Lions Club (Reno, Nev.) Auxiliary Records

Collection

Identifier: 95-67

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Members of the Auxiliary worked with Jean Ford, surveyor for the Nevada Women's Archives project, to ensure that their most important records were available for donation. The records were gathered from several members and most duplications eliminated. Ford also made a presentation to the Auxiliary on the Archives Project and the importance of preserving their past through their records.

The Auxiliary's records are, as a result, nearly complete for several critical series. Minutes for the period 1963-1992 include accounts of both board and general meetings and detail how the group planned and carried out social, civic, and fund raising activities, including vision screening. Financial records are not as complete but include monthly treasurers' reports and yearly budgets. Membership rosters include lists of past presidents, officers for the year, and current bylaws. That series also includes attendance records, including those for perfect attendance. The group faithfully created scrapbooks containing clippings, photographs (all identified), and miscellaneous other ephemera; these scrapbooks provide a clear image of Auxiliary's many activities. Finally, the Auxiliary's newsletters, The Kittens Purr recapitulates monthly activities, beginning with the premier issue in 1973.

The Auxiliary's year began in September and continued until May or June; no activities took place during the summer. Most of the records reflect this calendar. For example, minutes for one year are labeled "1963-1964" and include September-May.

Dates

1957-1995

Creator

Lions Club. Auxiliary (Reno, Nev.) (Creator, Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Materials must be used on-site; advance notice suggested. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Administrative History

The Lions Clubs Auxiliary was organized in Reno, Nevada, in May 1957. The purpose of the Auxiliary was to better acquaint wives of Lions Clubs members with the work of the Club, to assist with community and civic projects, and to promote the conservation of eyesight. Membership was open to wives of members of the Lions Clubs in good standing.

General and board meetings were held monthly and several fund raisers were held each year. Basque Bazaar and Wine Tasting events, campaign luncheons, cocktail parties, and Christmas card sales are examples of the types of fund raisers held since the early days of the Auxiliary.

These fund raisers supported the work of the Auxiliary in promoting the conservation of eyesight. Beginning in 1961 the Auxiliary was trained in and began an extensive program to perform vision screening of preschoolers in Reno. Eventually the project was expanded to screening children of school ages in Washoe County. The Auxiliary also donated money to several local ophthalmologists to ensure eye care for the needy.

Extent

2.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Arrangement

Arranged into the following series: 1) Bylaws and Club History; 2) Minutes; 3) Financial Records; 4) Correspondence and Miscellaneous Reports; 5) Membership Records; 6) Newsletters; 7) Basque Bazaar; 8) Service Projects; 9) Scrapbooks