About Us

North Mason Lions History

 

     North Mason Lions Club was started in May 1982 by a group of men from the Allyn area. Members were encouraged to join by word of mouth, and through an article in the local newspaper.  Twenty-seven charter members were signed up to join.  At that time there was a requirement that 20 members be signed up to start a Lions Club. Two of the charter members are still active members in the club. They are: Lin Rowan & Don Corliss.

     Our Sponsoring Club was Bremerton Central Lions. Martin Hotdett agreed to be our guiding Lion. He assisted by organizing and attending our first meetings. As soon as we were ready, Bremerton Central Lions held a dinner meeting at ‘Sons of Norway’ Hall in Bremerton and we were officially chartered as a Lions club.

     Prior to being chartered, we had to nominate, and vote into office a King Lion (President).  James Taylor was voted in as our first King Lion. We then had to choose a name for our Club and North Mason Lions Club was agreed upon.  This name was selected because it covered the whole area of Allyn, Belfair, Grapeview, Treasure Island, as well as the north and south shores of Hood Canal, which is known as North Mason County.

     Our first club meeting was held at the Allyn Inn Restaurant.  Meetings were held there for three years, until the room became too small for our growing club membership.  Other meeting locations we have used are: the Belfair Café, the Lakeland Village Community Hall, the Belfair Community Baptist Church and to the Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, where we are presently holding our meetings.

Charter Members

Del Chafe, David Chapple, Donald Corliss, Robert K. Craig, David C. Delony, Richard Dill, Donald Gottwig, Herman Harthun, Richard Knight, Donald R. Le Pere, Lewis F. Mason, Kenneth McCauley, Kieth McCauley, Jorgen Nelson, John N. Osborn, Leonard Peterson, Buz Reynolds, Linton J. Rowan, Stanley Sarver, Gary Scherfenberg, Howard Sisson, Robert Stallman, Hyrum E. Stocking, Steve Sykes, Cristopher Taylor, James A. Taylor, Mel Yingling

    During our first years in existence, Lions International decided, to allow ladies to join Lions Clubs.  This met with some disfavor because this put a stop to the telling of raunchy stories at meetings.

    Over the years there have been almost one hundred and fifty members in North Mason Lions.

All pictures & information are © by LCI & North Mason Lions Club