Reminiscing about five decades of service in the community

The Paradise and District Lions Club this week celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding

Bill Atwood Observer Staff

we picked Paradise Lake,” Pfaffinger added.

The club has been heavily involved in the community over the last 50 years.

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Woolwich Counselling Centre → WCC 24

THE PARADISE AND DISTRICT LION Club celebrated its 50th anniversary on Tuesday, with the two remaining founding members, Ed Gerstenkorn and John Pfaffinger, reflecting on the club’s early days.

“People felt there was a need for this area to have somebody to help charities and charity programs. And there were a lot of families that required it and at that time, there was nothing here, service clubs at all, so they felt that it was a good area to start a Lions Club,” Gerstenkorn said.

“We had over 40 people, maybe 45 or so initially. And some joined and dropped off over the years again, of course,” Pfaffinger added.

Although it is based in St. Clements, naming the club was challenging, Gerstenkorn explained.

“When the club was chartered [we asked] what name is it going to be called? Is it going to be Heidelberg Lions Club,

St. Clements? Because we drew from Wellesley, we had members from Bamberg, Paradise Lake, and St. Jacobs.”

“Plus we had nothing that stuck out really. So some locations there’s something already like a big city name that is known like Kitchener they picked Oktoberfest [Lions Club] because that was already there. We did not want to leave Heidelberg out or anybody else. So

“We’ve raised over $1 million. It’s a rural club – they’re much different than a city club,” Gerstenkorn said

Among the many highlights was the starting of the annual Tree of Light event.

“John designed that whole tree and everything and it’s used as a flagpole in the summer. And it has benefited the community in the way of fundraising. The first year, I think we only made $2,000. Last year was at $16,000. And then the community donates towards it, because everything stays here in the community,” Gerstenkorn said.

Lions Club International was originally a male-only