[dropcap]F[/dropcap]or 65 years, the Kyle Lions Club, established in 1948, sought to serve and improve the lives of those who lived in the Kyle community.
But a loss of interest and a lack of leadership led to the dissolution of the club in 2013. Four years later, a group of Kyle residents aims to resurrect a piece of Kyle’s past.
Nancy Wilson, president of the Kyle Lions Club, said in an emailed response some prior members felt there was a need in the community for a Lions Club.
Kyle Fire Marshal Mark Schultz said the organization disbanded due to a loss of interest and a lack of leadership. Wilson attributed the reorganization in 2015 to “prior members” feeling like “there was a need in the area for the assistance that the Club can provide.”
As far as the reasoning behind the Kyle Lions Club resurrection, Schultz gave credit to the Buda Lions Club for setting a precedent of what an organization can do for members of the community and saw the same need for the organization in Kyle.
“We believe there was a need in the community for scholarships and community outreach,” Schultz said.
According to Wilson the new Kyle Lions Club wants to participate in almost anything to assist in making the “Kyle/Hays County a better place to live for all citizens.” That includes providing one scholarship to one student every year and collaborating with other Lions Clubs, including the Buda Lions.
“We assist them with working their concession stands, working the Weiner Dog Races and they are now going to assist us with our first annual Food Bank Drive at the Kyle Walmart on May 6,” Wilson said in the email.
Wilson said the new Lions Club is also currently promoting eyeglass screening. That extends to allowing residents to donate their old eyeglasses, so they can be distributed to people in need.
“We have eyeglass boxes out in several locations, and we promote the eyeglass screening and assist other clubs in the area in their endeavors,” Wilson said in the email response.
Wilson said she agreed to be the President of the Kyle chapter Lions Club based on past experience as a small business owner in Kyle between 2003-2014.
Wilson said she has high hopes for the new Kyle Lions Club and didn’t rule out the possibility of collaborating with the city of Kyle in the future in order to organize a large event meant to draw in crowds like the Buda Lions Club Weiner Dog Races.
Schultz said currently the members of the Kyle Lions Club are meeting twice a month at the Plum Creek Golf course on the first and third Tuesdays of the month and anyone who wishes to attend the meetings are welcome.
Interested in being a Lion?
For more information on the future of the Kyle Lions Club or for more event information please contact either Mark Schultz at the Kyle Fire Department or President of the Kyle Lions Club Nancy Wilson at [email protected].
