The Tichigan Lake Lions Club celebrated another successful year of serving the community June 14 during its 43rd annual Installation Dinner.
Held at The Cruise in Tichigan, outgoing President Tim Szelinski highlighted a number of benefactors of the Lions work over the past year.
“Since the club’s chartering in 1969, we have worked on a variety of projects in the local community, and host events like the fishing jamboree, Easter egg hunt, summer parade and classic car show,” he said. According to him, proceeds from fundraisers go toward scholarships, community enhancements and assisting those less fortunate. The club most recently designated more than $20,000 to build a large Waterford Town Park pavilion, which is now in its final stages of completion.
Whether it’s cleaning up garbage off the sides of Highway 164, or raising thousands of dollars for area children battling serious illness, Szeklinski said the Lions make a difference in Tichigan year after year, and he was proud to have led such a strong organization during his 2011-12 presidency.
Szeklinski credited the large number of dedicated members as the reason that Tichigan Lake Lions have such a strong presence in their community and named a number of standout members as recipients of the organization’s most prestigious awards.
“The following individuals have certainly earned these recognitions and keep our club moving forward,” he said, before presenting the awards.
Birch-Strum Fellowship
One of only two other Lions from the local club, longtime member Dave Bowe was awarded a Birch-Strum Fellowship by the Wisconsin Lions Foundation in recognition of his many years of commitment to the club.
Named for the only two presidents of the International Association of Lions Clubs from Wisconsin, Frank Birch and Clarence Strum, the fellowship is the foundation’s highest honor and is in recognition of a commitment to humanitarian service.
As a Birch-Strum Fellow, Bowe becomes a part of a growing network of individuals who are committed to improving the quality of life for those less fortunate in Wisconsin.
Melvin Jones Fellowship Award
Breaking tradition, Szelinski honored two members with the Melvin Jones Fellowship, an award that has garnered only one annual recipient in past years.
Lions Ben Vander Sanden and Tom Szeklinksi were named Melvin Jones fellows.
According to Lions International, the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award is the highest form of recognition and it embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism.
According to Szeklinski, the two Tichigan Lions are model members because of their exemplary service to the club and the community. The award is named after Melvin Jones, the club’s founder.
Other awards
Other recipients included Lion Mike Massman who was named Lion of the Year and Tom Schuetz, who was given the club’s signature Top Hat award.
Linda Keckhaver, who chairs the Tichigan Lake Fireworks Committee, was named Citizen of the Year.
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The function was well attended by Lion cabinet members since the district gov was in Korea for the international convention. A new member was sworn in. and a great meal was served, and some great leaders were given some well deserved awards. Gee it’s great to be a Lion come join us!