CLUB HISTORY
The original club in the greater Boise area, the Boise Host Club was sponsored by the Caldwell, Emmett and Nampa clubs and came into existence July 17, 1935. The Club was organized by C.P. Manion and the first officers were President Winfield E. Cline and Secretary/Treasurer Louis F. Diehl
In 1975, the club celebrated its 40th anniversary. The Club, at that point, had sponsored the Caldwell, Nampa and Emmett Lions Clubs. Their membership in 1975 was 107 and members had contributed or participated in many community activities over the years, including:
Sponsoring a dog show
Fitting people with glasses
Donating toys, among other things, to the Children's Home
Sponsoring a Boy Scout Troop
Suppling a portable braille writing machine
Sponsoring the Miss Idaho Beauty pageant
Donating to the Idaho State library
Among many other charitable and community contributions...
Additional highlights of the Club's history:
2008: Hit the District's goal of contributing $50,000 to the Zoo Boise 'Out of Africa, into Zoo Boise' campaign
2007: Collaborated with Riverstone International School in Peace Poster Contest
2004: Held our Annual Boise Host Golf Scramble at Shadow Valley Golf Club
2003: Helped initiate Zoo Boise's 'Out of Africa, into Zoo Boise' campaign to bring lions and other native African animals to the zoo and conducted District-wide presentations to encourage involvement
1994: Assisted Celia Aguilera de Corona in obtaining a cornea transplant and the subsequent return of her eyesight
1974: Hosted the Big Sky Conference Champion football team, the Boise State Broncos
1971: Miss Idaho, Karen Hurd, became the Miss America First Runner Up
1971: Participated in the first Idaho White Cane sale
1969: Joined in organizing the Idaho Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation
1965: Helped furnish a room in Boise's new YMCA
1964: Granted four scholarships to high school seniors planning to attend Bise State
1962: Hosted District Convention in Sun Valley
1960: Sent Boy Scouts t National Scout Jamboree
1957: Sponsored benefit movie premier "Around the World in 80 Days"
1956: First city-wide Live Inc. sale. Raised $1,025
1955: Purchased and installed the first school safety patrol lights for Boise schools
1952: Prsented jungle gym to Children's Home
1951: Second Miss Idaho Pageant organized by Lady Lions and held in the Boise High Gym
1950: Sponsored the first Miss Idaho Pageant, with the queen crowning done by Governor C.A. Robbins
1949: Boise Lions sponsored and assisted in organizing the Mountain Home Club
1948: 5th year of sponsoring the Dog Show - 2,000 attended
1947: Boat Regatta at Deer Fault Reservoir
1946: Lions projects the All Breed Dog Show - 1,800 attended
For further general history and other information about Lions Clubs International (LCI), visit www.lionsclubs.org