-eighties found the club undertaking the painstaking but profitable Bingo. Also we began the traditional Fruit Sales. Along the way we have had Duck races, (I can still see Orville and myself in the boat down on Bull Run . Many of us can remember the 125 th at The Battlefield Park and the for-sight of our club to cover ourselves financially with the sale of hats. And we also had the legendary "WHERE THE HECK IS MANNASSAS PARK?" Shirts. Our Forth of July's could fill a memory book themselves. Who can forget the Jumbo Coloring Books, if we thought we could make a dollar on it, we'd try it.!!

We've done one heck of a job raising funds, but we've done a lot of good in spending those same funds. By rough estimates we have approved over 1500 sight cases, at least twenty hearing Aids and regularly supported the many Lion items of district 24-A and Lions International. We have presented 3 Melvin Jones Fellowships.

We've painted houses, mowed lawns, fixed roofs, and helped with furnace replacements in the dead of winter. We furnished local agencies with light tables to screen infant's eyes. We have help purchases several pieces of equipment for the prince William Hospital and have even painted house numbers on curbs. We along with Park West, helped establish the Diabetes Chapter at the hospital, we dug ditches and installed handicap ramps. We've helped secure handicap vans and transported others when the need arose. Thousands of recycled eyeglasses have been collected. I can remember some of the earliest days of my experiences, standing at the DMV handing out leaflets on being a donor.

In addition to donating for the purpose of sight and hearing, Community wise, we've had 29 years of food baskets and some were at Easter also, we took care of the stone house for a while. We've marched in several parades and put floats in parades as far away as Stanley (just south of Lurray). We supported many individuals, for instance Tanya Valetta, a blind teen who competed nationally and internationally in swimming and gymnastics. We've help purchase Santa Suits, and maintained our Lions Suit. We've presented scholarships as well as supported the dare and quest programs for our youths. This club has sponsored 2 Leo clubs and 1 Lioness club.

We have had representation at Lions State and District convention and conference minus one or two, also had a few visit to international convention and headquarters.

Going forward the Signal Hill Lions club will continue to help out the local community and bring fellowship to its members.

Signal Hill Lions Club
Past Presidents

Harry Nash 1970-1971
Gene Moore 1971-1972
Gene Moore 1972-1973
William Steele 1973-1974
Jack Pugh 1974-1975
Ron Smith 1975-1976
Charles Davis 1976-1977
William Reese 1977-1978
William Steele 1978-1979
Charles Davis 1979-1980
Robert Garner 1980-1981
Ray Streeff 1981-1982
Newell Everett 1982-1983
Jim Payne 1983-1984
Orville Dommer 1984-1985
Claude Hampton 1985-1986
Claude Hampton 1986-1987
Buddy Timmons 1987-1988
Rick Mechalske 1988-1989
Mike Fritter 1989-1990
Mike Fritter 1990-1991
Maurice Allen 1991-1992
Rob Dommer 1992-1993
John Cunningham 1993-1994
Rick Mechalske 1994-1995
Kevin Brendel 1995-1996
Bill Wren 1996-1997
Dan Drennon 1997-1998
Rick Mechalske 1998-1999
Bob McCurry 1999-2000
Bob McCurry 2000-2001
Claude Hampton 2001-2002
Claude Hampton / Rick Mechalske 2003-2004
Rick Mechalske 2004-2005

MD 24-A