Overview
Lions District 13-OH1 Zone Map
Meetings
History
Links to Relevant Websites
Overview
The Venedocia Lions Club operates in the state of Ohio under the registered name of The Lions Club of Venedocia, Inc and is classified as a 501(c)(4) corporation for non-profit.
The club primarily serves the Welsh village of Venedocia, York and Jennings Townships, and Lincolnview and Spencerville School Districts. The club of 26 members has also offered support to service projects throughout the Van Wert County community and northwest Ohio.
The Venedocia Lions Club was chartered in 1961 with 24 members. The club is a member of Zone 7 in Region 2 of District OH1 in Ohio. Club meetings are generally held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. However, some months the club only meets once.
The club is known for its Pancakes and Sausage Day each spring and sausage trailer that serves its famous sandwiches at many events throughout the area.
👓 Did you know that the club also collects used eyeglasses, sunglasses, and cases? Recycled glasses are distributed to people in need in communities and countries where they will have the greatest impact.
The Lions Building area includes a shelter house and playground and is used for many community events and meetings. The building is also available on a rental basis.
Lions District 13-OH1 Zone Map
Meetings
Venedocia Lions Club meetings are held at the Lions Building on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. During the months of May, June, July, and December the club only meets once per month on the second Monday.
Meetings in January, February, March, July, November, and December are dinner/program meetings and begin at 6:30pm. For many years, the Women's Association of the Salem Presbyterian Church prepared and served the meal. From Fall 2013 through Spring 2019, Cooking Country Classics from Landeck prepared and served the meal. From Fall 2019 through Spring 2024, Rachel VanWynsberghe was our meal caterer.
Meetings in April, May, June, August, September, and October are regular meetings and begin at 8pm.
The July meeting is a Steak Fry/Ladies Night at the Lions shelter house with everyone bringing a covered dish and the expert Lions Club grillers serving up steaks and chicken breasts. This is also begins the new Lions year with the installation of officers.
2024 Meeting Schedule
All club members are urged to attend all meetings. Thank you!
History
The Venedocia Lions Club was chartered on May 10, 1961 with 24 members, sponsored by the Middle Point Lions Club. Their Charter Night was held in the basement of the Salem Presbyterian Church on June 2, 1961.
The club held first held meetings at the Venedocia Town Restaurant, which now houses Farmer Smith's Popcorn. The first club president was John C. Lloyd, Jr.
The first service project for the club was cutting three truckloads of firewood for a woman with six children so they would have heat. The second service project was the construction of bleachers at the Venedocia Ball Park, which are still in use today.
In 1961-62, the club conducted an unsuccessful search for a town barber. They hoped to find someone fresh out of barber school to come to Venedocia to set up shop.
In 1962-63, the club sponsored a boy scout troop.
The Lions Building was erected in late 1969 and early 1970. The original mortgage note was $9,000. The club held a mortgage burning at the 1980 steak fry. The basketball/tennis courts were added in 1972-1973. The well hand pump was installed in 1975-1976. The shelter house was added in 1992 at a cost of $3,800.
The first Pancakes & Sausage day was held in 1969. The used newspaper drive began in 1979-1980 and was discontinued in 2015-2016. The sausage trailer began operation in 1994 under the direction of Donald Richards and Jerry Koenig.
Fund raising activities over the years have included the sale of kitchen knives, light bulbs, brooms, geraniums, and Christmas trees, a turkey raffle, a community birthday calendar, a consignment auction, operating gate #2 during the Van Wert County Fair, nightly grandstand cleaning at the fairgrounds during the fair, a 50/50 drawing, a spaghetti supper, and a soup & sandwich supper.
Past service projects include an Easter Egg Hunt at Taylor's Woods in the 1960-70s, community bingo party in 1987, annual Cincinnati Reds bus trip from 1990 through 1993, and wheelchair ramp construction through 2021.
Sources: Venedocia Lions Secretary Minutes Book and Club Historian John Lloyd's scrapbooks.
Lions Clubs International
The LCI website is ground zero for all Lions resources and information.
Ohio Lions MD-13
Ohio Lions MD-13 is the Ohio statewide website encompassing all 7 districts within the state.
Ohio Lions OH1
Ohio Lions OH1 is the website for the 8 Zones in NW Ohio District OH1 that includes the Venedocia Lions Club.
Lions Magazine
Lions Magazine.
Why Become a Lion
Be a Lion.
Purpose & Code of Ethics
Lions Purpose & Code of Ethics.
Northwest Ohio Lions Eye Care Foundation
The NWOLECF is the primary service activity of District OH1. Every Lion, in every club in District OH1, is a member the foundation. The foundation provides assistance for optical surgeries with application submission and approval. They also provide reading, Braille, and auditory machines to local residents in need through local lions clubs.
Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity
VOSH is an international organization that provides vision care to people who can not afford and can not obtain vision care otherwise. VOSH collects, cleans, sorts, classifies the eyeglasses collected by our club and many other sources. VOSH then embarks on mission trips to these locations where they hold vision care clinics and distribute the eyeglasses they collect.
Goodwill/Easter Seals Vision Center, Lima
The Goodwill/Easter Seals Vision Center, Lima provides the following services: Vision services center, Community outreach program that provides free job placement services for those in need, and employment and counseling program for at-risk youth.