Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Rich Kayser and Galen Laird are now the Lynden Lions’ longest current members
Longtime friends and Lynden Lions Club members Rich Kayser and Galen Laird have known each other nearly 50 years. Kayser has been a member of the Lynden Lions Club for 48 years, whereas Laird has been a member for 47 years. (Bill Helm/Lynden Tribune)
‘I enjoy helping people and serving our community,’ past president Kayser says
By Bill Helm Editor
LYNDEN — Galen Laird and Rich Kayser have been Lynden Lions members almost since the club’s inception in 1976. With the recent death of the last surviving founding member, Ivan Buma, Kaiser is the longest tenured member at 48 years, Laird is next with 47 years.
Currently the past president, the 71-year-old Kayser looked back to when he “was invited to a meeting and thought it was a good opportunity for fellowship and to be involved with projects for the community.”
He was 24 when he joined, already active with the Mt. Baker Toppers Barbershop Chorus and the Big Brother Program.
Kayser and his family moved to Lynden in 1968 when he was 13. Up until then they had lived in Dayton, which is near Walla Walla in Columbia County.
population is currently about 2,500, good enough to be the county seat.
A graduate of Lynden High School, Kayser retired from the Lynden Post Office after 34 years on the job and has worked in various positions at the Lynden School District in retirement.
Currently, he volunteers with the Lynden High School drama department and helps with sound, lighting and behind the scenes work. Kayser is also president of Fourth Corner Drama group.
But close to five decades with Lynden Lions is a real testament to his commitment to the service organization’s motto: We serve … and have fun doing it.
“I enjoy helping people and serving our community,” he said.
Kayser explained that Lions Club raises money through its various projects to “invest back in the community where there is need.”
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Although Lynden Lions Club member Galen Laird is retired from his full-time career with Hinton Chevrolet, he still works there parttime, and also works part-time for Gillies Funeral Home. The lifelong Lynden area resident also volunteers with various church projects. (Bill Helm/Lynden Tribune)
Daily Delivery or pickup - call by 10am Daily meals served - 12-12:30pm Menus available on our website, Facebook, and at the Center.
Lions: Rich Kayser and Galen Laird are now the Lynden chapter's longest current members
His two pet projects, if you will, are the annual Lynden Lions Train and Toy Show in October and by providing manpower for the LTI Picnic.
A year after Kayser joined, the 70-year-old Laird became a Lynden Lion. Which semantically speaking is interesting when you consider Laird is an LC grad.
Other than a few church projects, Laird wasn’t active in community service at the time he joined the Lynden Lions Club.
“I remember our first project was to help the Lynden JC’s with Camp Horizon,” said Laird, now president of the Lynden Lions Club. “That club disbanded and the Lynden Lions took it over.”
Although Laird is retired from his full-time career with Hinton Chevrolet, he still works there part-time, and also works part-time for Gillies Funeral
Home. The lifelong Lynden area resident also volunteers with church projects.
Although they joined the Lynden Lions Club a year apart, Laird and Kayser did not know each other. After close to five decades together with the club, they’re now longtime friends — and so are their wives.
For Laird, his hobbies pretty much align with his servant’s heart. Kayser and his wife snowbird in Arizona and also visit their children, one in Texas, the other in Ohio. Besides travel, Kayser enjoys music as he plays drums and works with audio equipment “given the opportunity wherever we are at.”
Kayser and Laird are two of close to 50 members of the Lynden Lions Club. Learn more about the Lynden Lions Club and their various service projects at lyndenlionsclub.com and e-clubhouse.org.
A graduate of Lynden High School, Lynden Lions Club member Rich Kayser volunteers with the Lynden High School drama department and helps with sound, lighting and behind the scenes work. Kayser also enjoys playing the drums.
(Bill Helm/Lynden Tribune)
What's happening at the Lynden Community/Senior Center
May 7
Parkinson’s Support Group
Find a community of support for those with Parkinson’s Disease or supporting a loved one with Parkinson’s. This group meets at the Lynden Community/Senior Center at 10:30 a.m. The Lynden Community/Senior Center is at 401
Grover St. For more information, call 360-354-2921 or email info@ lyndencommunitycenter.org.
May 12
Bunco
Looking for a new activity or social group? Come play Bunco. Bunco is an easy, social, luck-based dice
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game played in fast-paced rounds. Prizes for the winners will be awarded at the end of the game session No experience needed, all are welcome. Beginning at 2 p.m. Optional: Bring a snack to share. The Lynden Community/Senior Center is at 401 Grover St. For more information, call 360-354-2921 or email info@ lyndencommunitycenter.org.
May
12 & 26
Dementia Caregiver Support Group
This confidential group is for caregivers of someone with dementia and meets bi-monthly. The meeting runs from 1-3 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The Lynden Community/Senior Center is at 401 Grover St. For more information, call 360-354-2921 or email info@lyndencommunitycenter.org.
