Lions International Trading Pin Club

Pennsylvania Pin Swap

The world of Lionism descended upon York, Pennsylvania on March 12 thru March 15 as the Pin Traders Club of Pennsylvania celebrated another great pin swap. This all started back in 1983 in a small grove of trees that the Pin Traders Club of Pennsylvania was born on an October Sunday afternoon. As many as thirty pin traders had been coming to the park for several years and the number was growing each year. Look at us now! This year we had in excess of 139 tables of pin traders from twenty-five states and from Canada and the United Kingdom.

The event actually started on Wednesday with many of the pin traders arriving from distant places. That evening was spent renewing old acquaintances, as well as some pin trading in the hotel rooms, pin selling in the Susquehanna Room, and even a few card games.

On Thursday we all set up our pins at 8:00 am and the trading began and lasted all day until approximately 5:00 pm. Thanks to Bill Smith of Virginia, the updated version of the Catalog of the Motorized Land Transportation series was given to the Lions and this created interest in getting the new pins in the Catalog. The third series of twenty motorcycles was distributed  and the demand for these pins was overwhelming. We held our annual Thursday night "small" auction, which resulted in $5,245.50 being exchanged for some newly acquired pins. After that, our "famous" Ice Cream Social was held, thanks to Lion Gene Miller.

On Friday we once again saw extremely heavy pin trading take place from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. We had a real surprise for all Lions in attendance as we sold a larger version of our breakfast pin. All of the monies raised from this sale will go toward the Sight First II project. On Friday night our "big" auction was held and many pins were purchased, bringing in $9,280.00. This brought the total for both auctions to $14,525.50. We then adjourned to the hospitality room for some fine food and beverages provided by Lions Tim & Lana McCaulley.

After our regular Saturday morning breakfast meeting, which was attended by 127 Lions and their wives, we adjourned to the pin area to once again trade pins until the breakfast pins were distributed. At this time we had a drawing for the two banners of pins, which brought in $315.00 for our Campaign Sight First II project. Lions from North Carolina, Missouri, Connecticut, Colorado, Virginia, and Mississippi invited us to their upcoming pin swaps. Our website administrator, John Metgzer, was introduced to all of the Lions in attendance. The Pin Traders Club of Pennsylvania is quite proud of the new website which has been up and running for approximately twelve months.

This year the weather was good. Many will recall that last year, we were greeted with more than a foot of snow, ice, and sleet.

The dates for next years pin swap will be March 18 thru March 21 at the same location. Here's a couple of snapshots from the swap.

In the forefront is Lion Jay Puls of California. In the background, you can see Lion Allen Jackson, New York, Joe Trezza, California, and Jane Fitch, Connecticut	Here's an early morning shot of one of our regular attendees, Lion Jerry Townsend, Mississippi