The Frazee Lions Club wrapped a big week by hosting a Community Wellness Event at Wannigan Regional Park and announcing the sale of the club’s storage shed property.

“We have taken some major steps toward a great future this year,” said Frazee Lions Club President Lori Thorp. “Pieces moved along well for these and other projects.”

The idea of selling the storage shed gained momentum early this spring. It was built in 1987 to house the Lions’ parade float, food and beer trailers, and other equipment and supplies for events. Other local groups also kept items there, the club’s gaming records were located in a secure area, and community members rented the remaining storage space.

Over time, the club’s projects have evolved, so they no longer own the trailers and equipment.

Members suggested consideration of the property’s sale, which was approved at a meeting.

Committee members researched options, and the club approved an online auction through Bachmann Group, LLC Real Estate & Auctions with Counselor Realty. Proceeds of the sale will go towards future club projects.

The public online auction will open Monday, Oct. 26 and close Friday, Oct. 30 at 12 p.m. 

“A number of people have already reached out,” Austin Bachmann said. “One of the people who came for a showing said he feels really good about the sale benefitting the community in other ways.”

The property sits on 8th St. NW, Frazee, on a 31,537 sq. ft. lot, and the building is an insulated 40’ x 80’ pole shed structure with a cement floor and drain, and propane forced-air heat and ceiling fans. There are two hydraulic bifold doors.

For more information about the building and auction, visit www.bachmannauctioneers.com.

While Lions members have been preparing the shed for sale, they have also been keeping the wheels turning on community projects including Saturday’s Wellness Event.

Lions organizers Hailey Brower and Toni Thorp said, “We had people from the Frazee area come, plus there were so many from outside of the community, the Twin Cities area and as far away as Nevada, who came to visit our troll, didn’t know about our Wellness Event, and joined in on what we were doing.”

The day started with a sunrise yoga session led by Kaitee Hoekstra. Coffee and a rock painting activity were provided by Cornerstone, and snacks were provided by Lions members. Local agencies held a resource fair at the covered bridge.

Brower led mindfulness activities including calming jars, journaling and coloring opportunities for all ages. Guest speaker and retired Frazee High School Counselor Ta Fett capped the event by providing ideas to extend and improve mental health.

“Time in nature, we underestimate that,” Fett said. “I live in the woods, and I’m so blessed to do that. Sometimes when I travel I’ll say, ‘Oh, my gosh, this place is so beautiful,’ but we take for granted so often (that) we live in paradise here, we truly do, the lakes, the woods, the fields…remind yourselves to be thankful and grateful for that.”

“When we were greeting people coming though, they’d say, “we’re here to see Jacob (Everear, the troll),’” Marty Thorp said. “They were surprised that we had added activities, and one woman came from the Cities with her family to celebrate her 65th birthday, and she was just so excited that there were treats and extra things going on.”

The same day, Frazee Lions members cleaned their Adopt-a-Highway stretch of Old Highway 10.

One of their other ongoing major projects is collaborating with the City of Frazee at the Best Lions Park by a Dam Site on the outskirts of Frazee, where the Big Tom Turkey statue overlooks the Highway 87 entrance to town. Park usage including scheduling of the picnic shelter is often requested for family and public events.

The Lions are currently working on refurbishing the park’s entrance signage, which had begun to bow and was close to Ottertail Power lines.

Other ongoing projects include can recycling, with collection trailers next to the Frazee VFW and Frazee Rescue Shed recycling area, and collection of eyeglasses and hearing aids for refurbishing and redistribution. Lions Club International was established in 1917, and in 1925, Helen Keller invited Lions to be “Knights of the Blind.” Lions throughout the world champion health, safety and youth projects wherever they live and work. Service is the main component of Lionism, and members track and report service hours to Lions International to measure impact.

The Frazee club meets monthly to conduct business, which includes project planning and consideration of public requests.

In November, the club will work with Vergas and 4 Corners Lions and Quilts of Valor to put on an annual Veterans dinner event. By then, Lions will have most of the involvement with the shed property sale in their rear view mirror while they look forward to holiday events and plan for a busy new year.

“We want to continue and grow our involvement,” Lori Thorp said. “We couldn’t be more grateful for our community and our members because that’s how we stay connected.”