May 13
Dinner Club Meeting
Enjoy good food and even better company and try out the Lynden Community/Senior Center dinner club. Meeting once a month at various dining spots around town, this is a great chance to make some new friends in an easy, relaxed en-
vironment. This month’s restaurant is Lee Asian Bistro. Meet at 5:30 p.m. Dinner cost is on your own, reservation required by May 11. To sign up or for more information, call 360-354-2921 or email info@ lyndencommunitycenter.org.
May 18
Birthday Celebration
Let’s celebrate your May birthday at the Lynden Community/Senior Center! Join us for lunch and a special time of celebration, including cake, a door prize drawing for the birthday people, and some lovely piano music provided by Pat Hagen. Lunch is $7 and is served at noon. All are welcome. The Lynden Community/Senior Center is at 401 Grover St. For more information, call 360-354-2921 or email info@ lyndencommunitycenter.org
May 22
Memorial Day Program
Join the Lynden Community Senior Center for a special Memorial Day program, done by the American Legion, Post 7 Bellingham. Come for the $7 lunch and stay after for a time of remembrance and honoring of those soldiers fallen.
Companion Care
Originally from Texas, Lynden resident Evan Samsill is director of the Lynden Community/Senior Center. (Bill Helm/Lynden Tribune)
Volunteers help run Lynden Chamber of Commerce
‘People are so interesting, their stories are all so different’
By Bill Helm Editor
LYNDEN — For Merrilee Scofield, volunteerism began with the Welkom Basket she received when she moved to Lynden roughly eight years ago.
The person who dropped off the basket of goodies asked if she would care to volunteer at the Lynden Chamber of Commerce.
Scofield said yes.
“I thought it would be interesting, even though I didn’t know all that was involved, or where everything was in this town myself yet,” she said.
Scofield looked back recently and explained she was “so pleasantly surprised” when she began to volunteer at the chamber.
“The employees at the Chamber are always there to help us with any questions we may have and do it so graciously,” she said.
Volunteers are key to running the Lynden Chamber of Commerce visitor center. Pictured are volunteers, from left, Marjean Migchelbrink, Audie Hendricks, Merrilee Scofield, Barb DeVries, Kathie Wiegers, Ruth Reimer and Sue Richmond.
Commerce)
(Photo courtesy Lynden Chamber of
Volunteers are a key to the chamber
Scofield is one of about a half-dozen people who volunteer regularly at the Lynden Chamber. Melissa VanLoo, the chamber’s member services coordinator, said volunteers serve about 780 hours each year with various activities and functions so chamber staff “can do as they need to do.”
“Our Lynden Chamber volunteers warmly greet visitors who walk into our Lynden Visitor’s Center on a daily basis,” Van Loo said.
Volunteers greet people in the office, answer calls and direct them if necessary, Van Loo explained. They also clean and fill brochure racks and help put things together for events.
“They answer a wide variety of questions both in person and over the phone about Lynden and the surrounding Whatcom County area,” Van Loo said. “They offer their own expertise to newcomers and visitors.”
Volunteers save the Lynden Chamber approximately $11,000 each year.
A volunteer, as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, is someone who offers to do something they do not have to do, often without having been asked to do it — and they do it without expecting payment.
One reason Scofield enjoys volunteering is that she gets to meet and have conversations with people from different cities, states and countries.
“The people that come in are usually happy as they are on vacation or just visiting an adorable small town like Lynden, and want to know all about it,” Scofield said. “I have learned a lot more about the little town of Lynden since I have volunteered at the chamber as well. Of course I love the people at the chamber I work with, they have become like family to me.”
Sue Richmond also has volunteered at
the Lynden Chamber for about eight years. Before she retired, she lived what she calls a “high-energy life.”
“I needed something to do,” Richmond said. “Volunteering at the Lynden Chamber is one of them. I love people. I love to talk, people are so interesting, their stories are all so different.
Richmond explained that Lynden is “a very unique town, small enough for community, yet big enough for growth and business.”
“Visitors have all sorts of questions and I get to share my story about life here and the fascinating aspects of Lynden,” Richmond said. “Visitors are also unique, coming from different cultures, ethnicities and ideologies that make conversation very interesting. This is a fun way to use my retirement time.”
It’s been three years since Ruth Reimer began to volunteer at the Lynden Chamber. With her husband having recently passed away, Reimer said she “needed something to do.” So she decided to volunteer where her daughter works.
“The day I volunteer there’s extra bookkeeping I like to help with,” Reimer said. “I like to help [my daughter Melissa VanLoo] when she needs help.”
Reimer was raised to give back to her community. She’s also a people person.
“I love to be around people,” Reimer said. “You live and learn with people. The people here are fun to work with. You greet them as if they are guests to your home.”
The Lynden Chamber of Commerce is at 518 Front St. Hours are from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. weekdays. More information at lynden.org.
-- Contact Bill Helm at bill@lyndentribune. com
