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'Mr. Lion' donates 400 pins to Calhoun Museum
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| By: Jeremy A. Jensen |
January 07, 2009 |
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Melvin “Mel” Samplawski, of Chetek, points out a few unique pins from a collection of 400 Lions Clubs International pins he recently donated to the Calhoun Memorial Museum in Chetek. Samplawski has collected pins for more than 36 years.
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They call him "Mr. Lion," and for good reason. For the 56 years that Melvin "Mel" Samplawski has been a member of Lions Clubs International, he has given extensively of his time, energy and money to further the Lion cause.
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Therefore, it should be no surprise to those who know the affable Samplawski that his giving spirit has once again benefited the community of Chetek-this time for many years to come.
Samplawski donated 400 collectible Lions Club pins to the Calhoun Memorial Museum in Chetek, a healthy chunk from the approximately 6,000-7,000-piece collection he keeps in his self-fashioned Lions Den in his Chetek home.
Samplawski joined the Independence chapter of the Lions in 1952 after friends encouraged him. Since he had a twin brother, Marvin, who was blinded by shrapnel during World War II, Samplawski was drawn in by the Lions' mission of helping the blind and visually impaired.
In 1965, Samplawski was transferred by Northern States Power to Northwestern Wisconsin. He transferred his membership to the Chetek chapter from 1967 to 1970, when he was relocated to Blair. Eventually, he would retire in 1981, move to Chetek, and rejoin the Chetek chapter. Since that time, Samplawski's name has become synonymous with Lions activities in the Chetek area.
Over the years, Samplawski has received many district, state, national and international Lions Club awards. He is the recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow Award, the Birch/Sturm Fellow Award, the International President Award, International Leadership Award and the Wisconsin Foundation President's Award.
But Samplawski never joined the Lions for the accolades; he was more interested in meeting new people from around the globe-which is exactly how his pin collecting started.
"The Lions created the pins in 1962 as a way of breaking the ice at national and international conventions," Samplawski explains, adding that he didn't start collecting the pins until 1972. "You'd go up to someone and trade a pin from your chapter or state and you'd get theirs in return, and then you'd usually strike up a conversation."
For Samplawski, the trading was easy, especially since the colorful Chetek chapter pin was popular. As he attended more conferences, he traded for more pins. Eventually, Samplawski would purchase pins through contacts he made at conventions. As society moved into the Internet age, Samplawski's hobby has followed, allowing him to buy and sell pins through eBay or other online auction services.
As he gets older, Samplawski admits he knows it's time to start slowing down.
"I'm kind of giving it up a little now," Samplawski says with a mischievous grin. "My wife [Audrey] has hinted that I'm getting too many; maybe she's right."
Museum director John Banks had contacted Samplawski in the past about donating some of the pins to the museum. Samplawski eventually relented.
"I had a bunch of extras, so I thought 'Why not?'" Samplawski says. "I was surprised that somebody would want them. Some day, I'll have more to give him."
Banks explains that while the Lions are not exclusive to Chetek, the fact that a Chetek resident has risen so high in the ranks of the organization-and has such an interesting hobby to boot-makes it of interest to visitors.
"It [donations like Samplawski's] increases the inventory of interesting memorabilia," says Banks. "You never really know what is going to interest someone. But I know we have Lions Club members who come through here, not only from Chetek, but other places, and they will find it interesting."
Banks understands that it is difficult for people to part with collections, but he knows that when the collector passes on, oftentimes the collection is simply tossed away.
"I wish more people would come forward earlier to avoid that," says Banks. "Think of how much history we could have saved."
Banks adds by donating items, residents have the opportunity to have their name and legacy preserved.
Samplawski isn't completely finished with collecting pins-there's still one that has eluded him.
"The one pin I would really like to get is a wooden pin that was made for Missouri in either 1962 or 1963," Samplawski says. "It sells for around $10,000; maybe some day I can get a hold of it."
Donations to the museum are tax deductible. Contact Banks at 924-4180 for more information.
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©The Chetek Alert 2010
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