Tale of Two Clubs: Big City vs. Small Town

There are nearly 50,000 Lions clubs in over 200 countries and regions around the world — each one shaped by the place it calls home. No two clubs are exactly alike, and that’s what makes each so special.

To see this diversity in action, we took a closer look at two clubs from opposite ends of the geographic spectrum: one rooted in a bustling urban center, the other in a close-knit small town. Though separated by more than a thousand miles, they’re connected by the same unwavering spirit of service.

From the northern charm of Cook, Minnesota, to the big-city buzz of Dallas, Texas, the Cook and the Dallas Founder Lions Clubs show just how far-reaching — and deeply rooted — Lions’ service can be.

COOK LIONS CLUB

Location: Cook, Minnesota

Population: 524

Club chartered: 1973

Members: 90 

Sponsored clubs: North Woods School Leo Club, Tower Soudan Lake Vermilion Lions Club Branch

Interviewees: Steve Kajala, club president; Kari Hultman, club secretary, treasurer; Colette Huisenga, club member

How would you describe your club?

STEVE: Currently, we have 90 members, ages 19 to 87. The nearby lake community boosts our numbers — about a quarter of our Lions live out by the lake, often retirees or people who moved here for work.

The club has a long history of being active. We were known for our “Million Dollar Garage Sale,” which was a massive event bringing in around $40,000 a year, all of which went back to the community through scholarships, donations and more. But in 2017, we lost the building where we hosted the sale, so we were forced to reinvent ourselves. And then COVID hit.

During the pandemic, we sustained ourselves by selling brats, hot dogs and hamburgers. Post-COVID, we reenergized, added some younger members and grew stronger. And last year, when our town flooded, we became the center of recovery efforts. That truly put us back on the map. And I’m really proud of how we bounced back. We didn’t just survive — we thrived.

Tell me more about the flood that hit your town.

STEVE: Last June, 7 to 10 inches of rain fell in less than 12 hours, flooding around 100 homes and businesses. About 40% of the town was underwater — it was the worst flood we’ve ever seen.

Our club sprang into action and became the go-to group for support. We formed a flood committee and reached out to LCIF for assistance. In less than an hour, I received a response that they were sending us $10,000. With those funds, we purchased essential supplies. Around 100 volunteers showed up to help us unload. It was a special day.

We didn’t stop there. We established a flood fund and ultimately raised over $130,000, which we put back into the community, and set up a recovery center that provided free household items and furniture to affected residents.

It sounds like the Cook Lions are a fixture in your community.

KARI: I live about 30 miles away, but I’ve been so welcomed by the Cook community and the Lions club. I truly feel like I belong here. During our flood recovery efforts, it was amazing to see how well respected our club is and how many community members turned to us for assistance.

COLETTE: I moved back to town during COVID after being away for 34 years. Reconnecting was tough at first, but the Lions helped me reintegrate. It’s that small-town sense of community where even if you don’t know someone, you know about them. And that feeling of belonging makes all the difference.

How do you keep the club fun and engaging?

COLETTE: Steve runs great meetings. There’s always an agenda, and everyone has a voice. He keeps things fun, often inviting someone to share a little about who they are and their Lion journey. It’s a great way for us to get to know our new members better.

STEVE: We do a summer picnic and a year-end party. We also find little ways to make things fun like hiding a key word in our treasurer’s reports. The first person to find it gets a prize. It’s a small thing, but it gets people involved and paying attention!

What types of service projects is your club involved in?

STEVE: For over 50 years, we’ve been strong supporters of the local food shelf and youth programs. We do a lot of fundraisers like our brat and burger sales, and community breakfast. We also maintain a flag park, host community events like Easter and Halloween parties, and coordinate our tie-blanket project. Last year, we made 90 blankets for nursing home residents. While we try to honor the traditions that got us here, we also love when people bring new ideas. Not everything sticks and there’s always some resistance to change, but we try to be open.

What are your recruitment strategies in a small town?

STEVE: We invite anyone who seems like a good fit. If we ask 25 people, maybe one joins — it’s really a numbers game. We also host orientation nights, where we explain what it means to be a Lion, share our club’s history, talk about LCIF and clear up common misconceptions. For example, some folks in town think you have to be a veteran or retired to join. So, we make it a point to get the word out — through articles in the local paper and posts on social media — that Lions is for everyone.

COLETTE: And we’re investing in the next generation, too. We sponsor a Leo club at our high school, which used to have about a dozen students. Now we’re up to 72! That’s a huge part of our future growth.

What kinds of projects do the Leos take on?

COLETTE: Our Leos are very active. They’re involved in everything from hosting Halloween parties and gingerbread house-making events to creating Valentine’s for nursing home residents. They’re even working to have a proper sign installed at our local school to replace the current one, which was built in a shop class.

Are there challenges as a club in a small town?

STEVE: Fundraising is more difficult. In big cities, you might raise $100,000 in a single day. For us, that’s not possible — we don’t have the population. But Lions clubs really thrive in small towns because we’re well known. People recognize our impact and want to support us.

What advice would you offer other small-town or rural Lions clubs?

