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Since 1917 Lions Clubs have served the world's population through hard work and commitment to make a difference in the lives of people everywhere. With over 1.4 million members serving in more than 49,000 clubs in over 200 countries and geographic areas, Lions Clubs International is the world's largest membership-based service organization. Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired.
During the summer of 1939 a group of 25 Lake Zurich businessmen and citizens banded together in the interest of fostering civic and community improvement and building cooperation between businesses and the community as a whole. By the fall of the same year, the group determined that its interests would best be served, and its long-term survival enhanced, if it operated as a part of a larger service organization. Its charter as the Lake Zurich Lions Club became official on October 8, 1939.
The first collective project of the organization was the restocking of Lake Zurich with fish. Working with the State of Illinois officials 25,000 fish were added to the lake.
In 1942 the Lions Club embarked on its largest single project. Combining personal member funds and a huge amount of committed manpower the club purchased land that represented a portion of the right of way for the defunct Palatine, Lake Zurich and Wauconda railroad. Included in the purchase was a 25 foot mound on 3 acres of land in the downtown area which was an approach to a trestle over the EJ& E railroad tracks.
In the years that followed the members graded the mound and converted the land into a community park, playground and baseball diamond. The purchase of adjacent land years later enabled the organization to add a food stand, meeting hall and parking lot. In 1944 the club took steps to stop a private entity from owning the lake. The Lions Club members purchased nearly 300 acres of the lake bed and some lakefront property to assure public access to the lake. In the years following the purchase the club led lake maintenance efforts. In the late 1980's and early 1990's the club made the decision that we did not want to manage the lake. We approached other lake stakeholders and worked to start the Lake Zurich Property Owners Association, later the Lake Property Owners Association (LPOA.) We maintain membership in this organization today, as the largest stake holder of Lake Zurich, to aid the LPOA in its maintenance efforts including safety, weed elimination, dredging, and fish restocking.
Achievements:
Our club serves people in Lake Zurich, Kildeer, Hawthorn Woods and Deer Park. But our membership reaches even further, drawing people from Palatine, Cary, McHenry, Round Lake, Ingleside, Barrington and Crystal Lake, and Lake Geneva. These members are involved both because of what we do and because of the fellowship they enjoy.