It's hard not to notice the impact of the Lyle Lions on the city of Lyle.

They put more than $200 toward scholarships for Lyle seniors this year as they do every year for graduates.

They started the community center in the 1970s with the help of organizations and citizens.

Even the street signs wouldn't be there without the group.

The Lyle Lions started in 1958 with 34 members. At its peak in the 1970s, the Lyle Lions boasted 50 members.

Today, they're down to 14.

Those in the club have been there for years. President Charles Ekle has been a member from the start, one of three charter members left in the group. Deloss Frank, treasurer, has been a member for 33 years.

"To make the world better and to make the community better," is why Frank said he has stayed with the club.

The Lyle Lions continue to organize fund-raisers and participate in community events. Members are getting ready for the Lyle Independence Day weekend later this month.

But members are concerned the club's strong involvement in the community won't continue unless new members are willing to take over once they're gone.

"We have a lot of community-minded people in town, but they're spread pretty thin," said Wayne Helgeson, secretary of the group.

A change in family life as made less time for extra volunteer work, the members said. And many in town already belong to another volunteer organization and do not have time to join another, they said.

In the 1970s, the Lyle Lions helped start other Lion clubs, such as the Adams Lions Club and the Lyle Lioness Club. The Lioness Club arranges its own events and is growing in membership.

In 1976, the club purchased the current community center building in downtown Lyle. It started out as a teen center, but as interest waned in the mid-1980s, senior citizen groups began holding their meetings there.

The building is under the city's name and it takes care of utilities. The Lyle School Community Education committee pays for custodial work. The members also credit Lyle senior citizens for their support of the center.

"It's really a community effort," Helgeson said.

The center provides space for non-profit organizations and private parties also rent the space for events.

The group has helped many more community efforts, but it also has an effect regionally, nationally, even globally. The club supports the many organizations all Lions clubs support, such as Camp Winnebago, diabetes research, lead dogs for the blind and the Minnesota and Children's eye banks.

Those interested in joining the Lyle Lions can attend its next dinner meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, at the Copper Kettle on Highway 218.

"It'd be a shame to let the club fade out because it's done a lot of good and it can still do a lot of good," Ekle said.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at cari.quam@austindailyherald.com