The Clayton Lions Club was chartered on June 3, 1931. Since that time, it has assisted Lions Club International in working for the benefit of the blind and visually impaired, as well as for other charitable causes. In 1925, Helen Keller was given permission to address the Lions Club International," Wahlstrom said. "After she made her appeal, she inspired the members of the convention so much that sight and hearing became our overall mission." "But, if something comes up in our community, we could do it," Frantzen said.

The local chapter is continually working to raise funds for various causes, the men said. Wahlstrom is the local chairman of the Lions Club all-star high school football game that's played in July. Money raised by the game goes to the Lions Club Eye Research Foundation. Frantzen indicated, "The district, which covers from here to Troy, gave a computer for the blind to the University of Missouri-St. Louis. On a national level, the Lions have given a scanning machine to detect lazy eye to Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The district put in $22,000." The Clayton Lions Club also assistes the Suburban Journals every year with the Old Newsboys Day Fund-raising event for local charities.

Lions Club members are often seen at area events selling funnel cakes as a way of raising funds for their charity projects. "At Strassenfest, we made $7,000 alone on funnel cakes," Frantzen said. "What we make goes back to the community."

The Clayton Lions Club meets at 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at Chaney's Barbecue, 8224 Olive Road. " There is no age or residency requirement to join," Frantzen said. You just need to really want to do something. You need to be able to volunteer your time. New members would be welcome, the men said. There are 12 members in the club at present. "We're looking for new members, always," said Frantzen.

Frantzen, 54, of Bel-Nor, and Wahlstrom, 67, of Clayton, both said they consider the effort they have put into the Lions Club as time well spent. "We're mostly professionals, but you just have to have the desire to help other people," said Wahlstrom, a stockbroker who has been a Lion for 25 years. "What I've always told business people is it's great experience. It's great management training. You get the chance to work your way up the Lions ladder, both men and women."

"Particularly for a young man or woman, it means something on a resume," said Frantzen, who is in the insurance business and has been a Lion for 10 years. "Also, it's nice to have some kid whose parents can't afford glasses -- we can help out. It can be gratifying." Meeting people is another benefit of joining the organization, said Wahlstrom. "I've met people from all over the world," he said. "We make a lot of friendships."

For further information about the Clayton Lions Club, call Wahlstrom at 997-2773.

This article was written by Kevin Carbery a Staff writer for the Citizen Journal, where it appeared July 10, 1996. It appears here with a few minor modifications.