Wyoma Lions Club

THE WYOMA LIONS CLUB 1954 TO 2014

The Wyoma Lions Club grew out of the idea of one man. In the fall of 1952 the late Atty. Charles Ingram met with John Quigley at the Flagg Restaurant, located in Olympia Square. He felt Lynn needed a second Lions Club. Charlie was an all-out advocate of Lionism. He believed that individuals who couldn’t attend the noon meetings of the Lynn Lions were denied the opportunity to serve their community as members of Lions Clubs International.

During the fall and winter they recruited and organized potential members. Meetings were held at the home of Boston Jeweler Frank Sampieri on Casco Road, Frank became the club’s first President.

The idea of a second club met resistance from some members of the Lynn Club. District and International officers helped secure a charter. This pained Charlie, since his late father, Atty. John Ingram, was one of the founders and a past President of the Lynn Club. But he forged ahead.

On Feb. 22, 1954 the charter night was held in Paul Revere Hall, then located in Glenmere Square. John Quigley was the charter night chairman and was the last living charter member. The late Mayor Frawley gave the main address.

As years passed the Wyoma Club met at several locations including Carl’s Duck Farm and the Valle’s Steak House in Saugus, the Hotel Edison. Anthony’s Hawthorne, the Lido Cafe, Nandee’s Manor, the Porthole Restaurant, Boston Street Café, Ballard Res­taurant and a few other locations. Now the club meets at the Olde Tyme Italian Cuisine Restaurant on Boston Street. Dinner meetings are on the first Tuesday with an optional business or directors meeting on the third Tuesday of the month.

The club has long engaged itself in community service and has raised over $100,000 for eye research. On many occasions, it has assisted visually impaired and legally blind persons to secure needed equipment which will improve their quality of life. The club has assisted in placing a child in summer camp and has assisted many in the community who are less fortunate than others.

The club has had its ups and downs. At one point membership fell to such a low point, a vote to disband was taken and defeated. Then in the early 90’s a newer, younger and more energetic group joined the club. Its’ activities and its’ fiscal strength were renewed.

The club has sponsored other clubs including the East Lynn and the Nahant Lions and in June of 1992 the Wyoma Lioness Club, origi­nally sponsored by the Wyoma Lions, was chartered as the Shoe City Lions Club. Today, the Wyoma Lions Club continues to offer community-minded individuals an opportunity to serve their neighbors through Lionism.