Vienna Lions Club members continue to work as their motto states — ‘We Serve’

By Laura Schiermeier, Staff Writer
Posted 3/10/21

VIENNA — The Vienna Lions Club marks its 70th birthday this month. The civic organization’s original charter dates back to March 19, 1951. Changes have been made as at the beginning it …

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Vienna Lions Club members continue to work as their motto states — ‘We Serve’

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VIENNA — The Vienna Lions Club marks its 70th birthday this month. The civic organization’s original charter dates back to March 19, 1951. Changes have been made as at the beginning it was all-male organization, and now both men and women are part of the club. Yet the purpose of the Vienna Lions Club has not changed over the 70 years as the club members continue to work for good and progress in Vienna. The Lion’s Club’s motto is “We Serve” and the group of 24 members is always looking for and accepting new members to help with their purpose.

Vienna Lions Club Secretary, Terry Schwartze, said the organization is about service to the community. “Its great to work with people who don’t want anyone from it. They do it for the community,” she said.  

At its founding, the civic organization had 39 business and professional men as members. There are less these days and the Lions Club can’t do the big projects it once spearheaded. Schwartze said the local Lions Club can’t do a project such as replacing playground equipment at the park, but the club did put in benches there. “What we can do depends on manpower and fund raising,” she said. 

Fund raising has been limited during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The group recently had to cancel its annual pancake breakfast due to limits on gatherings. Still the group will find a way to provide the annual $750 scholarships to one to two Vienna High School graduating seniors. The club makes an annual donation to the Loaves & Fishes Food Bank. A current project is working on signage at each end of Vienna along Highway 63. 

The history of the Vienna Lions Club reads like a progress report for the City of Vienna as the club members were instrumental in raising money and doing the hard work to improve their community. In 1990 the Historical Society of Maries County published Maries County, Missouri: A County/Family History, Vol. II and the history of the club was written for the book. The Lions Club of Vienna was called a “spark plug” for civic progress. It was organized in January 1951, through the efforts of the Belle Lions Club as the organization’s sponsors. The Vienna Lions Club began with 39 business and professional men as members on the first night. On March 19, 1951, charter night, 138 out-of-town guests, together with 60 local people, attended the club’s first banquet. 

The Oath of Office was administered to President Dr. S.C. Howard, First Vice President Jack Allen, Second Vice President Carl A. Baldwin, Third Vice President Elmer Chambers, Secretary Harold Schwartz, Treasurer George W. Redel, Lion Tamer Reynold A. Waer, and Tail Twister Carl Birmingham. Club board members were Wayne Terry, Leonard Bassett, G.F. Weidinger, and W.T. Tackett. The banquet dinner was served by the Vienna PTA and the Home Ec. girls. 

A local newspaper article a bout the banquet said the Belle group will act as “big brothers” to the new Vienna club. Persons from Belle at the banquet were Dr. R.H. Schoenhals, H.G. Range, Hazel Johnson, Rainey Backues and Ken Owens. 

In that history printed in 1990, it noted the Vienna Lions Club’s first project was to sponsor a blacktop project for the city and they raised $1,000 for the project. The club supported city government and many of its members served in the administration. 

Some of its civic projects were construction of Lions Field, a new ball diamond at the Vienna City Park. The club members helped with the construction of the grandstand and seats around the main ball diamond and when it was completed there was seating available for all the ball games and future seating for shows at the annual Maries County Fair. The club members gave assistance in labor and supplies for construction of the community building at the park. They built and maintained the lighted flagpole at the Vienna Cemetery. Together with the Vienna American Legion, the Lions Club sponsored the annual visit by Santa Claus to the Maries County Courthouse with treats for the children of the community.

When the history of the club article was written in 1990, there were 23 members of the Lions Club and officers serving at that time were Joe Weidinger, Sonny Helton, Wayne Helton, Walter Germann, David Martin, Jackie Duncan, Gene Schwartz, and Jim Parker.

Current officers are President Darrell Schulte, Vice President Dave Garro, Secretary Terry Schwartze, and Treasurer Richard Howard. 

In 2020, the Vienna Lions Club listed the following as members: Ross Bush, John Clayton, Mark Dierenfeld, Dave Garro, Jewel Hart, David Honse, Rich Howard, Becky James, Brian James, Regina Kilmer, Karen Logan, David Martin, Kelley McCall, Frank McGrane, Nancy Ragan, Jim Redel, Todd Schoene, Darrell Schulte, Robin Schulte, Norb Schwartze, Terry Schwartze, John Tremain, Otto Williams, and Wanda Williams.