STEVE: Don’t keep your club a secret! Establish a social media presence. Be sure people are aware of your upcoming events and share lots of pictures of your club in action.

KARI: I would say hold family- friendly service events and invite the public to join you. The best way for people to get to know your club is to serve with you.

COLETTE: And I’d add, work with your local school district to sponsor a Leo club. It’s a great way to get young people involved with community service. It also provides a chance to introduce the parents of Leos to the Lions club.

DALLAS FOUNDER LIONS CLUB

Location: Dallas, Texas

Population: 1.3 million

Club chartered: 1916

Members: 79

Interviewees: Jeff Strater, club president; Keith Murray, club treasurer, past district governor; Dr. Nia MacKay, immediate past club president, second vice district governor

The Dallas Founder Lions have been around for a long time. Tell me about your club.

NIA: We’re the oldest club in District 2-X1. Some of our early members actually attended the formative meeting of Lions Clubs International held in Dallas in October 1917.

Today, we’re a group of Lions from all sorts of backgrounds — different ages, professions and life experiences — that shares a passion for serving others. We meet twice a month to stay connected and plan our service. Our meetings often include guest speakers who lead conversations about issues that matter to us and align with the causes supported by Lions International. Beyond meetings, we do service projects that drive real change locally and globally.

What drew you to this club in particular?

NIA: A few years ago, as zone chair, I saw Dallas Founder struggling with only about five active members. I knew we couldn’t afford to lose the oldest club in North Texas. So, I served another year as zone chair, then joined the club myself.

I’m proud to say that today we have 79 members — and are growing! Our collaborative work with universities, churches and community groups, as well as our marketing efforts, led by Jeff, have really helped us build this historic club back up.

What’s your club culture like?

KEITH: We’re extremely diverse — our members are ages 18 to 90. It’s a very welcoming club. We recognize members at meetings, celebrate contributions and foster a strong social bond.

JEFF: We’ve also added a happy hour series and have strong attendance at both service and social events. It feels like a close-knit community, even though we’re in a big city.

How do you recruit new members in a competitive urban environment?

JEFF: Word of mouth has been key, inviting people based on shared interests. It’s also been helpful to localize our outreach — most people I’ve recruited live within five or six miles of our meeting location. And, of course, we promote our service projects and speakers on social media, and invite people to join us.

NIA: We also follow a “DNA” approach developed by one of our members. “D” is for Database — we reach out to connections from other organizations. “N” is for Networking — we talk to new people everywhere. And “A” is for Ask — you won’t get members if you don’t ask. We’ve gained members just from asking speakers to join after they’ve done a presentation for us.

It sounds like you’ve developed a strong speaker program. Can you talk more about that?

NIA: Yes! We bring in speakers from different fields — science, health, tech, etc. — that align with members’ interests. It helps with recruitment and retention. One of our upcoming speakers developed AI-powered glasses that assist people with visual impairments. That ties beautifully into the Lions’ 100 years of vision service.

Tell me more about your partnership with the local community college.

JEFF: One of the great benefits of holding our meetings downtown on the community college campus is the strong relationship we’ve built with the college. Several staff members have even joined our club.

When the college president shared with us that nearly 98% of their students are on Pell Grants (federal aid to help students from low-income households), we saw an opportunity to implement one of our eye clinics. Students lined up in the campus foyer for vision screenings, which included an exam by an optometrist. A few weeks later, they came back to pick up their free prescription glasses. The project was a powerful reminder of what can happen when you’re present and connected in your community.

How do you keep the club experience fun and members engaged?

JEFF: Our club has always been very social. People genuinely enjoy each other’s company. We’ve leaned into that with our monthly happy hour series. It’s been a great way for members to connect outside of regular meetings. People show up early just to catch up, and they hang around after the meetings. We also host holiday events and fun gatherings throughout the year to foster that community feeling.

KEITH: We also like to recognize the members who participate in service projects. In our meetings, we do a quick recap of our recent accomplishments and ask the members who were involved in those activities to stand. They get a round of applause, and it’s a nice way to show appreciation. It’s about making sure people feel seen and valued for their contributions.

What are some challenges of being a club in a big city?

JEFF: I admit that sometimes I’m a little envious of small-town clubs. They tend to have strong relationships with their city governments, and their presence is more immediately recognizable. People see the vests, the signs, the service projects. In a big city like Dallas with lots of groups and organizations, that kind of organic visibility is harder to achieve.

NIA: And while true that it’s more difficult to stand out in a big city like ours, there are more opportunities to establish partnerships. Not every club or organization has the resources to take on a big project alone. But when we collaborate — whether it’s with other Lions clubs or other organizations — we can pool our efforts, share costs and make a greater impact together. And that’s a powerful advantage.

What advice would you offer other clubs in urban areas?

NIA: I would say collaboration is essential. Develop a strategy to build relationships — whether that’s the college down the street, city council or a nonprofit. And collaborate with other groups.

KEITH: Yes, take advantage of what your city has to offer in terms of cultural diversity, institutions and partnerships you might not find in smaller towns.