It was a sunny, warm Saturday afternoon as Lexington Park Lions gathered to celebrate 71 years of Lionism, accomplishments for our past Lion year July 2016-June 2017, recognize service above self, and install our officers and board of directors for the new Lions year.
Since our charter designation in 1946, Lexington Park Lions have been actively involved in serving the community. During the past year, Club members provided vision screenings for more than 375 preschoolers; provided financial support for eye exams and glasses for more than 75 individuals; provided financial support for hearing exams and hearing aids for 4 individuals; supported our first responders with donations; provided Christmas for 10 children; worked with our community partner, Church of the Ascension, to provide child safety seats to the Lexington Park COPs Unit for distribution to those in need; worked with our community partner, Green Holly Elementary School, to replace two broken stoves for their community education room; granted scholarships to two outstanding graduates from Great Mills High School; participated in the Veterans Day Parade; initiated and coordinated county-wide participation in the Lions International Peace Poster contest; provided vision screening for children and adults at multiple community events; donated to disaster relief efforts in Silver Springs and Ellicott City; and completed requirements for the Lions International Club Excellence recognition. It was a busy year!
None of this is possible without Lions dedicated to Lionism and to serving our communities: local, state, national, and worldwide. The following Lions were recognized with the Service Excellence Award for their activities during the year:
- Officers 2016-2017: Lions Bob Hayward (Secretary), Jess Davis (Treasurer), Randy Lawson (VP), Johnny Alvey (VP), Stacey Hancock (Immediate Past President)
- Board of Directors 2016-1017: Lions Mary Springstead (Tail Twister), Jim Dodson (Lion Tamer), Tom McCarthy, Sal Raspa, Walter Cheek
- Vision Screening Coordinator: Lion Jess Davis
- Club Excellence Project Team: Lions Stacey Hancock, Tom McCarthy, Jim Dodson
- Golf Tournament Project Team: Lions Buzz Shelley, Mary Springstead, Stacey Hancock, Bob Hayward
- Christmas Giving Coordinator: Lion Stacey Hancock
- Fundraiser Coordinators: Lions Tami Gary (White Cane), Randy Lawson (Sno-Cones), Stacey Hancock (Five BeLow), Bob Hayward (Yard Sale)
Lions Bob Hayward, Johnny Alvey, and Jess Davis were recognized by Lions Clubs International and the Lexington Park Lions Club for their 20 years of service.
Lion Sal Raspa and his wife, Myra, were recognized for their many years of dedication to our scholarship program for graduating Great Mills High School students. In addition, Lion Sal was nominated for the District 22C Honor Roll.
Lion Bob Hayward was recognized for his 3 years as Club Secretary. During his tenure as Secretary, the Lexington Park Lions Club was the recipient of the annual 5-Year/Governor’s Exceptional Award.
Lion Bob Hayward was selected as the Lexington Park Lions Club Lion of the Year, in recognition for his outstanding commitment and contributions to Lionism at the local, district, and national levels. He was nominated for the Multiple District 22 Bull Thrower Award.
Immediate Past District Governor Steve Borsch was our honored guest at the celebration and was the installing officer for the new officers and board of directors for Lions Year 2017-2018: Queen Lion Dana Davis, Treasurer Jess Davis, VP Randy Lawson, VP Johnny Alvey, IPP Stacey Hancock, Tail Twister Mary Springstead, and in absentia: Lion Tamer Jim Dodson, Sal Raspa, Tom McCarthy, Susan Brookbank, and Walter Cheek. (Queen Lion note: Subsequent to the meeting, Lion Bob Hayward stepped forward to once again accept the mantle of “Secretary” for this Lions year.)
Our celebration concluded with the Lions Toast: “Not above you, not beneath you, but always with you,” and a rousing chorus of the “Lions Roar.”
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