MEMBERSHIP
In the club’s 30th year, membership grew to over 120 Lions; and by 2018 – the club’s 36th year – membership is about 150 Lions.
FUNDRAISING
The club’s first fundraiser, held in 1982, was to sell roses. The funds raised were used to visually- and hearing-impaired persons; and provide support for local needs whenever possible. As the club grew, so did the types of fundraisers held: selling brats at the Marine Art Fair; BMX races at the old gravel put at the intersection of Highway 97 and County Road 15; dances at Withrow Ballroom; a pig roast; and Wild Game Dinners.
Bingo was held at the Community Center and then at the Washington County Fair. As time went on, the Scandia-Marine Lions starting selling Super Saver Books with discounts by local merchants; and raffle tickets for monthly monetary prizes.
The Scandia-Marine Lions coordinate several major fundraising events each year: a chicken dinner for college scholarships in May; Saint Croix Fat Cat Triathlon in July; and Taco Daze in September.
SERVICE
The Scandia-Marine Lions Club supports the American Red Cross by doing quarterly blood drives and also serves lunch for all donors.
Pancake breakfasts are held in October and January; and attendees bring donations to support the Scandia-Marine Food Shelf as well as other non-profits. In December, the Scandia-Marine Lions have a Breakfast with Santa. Children get to visit with Santa; have their picture taken with him; and receive candy and gift from the Lions.
The Scandia-Marine Lions Club and its foundation support a wide variety of projects benefiting local, statewide, national, and international charities. Scandia-Marine Lions always have been generous to local families who had fires or traumatic medical issues.
SERVING FUTURE GENERATIONS
Our Lions Club is proud to help our local schools; and participates in the annual Wild Walk, sponsors a Peace Poster Contest, donates dictionaries to 3rd graders, and distributes copies of the U.S. Constitution to 5th grade students.
The Scandia-Marine Lions also has provided support to the Forest Lake-Scandia Leo Club; and welcomes volunteer support from its teen members.
A very important annual tradition has become the awarding of college scholarships to graduating high school seniors.