Mapleton Lions Club celebrates 50th anniversary

    Special guests participating in this celebration were current District 41 Gov. Ann McFarland, and Past District Govs. Boyd Sangster, Jack Moffitt, and Beverly Semple. McFarland inducted new member Lion Kevin Nightingale, while the three Past District Govs. presented recognitions to charter members Wendell Coffin and Jerry Desmond and a membership award to President Lloyd Archer.
In a special presentation, Lion Terry Sandusky presented a multimedia show that reminded those attending of the club’s wide-ranging involvement in the life of the tri-community area. Starting with community children, the club continues to sponsor Boy Scout Troop 176 and Cub Pack 176. Both organizations, along with the Girl Scouts, use the Mapleton Lions Hall for meetings, where a karate school for youth has also been started. The club has been a long-time supporter of the Aroostook Teen Leadership Camp, Presque Isle High School Project Graduation, and the special needs of youth in the tri-community area. Most importantly, the Mapleton Lions Club built the first Mapleton Swimming Pool and made the largest contribution to the recent pool and pool house renovation.
Over all of these 50 years, the Mapleton Lions has provided ongoing civic support to Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman. Whether it is sponsoring Mapleton Daze, helping families with medical or other emergencies, buying eyeglasses for those in need, putting up the Christmas lights, hanging the American flags through the town on special holidays, hosting the annual summer recreation department picnic, or conducting the Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony, the club has always been committed to improving life in our communities.
The club has raised funds to support their service efforts through selling light bulbs, hunter breakfasts, and special event fund-raisers. The club’s major fund-raiser is its annual auction on the first Saturday of May, and next year’s auction will be the club’s 43rd auction. The auction funds raised, along with those from the chicken barbecue, underwrite the club’s current community activities.
The Mapleton Lions, as the sponsor of Mapleton Daze, makes the Mapleton Lions Hall available for the Mapleton Daze Weekend. The Friday evening chicken barbecue is the club’s second major fund-raiser. The barbeque is a fun event because of the renewing of old friendships as many former tri-community residents return for the Mapleton High School reunion weekend and look forward to seeing family and friends from their youth.
Ten years ago when the Community Association was shutting down operations, the Mapleton Lions Club was able to purchase the Community Hall for the back taxes against the building. Slowly through volunteer work, donations by neighbors and special fund-raising, the hall was remodeled from roof to basement. Full handicap access, including restroom and small kitchen for the main hall, are among the many improvements of the hall. All of this work was recognized at the 50th anniversary celebration.
The evening celebration included two extremely special recognitions. Two Mapleton Lions were recognized for 50 years continuous membership as the remaining two charter members of the club. Lions Jerry Desmond and Wendell Coffin were presented specially designed recognition plaques for their long-time support and leadership in the club.
Coffin was the club treasurer for many years. He also chaired the annual auction fund-raiser for several years. Coffin would explain that Wilda, his late wife, helped him considerably in his Lions project work. Because Coffin was unable to attend the festivities at the hall, McFarland, Archer and Sandusky visited his home and presented the recognition plaque to him. They thanked him for his steadfast support of the Mapleton Lions Club that continues today.
Desmond was the club’s first secretary and he served in the capacity for more than 25 years. He also chaired the hunter breakfast for many years, when it was the club’s second major fund-raiser. On Memorial Day this year, Desmond was the grand marshal of the Mapleton Lions Club Memorial Day Parade. Both Jerry and his wife, Mabel, attended the anniversary celebration where he related stories of the club’s early days, particularly the challenge of building the swimming pool. He was so pleased with the special recognition plaque designed for him, but sadly Desmond passed away Monday, Oct. 29. He will be missed by the club members and many community members who knew of his work through the Mapleton Lions Club.
The club is proud of the legacy provided by Coffin and Desmond, as well as the many other club members who have come and gone over these 50 years. The Mapleton Lions Club wants to thank all the neighbors, friends and area businesses that have supported the work of the club. Because of your support, the club has been successful in helping many individuals and groups in the tri-community. The club continues searching for new projects and activities for those in need. The Mapleton Lions Club looks forward to many more years of service to the tri-community.